Dr. M I.

Adam

Dynamics of Single Particle in 1 D, 2 D, and 3 Dimensions

Contents:
Newtons Laws of Motion
Equation of Motion:

Constant Force, F

Time dependent , F(t), Velocity dependent, F(v),
and Position dependent, F(x) Forces
Objectives: After the lesson, students should be able to:
Write the equation of motion in certain deferential forms.
Solve differential and integral equations to obtain
kinematic variables such as x(t), v(t).
Analyze motion of a particle via kinematic variables or
qualitatively describe the motion of a single particle via
potential functions.
Newtons Laws:
I.

A body remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted

upon by a force.
II. A body acted upon by a force moves in such a manner
that the time rate of change of momentum equals the
force.
III. If two bodies exert forces on each other, these forces are
equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Dr. M I. Adam

The Equation of Motion for a Particle:

In 1-D case, the motion of a single particle is written as

=  =




=




=



(1)

where m is mass, v is velocity, t is time, and, a is the acceleration of a

particle. P is momentum.
For a given dynamic system,




  =   =
(
, , )

(2)

Hence, the following cases will be studied

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

 (, , ) = 
 (, , ) =  ()
 (, , ) =  ()
 (, , ) = ()

Useful Techniques for Problems Solving:

1- Represent all variables given in a simple sketch.
2- Write down the equations. Trust your mathematical
background and use it to manipulate the equations.
3- Use any given numerical values to get the value of the
unknown variables.

Dr. M I. Adam

i.

Constant Force, F:

Determine the velocity and position of a particle of mass m at

any time when its acted upon by a constant force F. take
 and  as initial values of velocity and position, respectively.
Hence, Eqn. of motion is:




  =    =  = 

 = 0, ,  , (), ()

The Velocity v(t) and the Position x(t) of the particle are
obtained by integration as follows


" # = "  # () =  + 



() = "  = "  + , specifically,

'

(1)

"' # = " ( + )#  () =  +   + *  *

(

ii.

(2)

Velocity dependent Force
=
():

We already have
# #

=
=  ( ),
# #
We shall start with the expression shown above to solve Eqns.
given in the form of  = ()or  =  ( ).

Dr. M I. Adam

First case: 




=  ()


#
 ( )

= #,

By integrating both sides,




#
(  ( )

" # = "
(

 

  =  "

()

#

If () is explicitly known, then  = () can be determined.

Hence,  = (). We integrate () to determine () as
follows:


()  ( ) = " () #



Second case: 



=  (), then # =

(ii. 1)


()

#

By integrating both sides, weve

'

 

"' # = "
(

 

#   = "
()

()

# (ii. 2)

Note:
Friction force is experimentally found to follow power law
behavior of velocity, 0 = 1 2 ,
where k is geometry and medium dependent constant, m is
mass, and n = 1, 2, 3, .
n = 1 for small object travelling in air with ~

n = 2 for objects travelling in other medium with

~

66
5

*
5

Dr. M I. Adam

iii. Time dependent Force,
():

Determine the velocity,  ()and position, () from the Eqn. of



motion   =  ()  # =

()


#.

Integrating for velocity,



 ()

" # = "
(

# () =  +  " () #

(iii. 1)

Solution for position is obtained by integrating for velocity.

iv.

Position dependent Force,
(

):

Here we introduce the concept of Kinetic Energy ;. But first,

the Eqn. of motion is:




'

'

=  (); # =  ( )# " # = "' () #

(

Rearranging the Eqn. above,



*
=

> = ()
' *

(iv. 1)

Notice that the Kinetic Energy, ; = *  * hence, Eqn. (iv. 1)

?

can be written as ' = (). Next, we integrate as:

?

