Physics for Engineers 6/14/2019

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Vectors and Scalars 1. Differentiate between vectors and scalar quantities.
2. Determine quantities that are appropriate to be represented by
a vector and represent these vectors geometrically.
3. Name vectors in component form and use them to solve
problems involving addition and subtraction.
4. Solve problems involving quantities that can be represented
Physics for Engineers by vectors.
5. Solve vector problem using component method

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Physics is a science that deals with matter Branches of Physics

and energy and their interaction.
 Foundation on which all modern science and  Mechanics
technology.  Sound and Wave Motion
 Today’s medical imaging technology, computers,
 Thermodynamics
telecommunication is yesterday’s physics
research.  Electricity and Magnetism
 Teaches a particular way of addressing  Optics
problems and observing the environment.  Modern Physics
 Helps you understand what is possible and what
is not, which information to believe and which
not.
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UNITS Conversion of Units

Systeme Internationalle (SI), which is a version of the
metric system. The “standard units:”

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Rules of Conversion of Units Example

1. Subtract Exponents
2. Move decimal that amount in the direction of
the wanted unit.
1. 100 L → μL 2. 4000 mm → km
10 10 10 10
0 − −6 = 6 −3 − 3 = −6
From the decimal point of From the decimal point of 4000,
100, move to the right move to the left about 6 steps
about 6 steps 0.004000.
100.000000 4000 = 0.004
100 = 100,000,000

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Example Unit Conversion

Convert: 350 kg/m → g/cm

1 = 1000
1 = 100

 350 × ×

 350 × ×
,

, ,
= 0.35
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Scalar Vector
Scalar Magnitude
A SCALAR is ANY Example A VECTOR is ANY Vector Magnitude
quantity in physics that Speed 20 m/s quantity in physics that & Direction
has MAGNITUDE, but has BOTH Velocity 20 m/s, N
NOT a direction MAGNITUDE and
associated with it. Distance 10 m DIRECTION. Acceleration 10 m/s/s, E
Magnitude – A numerical Force 5 N, West
value with units. Age 15 years
Vectors are typically illustrated by
Heat 1000
calories ⃗, ⃗, ⃗, ⃗ drawing an ARROW above the symbol.
The arrow is used to convey direction
and magnitude.

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1. A boat traveling 50 mph 20°east of north

1. A car traveling 40 mph.
2. An object falling straight down at 15 mph
3. A worker pushing an object with a force of 30 newtons
2. A motorcycle traveling 60 mph due north.

3. A train traveling 40mph east to the beach. #3 There is a magnitude, but no direction!

4. A child’s weight on a scale.

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Vectors are used to represent vector quantities on a diagram. A vector is

composed of a line segment drawn to scale with an arrowhead at one end.
The tail of the vector is at its origin and the tip is at the terminal point
Collinear Vectors
(arrowhead). The length of the vector represents its magnitude and the
arrowhead indicates its direction.
 are vectors that exist in the same dimension.
 they exist either in the same direction or in
the opposite direction.
B
Initial Point Terminal Point
or tail ⃗ or tip

Equivalent vectors
Are vectors with the same magnitude
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Non-collinear Vectors Vector direction

 are vectors that exist in more than one

dimension. v v

 They are located along different straight lines.

α
v

True Bearing
is always
measured
Quadrant bearing clockwise from the Standard Position
v is between 0° and 90° east north-south line. is measured counter
or west of the north-south line. True bearings are clockwise from 0°.
v is S70°E always given in
three digits. 050°
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Vector Direction: Quadrant Bearing

Vector Direction: Name the direction of vector r, 3 different ways.

N N
NW NE
W of N E of N r Standard Position: 120°
N of E
N of W Quadrant Bearing: N30°W
W E W E
S of W S of E True Bearing: 330°

W of S E of S SE
SW
S S

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Component Form of a Vector:

The Magnitude of a Vector in a Coordinate Plane:

Click here for the

solution:
The Magnitude of a Vector in a Component Form:

v
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Unit Vector Notation Unit Vector Notation

An effective and popular system used in engineering is =3j
J = vector of magnitude “1” in the “y” direction
called unit vector notation. It is used to denote
vectors with an x-y Cartesian coordinate system. = 4i
i = vector of magnitude “1” in the “x” direction

The hypotenuse in Physics is

called the RESULTANT or
VECTOR SUM.

The LEGS of the triangle are

A  4iˆ  3 ˆj called the COMPONENTS
3j
Vertical Component

NOTE: When drawing a right triangle that

4i conveys some type of motion, you MUST draw
Horizontal Component your components HEAD TO TOE.

