VECTORS VECTORS

VECTORS VECTORS

• Draw a vector as a line with an arrowhead at its tip.

• The length of the line shows the vector’s magnitude.
• The direction of the line shows the vector’s direction.
VECTORS AND
VECTOR ADDITION

VECTORS VECTORS VECTORS

VECTOR ADDITION VECTOR ADDITION VECTOR SUBTRACTION

Addition of vectors • •
Graphically
A. We can add two vectors by placing them
tail to tail and constructing a
parallelogram.

B. We can add two vectors by placing them

head to tail.
 VECTORS VECTORS VECTORS

VECTOR ADDITION ADDITION OF TWO VECTORS AT RIGHT ANGLES COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR

To add two vectors that are at right angles, first add the • Adding vectors graphically provides limited accuracy. Vector components provide a
Adding More Than Two Vectors Graphically vectors graphically. general method for adding vectors.
• To add several vectors, use the head-to-tail method. Then use trigonometry to find the magnitude and direction • Any vector can be represented by an x-component Ax and a y-component Ay.
• The vectors can be added in any order. of the sum.
Example:
To find the sum of these three vectors
A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km north and then 2.00 km east on
a horizontal snowfield. How far and in what direction is she from
the starting point?

In the figure, a cross-country skier ends

up 2.24 km from her starting point, in a
direction of 63.4 degrees east of north.

VECTORS VECTORS VECTORS

COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR

• The components of a vector may be positive or negative numbers. • •

Solution 1 Alternative Solution Alternative Solution

D = 3.00 m D = 3.00 m D = 3.00 m

α = 45o α = 45o α = 45o

α is found in Q4 (+x,-y) α is measured clockwise α is measured from x-axis

Measured from x going y (regardless if +x or -x)

θ = 360- 45 = 315o θ = - 45o θ = 45o

Dx = D cosθ = 3.00 cos315 Dx = D cosθ = 3.00 cos (-45) Dx = D cosθ = 3.00 cos (45)
Dx = 2.12 m Dx = 2.12 m Dx = 2.12 m (+ since going right/E)

Dy = D sinθ = 3.00 sin315 Dy = D sinθ = 3.00 sin (-45) Dy = D sinθ = 3.00 sin (45)
Dy = -2.12 m Dy = -2.12 m = 2.12 m
Dy = -2.12 m (- since going down/S)
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COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR CALCULATIONS USING COMPONENTS MORE EXAMPLES

• • We can use the components of a vector to find its magnitude and direction: A woman sailing a boat at night is following directions to a dock. The instructions read to first sail 27.5 m in a
direction 66.0o north of east from her current location, and then travel 30.0 m in a direction 112∘north of east
Solution 1 Alternative Solution (or 22.0∘west of north). If the woman makes a mistake and travels in the opposite direction for the second leg of
the trip, where will she end up?
E = 4.50 m E = 4.50 m • We can use the components of a set of vectors to find the components of their
β = 37.0o β = 37.0o sum:

β is found in Q1 (+x, +y) β is measured from y-axis (regardless if

Measured from y going x +y or -y)

θ = 90- 37 = 53o θ = 37o

Ex = E cosθ = 4.50 cos53 Ex = E sinθ = 4.50 sin (37) x-component y-component

Ex = 2.71 m Ex = 2.71 m (+x) A cosθ = 27.5cos(66) A sinθ = 27.5sin(66)
11.19 m 25.12 m
Ey = E sinθ = 4.50 sin53 Ey = E cosθ = 4.50 cos (37)
Ey = 3.59 m Ey = 3.59 m (+y) B cosθ = 30.0cos(292) B sinθ = 30.0sin(292)
11.23 m -27.82 m
Rx = 22.42 m Ry= -2.7 m

VECTORS VECTORS

MORE EXAMPLES MULTIPLYING VECTORS

A boat attempts to travel straight across a • If c is a scalar, the product c has

river at a speed of 3.8 m/s. The river magnitude |c|A.
current flows at a speed vriver of 1.61 m/s to
the right. What is the total velocity and UNIT VECTOR AND VECTOR
direction of the boat? You can represent
each meter per second of velocity as one
PRODUCT
centimeter of vector length in your • The figure illustrates multiplication of
drawing. a vector by (a) a positive scalar and (b)
a negative scalar.
v= 4.13 m/s
θ ≈ 67.0o
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UNIT VECTORS ADDING UNIT VECTORS ADDING UNIT VECTORS

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