General Physics (Phys 1001)

Course Outline
and
Unit 1: Vector Quantities

Dr. Mesay Tilahun

June 2023
Course Outline
Cont.…
Cont.…
Cont.…

Test I (15%)
Cont.…

Test 2 (10%)

Reading Assignment (5%)

Cont.…

Quiz (5%)

Reading Assignment (Final Exam)

Unit 1: Vector Quantities
What is Vector?
A vector is a quantity that is specified by both a magnitude and direction in space.
Examples are:
displacement,
velocity,
acceleration,
momentum, etc.
A scalar is a quantity that is completely specified by a number and unit.
Examples:
mass,
time,
volume,
speed, etc.
Note:
Vector = Scalar + Direction
Q. A force of 20 N is applied on an object at an angle of 30 degrees to the horizontal.
Does this sentence represents scalar or vector quantity?
Ans. Vector
Magnitude = 20 N and direction = 30 degrees to the horizontal
Vector representations
There are two ways of vector representation:
A] Geometric
Vectors can be represented geometrically by arrows (directed line segments).
The arrowhead indicates the direction of the vector, and the length of the arrow describes the
magnitude of the vector.
B] Algebraic
i] Boldface letter:
acceleration = a
velocity = v
displacement = s
force = F
ii] Symbol with arrow over the head
acceleration = 𝑎
velocity = 𝑣
displacement = 𝑠
force = 𝐹
Q. Write the equation of Newton’s second law of motion in an appropriate vector representation.
A] F = ma
B] 𝐹 = m 𝑎
Vector Addition and Subtraction
There are two ways of vector addition:
A] Graphically
Steps:-
a] take appropriate scale [ for instance, 10m/s = 1cm]
b] connect the vectors one after the other (head to tail connection)
c] the resultant (sum) is the line from the tail of the first to the head of the last vector
There are three ways of adding vectors graphically
1] Triangle method
Add only two vectors
Initially the vectors are connected one after the other
The resultant is the third side of the triangle
-B
B A
A

A-B
A+B
Cont.…
Example

Ans. D
2] Scale diagram
Add more two vectors
Initially the vectors are connected one after the other
The resultant is the line from the tail of the first to the head of the last vector
Q. What is the
B
B A resultant vector?
A
Ans. Zero
C
D C

A+B+C+D D
Cont.…
3] Parallelogram method
Add only two vectors
Initially the vectors are connected tail to tail
The resultant is the diagonal of a parallelogram
B

A Vector addition is commutative:

A+B=B+A
A

B
B] Mathematically
There two ways of adding vectors mathematically
I] Component method
II] Sine and cosine law
I] Component method
First let us see about vector resolution:
Vector resolution: spliiting a vector into two components
Cont.…
Let us consider vector A which makes an angle of Q from the x-axis
Y
A

Ay
𝞱
Ax X

Direction
Cont.…
The direction angles that this vector makes with the three axes, is given by the direction of cosines

Unit Vectors
A unit vector is a dimensionless vector having a magnitude of exactly 1.
Unit vectors are used to specify a given direction and have no other physical significance.
We shall use the symbols i , j, and k to represent unit vectors pointing in the positive x, y, and z
directions, respectively.

The unit vectors i , j, and k form a set of mutually perpendicular

vectors in a right-handed coordinate system, as shown in Figure.
Cont.…
Consider a vector A lying in the xy plane, as shown in Figure below

Magnitude

The resultant vector of two vectors A and B is therefore:

R=A+B

We obtain the magnitude of R and the angle it makes with the x axis from its components, using the
relationships
Cont.…
Use Pythagoras theorem to determine the magnitude and trigonometry to determine the direction

If A and B both have x, y, and z components, we express them in the form

The sum of A and B is:

The angle 𝞱 that R makes with the x axis is found from the expression:
cos 𝞱 = Rx / R,
with similar expressions for the angles with respect to the y and z axes.
Cont.…
A unit vector in the direction of any given vector can be given by:
A = |A| 𝐴
where 𝐴 is the unit vector in the direction of any given vector
Thus,
𝐴 = A / |A|
Note:-
1] Two vectors A and B to be equal if their corresponding components must be the same
Ax = Bx
Ay = By
Az = Bz
2] If a scalar k multiply a vector B, then the result will be a vector.
But the scalar can affect the magnitude of a vector and change its direction
k A = vector
a] if k > 1, it increases the magnitude a vector
b] if k < 1, it decreases the magnitude of a vector
c] if k < 0, it can change the direction
d] k > 0, it can’t change the direction of a given vector
Examples
1]

