General Physics I

PH101

1 1
 Lecture 2
“A physical understanding is a completely
unmathematical, imprecise, and inexact thing,
but absolutely necessary for a physicist”
Richard Feynman

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 Properties of Vectors
Equality of two vectors:
Any two vectors are said to be equal if they have the same magnitude and
direction.
For example, all vectors in Figure below are equal even though they have different
starting points.

o X
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 The Components of a Vector
Even though you know how far and in which
direction the library is, you may not be able
to walk there in a straight line:
The Components of a Vector

Signs of vector components:

 Components of Vectors

• Any vector A in a plane can be represented by the sum of two vectors:

- one parallel to the x –axis (Ax), and the other parallel to the y – axis (Ay) as shown
y
𝐴Ԧ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗
Where Ax and Ay are the x – component and the y –
component of the vector A, respectively.
A
From the figure Ay
Ax = A cosθ 𝑦ො
And Ay = A sinθ 𝑥ො x
Ax
The magnitude and direction of the vector A are given by

 Ay 
A= A = +
2 2
A x A y  = tan 
−1

 Ax 
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 Unit Vector

• Vector quantities often are expressed in terms of unit vectors.

• A unit vector is a dimensionless vector having a magnitude of exactly 1.
• For example, 𝑖Ƹ is a vector of magnitude 1 and pointing in the positive x direction.
• Unit vectors are used to specify a given direction and have no other physical significance.
• They are used solely as a convenience in describing a direction in space.
• In Cartesian coordinates we shall use
the symbols , 𝑖Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ 𝑘෠

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 Adding Vectors
Graphical Method (Geometrical Method):

• To add vector B to vector A:

first draw vector A, with its magnitude represented by a
convenient scale, on graph paper and then draw vector B to the
same scale with its tail starting from the tip of A.
Translate the vector B until the tail of the vector B touches the
head of the vector A.
The resultant R = A + B is the vector draw from the tail of A to
the tip of B.
This procedure is known as the triangle method of addition.
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 Subtracting Vectors
Graphical Method (Geometrical Method):
Subtraction of vectors involves the addition of vectors and the negative of
a vector.

A-B

B C

A
-B
-B

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 Adding Vectors
Graphical Method (Geometrical Method):

When two vectors are added, the sum is independent of the order of the
addition.
This can be seen from the geometric construction in the figure below and
is known as the commutative law of addition:
A+B=B+A
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Vector_addition.png/800px-Vector_addition.png

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 Quiz on Vectors
• Quick quiz The magnitudes of two vectors A and B are A = 12 units and B = 8 units. Which
of the following pairs of numbers represents the largest and smallest possible values for
the magnitude of the resultant vector from both?
(a) 14.4 units, 4 units
(b) 12 units, 8 units,
(c) 20 units, 4 units
(d) none of these answers.

• Quick quiz if vector B is added vector A, which two of the following choices must be true
in order for the resultant vector to be equal to zero?
(a) A and B are parallel and in the same direction.
(b) A and B are parallel and in opposite directions.
(c) A and B have the same magnitude.
(d) A and B are perpendicular.
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 Representation of Vectors

• In general, any vector A can be resolved into three components as:

𝐴Ԧ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘

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 Adding Vectors
Algebraic method:
• We use the components to add vectors when the graphical method is not
sufficiently accurate. The method for adding the vectors as follow:
• Resolve each vector into its components according to a suitable coordinate axes.
• Add, algebraically, the x-components of the individual vectors to obtain the x-
component of the resultant vector. Do the same thing for the other components,
i.e., if
𝐴Ԧ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘
𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘

• The resultant vector is therefore , 𝐶Ԧ = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵

Where 𝐶𝑥 = Ax+Bx
𝐶𝑦= Ay+By
𝐶𝑧= Az+Bz 13
 Adding Vectors
Example 1
Find the sum of two vectors A and B lying in the xy plane and given by:
A = (2.0 i + 2.0 j )m and B = (2.0 i + -4.0 j ) m. Then find the magnitude and
direction of the vector sum.
Solution:
The vector sum is C = A + B
C = (2.0 + 2.0) i m + (2.0 – 4.0) j m = (4.0 , - 2.0 ) m
Or Cx = 4.0 m , Cy = - 2.0 m

