Chapter 3 Vectors

Chapter 3
Vectors
https://youtu.be/wAs1TIiF7A0
Details and Figures in this presentation are taken from: Halliday,

David, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker. Principles of Physics, 10 th Ed,
University Physics by Young and Freedman, 11 th Ed, Physics for
Scientists and Engineers by Serway, 5 th Ed, Physics for Scientists
and engineers by Giancoli 3 rd Ed, and many websites like
physicsclassroom.com, HyperPhysics.com & Past exams of PHYCS
101 Department of Physics at UoB.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Vector Addition: 6 + 8 = ?
Most of us are accustomed to the following form of mathematics:
6 + 8 = 14.
Yet, we are extremely uneasy about this form of mathematics:
6 + 8 = 10
and
6+8=2
and
6 + 8 = 5.
http://www.physicsclassroom.com
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1 Semester 2022-2023
st
Physical Properties (Quantities)
 Scalar Quantities:
Temperature, time,
distance, speed, area,
volume, mass, density,…
are given completely by their
magnitude and so only need
a number and unit to
represent them.
The speedometer of a vehicle shows

speeds in both miles per hour and
kilometres per hour.
Physical Properties (Quantities)
 Vector Quantities:
Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force,…. for
which we must know direction as well as
magnitude in order to represent them.

Vector Direction

Test Problem
Which of the following is NOT an example of a vector quantity?
a) Force
b) Velocity
c) Mass
d) Displacement
e) Acceleration

Some Properties of Vectors
Two vectors are equal if and only if they
are equal in both magnitude and direction.
Negative of a Vector
Scalar Multiplication
Multiplying a vector by a number or scalar just has the effect of
changing its scale.
Multiplying a vector by a scalar
will ONLY CHANGE its
magnitude.
Multiplying a Thus if a = 12 , Then 2a = 24

vector by
“-1” does not
change the
magnitude, but
it does reverse Thus if a = 12 , then
it's direction or
-a = -12
in a sense, it's -1/2 a
angle.
If a = 12, then
(-1/2)a = -6

Basic Vector Operations
Both a magnitude and a direction must be specified for a vector quantity, in
contrast to a scalar quantity which can be quantified with just a number. Any
number of vector quantities of the same type (i.e., same units) can be combined
by basic vector operations.

Vector Addition
https://youtu.be/Emphi2zDMTo
https://youtu.be/KBSCMTYaH1s

Coordinate Systems

Cartesian Coordinate System
When we include negative values, the x and y axes divide the

space up into 4 pieces:
Quadrants I, II, III and IV

Polar Coordinate System
Polar coordinates are in the form: (r,), where 'r' is the distance from
the origin to the point, and '' is the angle measured from the positive
'x' axis to the point.

Quiz
Given the shown Cartesian coordinate of a point, find
both polar coordinate r and  of that point.

Quiz
Given the shown polar coordinate r and  of a point,
find Cartesian coordinate of that point.

Vectors Addition & Subtraction
1-D Case:
st
Quiz
For cases such as those shown in the diagrams below, what is
the resultant and how can it be determined?
st
Right Angle Triangle Used to Define the
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometry
(from Greek trigōnon, "triangle" and metron, "measure") is a
branch of mathematics that studies relationships involving
lengths and angles of triangles.

Right Angle Triangle Used to Find the
Components of a Vector

Finding the Magnitude of a Vector
Magnitude of a vector c  a b 2 2
When you know the x- and y- components of a vector,

and the vectors form a right triangle, you can find the
magnitude using the Pythagorean theorem.
Finding the Magnitude of a Vector

x and y Component s of a Vector
Vector Components
2-D Case: y
X-component
y-component
st
Test Problem
A dog is held by applying 100 N force as shown in the figure.
Find the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components of this
force.
y y 100 N
Solution x
37°
Fx  F cos  x
 Fx  100 cos 37  80 N
Fy  F sin 
 Fy  100 sin 37  60 N
st
Example
Find the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components of the
100 m displacement of the superman.
Solution
Dx  D cos 
 Dx  100 cos 330
 Dx  86.6m
D y  D sin 
 D y  100 sin 330
 D y   50.0m
Test Problem
A student walks 1-km due North then 2-km eastward. Find the
magnitude and direction ϕ of his resultant displacement.
Solution
Rx  2 km and R y  1 km
R  Rx2  R y2  2 2  12
 R  5  2.24 km
Rx 2
tan    2
Ry 1
  tan 1 2   63.4
Example of Vector Components
Resultant of 2 vectors
Lets decompose vectors

A and B into their x and
y-components.
Magnitude and Direction of
the Resultant of 2 Vectors
Vector Direc x  comp y  comp

