Chapter 3

Kinematics in 2 Dimensions

Trigonometry and Vectors

Trigonometry
Right triangle – triangle that has one angle 90o
Trigonometry
Trig functions related to a right triangle
ho
sin θ =
h

ha
cos θ =
h

ho
tan θ =
ha
Trigonometry Find the height of a building which casts a shadow
of 67.2 m when the angle of the Sun’s rays with respect
to the ground is 50.0o.
ho
tan θ =
ha

ho

tan 50 =
67.2m


ho = tan 50 (67.2m ) = 80.0m
Trigonometry
Inverse trig functions
& ho #
−1
θ = sin $ !
%h"

& ha #
−1
θ = cos $ !
%h"

−1& ho #
θ = tan $$ !!
% ha "
Trigonometry

a) At what angle does the lakefront drop off

if the depth of the lake at a distance of 14.0 m
is 2.25 m?
b) What is the depth of the water at 22.0 m?
" ho %
−1 −1 " 2.25 m % o
a) θ = tan $ ' = tan $ ' = 9.13
# ha & # 14.0 m &
h0
b) tan θ = ⇒ d = h0 = ha tan θ = ( 22.0 m ) tan 9.13o = 3.54 m
ha
Trigonometry

2 2 2
Pythagorean theorem: h =h +h
o a
Scalars and Vectors

A scalar quantity is one that can be described

by a single number:

temperature, speed, mass

A vector quantity deals inherently with both

magnitude and direction:

velocity, force, displacement

Scalars and Vectors
Example of a two-dimensional vector
Vector Addition and Subtraction

Often it is necessary to add one vector to another.

= +
Vector Addition and Subtraction

5m 3m

8m
Vector Addition and Subtraction

= +
Vector Addition and Subtraction

Find the magnitude! and direction

of the sum vector R

2.00 m

6.00 m
Vector Addition and Subtraction

2 2 2
R = ( 2.00 m ) + ( 6.00 m )

2 2
R= (2.00 m ) + (6.00 m ) = 6.32m

R
2.00 m

6.00 m
Vector Addition and Subtraction

tan θ = 2.00 6.00

−1 
θ = tan (2.00 6.00)= 18.4

R = 6.32 m
2.00 m
θ
6.00 m
Vector Addition and Subtraction

When a vector is multiplied

by -1, the magnitude of the
vector remains the same, but
the direction of the vector is
reversed.
Vector Addition and Subtraction

Comparing the sum of two vectors

   with the difference between the same

A+B B two vectors


A  
A −B
 
A−B
The Components of a Vector

 
x and y are called the x vector component

and the y vector component of r.
The Components of a Vector


The vector components of A are two perpendicular
 
vectors A x and A y that are parallel to the x and y axes,
  
and add together vectorially so that A = A x + A y .
The Components of a Vector

It is often easier to work with the scalar components

rather than the vector components.

Ax and Ay are the scalar components


of A.

xˆ and yˆ are unit vectors with magnitude 1.


A = Ax xˆ + Ay yˆ
The Components of a Vector

Example

A displacement vector has a magnitude of 175 m and points at

an angle of 50.0 degrees relative to the x axis. Find the x and y
components of this vector.

sin θ = y r
y = r sin θ = (175 m ) (sin 50.0! ) = 134 m

cos θ = x r
!
x = r cosθ = (175 m ) ( cos50.0 ) = 112 m
θ
!
r = (112 m ) x̂ + (134 m ) ŷ
x, y --- rectangular coordinates
r, θ --- polar coordinates
Addition of Vectors by Means of Components

  
C= A+B
 
A = Ax xˆ + Ay yˆ B = Bx xˆ + B y yˆ
Addition of Vectors by Means of Components

!
C = Ax x̂ + Ay ŷ + Bx x̂ + By ŷ
= ( Ax + Bx ) x̂ + ( Ay + By ) ŷ

C x = Ax + Bx C y = Ay + B y
Addition of Vectors by Means of Components
Example:
+y
V1 = 6.0 m V2 = 10.0 m !
Find the magnitude and angle ! ! V2
! ! V1 + V2
of V1 + V2
θ = 30 o
! +x
V1 0

!
V1 = (−6.0 m)x̂
!
V2 = (10.0 m ) cos30 o x̂ + (10.0 m ) sin 30 o ŷ = (8.7 m ) x̂ + ( 5.0 m ) ŷ
! !
V1 + V2 = (−6.0 + 8.7) x̂ + ( 0 + 5.0 ) ŷ = ( 2.7 m ) x̂ + ( 5.0 m ) ŷ

! !
V1 + V2 = 2.72 + 5.0 2 = 5.7 m
! ! 5.0
angle of V1 + V2 = tan −1 = 62 o
2.7
Vectors in 3 dimensions
z !
Ax , Ay , Az --- rectangular coords A = Ax x̂ + Ay ŷ + Az ẑ
A, φ, θ --- spherical coords
Az
!
Ax = h cos φ = Asin θ cos φ A
Ay = hsin φ = Asin θ sin φ θ Ay
Az = A cosθ y
Ax φ h

h = Asin θ = Ax2 + Ay2

x A = h 2 + Az2 = Ax2 + Ay2 + Az2