When a movement occurs in two dimensions or more, one will need to work with vectors, i.e., one must use the vector kinematics. One example of movement in two dimensions is a car describing a circular path.

## Vector Kinematics

The figure above shows some vectors in a two-dimensional movement (circular path), which can be understood as follows:

Velocity vector $$(\vec{v})$$
The velocity vector is always tangent to the trajectory at the point where the object is located and has the same direction as the motion.
Tangential acceleration vector $$(\vec{a_t})$$
It is the acceleration component that dictates the variation of the speed module. It is in the same line of the speed, always. For an accelerated motion, $$\vec{a_t}$$ has the same direction of the speed, and for a decelerating case, $$\vec{a_t}$$ has an opposite direction to the speed.
Centripetal acceleration vector $$(\vec{a_c})$$
It is the acceleration component that changes the velocity direction, and its direction is pointing towards the center of the path from the object position.

The acceleration module at a given instant is $$a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}$$ where $$v$$ is the speed module and $$r$$ is the curvature radius of the path in the instant considered.
Resultant acceleration vector $$(\vec{a})$$
It is the sum of all accelerations that act on a body. Vectorially, $$\vec{a} = \vec{a}_t +\vec{a}_c$$; algebraically, $$a^2 = a_t^2 + a_c^2$$.