We will now broaden our scope of motion problems in physics to include curved trajectories in 2 dimensional space. To go from point P to a new point Q in the x-y plane, the position vector changes from R 1 to R 2 . Concept of Position As an object moves along a curved trajectory in the x-y plane, both its x and y coordinates change with time. P to a new point Q, the position vector R changes.
V avg is a vector with magnitude and direction.
The above discussion showed a geometric approach to compute V . Note that a avg points into the concave side of the trajectory. Since a avg always points into the concave side of the trajectory, so will the instantaneous acceleration vector a . In some scenarios the projectile is launched from the geometric origin O in the x-y plane. You need to know these two formulas for your chapter test.