The magnitude of C is
𝐶= 𝐶𝑥2 + 𝐶𝑦2 = 4.0 2 + (−2.0)2 = 20 = 4.5𝑚

The direction of C  Ry   − 2.0 

 = tan   = tan −1 
−1
 = −27


 Rx   4.0 

The result vector is below the x- axis by 27° degrees (clockwise rotation).
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 Adding Vectors
Example 3
Find the sum of two vectors A and B given by
and
Solution:
Note that Ax=3, Ay=4, Bx=2, and By=-5

The magnitude of vector R is

The direction of R with respect to x-axis is

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 Adding Vectors
Example 4:
A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements:d1= (15 i + 60 j +12 k )cm, d2= (23 i -
14 j - 5.0 k )cm and d3= (-13 i - 15j )cm. Find the components of the resultant displacement
and its magnitude.

Solution:
Let, R = d1 + d2 + d3
= (15 + 23 – 13) i + (60 – 14 – 15) j + (12 – 5.0 + 0) k
= (25 i + 31 j + 7.0 k )
Then, the resultant displacement has components Rx = 25cm , Ry = 31cm , Rz = 7.0cm,
its magnitude is

R = Rx2 + R y2 + R z2

= (25) 2 + (31) 2 + (7.0) 2 = 40cm

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 ADDING VECTORS
EXAMPLE 5:
Consider two vectors A = 4.0 i - 3.0 j and B = - 2.0 i + 7.0 j

calculate: A + B; A – B ; A+ B ; A − B ; and the direction of A + B and A – B.

Solution:
A + B = (4.0 + (-2.0)) i + (- 3.0 + 7.0 ) j = 2.0 i + 5.0 j

at the beginning find – B then add it to A, that is -B = 2.0 i - 7.0 j

A + (-B) = (4 + 2) i + (-3 – 7) j =6 i - 10 j

A+ B = 4 + 25 = 29
A − B = 36 + 100 = 136
5
1 = tan −1  
2
The direction are
 − 10 
 2 = tan −1  
 6  17
 Adding Vectors
Example 6:
A particle undergoes the following consecutive displacements: 3.5m southeast, 2.5m east, and
6m north. What is the resultant displacement?
Solution:
If we denote the three displacements by d1 , d2 , and d3 respectively, we get the
vector diagram shown in the figure. According to the coordinates system
chosen, the three vectors can be written as
d1 = (3.5 cos45) i - (3.5 sin 45) j = (2.5i - 2.5j )m, R
d2 = 2.5 i m,
d3 = 6 j m .
now, R = d 1 + d2 + d 3 d3
= (2.5 + 2.5 + 0)i + (2.5 + 0 + 6) j d1
= (5 i + 8.5j)m d2
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 Multiplication of Vectors
Ԧ𝐵
Dot or scalar product 𝐴. Ԧ
cross or vector product 𝐴𝑥𝐵
Dot product or scalar product:
Like scalars, vectors of different kinds can be multiplied by one another to generate
quantities of new physical dimensions.
The vector multiplication cannot follow exactly the same rules as the algebraic rules of
scalar multiplication. We must establish new rules of multiplication for vectors.
The scalar product of two vectors A and B, denoted by A, B, is a scalar quantity
defined by;
Ԧ 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 cos(𝜃)
𝐴.
Ԧ 𝐵= +ve when 0 ≤ 𝜃 < 90
𝐴.
Ԧ 𝐵= -ve when 90 < 𝜃 ≤ 180
𝐴.

