3-Dimensional Position and Motion
Claimed by Benjamin Tasistro-Hart Fall 2016 Motion is defined as a change in position over a time interval. Objects exist in 3-Dimensional space, so it is necessary to know how these objects change position in 3-Dimensional space.
The Main Idea
Objects, exist and move in three dimensions, so it is necessary to understand how it is possible to predict their future position using one of three fundamental principles, in this case the momentum principle. We use an iterative process to calculate and predict the future position of objects. It may seem that using the momentum principle complicates the iterative calculation process, but very rarely do we know only the velocity and acceleration of an object. For this reason, using the momentum principle as the most general form of position update guarantees we can apply it to any situation.
A Mathematical Model
What are the mathematical equations that allow us to model this topic? Position is determined by the net force [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{net} }[/math] so every type of force, be it a spring, gravity, or electric force, affects the position of an object. It is possible that we are given the net force as number, and we can avoid the iterative calculation of the new magnitude of the spring and gravity force.
Spring Force: [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{spring} = k_sS\hat{L} }[/math]
Gravity Force: [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{grav}= }[/math] [math]\displaystyle{ {-G}{m_{1}m_{2} \over\ {\left\vert \vec{r} \right\vert}^2}{\hat{r}} }[/math]
Electric Force: [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{elec}= }[/math] [math]\displaystyle{ {1 \over\ 4\pi\varepsilon_{0}}{q_{1}q_{2} \over\ {\left\vert \vec{r} \right\vert}^2}{\hat{r}} }[/math]
Momentum Principle: [math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{p}_{f}}= {\vec{p}_{i}+ \vec{F}_{net}\Delta t} }[/math]
The general workflow to solving position-update problems by hand would be as follows:
1. Calculate the current net force [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{F}_{net} }[/math] acting on the system. For this step, remember to update forces which are distant-dependent such as the spring, gravity, and electric forces.
2. Update the new momentum [math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{p}_{f}}= {\vec{p}_{i}+ \vec{F}_{net}\Delta t} }[/math]
3. Update the new position [math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{r}_{f}}= {\vec{r}_{i}+ \vec{v}_{avg}\Delta t} }[/math].
For this step, [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{v}_{avg} }[/math] can take many forms:
Constant net force: [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{v}_{avg} \approx }[/math] [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{v}_{f}+ \vec{v}_{i} \over\ 2 }[/math]
Non-constant net force: [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{v}_{avg} \approx }[/math] [math]\displaystyle{ \vec{p}_{f}\over\ m }[/math]
A Computational Model
The following is code for a simple computational model showing the effects of a constant force on a mass:
https://trinket.io/embed/glowscript/75acfdd1c6
Examples
Here are a few examples:
Simple
At t = 17.0 seconds an object with mass 3 kg was observed to have a velocity of [math]\displaystyle{ \langle 12, 27, −8 \rangle }[/math] m/s. At t = 17.1 seconds its velocity was [math]\displaystyle{ \langle 24, 19, 22 \rangle }[/math] m/s. What was the average (vector) net force acting on the object?
Begin from a fundamental principle:
[math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{p}_{f}}= {\vec{p}_{i}+ \vec{F}_{net}\Delta t} }[/math]
[math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{p}_{f}-\vec{p}_{i} \over\ \Delta t}= \vec{F}_{net} }[/math]
[math]\displaystyle{ {\vec{p}_{f}-\vec{p}_{i} \over\ \Delta t}= \vec{F}_{net} }[/math]
Substitute the provided values into the symbolic expression and you should arrive at your final answer:
[math]\displaystyle{ \left\langle 360,\ -240,\ 900\right\rangle N = \vec{F}_{net} }[/math]
Middling
An acorn is acted upon by the Earth, air resistance, and a strong wind. Below are positions of the ball at two times.
At t = 11.68 s, the position was [math]\displaystyle{ \langle 4.22, 2.45, −9.63 \rangle }[/math] m.
At t = 11.71 s, the position was [math]\displaystyle{ \langle 4.26, 2.37, −10.35 \rangle }[/math] m.
Difficult
A ball is kicked from a location [math]\displaystyle{ \langle 8,0,-7 \rangle }[/math] with initial velocity of [math]\displaystyle{ \langle -11, 15, 2 \rangle }[/math] m/s.
(a) What is velocity of the ball 0.2 seconds after being kicked?
(b) What is the net impulse during this time interval?
(c) What is the location of the ball at the end of this time interval?
Connectedness
- How is this topic connected to something that you are interested in?
Everything we do involves three dimensional position and motion, so it is useful to understand how matter moves in three dimensions. I'm interested in parametric design. so understanding how things change in three dimensions is critical for good design.
- How is it connected to your major?
I study architecture, so an awareness of three dimensional space is critical to designing well. As mentioned before, I'm interested in parametric design which when used to create complex shapes (like those buildings which have a flowy diagrid [see Norman Foster's British Museum]) demands an understanding of the way matter moves through space.
- Is there an interesting industrial application?
Yes! Every force is in three dimensions, as is every object and its movement.