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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)
DisplacementA 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)
Distance and Displacement
Displacement is the x or y coordinate of
position. Consider a car that travels 4
m, E then 6 m, W.
Net displacement:
D 4 m,E D = 2 m, W
What is the distance
x = -2 x = +4 traveled?
6 m,W 10 m !!
Identifying Direction
A common way of identifying direction
is by reference to East, North, West,
and South. (Locate points below.)
N Length = 40 m
40 m, 50o N of E
60o 50o
W E 40 m, 60o N of W
60o
60o
40 m, 60o W of S
40 m, 60o S of E
S
Identifying Direction
Write the angles shown below by using
references to east, south, west, north.
N N
45o
W E
50o W E
S
S
500 S of E 450 W of N
Vectors and Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates (R,q) are an excellent
way to express vectors. Consider the
vector 40 m, 500 N of E, for example.
90o 90o
40 m R
180o 50o 180o q
0o 0o
270o 270o
90o
(R,q) = 40 m, 50o
(R,q) = 40 m, 300o
270o
Rectangular Coordinates
y Reference is made to
(-2, +3) x and y axes, with +
(+3, +2) and - numbers to
+ indicate position in
+ space.
x
- Right, up = (+,+)
-
Left, down = (-,-)
(-1, -3) (+4, -3) (x,y) = (?, ?)
Trigonometry Review
Application of Trigonometry to Vectors
Trigonometry y
sin q y = R sin q
R
y R x
cos q x = R cos q
R
q y
x tan q R2 = x2 + y2
x
Example 1: Find the height of a building
if it casts a shadow 90 m long and the
indicated angle is 30o.
The height h is opposite 300 and
the known adjacent side is 90 m.
opp h
tan 30
0
h adj 90 m
300
h = (90 m) tan 30o
90 m
h = 57.7 m
Finding Components of Vectors
A component is the effect of a vector along
other directions. The x and y components of
the vector (R,q) are illustrated below.
x = R cos q
R y = R sin q
y
q
Finding components:
x
Polar to Rectangular Conversions
Example 2: A person walks 400 m in a
direction of 30o N of E. How far is the
displacement east and how far north?
N
N
R 400 m
y y=?
q 30o
E
x E x=?
x = R cos q
y = R sin q
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
Third Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
q 180o > q < 270o
180o
x=- y=-
-
R x = R cos q
y = R sin q
270o
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
Fourth Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
q 270o > q < 360o
+ 360o
x=+ y=-
R x = R cos q
y = R sin q
270o
Resultant of Perpendicular Vectors
Finding resultant of two perpendicular vectors is
like changing from rectangular to polar coord.
R R x y 2 2
y
q
y
x tan q
x
R is always positive; q is from + x axis
Example 3: A 30-lb southward force
and a 40-lb eastward force act on a
donkey at the same time. What is the
NET or resultant force on the donkey?
Draw a rough sketch. Choose rough scale:
Ex: 1 cm = 10 lb
40 lb 40 lb
4 cm = 40 lb
30 lb 3 cm = 30 lb
30 lb
Finding Resultant: (Cont.)
Finding (R,q) from given (x,y) = (+40, -30)
40 lb q Rx 40 lb
f
Ry
30 lb R 30 lb
R= x2 + y2 R= (40)2 + (30)2 = 50 lb
-30
tan f = f = -36.9o q = 323.1o
40
Unit vector notation (i,j,k)
y Consider 3D axes (x, y, z)
j Define unit vectors, i, j, k
i x
k Examples of Use:
z 40 m, E = 40 i 40 m, W = -40 i
30 m, N = 30 j 30 m, S = -30 j
20 m, out = 20 k 20 m, in = -20 k
Example 4: A woman walks 30 m, W;
then 40 m, N. Write her displacement
in i,j notation and in R,q notation.