'

?(

'(

'

@ #; = @ () # which s ; ; = @ () #

)

'

'(

*  * * * = "' () # (iv. 2)

(

Dr. M I. Adam

Theorems of Conservation
Objective:
1- To drive the consequences of Newtons Laws of Dynamics
that applied to the Motion of a Single Particle.
Theory 1: The total linear momentum E of a Particle is
conserved when the total force acting on it is zero. How?
From Newtons Second Law,
=

F



=  ( )  = EH + H

For  = 0, E = 0; it means E is a vector constant in time.

Now, let I be a constant vector such that  I = 0 and since,

 I = EH I = 0 then,




KEH IL = " EH I = constant

(1)

 The component of linear momentum in the direction at

which the force vanishes is constant in time.
Theory 2: The angular momentum of a Particle subject to no
torque is conserved. How?
Definitions:
i.

Angular Momentum, M  E

Dr. M I. Adam

ii.

Torque or Moment of Force, P =  ,

 is a position vector.

From Newtons Second Law,  = H , hence Def. ii. Becomes

P =  H =  EH


From Def. i., MH =  ( E) = (H E) + ( EH) , and since,

H E = H  = (H H ) = 0

MH = 0 +  EH =  EH

(2)

 This means that if P = 0, then MH = 0 and M is a vector

constant in time.
To solve Problems related to ii.:
1- Choose the origin of the coordinate system because
Torque P = 0 in coordinate systems centered along the
resultant line of Force where M = constant.
Kinetic Energy, T:
Assuming a work W done on a Particle by a Force F resulted in
transforming the Particle from Point 1 to Point 2.
*

R)* = ")  # ;  is the resultant force.

From Newtons Second Law,  = ,
 # = 

# #
#
# = 
#
#
# #

Dr. M I. Adam

 

* 

( )# =

 

* 

( * )# = #(  * )
*

Total force F acting on a Particle = Change in Kinetic Energy.

)

R)* = =*  >S = * (v** v)* ) = T* T)

*

(1)
)

where T is the Kinetic Energy of the Particle, ; = v * .

*

At ;) >;* R)* < 0; decrease in Kinetic Energy.

Potential Energy, W:

Force, F has the property that depends only on the original and
final position. Hence, the capacity to carry a Particle from point
1 to point 2 without change in Kinetic Energy is:
a
b
1

F is independent of
the path

")  # X) X* = Difference in U at the two points, (Fig.).

If F is the gradient of the Scalar function U:
 = Y#X = X, then,

Dr. M I. Adam

")  # = ") (U) # = ") #\ = X) X*

(2)

 The Potential Energy is a function of position, time:X(, ).

Total Energy is the sum of the Kinetic and Potential Energies,

] = ; + X.
Total time derivative of E is:
^



?


_

(i)



We already have  # = # =*  * > = #; so; we divide this

expression by # as follows
0

  =  H =

?

(ii)



From the Potential Energy derivative, we have:

_


a_ a'

= c a' ab +
b

a_
a

a_

= c a' H c +
b

a_
a

= (X) H +

a_
a

Substituting Eqns. (ii) and (iii) into (i), we get

#]
dX
dX
=  H + (X) H +
= ( + X) H +
#
d
d

 + X vanishes if total force  = X.

E=

a_
a

(3)

(iii)

Dr. M I. Adam

Hence, if U is not explicit function of time then, the force field

denoted F is conservative force and, under these conditions:
Theory 3: The total energy E of a Particle in a conservative force
field is constant in time.
No conservation laws can be applied in situations of:
1- Interaction of moving electric charges.
2- Quantum mechanical systems.

Dr. M I. Adam

Prob. 2.2: Find the velocity H as a function of the displacement

 for a particle of mass, which starts from the rest at = 0,
subject to the following force functions:
(a) ' =  + e
(b) ' =  f gh'
(c) ' =  cos e

Where  and e are positive constants.

