Physics 101

Lecture 2
Vectors

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali ÖVGÜN

EMU Physics Department
www.aovgun.com
❑ A signpost gives information about distances and directions to towns or to other
locations relative to the location of the signpost. Distance is a scalar quantity.
Knowing the distance alone is not enough to get to the town; we must also
know the direction from the signpost to the town. The direction, together with
the distance, is a vector quantity commonly called the displacement vector. A
signpost, therefore, gives information about displacement vectors from the
signpost to towns. (credit: modification of work by “studio tdes”/Flickr)
 Vector vs. Scalar Review
A library is located 0.5 mi from you.
Can you point where exactly it is?
You also
need to
know the
direction in
which you
should
walk to the
library!
❑ All physical quantities encountered in this text will be either a scalar or
a vector
❑ A vector quantity has both magnitude (number value + unit) and
direction
❑ A scalar is completely specified by only a magnitude (number value +
unit) January 21, 2015
 Vector and Scalar
Quantities
❑ Vectors ❑ Scalars:
◼ Displacement ◼ Distance
◼ Velocity (magnitude and ◼ Speed (magnitude of
direction!) velocity)
◼ Acceleration ◼ Temperature
◼ Force ◼ Mass
◼ Momentum ◼ Energy
◼ Weight ◼ Time

To describe a vector we need more information than to

describe a scalar! Therefore vectors are more complex!
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 Important Notation
❑ To describe vectors we will use:
◼ The bold font: Vector A is A 
◼ Or an arrow above the vector: A

◼ In the pictures, we will always show

vectors as arrows
◼ Arrows point the direction

◼ To describe the magnitude of a

vector 
we will use absolute value
sign: A or just A,
◼ Magnitude is always positive, the
magnitude of a vector is equal to
the length of a vector.
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❑ We draw a vector from the initial point or origin (called the
“tail” of a vector) to the end or terminal point (called the
“head” of a vector), marked by an arrowhead. Magnitude
is the length of a vector and is always a positive scalar
quantity. (credit: modification of work by Cate Sevilla)
Figure 2.3

❑ The displacement vector

from point A (the initial
position at the campsite)
to point B (the final
position at the fishing
hole) is indicated by an
arrow with origin at
point A and end at point
B. The displacement is
the same for any of the
actual paths (dashed
curves) that may be
taken between points A
and B.
Coordinate Systems
❑ Cartesian
coordinate system
❑ Polar coordinate
system

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❑ From Polar to Cartesian system

❑ From Cartesian to Polar coordinate system

Direction:

Magnitude:

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 Example
❑The Cartesian coordinates of a point in the xy plane are
(x,y) = (-3.50, -2.50) m, as shown in the figure. Find the polar
coordinates of this point.
Solution:

r = x2 + y 2
= ( −3.50 m)2 + ( −2.50 m)2
= 4.30 m

y −2.50 m
tan = = = 0.714
x −3.50 m
 = 216 (signs give quadrant)
Section 3.1
 Properties of Vectors
❑ Equality of Two Vectors
◼ Two vectors are equal if they have the
same magnitude and the same direction
❑ Movement of vectors in a diagram
◼ Any vector can be moved parallel to
itself without being affected
❑ Negative Vectors
◼ Two vectors are negative if they have the same
magnitude but are 180° apart (opposite directions)

( )
A = −B; A + − A = 0 A 
B
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 Describing Vectors Algebraically
Vectors: Described by the number, units and direction!

Vectors: Can be described by their magnitude and direction.

For example: Your displacement is 1.5 m at an angle of 250.
Can be described by components? For example: your
displacement is 1.36 m in the positive x direction and 0.634 m
in the positive y direction.
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 Components of a Vector
❑ The x-component of a vector is
the projection along the x-axis
Ax
cos  = Ax = A cos 
A
❑ The y-component of a vector is
the projection along the y-axis
Ay
sin  = Ay = A sin 
A
 ❑ Then,   
A = Ax + Ay A = Ax + Ay

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 More About Components
❑ The components are the legs of
the right triangle whose
hypotenuse is A
 Ax = A cos( )
  Ay 
A =
 Ay = A sin( ) A 2
x + Ay
2
and  = tan 
−1

