Vectors

Sign Conventions
It’s important to have a consistent set of
algebraic signs to indicate direction for
vectors…
Why do we need them?
A (+) or a (-) will tell us the direction
the vector is going.
Sign conventions:
(+): vector points right or up.

(-): vector points left or down.

 Sign Conventions
Sign conventions:
(+): vector points right or up.

(-): vector points left or down.

Topic: Vector Addition
Vectors are usually represented by a line
with an arrowhead at one end which
indicates the direction.
In red is a displacement
vector.

Displacement – distance
& direction from the
origin/reference.
The displacement above is 8 blocks
North (magnitude and direction)
Topic: Vector Addition
If the person now walks 4 blocks South,
what is the new displacement?
Topic: Vector Addition
If the person now walks 4 blocks South,
what is the new displacement?
To figure this out, we
must use vector
addition:
+ =?
Topic: Vector Addition
If the person now walks 4 blocks South,
what is the new displacement?
To figure this out, we
must use vector
addition:
+ =?
Topic: Vector Addition
If the person now walks 4 blocks South,
what is the new displacement?
To figure this out, we
must use vector
addition:
+ =

This method is called the “tip to tail”

method. The new displacement is 4 blocks
North.
Topic: Vector Addition
Note how the displacement vector is
drawn: It starts at the tail of the
first vector and ends
at the tip of the last
vector.
Topic: Vector Addition
Let’s go back to our original example: person
standing 8 blocks North. What if she walks 5
blocks East. What is the new displacement?
What is the resultant?
Topic: Vector Addition
Let’s go back to our original example: person
standing 8 blocks North. What if she walks 5
blocks East. What is the new displacement?
What is the resultant?
Topic: Vector Addition
Let’s go back to our original example: person
standing 8 blocks North. What if she walks 5
blocks East. What is the new displacement?
What is the resultant?

The direction is indicated

by the purple vector.
How about the
magnitude?
Topic: Vector Addition
Let’s go back to our original example: person
standing 8 blocks North. What if she walks 5
blocks East. What is the new displacement?
What is the resultant?

The direction is indicated

by the purple vector.
How about the
magnitude?
Topic: Vector Addition

A2 + B2 = C2
Topic: Vector Addition
To summarize:
1. If we have parallel vectors, then we can add
them algebraically, using the tip to tail method.
2. a. If we have vectors that are at right angles,
we draw the vectors tip to tail.
b. We draw the resultant to get the direction.
c. We use the Pythagorean theorem to get the
magnitude of the resultant.
These methods work because we can move a
vectors around as long as the length and direction
stay the same!
Subtracting Vectors

A–B=?
 Example Problem

What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?

 Example Problem
What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?
Question:
How many vectors are there in this problem?
 Example Problem
What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?
Question:
How many vectors are there in this problem?
 Words  Math
What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east
 Words  Math
What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east

Mathematically
A–B=?
 Words  Math
What is 30 m/s north minus 15 m/s east?

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east

Mathematically
A–B=?
The Problem: We only know how to add vectors.
 The Trick:
Make it Addition

A – B = A + (– B)

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east
 The Trick:
Make it Addition

A – B = A + (– B)
Guess: what is – B?

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east
 Time Out!

This is C
 Time Out!

Point in the direction of – C!

 Time Out!

Point in the direction of – C!

 Time Out!

C
-C

Point in the direction of – C!

Continue
 The Trick:
Make it Addition

A – B = A + (– B)

- B is B in the opposite direction

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east
 The Trick:
Make it Addition

A – B = A + (– B)

A – B = A + (– B)

- B is B in the opposite direction

 
A  30 ms north B  15 ms east
A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1 cm = 5 m/s 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
a ruler.
5. Measure the
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors
Which are tip-to-tail? 1. Make a scale drawing.
1) 2) 2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
3) 4) of the resultant with
a ruler.
5. Measure the
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors
Which are tip-to-tail? 1. Make a scale drawing.
1) 2) 2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
3) 4) of the resultant with
a ruler.
5. Measure the
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1) 2) 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
a• •b to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
•c 4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
Draw the resultant for 1): a ruler.
5. Measure the
from point ___ to point ___?
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1) 2) 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
a• •b to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
•c 4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
Draw the resultant for 1): a ruler.
c to point ___?
a 5. Measure the
from point ___
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1) 2) 1. Make a scale drawing.

d• 2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
e• •f free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
Draw the resultant for 2): a ruler.
5. Measure the
from point ___ to point ___?
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1) 2) 1. Make a scale drawing.

d• 2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
e• •f free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
Draw the resultant for 2): a ruler.
5. Measure the
f to point ___?
from point ___ d direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1) 2) 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
to-tail.
3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
a ruler.
Notice: the resultant is the 5. Measure the
same for option 1) and option direction of the
2). resultant with a
protractor.
A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1 cm = 5 m/s 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
6.70 to-tail.
cm 3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
(6.70)(5) m/s = 33.5 of the resultant with
m/s a ruler.
5. Measure the
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
63 to-tail.
˚ 3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
a ruler.
5. Measure the
direction of the
resultant with a
protractor.
 A + (– B) Graphical Addition of
Vectors

1 cm = 5 m/s 1. Make a scale drawing.

