Aljalal-Phys101-Sept 2007-Ch3-page 1

Chapter 3
Vectors

3-1 Vectors and Scalars

3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically
3-3 Components of Vectors
3-4 Adding Vectors by Components
3-5 Vectors and the Laws of Physics
 Aljalal-Phys101-Sept 2007-Ch3-page 2

3-1 Vectors and Scalars

Introduction
Physical quantities
Vector quantities Scalar quantities
A vector quantity has a direction. A scalar quantity has no direction.

Wind's velocity is 3 m/s towards east. Temperature is 250 C.

A vector quantity is specified by A scalar quantity is specified by

1- a value with appropriate unit a value with appropriate unit.
(a magnitude)
2- a direction.

The magnitude of a vector is Scalars can be negative.

always positive quantity. Temperature = - 20 C means that it is
2 degrees below zero. This negative
sign has noting to do with direction.
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3-1 Vectors and Scalars

Notations

A vector quantity is denoted by an →

arrow placed over its symbol. a
The magnitude (absolute value) of →
a vector quantity is indicated by its
symbol without an arrow.
a =a

On a graph, a vector quantity is drawn as an arrow.

The length of the arrow is proportional to the
magnitude of the vector quantity.
The arrow has the same direction as the vector
quantity direction. →
a
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Equality of two vectors

Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude and point in the
same direction.

→ →
a=b → →
b a

In a diagram, a vector may be moved to a new position provided its

length and direction are not changed.

It is allowed to shift a →
vector to a position
a
→
a parallel to itself.
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Adding two vectors

→ → →
a+b=c

→ →
b b
→
b →
c
→ → →
a a a

→ →
Shift vector b so that its The vector sum c is the
tail is at the head of vector drawn from the
→ → →
vector a. tail of a to the head of b.
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Example 1
A man walks due east for a distance of 2.50 km.
Then he walks in a direction 690 north of east a distance of 4.27 km.
What is his total displacement?

Solution N
→ → →
y (km) d = d1 + d2
W E
5
S From the Graph
4
With a ruler and using the proper
3 scale of the figure, the magnitude
→ of the total displacement = 5.7 km
2
d →
d2 Using a protractor, the total
displacement is 450 north of east.
1
→ (This also clear from the figure.)
450 d1 690
0 x (km)
1 2 3 4 5
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Commutative law

a+b=b+a

b
b a
c
a a c
b

a+b b+a
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Associative law

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

b b b
c c c

a+b
b+c
a a a

(a + b) + c a + (b + c)
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Subtracting vectors

The vector -b is a vector with a - b = a + (-b)

the same magnitude as b but
the opposite direction.
-b
b
a
-b a
a-b
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Multiplying a vector by a scalar
Multiplying a vector b by a scalar s produces a vector sb. The magnitude
of sb is the product of the magnitude of b and the absolute value of s.
If s is positive, the direction of sb is the direction of b.
b
2b
0.5 b

If s is negative, the direction of sb is the opposite direction of b.

b
-2 b
-0.5 b
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3-2 Adding Vectors Geometrically

Checkpoint 1
Solution

When is the magnitude of the a b

sum of two vectors equal to the
sum of their magnitudes? a+b
a+b =a+b When they have the same direction.

When is the magnitude of the

sum of two vectors equal to the a+b b
difference of their magnitudes?
a
a+b =a-b When they have opposite directions.
 Aljalal-Phys101-Sept 2007-Ch3-page 12

3-3 Components of Vectors

Projecting a vector on an axis
To find the projection of a vector along an axis,
draw perpendicular lines from the two ends of the vector to the axis.
y y

→ → →
→
by b by b

→ x → x
bx bx →
bx
→
→ → → b → → → →
→
bx + by = b by bx + b y = b by →
b
→
bx
The projection has the same direction along an axis as the vector.
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Checkpoint 2
Indicate the correct projections.
y → y → y →
bx bx bx
x x x
→
→ by →
→ → →
by b b b by

Solution Wrong Wrong Correct

y y → y →
bx bx
x x x
→ → → →
by b → by by →
→ b b
bx
Solution Correct Wrong Correct
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Unit vectors
A unit vector is a vector used to specify a direction.
It has a magnitude of one.
It has no dimension and thus has no unit.
y

 i is a unit vector pointing in the positive x direction.
j 


i x j is a unit vector pointing in the positive y direction.
k 
k is a unit vector pointing in the positive z direction.
z
y(m) y(m)
4 4
3 3 →
→ b
2 b 2
1 1
x(m) x(m)
0 1 2 3 4 0 1 2 3 4
→   →  
b = (2.0 m) i + (3.0 m) j b = (2.0 m) i + (-3.0 m) j
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Components of a vector
y

 →
→
b y= b y j b

by is the→component of x
vector b on the y axis. → 

by is the y→component
b x= b x i
of vector b. bx is the→component of
vector b on the x axis.
b y can be negative.
bx is the x→component
of vector b.
→  
b = bx i + by j b x can be negative.