  Ax 
 A = ( A )2 + (A )2


x y

 Ay −1 
Ay 
tan ( ) = or  = tan    Or,

 Ax  Ax 

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Example

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 Unit Vectors
❑ Components of a vector are vectors
  
A = Ax + Ay
❑ Unit vectors i-hat, j-hat, k-hat
iˆ → x ˆj → y kˆ → z
 ❑ Unit vectors used to specify direction
❑ Unit vectors have a magnitude of 1
y
❑ Then 
j
A = Axiˆ + Ay ˆj
i
x

A Magnitude
= A x + A+ ySign Unit vector
k
z

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Adding Vectors Algebraically
❑ Consider two vectors

A = Axiˆ + Ay ˆj

B = Bxiˆ + By ˆj
❑ Then
 
A + B = ( Ax iˆ + Ay ˆj ) + ( Bx iˆ + B y ˆj )
= ( Ax + Bx )iˆ + ( Ay + B y ) ˆj
  
❑ If C = A + B = ( Ax + Bx )iˆ + ( Ay + By ) ˆj
❑ so C x = AxA + B=x A xC+y =AAyy + B y
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 Example 1: Operations with
❑
Vectors
Vector A is described algebraically as (-3, 5), while
vector B is (4, -2). Find the value of magnitude and
direction of the sum (C) of the vectors A and B.
 
A = −3iˆ + 5 ˆj B = 4iˆ − 2 ˆj
  
C = A + B = (−3 + 4)iˆ + (5 − 2) ˆj = 1iˆ + 3 ˆj
Cx = 1 Cy = 3
C = (C x + C y )1/ 2 = (12 + 32 )1/ 2 = 3.16
2 2

Cy
 = tan ( ) = tan −1 3 = 71.56
−1

Cx
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Example

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Example

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Multiplying Vectors

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Example
Takeoff of a Drone
During a takeoff of TAI ANKA-S, its position with respect to a
control tower is 100 m above the ground, 300 m to the east, and
200 m to the north. One minute later, its position is 250 m above
the ground, 1200 m to the east, and 2100 m to the north. What is
the drone’s displacement vector with respect to the control tower?
What is the magnitude of its displacement vector?

January 21, 2015

Takeoff of a Drone
During a takeoff of TAI ANKA-S, its position with respect to a
control tower is 100 m above the ground, 300 m to the east, and
200 m to the north. One minute later, its position is 250 m above
the ground, 1200 m to the east, and 2100 m to the north. What is
the drone’s displacement vector with respect to the control tower?
What is the magnitude of its displacement vector?

January 21, 2015

 Example 2 – Taking a Hike
❑A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0 km southeast from her car. She
stops and sets up her tent for the night. On the second day, she walks
40.0 km in a direction 60.0° north of east, at which point she discovers a
forest ranger’s tower.

Section 3.4
 Solution, Analysis
❑Analyze this problem by using our new knowledge of vector components.
❑The first displacement has a magnitude of 25.0 km and is directed 45.0° below
the positive x axis.
❑Its components are:

Ax = A cos( −45.0) =
(25.0 km)(0.707) = 17.7 km
Ay = A sin( −45.0)
= (25.0 km)( −0.707) = −17.7 km

Section 3.4
 Solution, Analysis
❑The second displacement has a
magnitude of 40.0 km and is 60.0°
north of east.
❑Its components are:

Bx = B cos 60.0 =
(40.0 km)(0.500) = 20.0 km
By = B sin 60.0
= (40.0 km)(0.866) = 34.6 km

Section 3.4
 Solution, Analysis
❑The negative value of Ay indicates that the
hiker walks in the negative y direction on
the first day.
❑The signs of Ax and Ay also are evident
from the figure.
❑The signs of the components of B are also
confirmed by the diagram.

