Chapter-3

Vectors in Mechanics
Vectors
A vector has both direction and magnitude
For example:
 An object is moving north at 20ms-1
 A horizontal force of 7N
 An object has moved 5m to the left
These are all vectors.
A scalar quantity would be something such as:
A force of 10N (It is scalar since it has no direction)
Vectors
A girl walks 2km due east from a
The distance N
fixed-point O, to A, and Adj
use Pythagoras’ Theorem
then 3km due south from A to a point B. 2km

𝑐= √ 𝑎 +𝑏
O A
2 2
Describe the displacement of B from O. θ 56.3˚

Start, as always, with a 𝑐= √ 2 + 3

2 2 3km

diagram! Opp
𝑐=3.61𝑘𝑚
To describe the displacement, The bearing B

need the distance from O use Trigonometry to find angle θ

And the direction (bearing) 𝑂𝑝𝑝
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
𝐴𝑑𝑗
3
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃 = Bearings are measured from
2
north. Add the north line
𝜃=56.3 ˚ and add 90˚

𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔=146 ˚
Vectors
In an orienteering exercise,
a cadet leaves the starting point S and walks 15km on a bearing of
120˚ to reach A, the first checkpoint.
From A he then walks 9km on a bearing of 240˚ to the second
checkpoint, at point B.
From B he then returns directly to S.
Describe the displacement of S from B. N

120° N
Finding the distance B to S S b
15km
2 2 2 60°
𝑎 =𝑏 +𝑐 − 2𝑏𝑐𝐶𝑜𝑠𝐴 240°
A
2 2 2 60°
𝑎 =15 +9 −2 (15 ×9) 𝐶𝑜𝑠 60 a
13.1km

2 9km
𝑎 =171 B
c

𝑎=13.1 𝑘𝑚
Finding the bearing from B to S N

 Show the bearing at B A 120° N

It can be split into 2 sections, S
15km
θ 60°
one of which is 180° 36.6°
240°
A
N 60°
Find angle θ inside the triangle 13.1km B
b
9km
a
B
𝑆𝑖𝑛𝐴 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝐵 156.6° 180°
= You can now use
𝑎 𝑏 Alternate angles to find
the unknown part of the
𝑆𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑆𝑖𝑛 60 bearing
=
9 13.1
Add on
𝑆𝑖𝑛 60
𝑆 𝑖𝑛 θ= ×9 180°
13.1
𝜃=36.6 ° The bearing is
S is 13.1km from B on a bearing of 337° 336.6°
Cartesian vectors
Vectors can be described by using the i, j (0,1)
notation
j
O i
A unit vector is a vector of length 1. (1,0)
Unit vectors along Cartesian (x, y) axes are usually
denoted by i and j respectively. C
5i + 2j ⃗𝐴𝐶=⃗
𝐴𝐵+ ⃗
𝐵𝐶
2j ⃗
You can write any two-dimensional vector in the 𝐴𝐶=5 𝒊+2 𝒋
A B
form ai + bj 5i

-3i + j
Draw a diagram to represent the vector -3i + j j

-3i
Magnitude and direction of Cartesian vectors
Use Pythagoras to find the magnitude or modulus of a Cartesian vector

The vector 𝐚 =5 𝐢 −12 𝐣

a
yj
|𝑥 𝐢 + 𝑦 𝐣|= √ 𝑥 + 𝑦
2 2

|𝐚|= √ 5 + ( −12 ) =13

2 2

xi

Use trigonometry to find the angle of a Cartesian vector

Find the angle between the vector4 𝐢 +5and
𝐣 the vector i j

5 i
tan 𝜃 = ⇒ 𝜃 =51.3 ° (1 dp )
4 N 5
Find the bearing of the vector
θ
Bearing = 90 - θ¿ 38.7 ° ( 1 dp ) 4
Find the magnitude and bearing of these vectors:
3
tan 𝜃 = ⇒ 𝜃 =56.3 ° ( 1 dp )
𝐚 =2 𝐢 + 3 𝐣
N
i) 2
3
⇒ bearing= 90 − 𝜃 =33.7 ° ( 1 dp )
θ
2 |𝐚|= √ 2 2+ 32=3.6 ( 1 dp )
N

ii) 𝐛 =4 𝐢 − 𝐣 4
1
tan 𝜃 =⇒ 𝜃 =14.0 ° ( 1 dp )
4
θ

1 ⇒ bearing= 90+ 𝜃= 104.0° ( 1 dp )