A  A cos  A sin 
R  Rx2  R y2
B  B cos  B sin 
 Ry 
  tan  
1
R  Rx Ry
 Rx 
Magnitude and Direction of
the Resultant of 2 Vectors
y
R  R R 2
x
2
y
x
 Ry 
  tan  
1
 Rx 
Vector Direction x  component y  component

12 200 12 cos 20  11 .3 12 sin 20  4.1
25 600 25 cos 60 12.5 25 sin 60  21.7
R  23.8 25.8
Magnitude and
Direction of the
Resultant of 2 Vectors
y
R  R R 2
x
2
y
 Ry 
  tan  
1
 Rx 
Magnitude and direction of a
y A  A cos  A sin 
x C  C cos C sin
R  Rx Ry
R  R R 2
x
2
y
 Ry 
  tan  
1
 Rx 
Example
A postman covers the
shown displacements.
Find the magnitude
and direction of the
postman’s resultant
displacement.
y
2.6 km
3.1 km
4.0 km
45
x
Example y
A postman covers the

2.6 km
shown displacements. 3.1 km
Find the magnitude and
direction of the postman’s
resultant displacement. 4.0 km
45
x
Vector Direction x  comp y  comp

SOLUTION: 2.6 90 2.6 cos 90 2.6 sin 90
• Resolve each 4.0 0 4.0 cos 0 4.0 sin 0
force into 3.1 45 3.1 cos 45 3.1sin 45
rectangular
components.
R  Rx Ry
Solution
Find the x and y-components of each
displacement.

2 .6 90 2.6 cos 90  0 2.6 sin 90  2.6
4 .0 0 4.0 cos 0  4.0 4.0 sin 0  0
3 .1 45 3.1 cos 45  2.2 3.1sin 45  2.2
R  6 .2 4 .8
• Calculate the magnitude and direction.
4.8 km  4 .8 
R  6.2  4.8  7.8 km
2 2 tan      tan 1    37.7  38
6.2 km  6 .2 
Magnitude and direction of a
A  A cos  A sin 
y
x C  C cos C sin
D  D cos  D sin 
R  Rx Ry
R  R R 2
x
2
y
 Ry 
  tan  
1
 Rx 
Test Problem
In the Figure, four forces act on
bolt A. Determine the resultant
of the forces acting on the bolt.
SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular components.
Force mag x  comp y  comp


F1 150  129.9  75.0

F2 80  27.4  75.2

F3 110 0  110 .0

F4 100  96.6  25.9
R  199.1 14.3
• Calculate the magnitude and direction. 14.3 N
tan      4.1
R  199.12  14.32  200 N 199.1 N
Unit Vectors
Vectors which have magnitude = unit length.
We label them as i and j
with i running along the x-
axis and j running up the
y-axis.
Then we can write

vector A as:
A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj A A A 2 2
x y

In three dimensions: the vectors
i, j and k which run along the x,
y and z axes respectively, all
have unit length.
It is sometimes convenient to write the vectors i, j and k in row

vector form giving:
i = (1, 0, 0) j = (0, 1, 0) k = (0, 0, 1)
Any 3 dimensional vector can be written as a linear

combination of these 3 vectors:
e.g., (2, 3, -5) = 2i + 3j -5k
= 2(1, 0, 0) + 3(0, 1, 0) - 5(0, 0, 1).
Test Problem
A block on a smooth surface is pulled by a force F = 100 N, as
shown in the figure. The force F can be expressed as:

a ) F  160i  120 j

b) F  80i  60 j

c) F  80i  60 j

d ) F  160i  120 j 100 sin 37

e) F  80i  60 j
100 cos 37

Test Problem
An object is acted upon by two forces:
F1  (10iˆ  5 ˆj ) N and F2  (10iˆ  15 ˆj ) N
What is the magnitude of the total force F (in N) acting on the object?
(A) 20 Solution
(B) 25
(C) 30
(D) 35 
F  F1  F2  (10iˆ  5 ˆj )  (10iˆ  15 ˆj ) N 
(E) 40 
F  F1  F2  0iˆ  20 ˆj N 
 F  0  20  20 N
2 2

Test Problem
If A  3.8 iˆ  2.5 ˆj what is the vector B such that:
B  A  3.8 iˆ  2.5 ˆj
a ) B  7.6 iˆ  2.5 ˆj
b) B  7.6 iˆ  2.5 ˆj Solution
c) B  7.6 iˆ
B  A  Bx  Ax iˆ  B y  Ay  ˆj
d ) B  3.8 iˆ  2.5 ˆj
B  A  Bx   3.8iˆ  B y   2.5 ˆj
e) B  2.5 ˆj
 3.8 iˆ  2.5 ˆj  Bx  3.8 iˆ  B y  2.5 ˆj
 Bx  B y  B  7.6 iˆ
Extra Examples
&
Solved Test Problems

