Topic 2

Vectors

Lecture Outline
2.1 Vectors and Scalars
2.2 Presentation of Vectors
2.3 Addition and Subtraction of vector
2.4 Component of Vector

2.1 Vectors and Scalars

A vector has magnitude as well as direction.
Some vector quantities: displacement, velocity,
force, momentum
A scalar has only a magnitude.
Some scalar quantities: mass, time,
temperature

2.2 Presentation of Vectors

On a diagram, each vector
is represented by an arrow
Arrow pointing in the
direction of the vector
Length of arrow is
proportional to the
magnitude
of the vector
Symbol V or V
Magnitude
of the vector:

V or V

2.3 Addition and Subtraction of

vector

Addition of VectorsGraphical Methods

For vectors in one
dimension, simple
addition and subtraction
are all that is needed.
You do need to be
careful about the signs,
as the figure indicates.

If the motion is in two dimensions, the situation is

somewhat more complicated.
Here, the actual travel paths are at right angles to one
another; we can find the displacement by using the
Pythagorean Theorem.

Adding the vectors in the opposite order gives the same

result:

Even if the vectors are not at right angles,

they can be added graphically by using the
tail-to-tip method.

The parallelogram method may also be used; here

again the vectors must be tail-to-tip.

Subtraction of Vectors
In order to subtract vectors, we define
the negative of a vector, which has the
same magnitude but points in the
opposite direction.
Then we add the negative vector.

Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

A vector V can be multiplied

by a scalar c;

the result is a vector c V that has the same

direction but a magnitude cV. If c is
negative, the resultant vector points in the
opposite direction.

ConcepTest 3.1a
If two vectors are given
such that A + B = 0, what
can you say about the
magnitude and direction
of vectors A and B?

Vectors I

1) same magnitude, but can be in any

direction
2) same magnitude, but must be in the same
direction
3) different magnitudes, but must be in the
same direction
4) same magnitude, but must be in opposite
directions
5) different magnitudes, but must be in
opposite directions

ConcepTest 3.1a
If two vectors are given
such that A + B = 0, what
can you say about the
magnitude and direction
of vectors A and B?

Vectors I

1) same magnitude, but can be in any

direction
2) same magnitude, but must be in the same
direction
3) different magnitudes, but must be in the
same direction
4) same magnitude, but must be in opposite
directions
5) different magnitudes, but must be in
opposite directions

The magnitudes must be the same, but one vector must be pointing in
the opposite direction of the other in order for the sum to come out to
zero. You can prove this with the tip-to-tail method.

ConcepTest 3.1b
Given that A + B = C, and
that lAl 2 + lBl 2 = lCl 2, how
are vectors A and B
oriented with respect to
each other?

Vectors II

1) they are perpendicular to each other

2) they are parallel and in the same direction
3) they are parallel but in the opposite
direction
4) they are at 45 to each other
5) they can be at any angle to each other

ConcepTest 3.1b
Given that A + B = C, and
that lAl 2 + lBl 2 = lCl 2, how
are vectors A and B
oriented with respect to
each other?

Vectors II

1) they are perpendicular to each other

2) they are parallel and in the same direction
3) they are parallel but in the opposite
direction
4) they are at 45 to each other
5) they can be at any angle to each other

Note that the magnitudes of the vectors satisfy the Pythagorean

Theorem. This suggests that they form a right triangle, with vector C
as the hypotenuse. Thus, A and B are the legs of the right triangle
and are therefore perpendicular.

ConcepTest 3.1c
Given that A + B = C,
and that lAl + lBl =
lCl , how are vectors
A and B oriented with
respect to each
other?

Vectors III

1) they are perpendicular to each other

2) they are parallel and in the same direction
3) they are parallel but in the opposite direction
4) they are at 45 to each other
5) they can be at any angle to each other

ConcepTest 3.1c
Given that A + B = C,
and that lAl + lBl =
lCl , how are vectors
A and B oriented with
respect to each
other?

Vectors III

1) they are perpendicular to each other

2) they are parallel and in the same direction
3) they are parallel but in the opposite direction
4) they are at 45 to each other
5) they can be at any angle to each other

The only time vector magnitudes will simply add together is when
the direction does not have to be taken into account (i.e., the
direction is the same for both vectors). In that case, there is no
angle between them to worry about, so vectors A and B must be
pointing in the same direction.

2.4 Component of Vector

Any vector can be expressed as the sum of two
other vectors, which are called its
components. The process of finding the
component is known as resolving the vector
into its component.

Because x and y axis is

perpendicular, they can be
calculate using trigonometric
functions.

The components are effectively one-dimensional, so

they can be added arithmetically.

Adding vectors:
1. Draw a diagram
2. Choose x and y axes.
3. Resolve each vector into x and y components.
4. Calculate each component using sines and cosines.
5. Add the components in each direction.
6. To find the length and direction of the vector, use:
and

Example 3-2: Mail carriers

displacement.
A rural mail carrier leaves the
post office and drives 22.0 km in a
northerly direction. She then
drives in a direction 60.0 south
of east for 47.0 km. What is her
displacement from the post
office?

Example 3-3: Three short trips.

An airplane trip involves three
legs, with two stopovers. The first
leg is due east for 620 km; the
second leg is southeast (45) for
440 km; and the third leg is at
53 south of west, for 550 km, as
shown. What is the planes total
displacement?

ConcepTest 3.2
If each component of a
vector is doubled, what
happens to the angle of
that vector?

Vector Components I
1) it doubles
2) it increases, but by less than double
3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half

ConcepTest 3.2
If each component of a
vector is doubled, what
happens to the angle of
that vector?

Vector Components I
1) it doubles
2) it increases, but by less than double
3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half

The magnitude of the vector clearly doubles if each of its

components is doubled. But the angle of the vector is given by tan
= 2y/2x, which is the same as tan = y/x (the original angle).

Follow-up: If you double one component and not

the other, how would the angle change?

ConcepTest 3.3

Vector Addition

You are adding vectors of length

1) 0

20 and 40 units. What is the only

2) 18

possible resultant magnitude that

3) 37

you can obtain out of the

4) 64

following choices?

5) 100

ConcepTest 3.3

Vector Addition

You are adding vectors of length

1) 0

20 and 40 units. What is the only

2) 18

possible resultant magnitude that

3) 37

you can obtain out of the

4) 64

following choices?

5) 100

The minimum resultant occurs when the vectors

are opposite,
opposite giving 20 units.
units The maximum
resultant occurs when the vectors are aligned,
aligned
giving 60 units.
units Anything in between is also
possible for angles between 0 and 180.