1.
3 Displacement in Two Dimensions
What is a Vector? Vectors are graphic representations of physical occurrences. We use vectors
to visualize what physically happens to an object under certain conditions. Vectors designate the
magnitude and direction of things like forces, accelerations, velocities, and displacements.
Magnitude - the amount of the force, acceleration, velocity, or displacement.
Direction - a specific direction in which the force is applied, or the
acceleration, velocity, or displacement occur.
What is Vector Addition?
Vector addition is the process of finding the resultant vector when given the components of the
vector.
In one-dimensional vector addition, you will be working on either the x (horizontal) or y
(vertical) axis. The vector addition is simply the addition (or subtraction if the vectors are in
opposite directions) of the two vectors. If they are in opposite directions, the resultant direction
will be in the same direction as the vector with the greatest magnitude.
In two-dimensional vector addition, you have both an x (horizontal) and a y (vertical)
component. You add the vectors by using the Pythagorean Theorem since the two vectors are at
right angles to each other. This value is the magnitude of the result vector. The direction of the
result vector is the angle between the hypotenuse of the triangle and the horizontal. To find this
value, you use the tan-1 function on the calculator.
What is Vector Resolution?
Vector resolution is used in two-dimensional vector analysis and is the reverse to vector
addition. In vector resolution, you know the magnitude and direction (angle) of the resultant
vector and you are solving for the horizontal and vertical components.
To find the x (horizontal) component, you use the cosine function and the formula if the
angle is with respect to the x-axis:
Rx R cos ; Where R is the magnitude of the resultant
To find the y (vertical) component, you use the sine function and the formula:
Ry R sin ; Where R is the magnitude of the resultant
Right Angles use the following formulas:
a2 + b2 = c2
sin θ = opp/hyp
cos θ = adj/hyp
tan θ = opp/adj
Obtuse and Acute angles use the following formulas:
a2 + a2 – 2(a) (b) cos(C) = c2
𝑆𝑖𝑛 (𝐴) 𝑆𝑖𝑛 (𝐵) 𝑆𝑖𝑛 (𝐶)
= =
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
Methods of determining total displacement
The scale diagram method:
The Cosine and Sine Laws Method:
Sample Problem 2: page 24:
Suppose you are walking to a friend’s house, taking a shortcut across an open field.
Your first displacement is 140 m [E 35˚ N] across the field. Then you walk 200 m
[E] along the sidewalk. Determine your total displacement.
The Perpendicular Components of a Vector Method:
Sample Problem 1: page 26:
A polar bear walks toward Churchill, Manitoba. The Polar bear’s displacement is 15.0 km [S 60˚
E]. Determine the components of the displacement.
Adding Vectors Algebraically:
Sample Problem 1: page 27:
An airplane flies 250 km [E 25˚ N], and then flies 280 km [S 13˚ W]. Using
components, calculate the airplane’s total displacement.
Homework: practice questions # 1-3 pg. 25, #1 pg. 26, # 1-3 pg. 28