|𝐛|=√ 4 + (− 1 ) =4.1 (1 dp )
2 2

1
iii) 𝐜 =−2 𝐢 − 𝐣 tan 𝜃 =⇒ 𝜃=26.6 ° ( 1 dp )
2
2
θ

1 ⇒ bearing=270 − 𝜃=243.4 ° ( 1 dp )
|𝐜|= √ ( − 2 ) + ( −1 ) =2.2 (1 dp )
2 2
Magnitude and direction of Cartesian vectors
is a vector of length 7 cm making an angle of with the -axis.
𝑥 𝑦
𝑐𝑜𝑠 50 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 50 =
7 7
𝑥 7 𝑐𝑜𝑠 50= 𝑥 7 𝑠𝑖𝑛 50= 𝑦
50 𝑦
𝑥= 4.50 𝑦 =5.36
7

𝒓 =4.50 𝑖 −5.36 𝑗
Magnitude and direction of Cartesian vectors
Find a vector of length 15 in the direction of
𝑞
^=
𝑞
|𝑞|
^
𝒑 =15 × 𝑞
− 6 𝑖+8 𝑗
𝒑 =15 ×
|− 6 𝑖+8 𝑗|
−6 𝑖+ 8 𝑗
𝒑 =15 ×
√ ( −6 )
+( 8 )
2 2

−6 𝑖+ 8 𝑗
𝒑 =15 ×
10
𝒑 =1.5(− 6 𝑖+ 8 𝑗 )
𝒑 =− 9𝑖+12 𝑗
Relative displacement Vector
If you are standing at C and X is standing at a point D,
then the positions Vector of D relative to C is
⃗
𝐶𝐷=𝑟 𝐷 −𝑟 𝐶

If a particle A is at and
B is at ,
then position of A relative to B
⃗
𝐵𝐴=𝑟 𝑎 − 𝑟 𝐵
⃗
𝐵𝐴=( 3 𝑖− 4 𝑗 ) −(7 𝑖+2 𝑗)
⃗
𝐵𝐴=− 4 𝑖 −6 𝑗
Parallel vectors
Two vectors are parallel one is a multiple of another

and are parallel.

OR

and are parallel

Vector Addition
Adding vectors Geometrically, use a vector triangle or a vector parallelogram:
PQRS is a parallelogram.
Find vectors for: Q
→ → →
R
a) 𝑃𝑅 ¿𝐚+𝐛
¿ 𝑃𝑄 + 𝑄𝑅 a
→ X
𝐚+ 𝐛
→ →
¿−
b) 𝑄𝑆¿ 𝑄𝑃 + 𝑃𝑆
→ 1 ¿
1 →
𝑄𝑆
( − 𝐚+ 𝐛 )
c) 𝑄𝑋 where X is the midpoint of QS 2 ¿ P
b S
2
1 1
¿ − 𝐚 + 𝐛
→ → ¿𝐚 −
→ 1 1
1
𝐚+ 2 𝐛 1 2 2
d) 𝑃𝑋¿ 𝑃𝑄 + 𝑄𝑋 2 ¿ 𝐚+ 𝐛
2 2
Y is the point on the line RS such that 2RY = SY
Q
R
Find vectors for: 1
a 3
1
→
→ 1 X
e) 𝑅𝑌 3 𝑅𝑆
¿
¿− 𝐚 Y
3 2
3
1
f) 𝑄𝑌¿ 𝑄𝑅 + 𝑅𝑌 3 𝐚
𝐛
→ →
→
¿ − P S
b
→ →
g) 𝑋𝑌 ¿ 𝑋𝑄 +𝑄𝑌
¿
→ (1
2
𝐚 − 1 𝐛 ) + ( 𝐛 −¿11
2
𝐚𝐚
36 ) +
1
2
𝐛
Solving problems with vectors written using the i, j notation
When vectors are written in terms of the unit vectors i and j you
can add them together by adding the terms in i and j separately.
Subtraction works in a similar way.
Given that:
Given that:
p = 2i + 3j a = 5i + 2j
q = 5i + j b = 3i - 4j
Find p + q in terms of i and j Find 2a – b in terms of i and j

𝒑 +𝒒=¿(2 𝒊+ 3 𝒋)+(5 𝒊+ 𝒋) 2 2(5 𝒊+2 𝒋−(3

) 𝒊 − 4 𝒋)
𝒑 +𝒒=¿7 𝒊 +4 𝒋 2 10 𝒊+4 𝒋−(3 𝒊 − 4 𝒋)
2 10 𝒊+ 4 𝒋− 3 𝒊+ 4 𝒋
2 7 𝒊 +8 𝒋
Solving problems with vectors written using the i, j notation
Use trigonometry to find an angle between a vector
and the axes y

