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Two-Dimensional Motion and Vectors

Scalars and Vectors

In Physics, quantities are described as either scalar quantities or vector quantities . A scalar quantity has only a magnitude (numbers and units) but no direction. A vector quantity has both a magnitude and a direction.

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Which of the follow are vectors?

distance displacement mass weight temperature velocity acceleration No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes

Vectors...
There are two common ways of indicating that something is a vector quantity:

Boldface notation: A
A= A

Arrow notation:

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The Components of a Vector

Length, angle, and components can be calculated from each other using trigonometry:

Ax = A cos q A = Ax 2 + Ay 2

Ay = A sin q

q = tan -1 Ay / Ax

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

5/26

2D Cartesian and Polar Coordinate Representations

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

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Vector addition: The sum of two vectors is another vector.

A =B+C B B A C

Vector subtraction: Vector subtraction can be defined in terms of addition.

B-C = B + (-1)C B B-C C B -C

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Unit Vectors:
A Unit Vector is a vector having length 1 and no units. It is used to specify a direction. Unit vector u points in the direction of U. Often denoted with a hat: u =
l

Useful examples are the cartesian unit vectors [ i, j, k ] point in the direction of the x, y and z axes. R = rxi + ryj + rzk

j k z i x

Vector addition using components: l Consider C = A + B.

(a) C = (Ax i + Ay j ) + (Bx i + By j ) = (Ax + Bx )i + i (Ay + By )j j (b) C = (Cx i + Cy j )

l Comparing components of (a) and (b):

Cx = Ax + Bx Cy = Ay + By
C A Ax B Ay Bx By

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Example l l l Vector A = {0,2,1} Vector B = {3,0,2} Vector C = {1,-4,2}

(a) {3,-4,2}

What is the resultant vector, D, from adding A+B+C?

(b) {4,-2,5}

(c) {5,-2,4}

D = (AXi + AYj + AZk) + (BXi + BYj + BZk) + (CXi + CYj + CZk) = (AX + BX + CX)i + (AY + BY+ CY)j + (AZ + BZ + CZ)k = (0 + 3 + 1)i + (2 + 0 - 4)j + (1 + 2 + 2)k = {4,-2,5}

Given two vectors: r

Multiplying Vectors

A = Axi + Ay + Az k j r B = Bxi + By + Bz k j

r r A B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz = A B Cos q AB

Dot Product (Scalar Product)

Cross Product (Vector Product) r r A B = ( Ay Bz - Az By ) i + ( Az Bx - Ax Bz ) j + ( Ax By - Ay Bx ) k = A B Sinq AB (a b) i j k Ay Az (determinant) By Bz r r r r r Note that A B ^ A, A B ^ B, r r r r and A B B A. = Ax Bx

AB is the magnitude of B times the projection of A on B (or vice versa). Note that AB = BA

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

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Describing Position in 3-Space

A vector is used to establish the position of a particle of interest. The position vector, r, locates the particle at some point in time.

The Displacement Vector

r r = xx + yy r r r Dr = r2 - r1 r r r Dr = r2 - r1 = ( x 2 x + y 2 y) - ( x1 x + y 1 y) = Dxx + Dy y

January 11, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 6

14/24
14/24

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Instantaneous Velocity in 3D
V = lim (r / t) as t 0 = dr / dt 3 Components : Vx = dx / dt, etc Magnitude, |V| = SQRT( Vx2 + Vy 2 + Vz2)

Average Velocity in 3-D

Vavg = (r2 r1)/(t2-t1) = r / t t is scalar so, V vector parallel to vector

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Properties of Vectors

The Components of a Vector

We can resolve vector into perpendicular components using two-dimensional coordinate systems:
Polar Coordinates Cartesian Coordinates

rx = r cos 25.0 = (1.50 m)(0.906) = 1.36 m ry = r sin 25.0 = (1.50 m)(0.423) = 0.634 m r = rx 2 + ry 2 = (1.36 m) 2 + (0.634 m) 2 = 2.25 m 2 = 1.50 m

q = tan -1 [ (0.634 m) / (1.36 m) ] = tan -1 (0.466) = 25.0

January 10, 2011 Physics 114A - Lecture 5 18/26