2. Move the vectors tip-
63 to-tail.
˚ 3. Draw the resultant
vector (free tail to
free tip).
4. Measure the length
of the resultant with
a ruler.
33.5 m/s @ 63˚ north of 5. Measure the
west direction of the
Your final answer!
resultant with a
protractor.
 Motion Notes
(Continued):
10. Subtracting Vectors
a. The negative sign makes one vector point in
the opposite
  direction.

i. Ex: A  B   B has the same magnitude
as B and the opposite direction
b. Deal with the directions, then add the
vectors.
   
i. A B  A ( B)
Topic: Vector Addition II
•Another way of determining the result of
adding 2 vectors (i.e. resultant), is the
parallelogram method.
•This method will work even if the vectors
are not at right angles…
Right angle Other angle
Topic: Vector Addition II
•Another way of determining the result of
adding 2 vectors (i.e. resultant), is the
parallelogram method.
•This method will work even if the vectors
are not at right angles…
Right angle Other angle
 Topic: Vector Addition II
•Notice how I have drawn these vectors to do
the addition, tail to tail…
• To add the vectors, draw a parallelogram (a
shape in which opposite sides are parallel) by
drawing parallel vectors shown as dashed lines
below…
Right angle Other angle

The tails The tails

are drawn are drawn
together together
 Topic: Vector Addition II
• The resultant is the diagonal of the
parallelogram, shown in purple below…
•For the direction of the resultant, measure
with a protractor. For the magnitude of the
resultant, measure with a ruler.
Right angle Other angle

The tails The tails

are drawn are drawn
together together
Topic: Components of Vectors
• Sometimes we need to change a single
vector into two equivalent vectors at right
angles to each other. The equivalent vectors
are called components.
• Any vector can be “resolved” into
components. This process is called vector
resolution.
• Every vector will have a component along the
x-axis and the y-axis.
Topic: Components of Vectors
• Suppose we have a vector V in a certain
direction…
Draw horizontal and
vertical lines from the
tail of the vector to
y
make an x and y axis.

x
 Topic: Components of Vectors
• Imagine you are shining a flashlight downward
on the vector from atop of the y-axis…
You can imagine that this
creates a shadow on the x-
axis…

The length of the shadow on

V the x-axis is the x
component (horizontal
component) of the vector.

Vx
 Topic: Components of Vectors
• Now shine a flashlight towards the vector
from the x-axis…

Similarly you can imagine that this creates a

shadow on the y-axis…

The length of the

shadow on the
V y-axis is the
Vy y-component
(vertical component)
of the vector
 Topic: Components of Vectors
Below are the x & y components of the
vector V,

Vx = horizontal component
Vy = vertical component

V
Vy

Vx
Topic: Components of Vectors
Try these:
B

A
Topic: Components of Vectors
Try these:
B

A
By

Ay

Ax Bx
 Polar Coordinate System
(Direction and Magnitude)
 Polar  “Math”
(Cartesian)
r x y2 2

x  r cos 
y  r sin  r
y
θ
 y
  tan  
1
x
 x
 Vector addition
• Two Ways:
1. Graphically: Draw vectors to
scale, Tip to Tail, and the
resultant is the straight line from
start to finish
2. Mathematically: Employ vector
math analysis to solve for the
resultant vector
 Graphically 2-D Right
• A = 5.0 m @ 0°
• B = 5.0 m @ 90°
• Solve A + B

R R=7.1 m @
45°

Start
 Remember
• You can add vectors in any order and yield
the same resultant.
 Components of Vectors
• A = Ax + Ay
A
• Ax =A cos θ Ay
• Ay = A sin θ θ

Ax
• As long as you
draw the x
component first
 Table Method Equation
• Add all X components together  Final
Rx
• Add all Y components together  Final Ry
 Subtracting Vectors
• Simply add or subtract 180° (keep θ
between 0° and 360°) to the
direction of the vector being
subtracted (‘flip’)
• You just ADD the OPPOSITE vector
(there is no subtraction in vector
math)
Subtracting Vectors