Find the angle between the vector Opp

5j
-4i + 5j and the positive x-axis
θ
51.3°
x
-4i
 Draw a diagram Adj

𝑂𝑝𝑝
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
𝐴𝑑𝑗
5
𝑇𝑎𝑛 𝜃=
4
𝜃=51.3 °
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒=128.7 °
 Solving problems with vectors written using the i, j notation
Given that: so( 3+ 𝜇 ) =3 𝑘 and( −1+ 𝜇 )=𝑘
a = 3i - j
b=i+j
3+ 𝜇=¿
3 (− 1+𝜇)
Find µ if a + µb is parallel to 3i + j 3+ 𝜇=¿− 3 +3 𝜇
 Start by calculating a + µb in terms of a, b and µ 6=¿2 𝜇
3=¿ 𝜇
𝒂+𝜇 𝒃=¿(3 𝒊− 𝒋)+ 𝜇( 𝒊+ 𝒋)
To show that this works…
¿ 3 𝒊− 𝒋 +𝜇 𝒊 +𝜇 𝒋 ¿ (3 𝒊 − 𝒋+3
𝒂+3 𝒃 ) (𝒊+ 𝒋 )
¿ 3 𝒊+𝜇 𝒊 − 𝒋 +𝜇 𝒋 ¿ 3 𝒊− 𝒋+3 𝒊+3 𝒋
¿ ( 3 +𝜇 ) +𝒊( − 1+ 𝜇 ) 𝒋 ¿ 6 𝒊+2 𝒋
For vector to be parallel to ¿ 2( 3 𝒊+ 𝒋)
using the value of µ = 3, we get a vector
( 3+ 𝜇 ) 𝑖+ ( −1+ 𝜇 ) 𝑗 =𝑘(3 𝑖+ 𝑗) which is parallel to 3i + j
Exercise 3A
Exercise 3A
Exercise 3B
The velocity of a particle as a vector
The velocity of a particle is a vector in the direction of motion.
3i + j
The magnitude of the vector is its speed. j
Velocity is usually represented by v.
3i
A particle is moving with constant Finding the speed
velocity given by: The speed of the particle is the magnitude
v = (3i + j) ms-1 of the vector
Find: Use Pythagoras’ Theorem
a)The speed of the particle |𝑣|= √ 3 2 +12
b)The distance moved every 4 seconds |𝑣|=3.16 𝑚 𝑠− 1
Finding the distance travelled every 4 seconds
Displacement Or
¿ (3 𝑖+ 𝑗) × 4 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒=𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 ×𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
¿ 12 𝑖+ 4 𝑗 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒=3.16 × 4
|12 𝑖+ 4 𝑗|= √ (12 ) + ( 4 ) =12.6 𝑚
2 2
𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒=12.6 𝑚
The velocity of a particle as a vector
A man walks from A to B and then from B to C.
His displacement from A to B is
His displacement from B to C is
a) What is the magnitude of the displacement from A to C?
b) What is the total distance the man has walked in getting from A to C?
Draw a diagram! ⃗
𝐴𝐶 =⃗ 𝐴𝐵+ ⃗ 𝐵𝐶 𝐴𝐵|+|⃗
𝑇 𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙=|⃗ 𝐵 𝐶|
𝐵
6 𝒊+4 𝒋
⃗
𝐴𝐶 =
6
4 ( )(
+
5
− 12 )
𝐴 5 𝒊 −12 𝒋
⃗
𝐴𝐶 =
( )
11
−8 𝑇 𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙=20.2 𝑘𝑚
| 𝐴𝐶|=√ (11)2 +(− 8)2
| 𝐴𝐶|=13.6 𝑘𝑚
𝐶
Exercise 3C
Position vectors
Initially, Lewis is at the position vector . Each
second, he moves , i.e., his velocity. ( 11
5 )
𝑡 =2
Where will he be after 1 second?
( )
7
3
𝑡 =1
After 2 seconds?
𝑡 =0

𝒗= ( 2)
4

( )
3
1

So in general, where would Lewis be after seconds, in terms of ?

