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A scalar quantity:
s = 20 m B
Contains magnitude
only and consists of a
A
number and a unit.
(20 m, 40 mi/h, 10 gal)
Displacement—A Vector Quantity
• Displacement is the straight-line
separation of two points in a specified
direction.
A vector quantity:
D = 12 m, 20o B
Contains magnitude
A AND direction, a
q number, unit & angle.
(12 m, 300; 8 km/h, N)
More about Vectors
• A vector is represented on paper by an
arrow
1. the length represents magnitude
2. the arrow faces the direction of
motion
3-2 Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods
What
factor is
affecting
their
velocity?
A B C
Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods
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.
Perpendicular Vectors
When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you may use the
Pythagorean theorem.
A man walks 95 km, East
then 55 km, north.
Calculate his
RESULTANT
DISPLACEMENT.
55 km, N
c2 a 2 b2 c a 2 b2
c Resultant 952 552
95 km,E
c 12050 109.8 km
Example
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.
23 m, E
- =
12 m, W - =
14 m, N
6 m, S R 14 2 232 26.93m
20 m, N 14
Tanq .6087
23
14 m, N q Tan 1 (0.6087) 31.3
35 m, E R
q
26.93m31.3
23 m, E
26.93m,31.3
The Final Answer:
Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods
Even if the vectors are not at right
angles, they can be added graphically by
using the tail-to-tip method.
To
Toadd
addvectors,
vectors,weweput
putthe
theinitial
initialpoint
pointofofthe
thesecond
second
vector
vector on
onthe
theterminal
terminalpoint
pointof ofthe
thefirst
firstvector.
vector. The
The
resultant
resultantvector
vector has
hasananinitial
initialpoint
pointatatthe
theinitial
initialpoint
point
of
ofthe
thefirst
firstvector
vector and
andaaterminal
terminalpoint
pointatatthe
theterminal
terminal
point
pointofofthe
thesecond
secondvector
vector(see
(seebelow--better
below--bettershown
shown
than
thanput
putininwords).
words).
Terminal
point of w
vw w
w
Initial point of v
v Move w over keeping
the magnitude and
direction the same.
Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar
v
v
A number multiplied in front of a vector is called a scalar. It
means to take the vector and add together that many times.
3v v
v
v
Using the vectors shown,
v find the following:
w
u uv u
v
3w
w
w
w
uv
2u 3w v v u
v
u w
w
u w
Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar
Remember:
soh
cah
toa
Adding vectors:
1. Draw a diagram; add the vectors graphically.
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 .
3-4 Adding Vectors by
Components