Ԧ 𝐵= 0 when 𝜃 = 90
𝐴.
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 Dot product or scalar product
The dot product can also be calculated in terms of the components of these vectors by using
the following formula:

𝐴Ԧ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘
Ԧ 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 . (𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘)
𝐴.
Ԧ 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖. 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑥 𝑖. 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑥 𝑖. 𝐵𝑧 𝑘
𝐴.
+ 𝐴𝑦 𝑗. 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗. 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗. 𝐵𝑧 𝑘
+ 𝐴𝑧 𝑘. 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘. 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘. 𝐵𝑧 𝑘

i⋅i=j⋅j=k⋅k=1, and i⋅j=i⋅k=j⋅k=0 therefore:

Ԧ 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 +𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧
𝐴.
The angel between the two vectors:
Ԧ𝐵
𝐴. 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 +𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧
cos 𝜃 = =
𝐴 𝐵 𝐴 𝐵
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 Dot product or scalar product
The physical meaning of the dot product is that it represents how much of any two vector
quantities overlap.
For example, the dot product between force and displacement describes the amount of force in
the direction in which the position changes and this amounts to the work done by that force.

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 Dot product or scalar product
Example 7:
Show that A.B = B.A using following vectors; A = i – 2j + 3k and B = 2i + 3j – 2k .

Solution:
A.B = (1× 2) + (-2 × 3) + (3 × -2) = 2 – 6 – 6 = - 10
B.A = (2× 1) + (3 × -2) + (-2 × 3) = 2 – 6 – 6 = - 10

Example 8:
Consider the two vectors A and B given in the previous example (7) , find 2A.B.

Solution:
2A = 2i - 4j + 6k ,
2A.B = (2 × 2) + (-4 × 3) + (6 × -2)= 4 - 12 - 12 =-20

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 Dot product or scalar product
Example 9:

If A = 3i – 2j + 7k and B = 3 i + 2j– k , find the angle between the two vectors A and B.

A B
Solution: cos =
AB

A = 9 + 4 + 49 = 62 = 7.9, and
B = 9 + 4 + 1 = 14 = 3.7

Then: A.B = 9 – 4 – 7 = - 2.0

And
− 2.0
cos = = −0.07
7.9  3.7
or
𝜃 = cos −1 (− 0.07) = °94
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 Cross product (Vector Product):
Ԧ
The vector product of two vectors A and B, written an 𝐴𝑥𝐵, is a third vector C with a
magnitude given by;

Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 sin(𝜃)
Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵= +ve when 0 < 𝜃 < 180
Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵= -ve when 180 < 𝜃 < 360
Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵= 0 when 𝜃 = 0 𝑜𝑟 180
Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵 = (𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦 )𝑖 + (𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑥 − 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧 )𝑗 +(𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦 − 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑥 )𝑘

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 Cross product (Vector Product):

The components of the cross-product vector are

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
Which can be written as Ԧ
𝐴𝑥𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧 That is called matrix
The physical meaning of the cross product
The cross product of any two vectors is a vector that is perpendicular to the two vectors.
The Dot product gives you an expression for Work done whereas Cross product gives you an expression
for Torque.

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 Cross product (Vector Product):

Comparing Figures 1 and 2, we notice that A x B = - B x A

A= qv
B=magnetic field
C=magnetic force

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 Cross product (Vector Product):
Example 10:

Solution:

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 Direction Angles
Ax Ax
y
cos x = =
A A +A +A
2
x
2
y
2
z
A
Ay
Ay Ay
cos  y = =
y
x
A A +A +A
2
x
2
y
2
z
z
Az Ax x
Az Az
cos z = =
A A +A +A
2
x
2
y
2
z
z
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 Direction Angles
Example 11:
Determine the magnitude and the three direction angles for the force :
F = 3i + 4j −12k
Solution:

𝐹𝑥 3
cos 𝜑𝑥 = =
𝐹 13
= 0.2308 x = cos −1 0.2308 = 76.66 = 1.338 rad
𝐹𝑦 4
cos 𝜑𝑦 = =
𝐹 13
= 0.3077  y = cos −1 0.3077 = 72.08 = 1.258 rad

𝐹𝑧 −12
cos 𝜑𝑧 = =
𝐹 13
= −0.9231 z = cos (−0.9231) = 157.4 = 2.747 rad
−1

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 Notes
• Displacement should not be confused with the distance
traveled, since the distance traveled for any motion is nonzero.

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