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AP Physics - Core Concept Cheat Sheet 
05: Vectors and Kinematics in Two Dimensions 
Key Physics Terms 
• Vector: A quantity that represents magnitude (size) and 
direction. It is usually represented with an arrow to indicate 
the appropriate direction. Vectors may or may not be drawn 
to scale. 
• Scalar: A quantity that can be completely described by its 
magnitude, (size). It has no direction associated with its 
size. 
• Resultant: the result of adding two or more vectors; 
vector sum. 
• Vector Component: The perpendicular parts into which a 
vector can be separated and that act in different directions 
from the vector. 
• Vector Addition: The process of combining vectors; added 
tip to tail. 
• Distance: The quantity that describes the position of an 
object. Distance is a scalar. 
• Displacement: The quantity that describes the change in 
location of an object and includes its direction of motion. 
Displacement is a vector. 
• Speed: The distance an object travels per unit of time; the 
magnitude of velocity. Speed is a scalar. 
• Velocity: Speed of an object including its direction of 
motion. Velocity is a vector quantity. 
• Constant velocity: A velocity that does not change with 
time. 
• Acceleration: The rate at which an object’s velocity 
changes with time; this change may in speed, direction, or 
both. Acceleration is a vector. 
Variables Used 
• d = distance 
• t = time 
• v = velocity (usually average velocity or constant velocity) 
• a = acceleration 
• vf = final velocity 
• vi = initial velocity 
• Δ = change in 
θ = angle 
Key Formulas 
Velocity of a projectile 
Horizontal component 
RapidLearningCenter.com © Rapid Learning Inc. All Rights Reserved 
• v = d/t 
• a = Δv/Δt=(vf - vi) / t 
• d = vit + at2 / 2 
• vf 
2 = vi 
2 + 2ad 
• Pythagorean Theorem: c2 = a2 + b2 
• Sin θ = opp / hyp 
• Cos θ = adj / hyp 
• Tan θ = opp / adj 
• For the vertical sign convention of up is positive: 
Acceleration due to gravity, g, = -9.8 m/s2 
Key Metric Units 
• Displacement/distance: meters, m 
• Time: s 
• Velocity/speed: m/s 
• Acceleration: m/s2, m/s/s 
Key Conventions 
• Assign a direction as positive. 
• Keep this convention throughout the problem. 
• Any quantities in the opposite direction must be negative. 
• Often, up and right are positive, while down and left are 
negative. 
• Even if someone else choses the opposite direction as 
positive, for their sign convention they will arrive at the 
correct answer, assuming everything else is done correctly. 
Constant Velocity vs. Constant Acceleration 
• Projectiles move with a constant acceleration due to gravity 
only in the vertical direction. 
• Projectiles move with a constant velocity only in the 
horizontal direction. 
Component Diagram 
Vertical 
component 
Kinematics in 2-D Problem Solving Tips 
These tips will make it easier to solve any kinematics physics 
problems. 
• Thoroughly read the entire problem. 
• Draw a diagram if needed. 
• Identify all given information. 
• Identify the quantity to be found. 
• Select appropriate formula(s) that incorporate what you 
know and what you want to find. 
• Convert units if needed. Use units throughout your 
calculations. 
• Do any mathematical calculations carefully. Check the 
number of significant figures in the problem. 
• For all projectiles, the horizontal velocity is constant. 
Gravity only affects the vertical component of motion. 
Typical 2-D Kinematics Problem 
Example: A toy projectile is fired horizontally from a launcher 
at height of 1.0 m and a velocity of 15 m/s. How far away 
from the starting point will the projectile land? 
Known: 
dv = -1m a = -9.8 m/s2 vh = 15 m/s viv =0 m/s 
Unknowns: 
dh = ? t = ? 
Define: First, find the time in the air: d= vit + at2/2 
This formula can be used since the air time for 
horizontally launched projectile equals the time for 
one that is simply dropped. 
Since viv=0 m/s then d = at2/2 
Rearranging: t = √(2d/a) 
Second, find the horizontal distance: dh=vt 
This formula can be used since the horizontal 
velocity is constant. 
Output: 
t = √(2d/a)= √(2(-1m)/(-9.8m/s2))= .45s 
dh=(.45 s)(15 m/s)= 6.8 m 
Substantiate: 
Units are correct, sig fig correct, magnitude looks 
reasonable. 
