Kinematics

Revise Kinematics for Mechanics 2 WME02 (A2 Level) — revision notes and instant AI marking.

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Edexcel IAL Mechanics 2 (WME02)

Kinematics

The big idea: Split every motion into independent horizontal and vertical parts, and when acceleration is not constant, differentiate and integrate instead of using suvat.

Summary — What This Chapter Covers

Projectiles: horizontal velocity is constant; vertical motion has acceleration g downwards.
x = (u cos α)t, y = (u sin α)t − ½gt².
For variable acceleration: v = dr/dt, a = dv/dt; integrate the other way and use the initial conditions for the constants.
In two dimensions, work with i and j components separately.

1. Projectiles

Projectiles

Two independent motions

Resolve the initial velocity: horizontal component u cos α, vertical component u sin α. The horizontal component never changes; the vertical component behaves like a particle thrown straight up.

Key results (launched from ground level) Time of flight T = 2u sin α / g Range = u cos α × T Greatest height H = (u sin α)²/(2g)

Worked Example

A ball is projected from horizontal ground at 20 m s⁻¹ at 30° above the horizontal. Find the time of flight, the range and the greatest height.

2. Variable Acceleration in a Straight Line

Calculus

Differentiate down, integrate up

Displacement → velocity → acceleration by differentiating with respect to t; reverse by integrating, adding a constant each time. Distance travelled needs care when the velocity changes sign.

Worked Example

a = (6t − 4) m s⁻² and v = 3 m s⁻¹ when t = 0. Find the distance travelled in the first 2 s.

3. Variable Acceleration in Two Dimensions

Vectors

i and j separately

Memorise

Horizontal

Constant velocity u cos α

Vertical

Acceleration g downwards

Calculus

Constants

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Kinematics

Kinematics

Two independent motions

Differentiate down, integrate up

i and j separately

Horizontal

Vertical

Calculus

Constants

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