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Adding Vector Examples

The document provides two examples of adding vectors to determine the speed and direction of resulting motion. The first example involves a plane flying at an angle in the presence of wind. The second example involves calculating the displacement of a person walking two distances at different angles. Both examples illustrate breaking vectors into components and using trigonometry to find the magnitude and direction of the overall vector.

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Jedidiah Clement
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91 views1 page

Adding Vector Examples

The document provides two examples of adding vectors to determine the speed and direction of resulting motion. The first example involves a plane flying at an angle in the presence of wind. The second example involves calculating the displacement of a person walking two distances at different angles. Both examples illustrate breaking vectors into components and using trigonometry to find the magnitude and direction of the overall vector.

Uploaded by

Jedidiah Clement
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Adding Vectors Examples

Example 1: A plane flies 35 m/sec at 30o north of east. A wind is blowing north at 25 m/sec.
Find the speed and direction of the planes resulting flight.
Step 1: Draw the problem

30

Wind is already all


y-component so:
ywind = 25 m/sec

e=3
p la n o
30
xplane

5 m/

sec

adj. = hyp.(cos )
xplane = 35 m/s(cos30)
xplane = 35 m/s(.866) =
xplane = 30.31 m/s

yplane

/sec
s
35 m
re
=
e
n
p la
o

wind = 25 m/sec

t
tan
ul

Step 2: Resolve all vectors into their components

But must find x and y


components of the plane.

yplane = 35 m/s(sin30) = 35m/s(.5)


yplane = 17.5 m/s

=?
Step 4: Find the
resultants magnitude using
the Pythagorean theorem

Step 3: Add together all components

ywind =
25 m/s

c
su
m/se
re
= 35
e
n
a
pl
o

30

=?

yplane =
17.5 m/s

ytotal =
(25 + 17.5) m/s
= 42.5 m/s

=?

tan = opp./adj.
tan = 42.5/30.31
tan = 1.402
= tan1(1.402)
= 54.5o

b = 42.5 m/s

=
nt
lta

Step 4: Find the


resultants angle using
trigonometry

a = 30.31 m/s

Xplane = 30.31 m/s


2

c = a + b2 = (30.31)2 + (42.5)2
c = (918.7) + (1806.25) = 2724.95
c = 52.2 m/sec

Answer: The plane will be


flying 52.2 m/sec at
54.5o to the horizontal.

Adding the components together


makes a large right-triangle.

Example 2: A person walks 15 m at 20o to the horizontal, then 22 m at 45o to the horizontal.
Find the magnitude and direction of their final displacement.

ltan

adj. = hyp.(cos )
x15 = (15m)(cos20) = 14.1 m

adj. = hyp.(cos )
x22 = (22m)(cos45) = 15.6 m

opp. = hyp.(sin )
y15 = (15m)(sin20) = 5.1 m

opp. = hyp.(sin )
y22 = (22m)(sin45) = 15.6 m

45o
x22

not drawn to scale

Step 4: Find the


resultants magnitude using
the Pythagorean theorem

Step 3: Add together all components

15 m
20o
13.2 m

t
tan

22 m

11 m

45o

xtotal =
(5.1 + 15.6)m
= 20.7 m

?
c=

5.1 m

11 m

xtotal = (14.1 + 15.6)m = 29.7m


Adding the components together
makes a large right-triangle.

www.aisd.net/smurray

b = 20.7 m

l
resu

=?

22

22 m
45o

15 m
20o

=?

Step 2: Resolve all vectors


into components

y22

resu

y15

15 m o
20
x15

Step 1: Draw the problem

Step 4: Find the


resultants angle using
trigonometry
tan = opp./adj.
tan = 20.7/29.7
tan = 0.6970
= tan1(0.6970)
= 34.9o

a = 29.7 m/s
2

c = a + b2 = (29.7)2 + (20.7)2
c = (882.09) + (428.49) = 1310.58
c = 36.2 m
2

Answer: The persons


displacement is 36.2 m at 34.9o
to the horizontal.

Copyright 2004, C. Stephen Murray

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