Solution
R = 100m i – 300m j – (150m x cos300 )i - (150m x sin300 )j
- (200m x cos600 )i + (200m x sin 600 )j

= 100m i - 135m i – 100m i – 300 m j - 75m j + 180m j

= -135m i - 195m j
To determine the magnitude:
|R| = (−135)2 + −195 2 m
= 237.2 m

To determine the direction:

tan(𝞱) = - 195 / (-135)
𝞱 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (1.44)
𝞱 = 55.3 degree
Examples
2]

Solution:
aA + bB + C = 0
a(6i - 8j) +b(-8i + 3j) + 26i + 19j = 0
6ai – 8aj – 8bi + 3bj + 26i + 19j = 0
(6a – 8b + 26) i + (-8a + 3b + 19) j = 0 i + 0 j
6a – 8b + 26 = 0
-8a + 3b + 19 = 0
………………………..
To determine a:
18a – 24b + 78 = 0
-64a + 24b + 152 = 0
…………………………….
-46a + 230 = 0
46 a = 230
a=5
Then, 6a – 8b + 26 = 0
6(5) -8b + 26 = 0…………………………..implies b = 7
Examples
3]

y A=8

Solution
B=8
a] A + B = 8(cos ) i + 8 (sin )j–8i
= 8(0.7) i + 8 (0.7) j - 8i x
= 5.6i – 8i + 5.6 j
= -2.4 i + 5.6 j
5.6
|A + B| = (−2.4)2 + 5.6 2 units = 6.1 units tan 𝞱 = − … … … 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝞱 = -66.8 degree
2.4
a] A - B = 8(cos ) i + 8 (sin )j+8i
= 8(0.7) i + 8 (0.7) j + 8i
= 5.6i + 8i + 5.6 j
= 13.4 i + 5.6 j
5.6
|A + B| = (13.4)2 + 5.6 2 units = 49.4 units tan 𝞱 = … … … 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝞱 = 26.7 degree
13.4
Examples
4]

Solution

|0.5 i – 0.8 j + c| = 1…………….unit vector

0.52 + (−0.8)2 + 𝑐 2 = 1
0.25 + 0.64 + 𝑐 2 = 1
0.89 + 𝑐 2 = 1
𝑐 2 = 1 – 0.89
𝑐 2 = 0.11
𝑐= 0.11

Multiplication of vectors

1] Dot (scalar) product

2] Cross (vector) product

1] Dot product
1] In 2D

Note:
i•i=j•j=k•k=1
i•j=j•k=i•k=0
Cont.…
2] In 3D

Note:
To find the magnitude any given vector, use dot product
A• A = |A | |A| cos (00 )
A• A = |𝑨|2
|A| = A• A
Examples:
The magnitudes of the three vectors are given by: |A| = 20.0 units, |B| = 40.0 units, and |C| = 30.0
units. Find the angle between any of the two vectors when their resultant vector is zero.
Solution:
A+B+C=0
A+B=-C
(A + B) • (A + B) = - C • - C
A•A + A •B + B •A + B •B = C •C
Cont.…
|𝑨|𝟐 + 2A •B + |𝑩|𝟐 = |𝑪|𝟐
2|A||B|cos(𝞱) = 𝑪 𝟐 − 𝑩 𝟐 − 𝑨 𝟐
cos(𝞱) = 𝑪 𝟐 − 𝑩 𝟐 − 𝑨 𝟐
2|A||B|

|A| = 20.0 units, |B| = 40.0 units, and |C| = 30.0 units
cos (𝞱) = 900 – 1600 – 400
2(800)
cos (𝞱) = - 1100
1600
cos (𝞱) = -11 /16
𝞱 = 133.4 degree
2] Let |A1| = 3, |A2| = 5, and |A1 + A2| = 5. The value of (2A1 + 3A2) • (3A1 – 2A2) is
Solution:
(2A1 + 3A2) • (3A1 – 2A2) = 6A12 – 6A22 - 4A1 • A2 + 9A1 • A2
= 6(9) – 6(25) + 5A1 • A2
= 54 – 150 + 5A1 • A2
= -96 + 5A1 • A2
A1 • A2 = ?
Cont.…
|A1 + A2| = (A1 + A2 ) • (A1 + A2 )
If you square on both side:
|A1 + A2|2 = (A1 + A2 ) • (A1 + A2 )
But |A1 + A2| = 5
25 = (A1 + A2 ) • (A1 + A2 )
25 = A12 + A22 + 2A1 • A2
25 = 9 + 25 + 2 A1 • A2
A1 • A2 = -9/2 = -4.5
Therefore,
(2A1 + 3A2) • (3A1 – 2A2) = -96 + 5A1 • A2
= -96 + 5(-4.5)
= -96 – 22.5
= -118.5