It’ll be with lots of added on, i.e.:
Position vectors
If a particle starts from the point with position vector and
moves with constant velocity ,
then its displacement from its initial position at time t is given by:

And its position vector is given by

Example
A particle starts from the position vector m and moves with constant
velocity ms-1.
(a)Find the position vector of the particle 4 seconds later.
(b)Find the time at which the particle is due east of the origin.

3
() ( )( )
2 11
a
𝒓 = +4 ? =
7 −1 3

b If due East, then the component is

0:
?
seconds
Position vectors
A particle starts from the point with position vector (3i + 7j) m and
moves with constant velocity (2i - j) m s–1.
a) Find its position after t seconds
r0  3i  7 j r  3i  7 j  t 2i  j
 3i  2ti   7 j  tj
v  2i  j
 3  2t  i  7  t  j

b) Its position vector after 3 seconds

t 3 r 9i4 j

c) The time when its position vector is 25i – 4j

3  2t  i  7  t  j  25i  4 j
Equating i - component  3  2t  25  t  11
Equating j - component  7  t  4  t  11
Position vectors
At time t = 0, a particle has position vector (4i + 5j).
The particle moves horizontally with constant velocity (-3i + 2j) m s–1.
a) Find the distance travelled after 5 seconds
Displacement = 𝐯 𝑡 Distance travelled
¿ ( − 3 𝐢+ 2 𝐣 ) 𝑡 10 ¿ √ ( −15 ) +1 0
2 2

when ¿ −15 𝐢 +10 𝐣

15
The point Q has position vector (6i + 13j) m.
b) Find the time when the particle is due west of Q.
Position vector of particle: 𝐫 = ( 4 − 3 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( 5+2 𝑡 ) 𝐣
Particle is due west when j components are the same ⇒ 5 +2 𝑡=13⇒ 𝑡 =4 s
→
another approach to (b) is to find 𝑃𝑄 then find when the j component is zero
𝐫 𝑃 = ( 4 − 3 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( 5+2 𝑡 )𝐫𝐣𝑄 =6 𝐢 +13 𝐣
→
⇒ 𝑃𝑄 =( − 2− 3 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( 2 𝑡 −8⇒ ⇒𝑡=4
) 𝐣 2𝑡 − 8=0 s
Exercise 3D Question 11

a 𝐫 𝐴 =( 1+2 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( 3 − 𝑡 ) 𝐣
2𝐢− 𝐣 𝐫 𝐵= (5 − 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( − 2+ 4 𝑡 ) 𝐣
→
𝐴 (1 , 3 ) b 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐫 𝐵 − 𝐫 𝐴
− 𝐢+ 4 𝐣 ¿ [ ( 5 −𝑡 ) − ( 1+2 t ) ] 𝐢 + [ ( −2+ 4 𝑡 ) − ( 3− t
𝐵 ( 5 , −2 ) ¿ ( 4 − 3𝑡 ) 𝐢 + (− 5+5 𝑡 ) 𝐣
Exercise 3D Question 11

4
c i-components equal when 4 −3 𝑡 =0⇒ 𝑡 = 3
j-components equal when − 5 +5 𝑡 =0
⇒ 𝑡 =1
Therefore, no time when i and j components are equal – they won't collide
→
d 𝑡 =2⇒ 𝐴𝐵 = − 2 𝐢 + 5 𝐣

|𝐴𝐵|=√ ( − 2 ) +5 = √29
→
2 2
Velocity vectors
If a particle is accelerating, then its velocity can be described as a vector using

𝐯 = 𝐮 +𝐚 𝑡
Velocity vectors
A particle P moves in a horizontal plane. The acceleration of P is (4i - 2j) m s–2.
At time t = 0, the velocity of P is (i + j) m s–1.
At time t seconds, the velocity of P is v m s–1. Find
(a) an expression for v in terms of t, in the form ai + bj,
𝐯 =𝑢+ 𝑎𝑡
𝐯 =( 𝐢 + 𝐣 ) +𝑡 ( 4 𝐢 − 2 𝐣 )
¿ ( 1+ 4 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( 1 − 2 𝑡 ) 𝐣

(b) Find the velocity of P when t = 5,

𝑡 =5
⇒ 𝐯 =21 𝐢 − 9 𝐣
Velocity vectors
A particle moving with constant velocity has position vector (2i - 4j) m
when t = 0. Five seconds later it has position vector (12i + 16j) m.
Find the velocity and speed of the particle
𝐫 = 𝐫 𝟎+ 𝐯 𝑡⇒ 𝐯 = 𝐫 − 𝐫 𝟎
𝑡
( 12 𝐢 +16 𝐣) − ( 2 𝐢 − 4 𝐣 )
¿
5
10 𝐢 + 20 𝐣 −1
¿ ¿ ( 2 𝐢 +4 𝐣 ) m s
5
If velocity 𝐯 =𝑝 𝐢 +𝑞 𝐣
Speed |𝐯 |= √ 𝑝 +𝑞
2 2

speed =√ 2 + 4 ¿ √ 20 m s
2 2 −1
Velocity vectors
A particle P moves in a horizontal plane. j
The acceleration of P is (3i + 5j) m s–2.
At time t = 0, the velocity of P is (-5i – 4j) m s–1. i
When is P moving parallel to i?