In i,j notation, we have:
+40 m R R = Rxi + Ry j
f Rx = - 30 m Ry = + 40 m
-30 m
R = -30 i + 40 j
+40 R 30
m
f q = 1800 53.10
-30 m
q = 126.9o
R (30) (40)
2 2
R = 50 m
f = 52.70 S. of W. q = 232.70
Example 6. Find the components of the 240-N
force exerted by the boy on the girl if his arm
makes an angle of 280 with the ground.
F = 240 N
Fy F
280
Fy
Fx
B= +4j E
A
C = -3 i 2 km, E
D= -2j 4. Add vectors A,B,C,D
algebraically to get
R = -1 i + 2 j resultant in i,j notation.
1 km, west and 2 5. Convert to R,q notation
km north of origin. See next page.
Example 7 (Cont.) Find resultant displacement.
Resultant Sum is: N
D 3 km, W
R = -1 i + 2 j 2 km, S C B
4 km, N
Now, We Find R, q
E
A
R (1) (2) 5
2 2
2 km, E
R = 2.24 km
2 km R Ry= +2
tan f km
1 km
f
f = 63.40 N or W Rx = -1 km
Reminder of Significant Units:
N
For convenience, we D 3 km
follow the practice of 2 km C B
4 km
assuming two (2)
decimal places for E
A
the final answer. 2 km
R = 6.97 i + 1.22 j
Example 8 (Cont.): Find i,j for three vectors: A
= 5 m,00; B = 2.1 m, 200; C = 0.5 m, 900.
R = 6.97 i + 1.22 j Diagram for
finding R,q:
5. Determine R,q from x,y:
R Ry
R (6.97 m) (1.22 m)
2 2
q 1.22 m
Rx= 6.97 m
R = 7.08 m
1.22 m
tan f q = 9.930 N. of E.
6.97 m
Example 9: A bike travels 20 m, E then 40 m
at 60o N of W, and finally 30 m at 210o. What
is the resultant displacement graphically?
C = 30 m Graphically, we use
B= ruler and protractor
30o
40 m to draw components,
then measure the
R Resultant R,q
q 60o
f
A = 20 m, E
Note: Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx
Cy
By 30o 0
C B Ry = Ay + By + Cy
R
Ry q
f 60o A
Rx Ax
Cx Bx
Example 9 (Cont.) Using the Component
Method to solve for the Resultant.
Write each vector
Cy B in i,j notation.
y 30o
C B
Ax = 20 m, Ay = 0
R
Ry q 60 A A = 20 i
f
Rx A Bx = -40 cos 60o = -20 m
x
Cx Bx By = 40 sin 60o = +34.6 m
B = -20 i + 34.6 j
Cx = -30 cos 30o = -26 m
Cy = -30 sin 60o = -15 m C = -26 i - 15 j
Example 9 (Cont.) The Component Method
Add algebraically:
Cy B
y 30o A = 20 i
C B
R B = -20 i + 34.6 j
Ry q
f 60 A C = -26 i - 15 j
Rx A
x R = -26 i + 19.6 j
Cx Bx
Cy B R = -26 i + 19.6 j
y 30o
C B
R
Ry R
f q 60 A +19.6
f
Rx A -26
x
Cx Bx
R = 32.6 m; q = 1430
Example 10. Find R= A + B + C for Vectors
Shown below.
B Cx
A = 5 m, 900 350 C
B = 12 m, 00 A y
q C
C = 20 m, -350
R
Ax = 0; Ay = +5 m
A= 0 i + 5.00 j
Bx = +12 m; By = 0 B = 12 i + 0j
Cx = (20 m) cos 350 C = 16.4 i 11.5 j
Cy = -(20 m) sin -350 R = 28.4 i - 6.47 j
Example 10 (Continued). Find A + B + C
B Rx = 28.4 m
350 q
A
q C R
R Ry = -6.47 m
R (28.4 m) (6.47 m)
2 2
R = 29.1 m
6.47 m
tan f q = 12.80 S. of E.
28.4 m
Vector Difference
For vectors, signs are indicators of direction.
Thus, when a vector is subtracted, the sign
(direction) must be changed before adding.