Section 3.4
 Analysis
❑Determine the components of
the hiker’s resultant displacement
for the trip.
◼ Find an expression for the
resultant in terms of unit
vectors.
❑The resultant displacement for
the trip has components given by
◼ Rx = Ax + Bx = 17.7 km +
20.0 km = 37.7 km
◼ Ry = Ay + By = -17.7 km +
34.6 km = 16.9 km
❑In unit vector form

R = (37.7 ˆi + 16.9ˆj) km

Section 3.4
 Solution, Finalize
❑The resultant vector has a
magnitude of 41.3 km and
is directed 24.1° north of
east.
❑The units of R are km,
which is reasonable for a
displacement.
❑From the graphical
representation , estimate
that the final position of the
hiker is at about (38 km, 17
km) which is consistent with
the components of the
resultant.
Section 3.4
Example

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Example

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Example 3 :

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Example 4 :

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Scalar Product

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Example

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Example

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 Cross Product
→    
C = A B B sin  B

❑ The cross product of two vectors says 

something about how perpendicular they are.  A
❑ Magnitude: 
→   A sin 
C = A  B = AB sin 
y
◼  is smaller angle between the vectors
◼ Cross product of any parallel vectors = zero j i
◼ Cross product is maximum for perpendicular x
vectors k
z
◼ Cross products of Cartesian unit vectors:
i
iˆ  ˆj = kˆ; iˆ  kˆ = − ˆj; ˆj  kˆ = iˆ
iˆ  iˆ = 0; ˆj  ˆj = 0; kˆ  kˆ = 0 j k
October 4, 2024
 Cross Product
❑ Direction: C perpendicular to
both A and B (right-hand rule)
◼ Place A and B tail to tail
◼ Right hand, not left hand
◼ Four fingers are pointed along
the first vector A
◼ “sweep” from first vector A
into second vector B through
the smaller angle between    
them A B = B  A ?
◼ Your outstretched thumb
points the direction of C A  B = −B  A
❑ First practice
   
A B = B  A ?
October 4, 2024
 More about Cross Product
❑ The quantity ABsin is the area of the
parallelogram formed by A and B
❑ The direction of C is perpendicular to
the plane formed by A and B
❑ Cross product is not commutative

A  B = −B  A
      
❑ The distributive law A  (B + C) = A  B + A  C
 
❑ The derivative of cross product
obeys the chain rule dt
(
A B =
dt
)
d   dA   dB
 B + A
dt
❑ Calculate cross product
 
A  B = ( Ay Bz − Az By )iˆ + ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ˆj + ( Ax By − Ay Bx )kˆ
October 4, 2024
 Examples of Cross Products
Ex. 5:  
Find: A B ? Where: A = 2iˆ + 3 ˆj B = −iˆ + 2 ˆj
 
Solution: A  B = (2iˆ + 3 ˆj )  (−iˆ + 2 ˆj ) i
= 2iˆ  (−iˆ) + 2iˆ  2 ˆj + 3 ˆj  (−iˆ) + 3 ˆj  2 ˆj
j k
= 0 + 4iˆ  ˆj − 3 ˆj  iˆ + 0 = 4kˆ + 3kˆ = 7 kˆ
Ex.6: Calculate 𝒓 × 𝑭 given a force and its
location  
F = (2iˆ + 3 ˆj ) N r = (4iˆ + 5 ˆj )m iˆ ˆj kˆ

Solution: r  F = (4iˆ + 5 ˆj )  (2iˆ + 3 ˆj ) A B = 4 5 0

2 3 0
= 4iˆ  2iˆ + 4iˆ  3 ˆj + 5 ˆj  2iˆ + 5 ˆj  3 ˆj
= 0 + 4iˆ  3 ˆj + 5 ˆj  2iˆ + 0 = 12kˆ − 10kˆ = 2kˆ (Nm)
October 4, 2024
Example 7:

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Example 8:

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 Summary
 Ax = A cos( )
❑ Polar coordinates of vector A (A, ) 
 Ay = A sin( )
❑ Cartesian coordinates (Ax, Ay)

 A = ( Ax ) + ( Ay )
2 2

❑ Relations between them:


−1 
Ay Ay 
❑ Beware of tan 180-degree ambiguity  tan ( )
 = or  = tan  
 Ax  Ax 
❑ Unit vectors: A = Axiˆ + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ
❑ Addition of vectors: C = A  
+ B = ( A + B )iˆ + ( A + B ) ˆj
x x y y
C x = Ax + Bx C y = Ay + B y
❑ Scalar multiplication of a vector: aA = aAxiˆ + aAy ˆj

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Problem 5

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Problem 6

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Problem 7

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Problem 8

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