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Unit Vector Notation Applications of Vectors

iˆ - unit vector  1 in the  x direction The proper terminology is to use
the “hat” instead of the arrow. So
ˆj - unit vector  1 in the  y direction we have i-hat, j-hat, and k-hat VECTOR ADDITION – If 2 similar vectors point in the SAME
which are used to describe any direction, add them.
kˆ - unit vector  1 in the  z direction type of motion in 3D space.
 Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then another 30
How would you write vectors J and K in meters east. Calculate his displacement relative to where he
unit vector notation? started?
54.5 m, E + 30 m, E Notice that the SIZE of
J  2iˆ  4 ˆj the arrow conveys
MAGNITUDE and the
84.5 m, E way it was drawn
conveys DIRECTION.
K  2iˆ  5 ˆj

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Applications of Vectors Non-Collinear Vectors

When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you must use
the Pythagorean theorem.
VECTOR SUBTRACTION - If 2 vectors are going in
opposite directions, you SUBTRACT. c2  a2  b2
The hypotenuse in Physics Finish

 Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then 30

is called the RESULTANT.
c  a2  b2
meters west. Calculate his displacement relative to
where he started?
54.5 m, E Vertical
- Component
30 m, W Horizontal Component = tan
⃗
24.5 m, E
Start
The LEGS of the triangle are called the COMPONENTS

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A man walks 95 km, East then 55 km, north. Calculate his Example
RESULTANT DISPLACEMENT. A bear, searching for food wanders 35 meters east then 20 meters north.
Frustrated, he wanders another 12 meters west then 6 meters south. Calculate
the bear's displacement.
. c2  a2  b2  c  a2  b2 -
23 m, E
=
109.8 km
55 km, N c  Resultant  952  552
c  12050  109.8 km 12 m, W - =
 14 m, N
6 m, S
95 km,E opposite side
1 20 m, N
  tan
adjacent side R  14 2  232  26.93m
  tan 1 (55 / 95)  30 o 14
35 m, E R 14 m, N   tan 1

23
So the COMPLETE final answer is : 109.8 km, 30° North of East   31.3o
109.8 km, 30° 23 m, E
109.8 km, 060°
̂ + ̂ The Final Answer: 26.93 m, 31.3 degrees NORTH of EAST

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Example What if you are missing a component?

A boat moves with a velocity of 15 m/s, N in a river which
flows with a velocity of 8.0 m/s, west. Calculate the
boat's resultant velocity with respect to due north. The goal: ALWAYS MAKE A RIGHT
TRIANGLE!

Rv  8 2  15 2  17 m / s V.C = ? To solve for components, we often use

8.0 m/s, W the trig functions since and cosine.
8 
15 m/s, N
  tan 1 H.C. = ?
Rv  15 Horizontal Component:
  28.1 o = cos
Vertical Component:
The Final Answer : 17 m/s, @ 28.1 degrees West of North = cos

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Example Example
A plane moves with a velocity of 63.5 m/s at 32 degrees South of East. Calculate A storm system moves 5000 km due east, then shifts course at 40
the plane's horizontal and vertical velocity components. degrees North of East for 1500 km. Calculate the storm's
resultant displacement.
Ax  1500 cos 40  1149.1 km, E
1500 km
Ax  63.5 cos 32  53.85 m / s V.C. Ay  1500 sin 40  964.2 km, N
40
H.C. =? Ay  63.5 sin 32  33.64 m / s 5000 km, E H.C.

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V.C. = ?

63.5 m/s R  6149.12  964.2 2  6224.14 km

5000 km + 1149.1 km = 6149.1 km 964.2
= 53.85 ,   tan 1
6149.1
R
  8.91o
= 33.64 , 964.2 km

6149.1 km The Final Answer: 6224.14 km @ 8.91
degrees, North of East

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Components of Vector Adding vectors using Analytical

 Method (COMPONENT Method)


H.C. Components of a Vector. The original vector, defined

relative to a set of axes. The H.C. stretches from the
start of the vector to its furthest x-coordinate. The V.C.
V.C. stretches from the x-axis to the most vertical point on
the vector. Together, the two components and the
vector form a right triangle.

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Example Example



Vectors x-component y-component

Vector X-component Y-component A 35 cos 0 35 sin 0
A 5000 cos 0 5000 sin 0 B 20 cos 90 20 sin 90
B 1500 cos 40 1500 sin 40 C 12 cos 180 12 sin 180
D 6 cos 270 6 sin 270

The Final Answer: 6224.14 km @ 8.91

degrees, North of East The Final Answer: 26.93 m, 31.3 degrees NORTH of EAST

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Example Solution
Vectors x-component y-component
Four vectors, A, B, C and D, are shown in the
A 6 cos 90 6 sin 90
figure. The sum of these four vectors is a vector B 4 cos 210 4 sin 210
having magnitude and direction. C 6 cos 270 6 sin 270
D 4 cos 330 4 sin 330

The Final Answer: 4 cm, South

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Because the resultant is a vertical vector.

Example Why Rx = 0?
No Horizontal vector

 Rx = F1x + F2x Ry = F1y + F2y

0 = 5 cos 45 + F2x 8 = 5 sin 45 + F2y
F2y = 8 - 5 sin 45 = 4.46 N
F2x = -5 cos 45 = -3.53 N

F2

R=8N
F1= 5 N
F2

R=8N
F1= 5 N

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Adding vectors using Graphical Graphical Method

Method Steps:
1. Draw the three displacement vectors
2. Place the vectors head to tail retaining
both their initial magnitude and
direction.
3. Draw the resultant vector, R.
4. Use a ruler to measure
the magnitude of R, and
a protractor to measure the
direction of R.

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