How to Use This Cheat Sheet: These are the keys related this topic. Try to read through it carefully twice then write it out on a 
blank sheet of paper. Review it again before the exams.

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Kinematics 2d cheat sheet

  • 1. AP Physics - Core Concept Cheat Sheet 05: Vectors and Kinematics in Two Dimensions Key Physics Terms • Vector: A quantity that represents magnitude (size) and direction. It is usually represented with an arrow to indicate the appropriate direction. Vectors may or may not be drawn to scale. • Scalar: A quantity that can be completely described by its magnitude, (size). It has no direction associated with its size. • Resultant: the result of adding two or more vectors; vector sum. • Vector Component: The perpendicular parts into which a vector can be separated and that act in different directions from the vector. • Vector Addition: The process of combining vectors; added tip to tail. • Distance: The quantity that describes the position of an object. Distance is a scalar. • Displacement: The quantity that describes the change in location of an object and includes its direction of motion. Displacement is a vector. • Speed: The distance an object travels per unit of time; the magnitude of velocity. Speed is a scalar. • Velocity: Speed of an object including its direction of motion. Velocity is a vector quantity. • Constant velocity: A velocity that does not change with time. • Acceleration: The rate at which an object’s velocity changes with time; this change may in speed, direction, or both. Acceleration is a vector. Variables Used • d = distance • t = time • v = velocity (usually average velocity or constant velocity) • a = acceleration • vf = final velocity • vi = initial velocity • Δ = change in θ = angle Key Formulas Velocity of a projectile Horizontal component RapidLearningCenter.com © Rapid Learning Inc. All Rights Reserved • v = d/t • a = Δv/Δt=(vf - vi) / t • d = vit + at2 / 2 • vf 2 = vi 2 + 2ad • Pythagorean Theorem: c2 = a2 + b2 • Sin θ = opp / hyp • Cos θ = adj / hyp • Tan θ = opp / adj • For the vertical sign convention of up is positive: Acceleration due to gravity, g, = -9.8 m/s2 Key Metric Units • Displacement/distance: meters, m • Time: s • Velocity/speed: m/s • Acceleration: m/s2, m/s/s Key Conventions • Assign a direction as positive. • Keep this convention throughout the problem. • Any quantities in the opposite direction must be negative. • Often, up and right are positive, while down and left are negative. • Even if someone else choses the opposite direction as positive, for their sign convention they will arrive at the correct answer, assuming everything else is done correctly. Constant Velocity vs. Constant Acceleration • Projectiles move with a constant acceleration due to gravity only in the vertical direction. • Projectiles move with a constant velocity only in the horizontal direction. Component Diagram Vertical component Kinematics in 2-D Problem Solving Tips These tips will make it easier to solve any kinematics physics problems. • Thoroughly read the entire problem. • Draw a diagram if needed. • Identify all given information. • Identify the quantity to be found. • Select appropriate formula(s) that incorporate what you know and what you want to find. • Convert units if needed. Use units throughout your calculations. • Do any mathematical calculations carefully. Check the number of significant figures in the problem. • For all projectiles, the horizontal velocity is constant. Gravity only affects the vertical component of motion. Typical 2-D Kinematics Problem Example: A toy projectile is fired horizontally from a launcher at height of 1.0 m and a velocity of 15 m/s. How far away from the starting point will the projectile land? Known: dv = -1m a = -9.8 m/s2 vh = 15 m/s viv =0 m/s Unknowns: dh = ? t = ? Define: First, find the time in the air: d= vit + at2/2 This formula can be used since the air time for horizontally launched projectile equals the time for one that is simply dropped. Since viv=0 m/s then d = at2/2 Rearranging: t = √(2d/a) Second, find the horizontal distance: dh=vt This formula can be used since the horizontal velocity is constant. Output: t = √(2d/a)= √(2(-1m)/(-9.8m/s2))= .45s dh=(.45 s)(15 m/s)= 6.8 m Substantiate: Units are correct, sig fig correct, magnitude looks reasonable. How to Use This Cheat Sheet: These are the keys related this topic. Try to read through it carefully twice then write it out on a blank sheet of paper. Review it again before the exams.