1. An Introduction with Components September 19, 2013
Vectors
An Introduction with Components
September 19, 2013

2. There are two kinds of quantities…
SCALARS are quantities that have magnitude only, such as
position
speed
time
mass
VECTORS are quantities that have both magnitude and direction, such as
displacement
velocity
acceleration

3. R R R Notating vectors head tail This is how you notate a vector…
Books usually write vector names in bold. R
You would write the vector name with an arrow on top.
This is how you draw a vector… R
head
tail

4. A  Direction of Vectors x
Vector direction is the direction of the arrow, given by an angle.
Draw a vector that has an angle that is between 0o and 90o. A  x

5.     Vector angle ranges x y Quadrant II 90o <  < 180o
Quadrant III
180o <  < 270o 
Quadrant IV
270o <  < 360o 

6. B   Direction of Vectors x What angle range would this vector have?
What would be the exact angle, and how would you determine it? 
Between 180° and 270° x 
or between
-270° and -180° B

7. Magnitude of Vectors
The best way to determine the magnitude of a vector is to measure its length.
The length of the vector is proportional to the magnitude (or size) of the quantity it represents.

8. Sample Problem
If vector A represents a displacement of three miles to the north, then what does vector B represent? Vector C? B A C

9. Sample Problem
If vector A represents a displacement of three miles to the north, then what does vector B represent? Vector C? B A C

10. Equal Vectors
Equal vectors have the same length and direction, and represent the same quantity (such as force or velocity).
Draw several equal vectors.

11. Inverse Vectors
Inverse vectors have the same length, but opposite direction.
Draw a set of inverse vectors. A -A

12. The Right Triangle
hypotenuse
opposite θ
adjacent

13. hypotenuse2 = opposite2 + adjacent2
Pythagorean Theorem
hypotenuse2 = opposite2 + adjacent2
hypotenuse
opposite θ
adjacent

14. Basic Trigonometry functions
sin θ = opposite/hypotenuse
cos θ = adjacent/hypotenuse
tan θ = opposite/adjacent
SOHCAHTOA
hypotenuse
opposite θ
adjacent

15. SOHCAHTOA Inverse functions θ θ = sin-1(opposite/hypotenuse)
θ = cos-1(adjacent/hypotenuse)
θ = tan-1(opposite/adjacent)
SOHCAHTOA
hypotenuse
opposite θ
adjacent

16. Sample problem
A surveyor stands on a riverbank directly across the river from a tree on the opposite bank. She then walks 100 m downstream, and determines that the angle from her new position to the tree on the opposite bank is 50o. How wide is the river, and how far is she from the tree in her new location?

17. Sample problem
A surveyor stands on a riverbank directly across the river from a tree on the opposite bank. She then walks 100 m downstream, and determines that the angle from her new position to the tree on the opposite bank is 50o. How wide is the river, and how far is she from the tree in her new location?

18. Sample problem
You are standing at the very top of a tower and notice that in order to see a manhole cover on the ground 50 meters from the base of the tower, you must look down at an angle 75o below the horizontal. If you are 1.80 m tall, how high is the tower?

19. Sample problem
You are standing at the very top of a tower and notice that in order to see a manhole cover on the ground 50 meters from the base of the tower, you must look down at an angle 75o below the horizontal. If you are 1.80 m tall, how high is the tower?

20. Vectors: x-component A  Ax
The x-component of a vector is the “shadow” it casts on the x-axis.
cos θ = adjacent ∕ hypotenuse
cos θ = Ax ∕ A
Ax = A cos  A  x Ax

21. Vectors: y-component
The y-component of a vector is the “shadow” it casts on the y-axis.
sin θ = opposite ∕ hypotenuse
sin θ = Ay ∕ A
Ay = A sin  y A Ay Ay  x

22. Vectors: angle
The angle a vector makes with the x-axis can be determined by the components.
It is calculated by the inverse tangent function
 = tan-1 (Ay/Ax) y Ry  x Rx

23. R Vectors: magnitude Ry Rx
The magnitude of a vector can be determined by the components.
It is calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem.
R2 = Rx2 + Ry2 y R Ry x Rx

24. Conceptual Practice Problem
Can the magnitude of a component of a vector be greater than the vector’s magnitude?
Explain…

25. Practice Problem
You are driving up a long inclined road. After 1.5 miles you notice that signs along the roadside indicate that your elevation has increased by 520 feet.
What is the angle of the road above the horizontal?
How far do you have to drive to gain an additional 150 feet of elevation?

