Normal & Tangential (n-t)

Coordinates

Lecture 4

ME 231: Dynamics
Question of the Day

A particle moves in a
circular path of radius
r = 0.8 m with constant speed
(v) of 2 m/s. The velocity
undergoes a vector change 'v
from A to B.

Express the magnitude of 'v in terms of v and

'T. Express the time interval 't in terms of v,
'T, and r. Obtain the magnitude of average
acceleration by computing 'v/'t.
ME 231: Dynamics 2
Outline for Today

 Question of the day

 N-T vector representation
 Velocity and acceleration
 Geometric interpretation
 Circular motion
 Answer your questions!

ME 231: Dynamics 3
Recall: Possible Coordinate Systems

 Rectangular (x, y, z)
 Polar (r, T, z)
 Spherical (R, T, I)
 Normal and
Tangential (n, t)

ME 231: Dynamics 4
N-T Vector Representation
Path variables along the tangent (t) and normal (n)

 The n- and t-coordinates move along the path

with the particle
 Tangential coordinate is parallel to the
velocity
 The positive direction for the normal
coordinate is toward the center of curvature
ME 231: Dynamics 5
 Velocity

ds U dE
ds
v ? et v et UE e t
dt

 ds is the scalar displacement along the path

(AoA)
 Radius of curvature of the path is U and dE is
the angle change
 en is the unit vector in the normal direction
 et is the unit vector in the tangent direction
ME 231: Dynamics 6
 Acceleration

ds U dE
ds
v et v et UE e t
dt v v et
dv d v e t 
a ? v e t  v e t
dt dt

d et dE v v 2
e t ? en E e n en a ? en  v e t
dt dt U U
ME 231: Dynamics 7
Velocity and Acceleration: Exercise

A car passes through a dip in the road at A with

constant speed (v) giving it an acceleration (a)
equal to 0.5g. The radius of curvature (U) at A
is 100 m and the distance from the road to the
mass center G of the car is 0.6 m. 2
v
a en  v e t
Determine the speed (v) of the car. U
ME 231: Dynamics 8
Outline for Today

 Question of the day

 N-T vector representation
 Velocity and acceleration
 Geometric interpretation
 Circular motion
 Answer your questions!

ME 231: Dynamics 9
Geometric Interpretation v2
a en  v e t
U

 Normal component
is always directed
toward center of
curvature
 Tangent component
is directed toward
+t (or -t)
direction
if speed is
increasing
(or decreasing)

ME 231: Dynamics 10
Circular Motion
t
v
at
P
 Radius of curvature U an
becomes constant r r n
 Angle E is replaced T
O
by angle T

v UE v rT
v2 v2 
an an rT 2
vT
U r
at

v UE at v rT
ME 231: Dynamics 11
 2
v
Circular Motion: Exercise
a e n  ve t
r

Particle P moves in a
circular path shown.

Determine the magnitude

of acceleration for:
(a) constant velocity 1.2 m/s
(b) velocity 1.2 m/s and increasing 2.4 m/s
each second
(c) velocity 1.2 m/s and decreasing 4.8 m/s
each second

ME 231: Dynamics 12
Outline for Today

 Question of the day

 N-T vector representation
 Velocity and acceleration
 Geometric interpretation
 Circular motion
 Answer your questions!

ME 231: Dynamics 13
For Next Time

 Begin Homework #2 due next week

(9/5)
 Read Chapter 2, Section 2.6

ME 231: Dynamics 14