1. Normal-Tangential coordinates
Lecture IV
The description of the Plane Curvilinear Motion by the normal-tangential (n-t) coordinates
Normal-Tangential coordinates

2. Plane Curvilinear Motion – Normal-Tangential (n-t) Coordinates
Here, the curvilinear motions measurements are made along the tangent (t) and the normal (n) to the path.
n-t coordinates are considered to move along the path with the particle.
The positive direction of the normal (n) always points to the center of curvature of the path; while the positive direction of the tangent (t) is taken in the direction of particle advance (for convenience).
et & en are the unit vectors in t-direction and n-direction, respectively.

3. (n-t) Coordinates - Velocity
Note: r is the radius of curvature and db is the increment in the angle (in radians)
Note: as mentioned before that the velocity vector v is always tangent to the path; thus, the velocity has only one component in the n-t coordinates, which is in the t-direction. This means that vn = 0.
Its magnitude is:
(after dt)

4. (n-t) Coordinates - Acceleration
Note: et, in this case, has a non-zero derivative, since it changes its direction. Its magnitude remains constant at 1.
(after dt) ?
Note: the vector det , in the limit, has a magnitude equal to the length of the arc |et|db=db. The direction of det is given by en.
Thus,

5. (n-t) Coordinates – Acceleration (Cont.)
Notes:
an always directed toward the center of curvature.
at positive if the speed v is increasing and negative if v is decreasing.
Its magnitude is:
r = , thus an = 0

6. (n-t) Coordinates – Circular Motion
For a circular path: r = r

7. n-t Coordinates Exercises

8. Exercise # 1
2/97: A particle moves in a circular path of 0.4 m radius. Calculate the magnitude a of the acceleration of the particle (a) if its speed is constant at 0.6 m/s and (b) if its speed is 0.6 m/s but is increasing at the rate of 1.2 m/s each second. .

9. Exercise # 2 Determine the maximum speed that the cars of the
roller-coaster can reach along the circular portion AB
of the track if the normal component of their acceleration
cannot exceed 3g.

10. Exercise # 3
2/101: The driver of the truck has an acceleration of 0.4g as the truck passes over the top A of the hump in the road at constant speed. The radius of curvature of the road at the top of the hump is 98 m, and the center of mass G of the driver (considered a particle) is 2 m above the road. Calculate the speed v of the truck.

11. Exercise # 4
2/110: Write the vector expression for the acceleration a of the mass center G of the simple pendulum in both n-t and x-y coordinates for the instant when q = 60° if q. = 2.00 rad/s and q.. = 2.45 rad/s2.

12. Exercise # 5
A motorist starts from rest at point A on a circular entrance ramp when t = 0, increases the speed of her automobile at a constant rate and enters the highway at point B. Knowing that her speed continues to increase at the same rate until it reaches 104 km/h at point C, determine (a) the speed at point B, (b) the magnitude of the total acceleration when t = 15 s.

13. Lecture V
The description of the Plane Curvilinear Motion by the Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates

14. Plane Curvilinear Motion – Polar Coordinates
Here, the curvilinear motions measurements are made by the radial distance (r) from a fixed pole and by an angular measurement (q) to the radial line.
The x-axis is used as a reference line for the measurement of q.
er & eq are the unit vectors in r-direction and q-direction, respectively.

15. Polar Coordinates – Position & Velocity
Note: from (b), der is in the positive q-direction and deq in the negative r-direction
The position vector of the particle:
The velocity is: ?
(after dt)
(after dt)

16. Polar Coordinates – Velocity (Cont.)
Thus, the velocity is:
Its magnitude is:
Due to the rate at which the vector stretches
Due to rotation of r

17. Polar Coordinates - Acceleration
Rearranging,
Centripetal acceleration
Its magnitude is:
Coriolis acceleration

18. Polar Coordinates – Circular Motion
For a circular path: r = constant
Note: The positive r-direction is in the negative n-direction, i.e. ar = - an

19. Polar Coordinates Exercises

20. Exercise # 6
2/131: The boom OAB pivots about point O, while section AB simultaneously extends from within section OA. Determine the velocity and acceleration of the center B of the pulley for the following conditions: q = 20°, q . = 5 deg/s, q .. = 2 deg/s2, l = 2 m, l . = 0.5 m/s, l .. = -1.2 m/s2. The quantities l . and l .. are the first and second time derivatives, respectively, of the length l of section AB.

21. Exercise # 7
To study the performance of a race car, a high-speed motion-picture camera is positioned at point A. The camera is mounted on a mechanism which permits it to record the motion of the car as the car travels on straightaway BC. Determine the speed of the car in terms of b, , θ and q ..

22. Exercise # 8
2/142: At the bottom of a loop in the vertical (r-q) plane at an altitude of 400 m, the airplane P has a horizontal velocity of 600 km/h and no horizontal acceleration. The radius of curvature of the loop is 1200 m. For the radar tracking at O, determine the recorded values of r.. and q.. for this instant.