26. Practice Problem Find the x- and y-components of the following vectors
R = o
v = o
a = o

27. Practice Problems
A water molecule is shown in the diagram. The distance from the center of the oxygen atom to the center of the hydrogen atom is 0.96 angstroms, and the angle between the hydrogen atoms is 104.5°.
Find the center-to-center distance between the hydrogen atoms.
0.96 Ǻ
104.5°

28. Graphical addition and subtraction
Vectors
Graphical addition and subtraction

29. Graphical Addition of Vectors
Add vectors A and B graphically by drawing them together in a head to tail arrangement.
Draw vector A first, and then draw vector B such that its tail is on the head of vector A.
Then draw the sum, or resultant vector, by drawing a vector from the tail of A to the head of B.
Measure the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.

30. Practice Graphical AdditionB A B R
A + B = R
R is called the resultant vector!

31. The Resultant and the Equilibrant
The sum of two or more vectors is called the resultant vector.
The resultant vector can replace the vectors from which it is derived.
The resultant is completely canceled out by adding it to its inverse, which is called the equilibrant.

32. The Equilibrant Vector
A + B = R
The vector -R is called the equilibrant.
If you add R and -R you get a null (or zero) vector.

33. Graphical Subtraction of Vectors
Subtract vectors A and B graphically by adding vector A with the inverse of vector B (-B).
First draw vector A, then draw -B such that its tail is on the head of vector A.
The difference is the vector drawn from the tail of vector A to the head of -B.

34. Practice Graphical Subtraction
A - B = C

35. Practice Problem
Vector A points in the +x direction and has a magnitude of 75 m. Vector B has a magnitude of 30 m and has a direction of 30o relative to the x axis. Vector C has a magnitude of 50 m and points in a direction of -60o relative to the x axis.
Find A + B
Find A + B + C
Find A – B.

36. a)

37. b)

38. c)

39. Component addition and subtraction
Vectors
Component addition and subtraction

40. Component Addition of Vectors
Resolve each vector into its x- and y-components.
Ax = Acos Ay = Asin
Bx = Bcos By = Bsin
Cx = Ccos Cy = Csin etc.
Add the x-components (Ax, Bx, etc.) together to get Rx and the y-components (Ay, By, etc.) to get Ry.

41. Component Addition of Vectors
Calculate the magnitude of the resultant with the Pythagorean Theorem (R = Rx2 + Ry2).
Determine the angle with the equation  = tan-1 Ry/Rx.

42. Practice Problem
In a daily prowl through the neighborhood, a cat makes a displacement of 120 m due north, followed by a displacement of 72 m due west. Find the magnitude and displacement required if the cat is to return home.

43. Practice Problem
If the cat in the previous problem takes 45 minutes to complete the first displacement and 17 minutes to complete the second displacement, what is the magnitude and direction of its average velocity during this 62-minute period of time?

44. Relative Motion September 2013
Vectors
Relative Motion
September 2013

45. Relative Motion
Relative motion problems are difficult to do unless one applies vector addition concepts.
Define a vector for a swimmer’s velocity relative to the water, and another vector for the velocity of the water relative to the ground. Adding those two vectors will give you the velocity of the swimmer relative to the ground.

46. Relative Motion Vs Vw
Vt = Vs + Vw Vw

47. Relative Motion Vs
Vt = Vs + Vw Vw Vw

48. Relative Motion Vw Vs
Vt = Vs + Vw Vw

49. Practice Problem
You are paddling a canoe in a river that is flowing at 4.0 mph east. You are capable of paddling at 5.0 mph.
If you paddle east, what is your velocity relative to the shore?
If you paddle west, what is your velocity relative to the shore?
You want to paddle straight across the river, from the south to the north.At what angle to you aim your boat relative to the shore? Assume east is 0o.

50. Practice Problem
You are flying a plane with an airspeed of 400 mph. If you are flying in a region with a 80 mph west wind, what must your heading be to fly due north?