Example
The diagram below shows the position of a cross-country skier at various times.
At each of the indicated times, the skier turns around and reverses the direction
of travel. In other words, the skier moves from A to B to C to D. Use the diagram
to determine the distance traveled by the skier and the resulting displacement
during these three minutes.
Solution
The skier covers a distance = AB + BC + CD

=180 m + 140 m + 100 = 420 m
The skier’s displacement is AD = 140 m due east.
Example
Consider the tow truck at the right. If the tensional force in the cable is
1000 N and if the cable makes a 60 angle with the horizontal, then
what is the vertical component of force which contributes to lifting the
car off the ground?
Solution
Fy  F sin 
 Fy  1000 sin 120
 Fy  866 N
st
Example
A hiker leaves camp and hikes 11 km, north and then hikes 11 km
east. Determine the resulting displacement of the hiker.
Solution
st
Example
The direction of the velocity Vr with respect to the horizontal
direction (x-axis) is:
(a) 76°
(b) 60°
(c) 40°
(d) 14°
(e) 10° Vy 5
tan     0.25   tan 1 0.25  14
Vx 20
Test Problem
In the Figure, F1= 50 N and F2= 50 N. Find the magnitude of
the net (resultant) force in N.
(a) 53.9
(b) 58.3 Solution
(c) 64.0
(d) 70.7 Fx  F1 cos 53  F2 cos143  30  40  10 N
Fy  F1 sin 53  F2 sin 143  40  30  70 N
 
 F   10 iˆ  70 ˆj N
F  Fx2  Fy2   10 2  70 2  5000  70.7 N
Example
A box pulled by three persons as shown in the Figure.
Determine the fourth force that cancels the resultant.

Solution
Let D be the fourth force that will cancel the resultant.
100 30 100 cos 30  86.6 100 sin 30  50.0
80 120 80 cos120  40.0 80 sin 120  69.3
40 233 40 cos 233  24.1 40 sin 233  31.9
D  Dx Dy
R  0 0
Rx  Ax  Bx  C x  Dx 0  86.6   40.0    24.1  Dx

R y  Ay  B y  C y  D y 0  50.0  69.3   31.9   D y
Then:
Dx  22.5 N
D y  87.4 N
D  D x2  D y2  90.2 N;
Also:
 
tan   D y Dx  3.88
  75.5 in the third quadrant
φ  180  α  256 , counterclockwise from  x-axis
 

Test Problem
Given two forces: A  (2iˆ  3 ˆj  kˆ) N and B  (4iˆ  2 ˆj  kˆ) N
Calculate the magnitude of each vector. Then find A+B, B+A,
A-B, and B-A.
Solution
A  4  9  1  3.74 N
B  16  4  1  4.58 N
A  B  (2iˆ  5 ˆj  0kˆ) N
 A  B  (2iˆ  5 ˆj ) N
B  A  A  B
A  B  (6iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) N
 B  A  (2iˆ  5 ˆj ) N B  A  (6iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) N

Test Problem
An airplane travels the following displacenents in km :
P  3iˆ  5 ˆj  2kˆ
Q  2iˆ  4 ˆj  4kˆ
S  3iˆ  3 ˆj  4kˆ
Calculate the resul tan t displacement ( Sum).
Solution
2 2 2
R  P  Q  S and R  Rx  R y  Rz
 R  [(3  2  3)iˆ  (5  4  3) ˆj  (2  4  4)kˆ]km

 R  [4iˆ  4 ˆj  2kˆ]km
 R  16  16  4  36  6km

Chapter 3 Vectors

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Chapter 3 Vectors

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Chapter 3

Details and Figures in this presentation are taken from: Halliday,

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

The speedometer of a vehicle shows

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Multiplying a Thus if a = 12 , Then 2a = 24

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

When we include negative values, the x and y axes divide the

Quadrants I, II, III and IV

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

When you know the x- and y- components of a vector,

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Lets decompose vectors

Vector Direc x  comp y  comp

Vector Direction x  component y  component

25 600 25 cos 60 12.5 25 sin 60  21.7

A postman covers the

Vector Direction x  comp y  comp

Vector Direction x  component y  component

Force mag x  comp y  comp

Then we can write

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

It is sometimes convenient to write the vectors i, j and k in row

Any 3 dimensional vector can be written as a linear

100 cos 37

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

The skier covers a distance = AB + BC + CD

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

Rx  Ax  Bx  C x  Dx 0  86.6   40.0    24.1  Dx

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 1st Semester 2022-2023

 B  A  (2iˆ  5 ˆj ) N B  A  (6iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) N

 R  [(3  2  3)iˆ  (5  4  3) ˆj  (2  4  4)kˆ]km

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