Solution:
(a) &&x =

dx& dx& dx
dx&
dx& 1
= = x& x&
= ( Fo + cx )
dt dx dt
dx
dx m

1 2 1
cx
1
&
&
x
=
2
F
+
cx
x
F
x
=
+

F
+
cx
dx

(
)
( o
)
o

o
m

m
2
m
2
2

& &=
xdx

(b) &&x = x&

dx& 1
= Fo e cx
dx m

& &=
xdx

1
Fo e cx dx
m

2F
1 2
F
F
cx
x& = o ( e cx 1) = o (1 e cx ) x& = o 1 e

2
cm
cm
cm

(c) &&x = x&

dx& 1
= ( Fo cos cx )
dx m

1 2 Fo
x& =
sin cx
2
cm

& &=
xdx

Fo
cos cx dx
m

2F

x& = o sin cx
cm

1
2

1
2

1
2

Dr. M I. Adam

Prob. 2.8: A projectile is fired with a velocity  such that it

passes through two points both a distance above the
horizontal. Show that if the gun is adjusted for a maximum
range, the separation of the points is =

(
j

k* 4Y .

Solution:
y
v0
P

Q
x

The equations for the coordinates are

x = v0t cos

y = v0t sin

1 2
gt
2

(1)
(2)

In order to calculate the time when a projectile reaches the

ground, we let y = 0 in (2):
1
v0t sin gt 2 = 0
2
2v
t = 0 sin
g

(3)
(4)

Substituting (4) into (1) we find the relation between the range
and the angle as
v02
x = sin 2
g

(5)

Dr. M I. Adam

The range is maximum when 2 = , i.e., =

of m the coordinates become

v0
1 2
y=
t gt
2
2

x=

v0

. For this value

(6)

Eliminating t between these equations yields

v02
v02
x x+ y =0
g
g
2

(7)

We can find the x-coordinate of the projectile when it is at the

height h by putting y = h in (7):
v02
v02 h
x x+
=0
g
g
2

(8)

This equation has two solutions:

v02 v02
x1 =

v02 4 gh
2g 2g

2
2

v0 v0
2
x2 =
+
v0 4 gh
2g 2g

(9)

where x1 corresponds to the point P and x2 to Q in the diagram.

Therefore,

d = x2 x1 =

v0
g

v02 4 gh

(10)

Dr. M I. Adam

Prob.2-21: Show directly that the time rate of change of the

angular momentum about the origin for a projectile fired from
the origin (constant g) is equal to the moment of force (or
torque) about the origin.
Solution:
x3
v0

x2

x1

Assume a coordinate system in which the projectile moves in

the x2 x3 plane. Then,
x2 = v0t cos

1 2
x3 = v0t sin gt
2

(1)

or,
1

r = x2e2 + x3e3 = ( v0t cos ) e2 + v0t sin gt 2 e3

2

(2)

The linear momentum of the projectile is

p = mr& = m ( v0 cos ) e2 + ( v0 sin gt ) e3

(3)

and the angular momentum is

L = r p = ( v0t cos ) e2 + v0t sin gt 2 e3 m ( v0 cos ) e2 + ( v0 sin gt ) e3

(4)

Dr. M I. Adam

Using the property of the unit vectors that ei e j = e3 ijk , we

find

1
mg v0t 2 cos e1
2

(5)

L& = ( mg v0t cos ) e1

(6)

L=

This gives
Now, the force acting on the projectile is
F = mg e3

(7)

so that the torque is

N = r F = ( v0t cos ) e 2 + v0t sin gt 2 e3 ( mg ) e3
2

= ( mg v0t cos ) e1

which is the same result as in (6).

Dr. M I. Adam

Standard Examples: Motion of a Particle in 2-D:

1- Consider a block sliding on an inclined plane. If the angle
of the plane is n and the mass of the block is  , sliding
through a frictionless path. What is the block acceleration?
y

N
x

N
N

Fg cos

Fg sin

mg sin

mg sin

mg cos

Fg

mg

mg cos
mg

Two forces act on the block; j and P, the normal to the plane.

[(THE REST OF THIS LECTURE WILL BE DISCUSSED ON WHITE

BOARD IN CLASS]!