𝐯 =( − 5 𝐢 − 4 𝐣 ) +𝑡 ( 3 𝐢 +5 𝐣 ) 3 𝐢 +5 𝐣
¿ ( −5 +3 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( − 4 +5 𝑡 ) 𝐣 𝑡=
5 𝑡 =0
3
Parallel to vector i => j-component = zero
4 −5 𝐢 − 4 𝐣
⇒𝑡=
⇒ − 4 +5 𝑡 =0 s
5
When is P moving parallel to j? 4
𝑡=
5
Parallel to vector j => i-component = zero
5
⇒− 5+3 𝑡=0 ⇒ 𝑡 = s
3
Chapter Review-3 Question-3

𝐯 =( 5 𝐢 − 3 𝐣 ) +𝑡 ( − 3 𝐢 + 𝐣 ) i
c
2
¿ ( 5 − 3 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( −3+𝑡 ) 𝐣 θ
10
a Parallel to vector i => j-component = zero 2
tan 𝜃 =
⇒ 𝑡 =3 s
⇒ − 3+𝑡 =0 10
b ⇒ 𝐯 =−10 𝐢 +2 𝐣
𝑡 =5 ⇒ 𝜃 =11.3 ° ( 1 dp )
⇒ speed=√ ( −10 ) +2 Angle = 180 - θ
2 2

⇒ angle=168.7 °
¿ √ 104
Chapter Review-3 Question-5
Chapter Review-3 Question-5
a

b
j

i
At noon 𝑟 𝐴=0 𝑟 𝐵 =−10 𝑗
5
Using 𝑟 =𝑟 0 + 𝒗 𝑡

𝐚𝐛=3
=6𝑡 𝐢 +0 𝐣
θ
3
5
𝑡 𝐢 + ( −10+5 𝑡 ) 𝐣
tan 𝜃 =
⇒
3 𝜃=59 ° c
Due East => j-components equal
Bearing = 90 - θ
⇒ 0=−10+5 𝑡
⇒ bearing= 031°
⇒ 𝑡 =2⇒ time 14:00
Chapter Review-3 Question-5
d

𝑑=10
2
⇒ 34 𝑡 − 100 𝑡 + 100=100
2
→ ⇒ 34 𝑡 −100 𝑡 =0
𝐴𝐵 =− 3 𝑡 𝐢 + ( −10+5 𝑡 ) 𝐣 ⇒ 𝑡 ( 34 𝑡 − 100 )=0
| →
|
𝑑= 𝐴𝐵 =√ ( − 3 𝑡 ) + ( − 10+5 𝑡 )
2 2 100
⇒ 𝑡 = ⇒ time 14:56
¿ √ 34 𝑡 − 100 𝑡+100
2 34
2 2
⇒ 𝑑 =34 𝑡 − 100 𝑡 +100
e
Chapter Review-3 Question-7

i
a
2θ

3
3
tan 𝜃 =⇒ 𝜃 =56 °
b
𝐯¿=( 3( 3−𝐢2𝑡
−2) 𝐢𝐣+) +𝑡( −( −2 𝐢 +3 𝐣
2+3 𝑡 ) 𝐣
) 2
Angle = 180 - θ
c 𝑡 = 4⇒ 𝐯 =−5 𝐢 +10 𝐣 ⇒ angle=124 °
⇒ speed=√ ( −5 ) +1 0¿ √ 125
2 2
Chapter Review-3 Question-7

d 𝑣 =( 3 − 2 𝑡 ) 𝐢 + ( −2+ 3 𝑡 ) 𝐣is parallel to 𝑖+ 𝑗

⇒ 3− 2 𝑡=−2+3 𝑡
⇒ 5 𝑡 =5
⇒ 𝑡 =1
Exercise 3D
Exercise 3D
Exercise 3D
Exercise 3D
Exercise 3D
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3
Chapter Review-3