Components of a Vector

A vector has both magnitude (which is its length) and direction (which is its angle). Any two
dimensional vector at an angle will have a horizontal and a vertical component.
OPPOSITE SIDE-the side facing the angle.
ADJACENT SIDE-the side near the angle.

Opposite side

Adjacent side
V= 30 N ANGLE 300
VY = VSINE 300
=
30 N X (.5)= 15N N
VX = VCOS 300
=
30 N X (.866)= 25.980N
To get the values of the components of the vector you must use:
SOH CAH TOA

water current

ADJ
Sum up the vectors in horizontal motion= V RIVER + V x BOAT = vcos 10 m/s (.799)
 3 m/S + 7.99 m/s
=10.99 m/s E
Sum up the vectors in vertical motion = VY BOAT
=v sine 37
=10 m/s (.602)
=6.02 m/s N

Resultant vector
(10.99)2+ (6.02)2
157.02
12.53 m/s NE north of east

12.53 m/s NE east of north

Riverboat Problems 
 
Sample Problem #  1
The velocity of the boat with respect to river is 10 m/s. It passes the river and reaches
opposite shore at point C. If the velocity of the river is 3m/s, find the time of the trip and distance
between B and C.

 
 

The physics of sailing

Sails and keels, like airplane wings, exploit Bernoulli’s principle. Aerodynamic and
hydrodynamic insights help designers create faster sailboats. Sailing starts with the force of the wind
on the sails. Analyzing that interaction yields some results not commonly known to non-sailors. 
The resistance experienced by a moving sailboat includes the effects of  waves, eddies, and 
turbulence in the water, and of the vortices produced in air by the sails. To reduce resistance
effectively by optimizing hulls, keels, and sails, one has to understand its various components.
A sail is almost always curved and presented to the wind at an angle of attack. The situation
is shown schematically in figure 1(a). The wind moving around the “upper,” or downwind, side of the
sail is forced to take the longer path. So the presence of the surrounding moving air makes it move
faster than the air passing along the “lower,” or upwind, side of the sail. Measurements confirm that
relative to the air pressure far from the sail, the pressure is higher on the upwind side and lower on
the downwind side.
The keel is an elongated, flat blade that extends down into the water from the bottom of the
sailboat. It provides the vessel’s counterbalance, controlling the boat from being blown sideways by
strong winds. It also holds the ballast, which keeps the boat right side up, preventing the boat from
capsizing.
See the below image for what different types of boat keels look like:
 Forces on a moving sailboat. (a) Sail and keel produce horizontal “lift” forces due to pressure
differences from different wind and water speeds, respectively, on opposite surfaces.  

F sail angle =300 F keel angle = 10 0

Fy keel Fy sail
Fx keel Fx sail F sail = 250 N F keel = 150 N

Sailboats move fastest when the boat is moving with the wind coming “abeam” (from the side)

Sample Problem #2
A car travels from A to B along 30 km north, then 60 km east, then 110 km south. Determine the
displacement of the car from A to D.
Solution :
AA’ = 60 km
A’D = 110 km – 30 km = 80 km

Resultant Vector
Sample Problem #3

Seatwork #5

1. A ball is thrown with an initial velocity of 7070 feet per second., at an angle of 35° with the
horizontal. Find the vertical and horizontal components of the velocity.
2.  Two vectors, F1 = 20 N and F2 = 30 N, have direction as shown in the figure below. Determine the
resultant of components of vectors in x-axis and y-axis.
A. 5√3 N and -25 N

B. -5√3 N and 25 N
C. 25 N and 5√3 N

D. 30 N and 25√3 N
3. Rosa Boat is paddling upstream at 1.25 m/s relative to the water in a river which is flowing at 0.50
m/s relative to the banks of the river. What is the resultant velocity of Rosa's boat (relative to the
banks)?
4. Rosa Boat is paddling downstream at 1.25 m/s relative to the water in a river which is flowing at
0.50 m/s relative to the banks of the river. What is the resultant velocity of Rosa's boat (relative to the
banks)?
5. Mia Ander exits the front door of her home and walks along the path shown in the diagram at the
right (not to scale). The walk consists of four legs with the following magnitudes:
A = 88 m
B = 272 m
C = 136 m
D = 183 m
Determine the magnitude and direction of Mia's resultant displacement.

ACTIVITY NO. 3
Link:Virtual
Activity: Working with Vectors - physics-prep.com
Those who do not have internet connection just use graphing papers