We resolve a vector by finding its components.

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3-3 Components of Vectors

Finding components
y

→
 →  is the angle that the vector b makes
by j b with the positive direction of the x axis.


x b x= b cos θ
bx i
b y= b sin θ

b
by
 b = b2x + b2y
bx by
 = tan -1

bx
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Specifying a vector
When working with a vector, you can use
its magnitude and direction or its components
y y
Two dimensions
(a plane)
 →  →
by j b by j b
 
 x  x
bx i bx i
Magnitude and one angle Two components
b and  x and y components

Three dimensions
(a space)
Magnitude and two angles Three components
b,  and f x, y, and z components
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Example 2
A man walks 4.5 km in a direction making an angle of 350 east of due
north. How far east and north is the man from his starting point?

Solution We are given the magnitude and

N the angle of a vector and need to
y(km) find the components of the vector.
W E
5 θ = 90 - 35 = 55
S
4 dx = d cos θ = (4.5 km)(cos 55 )
= 2.6 km
3 →
d dy = d sin θ = (4.5 km)(sin 55)
2
= 3.7 km
1 350 The man is 2.6 km east and 3.7 km
 north of his starting point.
0 x(km)
1 2 3 4 5
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3-3 Components of Vectors

Example 3
Find the magnitude and direction of the following displacement vector
→  
d = (-2.5 m) i + (3.5 m) j
Solution
y(m) d = d2x + d2y = (2.5 m)2 + (3.5 m)2
4
= 4.3 m
3 Using a
calculator
2
126
1 3.5 m
 = tan-1 = - 54
x(m) -2.5 m
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
-1 - 54 This answer is not consistent with
-2 the directions of the components.
-3
The correct answer is
-4 θ = - 54°+180° = 126°

3.5 m -3.5 m When taking the inverse of a trig function,

tan = tan
-2.5 m 2.5 m always check the validity of your answer!
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3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Formulas
rx = a x + b x
→ → → Two vectors are equal if
r =a+b their components are equal.
ry = a y + b y

y rz = a z + b z


 →
by j →
r b
ry j
→
 a 
ay j rx i
x
 
ax i bx i

rx = a x - b x
→ → →
r =a-b ry = a y - b y
rz = a z - b z
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3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Example 4
→  
Add the following three vectors: a = (3.0 m)i - (2.0 m)j
→  
b = (-2.0 m)i + (3.0 m)j
→ 
c = (-3.0 m)j
Write your answer in unit-vector notation and in magnitude-angle notation.
Solution
rx = a x + b x + c x → y(m)
= 3.0 m - 2.0 m = 1.0 m b 3
ry = a y + b y + c y 2
= -2.0 m + 3.0 m - 3.0 m = -2.0 m 1
→  
x(m)
r = (1.0 m)i + (-2.0 m)j -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
-1
The magnitude of the vector sum is →
-2 →
2 2 r a
r = (1.0 m) + (-2.0 m) = 2.2 m -3 →
c
The angle from the positive direction of x is
-1 -2.0 m
 = tan = - 63 r = 2.2 m at - 63
1.0 m
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3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Example 5
Each vector on the graph has a magnitude of 2.0 m. What are the
magnitude and angle of their vector sum?
Solution
→ → 70
a1x = 2.0 m a a 70
4 3
a1y = 0 →
→
100
40
a 2
a2x = (2.0 m) cos 110 = -0.68 m r
a2y = (2.0 m) sin 110 = 1.9 m 138 70 110
→
a3x = (2.0 m) cos (-140) = -1.5 m a 1
a3y = (2.0 m) sin (-140) = -1.3 m r = (-1.7 m)2 + (1.9 m)2 = 2.5 m
a 4x = (2.0 m) cos 140 = -1.5 m
Using a calculator
a4y = (2.0 m) sin 140 = 1.3 m
1.9 m
 = tan -1
= - 42
-1.7 m
rx = a1x + a2x + a3x + a4x = -1.7 m θ = - 42°+180° = 138°
ry = a1y + a2y + a3y + a4y = 1.9 m r = 2.5 m at 138
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3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Example 6
→ → →
b=a+c
→
a has a magnitude of 20.0 units and it is -30.0o from the + x axis.
→
c has a magnitude of 15.0 units and its y component is positive.
→
b is in the positive direction of the x axis.
→
What is the magnitude of b?
Solution a x = 20.0 cos (-30.0) = 17.3
a y = 20.0 sin (-30.0) = -10.0
c x = 15.0 cos f
0 > f > 180°
c y = 15.0 sin f
bx = b
by = 0
bx = ax + c x b = 17.3 + 15 cos f b = 17.3 + 15 cos 41.8 0 = 28.5
10.0
by = ay + c y 0 = - 10.0 + 15 sin f f =sin-1 = 41.8
15.0