NOTE

P H Y S I C S

VECTORS
LAWS OF VECTOR

What you will learn

• Displacement vector • Resolving a vector

• Unit vector • Addition of two vectors using vector resolution

What you will learn

• Vector resolution on an inclined plane • Parallelogram law of vector addition

• Triangle law of vector addition

Example

y 50 N

45o x
Resolve the following vector along
the inclined x and y axes.
60o

Solution

Angle between vector of magnitude 50 N Fx = 50 (cos60° cos45° + sin60° sin45°)

and x-axis = θ = (60° - 45°) 1 1 √3 1 1 + √3
| F |= 50 N Fx = 50 × + × = 50
2 √2 2 √2 2 √2
Fx = 50 cos (60° - 45°) 1 + √3 √3 - 1
Fy = 50 sin (60° - 45°) ⇒ F =50 i + 50 j
2 √2 2 √2
Fy = 50 (sin60° cos45° - cos60° sin45°)
sin(A - B) = sin A cos B - cos A sin B
√3 1 1 1 √3 - 1
Fy = 50 × - × = 50 cos(A - B) = cos A cos B + sin A sin B
2 √2 2 √2 2 √2

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 02

Example
x
y
A block is placed on an inclined plane as shown
in the figure. Find the components of external F m
force along the x and y direction, if F applied
horizontally.
37o

Solution
x
F = Fx + Fy y
37°
|F| = F sin
F
-4F F
Fx = - Fcos37° =
5 37o °
s 37
3F o
Fy = Fsin37° = Fc
5 37o
-4F 3F
⇒F= i + j
5 5

Example

A = 10N

Find, A + B 37o x
o
53

B = 5N

Solution y
y
Resolve the following vectors √29 N
along the x and y axes. A = 10N
6N 2N
F=A+B 3N 37o θ
x ⇒ x
A = 8 i + 6 j ; B = -3 i - 4 j o 8N 5N
53
F = (8 - 3) i + (6 - 4) j = 5 i + 2 j
4N
F = 5i + 2j
B = 5N 2
tan θ =
I F I = √52 + 22 = √29 5

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 03

Example
y

IBI = 14
B
37o
A
Find, A + B x
IAI = 14

Solution
y y
Resolve the following vectors IBI = 14 56
along the x and y axes. Bsin53o
37o
5
A = 14 i 53o
x ⇒ x
42 56 Bcos53o A 28
B =- i + j
5 5 5
28 56
A+B= i + j
5 5

BOARDS
Triangle law of vector addition

Triangle law of vector addition states that when two vectors are represented by two sides of a
triangle in magnitude and direction taken in same order then third side of that triangle taken in
opposite order, represents in magnitude and direction the resultant of the two vectors.

R=A+B y

IAI = A ; IBI = B
A = Ai
B = B cosθ i + B sinθ j
R
R = (A + B cosθ) i + B sinθ j B B sinθ j
IRI = √(A + B cosθ) + (B sinθ)2
2

IRI = √A2 + B2 + 2AB cosθ θ

A
x
Ai B cosθ i

BOARDS NEET
Parallelogram law of vector addition

When two vectors with a common origin represent two adjacent sides of a parallelogram with
magnitude and direction, the resultant vector is represented both in magnitude and direction by the
diagonal passing through that point.

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 04

R=A+B
IAI = A ; IBI = B y
A = Ai A

B = Bcosθ i + Bsinθ j
R = (A + Bcosθ) i + Bsinθ j
IRI = √(A + Bcosθ)2 + (Bsinθ)2 B R
B Bsinθ
IRI = √A2 + B2 + 2ABcosθ
α = Angle between R and A
θ α θ
Bsinθ x
α = tan-1 A Bcosθ
A + Bcosθ
IRI = √A + B2 + 2ABcosθ
2

Example

x
10N
Find the magnitude and direction of the
resultant of the two vectors shown in the
figure given here.
5N

Solution

A = 10 i Let α be the angle between R and A

B = - 5j Bsinθ
α = tan-1
π A + Bcosθ
IAI = 10; IBI = 5; θ =
2 π
IRI = √A + B + 2ABcosθ
2 2 5sin
2
α = tan-1
π π
IRI = 100 + 25 + 2 × 5 × 10cos 10 + 5 × cos
2 2
IRI = √125 = 5√5
5 1
α = tan-1 = tan-1 ;In 4th quadrant,
10 2
clockwise from x-axis.

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 05

Example

y
20N

37o
Two forces of 10 N and 20 N are acting
on a body as shown in the figure. Find the x
magnitude and direction of the resultant
force vector.

10N

Solution

IAI = 20N; IBI = 10N; θ = (180o - 37o)

IRI = √A2 + B2 + 2ABcosθ
y
IRI = √400 + 100 + 2 × 20 × 10cos (180o - 37o) 20N
IRI = √500 + 400 × (- cos 37o) 37o
IRI = √180
Bsinθ x
α = tan-1 θ
A + Bcosθ
10sin (180o - 37o)
α = tan-1
20 + 10cos (180o - 37o)
10sin37o
α = tan -1
20 - 10cos37o
6
α = tan-1
20 - 8
1
α = tan-1
2

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