3]
Solution
|P – 3Q| = 2|P – Q|
(P – 3Q) • (P – 3Q) = 2 (P – Q) • (P – Q)
Cont.…
If you square on both side:
(P – 3Q) • (P – 3Q) = 4 {(P – Q) • (P – Q)}
P2 + 9Q2 – 3P • Q – 3P • Q = 4{P2 + Q2 – P • Q – P • Q}
100 + 9Q2 – 6P • Q = 4{100 + Q2 – 2P • Q}
100 + 9Q2 – 180 = 4{100 + Q2 – 60}
9Q2 – 80 = 160 + 4Q2
5Q2 = 240
Q2 = 48
|Q| = 4√3

4] If two vectors A = 2 i + 6 ĵ − c k and B = 4 i + 2 ĵ + k are orthogonal, then

determine the value of c.
Solution:

A•B=0
(2)(4) + (6)(2) – c = 0
c = 20
2] Cross product
The cross product of two vectors is given by:

where

So the length is: the length of a times the length of b times the sine of the angle between a and b,
Then we multiply by the vector n so it heads in the correct direction (at right angles to both a and b).
Cont.…
Note:- i
ixj=k x
x
jxk=i
kxi=j j
k x
or
j x i = -k
k x j = -i
ixk=-j
But,
ixi=jxj=kxk= 0
To determine the cross product of two vectors when they are given in terms of unit vectors i, j, k, use
the matrix concept:
a = ax i + ay j + az k and b = bx i + by j + bz k

i j k
axb= ay az ax az ax ay
ax ay az = i -j +k = (ay bz – az by) i
by bz bx bz bx by
bx by bz - (ax bz – az bx) j
+ (ax by – ay bx) k
Cont.…
The magnitude (length) of the cross product equals the area of a parallelogram with vectors a and b for sides:

area of a parallelogram = |a x b|
Note:-
1] If two vectors, a and b, are parallel,
axb= 0
2] For a given three vectors, a, b, and c:
I] a • (b x c) = 0
II] a x b x c = (a • c) b – (a • b)c
Examples:
[1]

Solution: i j k
A] A x B = 2 2 2 = (-2 – 2) i - (-2 – 2) j + (2 – 2) k = - 4i + 4j

1 1 -1
Cont.…
But the unit vector of A x B is:
A x B / |A x B|
A x B = - 4i + 4j
|A x B| = (−4)2 + (4)2
|A x B| = 4 2
Thus, the unit vector equals to:
- 4i + 4j
(4 2)
−𝑖 𝑗
+
2 2
[B] Area = |A x B| = 4 2 [ But the area of a triangle = ½ (|A x B|) = ½(4 2 ) = 2 2 ]
[C] 2A + B = 4i + 4j + 4k + i + j + - k = 5i + 5j + 3k
A – 2B = 2i + 2j + 2k – 2i – 2j + 2k = 4k

i j k
(2A+B)x(A-2B) = But,
5 5 3 = 20 i - 20 j
|(2A+B)x(A-2B)| = (−20)2 + (20)2 = 20 2
0 0 4
Cont.…
2] Vectors, A, B and C are such that A • B = 0 and A • C = 0. Then the vector parallel to A is
A. A × B
B. B + C
C. B × C
D. B and C
Solution
II] Sine and cosine law
1] Cosine law is responsible to determine the magnitude of the resultant vector
a] The magnitude of the sum of two vectors, A and B:
|A + B| = (A + B ) • (A + B )
|A + B| = A2 + B2 + A • B + B • A
|A + B| = A2 + B2 + 2A • B
|A + B| = A2 + B2 + 2AB cos(𝞱)
b] The magnitude of the difference of two vectors, A and B:
|A - B| = (A - B ) • (A - B )

|A - B| = A2 + B2 - A • B - B • A

|A - B| = A2 + B2 - 2A • B

|A - B| = A2 + B2 - 2AB cos(𝞱)
Example:
At what angle does the magnitude of the sum and the difference of two vectors equal?
Cont.…
|A + B| = |A - B|
A2 + B2 + 2AB cos(𝞱) = A2 + B2 − 2AB cos(𝞱)
Square on both sides:
A2 + B2 + 2AB cos(𝞱) = A2 + B2 - 2AB cos(𝞱)
2AB cos(𝞱) = − 2AB cos(𝞱)
4AB cos(𝞱) = 0
cos(𝞱) = 0
𝞱 = 90 degrees
II] Sine law is responsible to determine the direction of a resultant vector
Example:
Cont.…
Solution: