Vectors
Vectors
Vectors
Chapter 3:
Vectors
y
x = r cos q tan q =
x
y = r sin q
r= x +y
2 2
Example 3.1:
Polar Coordinates
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.
y
tan q =
x
-2.50 m
= = 0.714
-3.50 m
q = 216°
Vector and Scalar Quantities
! ! ! !
A + B = B + A ( commutative law of addition )
! ! ! ! ! !
( ) ( )
A + B + C = A + B + C ( associative law of addition )
Vector Addition
Vector Subtraction and
Scalar Multiplication
! ! ! ! ! !
( )
A + -A = 0 ( )
A - B = A + -B
!
scalar multiplication: mA
Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0 km in a
direction 60.0° west of north as shown in the figure.
Find the magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant
displacement.
Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
R= A2 + B 2 - 2 AB cos q
Ax
cos q = Þ Ax = A cos q A= Ax 2 + Ay 2
A
Ay æ Ay ö
sin q = Þ Ay = A sin q q = tan ç ÷
-1
A è Ax ø
Quick Quiz 3.4
Choose the correct response to make the sentence true:
A component of a vector is
(a) always
(b) never
(c) sometimes
larger than the magnitude of the vector.
Quick Quiz 3.4
Choose the correct response to make the sentence true:
A component of a vector is
(a) always
(b) never
(c) sometimes
larger than the magnitude of the vector.
Unit Vectors
ˆi
ˆj
kˆ
Components of a Vector
and Unit Vectors
!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj
Vector Addition using Components
Magnitude of a Vector
( Ax + Bx ) + ( Ay + By )
2 2
R = Rx + Ry =
2 2
Ry Ay + By
tan q = =
Rx Ax + Bx
Vectors in Three Dimensions
!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ
!
B = Bx ˆi + By ˆj + Bz kˆ
!
R = ( Ax + Bx ) ˆi + ( Ay + By ) ˆj + ( Az + Bz ) kˆ
Rz = Az + Bz
R = Rx + Ry + Rz
2 2 2
Rx Ry Rz
cos q x = cos q y = cos q z =
R R R
Example 3.3:
The Sum of Two Vectors
! !
Find the sum of two vectors A and B lying in the
xy plane and given by
! !
( ) (
A = 2.0ˆi + 2.0ˆj and B = 2.0ˆi - 4.0ˆj )
!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ
Ax = 2.0, Ay = 2.0, Az = 0
Bx = 2.0, By = -4.0, Bz = 0
Example 3.3:
The Sum of Two Vectors
!
R = ( Ax + Bx ) ˆi + ( Ay + By ) ˆj
= ( 2.0 + 2.0 ) ˆi + ( 2.0 - 4.0 ) ˆj
= 4.0ˆi - 2.0ˆj
( 4.0 ) + ( 2.0 )
2 2
R = Rx + Ry =
2 2
= 20 = 4.5
Ry -2.0
tan q = = = -0.50 ® q = 333°
Rx 4.0
Example 3.4:
The Resultant Displacement
A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements:
( ) ( )
Dr1 = 15ˆi + 30ˆj + 12kˆ cm, Dr2 = 23ˆi - 14ˆj - 5.0kˆ cm,
( )
and Dr = -13ˆi + 15ˆj cm. Find unit-vector notation for
3
(
= 25ˆi + 31ˆj + 7.0kˆ cm)
R = Rx + Ry + Rz
2 2 2
( 25 cm ) + ( 31 cm ) + ( 7.0 cm ) = 40 cm
2 2 2
=
Example 3.5:
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.
Bx = A cos ( 60.0° )
= ( 40.0 km )( 0.500 ) = 20.0 km
By = A sin ( 60.0° )
= ( 40.0 km )( 0.866 ) = 34.6 km
Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
( B ) Determine! the components of the hiker's resultant
!
displacement R for the trip. Find an expression for R
in terms of unit vectors.
!
( )
R = 37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km
Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
!
( )
R = 37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km
Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
After reaching the tower, the hiker wishes to return to
her car along a single straight line. What are the
components of the vector representing this hike?
What should the direction of the hike be?
! !
(
R car = -R = -37.7ˆi - 17.0ˆj km )
Rcar,y -17.0 km
tan q = = = 0.450
Rcar,x -37.7 km