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Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors
Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors
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7.2 Vector Addition (graphically)
Suppose a displacement described by
C is the result of two displacement vectors,
vector
A followed by vector
B. How can we graphically represent the sum of these
two vectors?
C =
A +
B
How can we graphically represent the dierence between two vectors?
D =
A
B
8 Components of Vectorsnumerical addition of vectors
Any vector on the x-y plane can be reduced to the sum of two vectors, one along
the x axis, and the other along the y axis.
A =
A
x
+
A
y
where the magnitude of
A
x
is Acos , and the magnitude of
A
y
is Asin . This is
sometimes written as
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magnitude of
A
x
= A
x
= Acos
magnitude of
A
y
= A
y
= Asin
Likewise, if we know A
x
and A
y
, then we can calculate the magnitude and direction
of the vector from the following equations:
A =
A
2
x
+ A
2
y
and
= arctan
A
y
A
x
Exercise 26. Hearing rattles from a snake, you make two rapid displacements of
magnitude 1.8 m and 2.4 m. In sketches (roughly to scale), show
how your two displacements might add up to give a resultant of
magnitude a) 4.2 m; b) 0.6 m; c) 3.0 m.
8.1 Questions and Answers regarding vectors
9 Unit Vectors
9.1 Unit vectors in the Cartesian coordinate system
Dene the unit vectors , , and
k.
Now, we can write a vector
A in terms of the unit vectors.
A = A
x
+ A
y
Exercise 1.37 A disoriented physics professor drives 3.25 km north, then
2.90 km west, and then 1.50 km south. Find the magnitude
and direction of the resultant displacement, using the method
of components. In a vector addition diagram (roughly to scale),
show that the resultant displacement found from your diagram is
in qualitative agreement with the result you obtained using the
method of components.
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Exercise 1.44 Is the vector (+ +
A
B = AB cos (scalar dot product)
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Figure 2: Graphical denition of the scalar (dot) product
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Exercise 1.45 For the vectors
A,
B, and
C in Fig. E1.34, nd the scalar products
a)
A
B; b)
B
C; c)
A
C.
Mathematical Denition of the Dot Product
A
B = A
x
B
x
+ A
y
B
y
+ A
z
B
z
Show an example:
10.2 Vector Product
C =
A
B (vector cross product)
The magnitude of
C = AB sin
Discuss the right-hand rule and right-handed coordinate systems.
Figure 3: The Right-Hand-Rule
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Graphical Denition of the Cross Product
Figure 4: Graphical Denition of the Cross Product
Mathematical Denition of the Cross Product
B =
i
j
k
A
x
A
y
A
z
B
x
B
y
B
z
= (A
y
B
z
A
z
B
y
)
i +(A
z
B
x
A
x
B
z
)
j +(A
x
B
y
A
y
B
x
)
k
Do some examples.
Exercise 1.50 For the two vectors in Fig. E1.39, (a) nd the magnitude and
direction of the vector product
A
B; (b) nd the magnitude
and direction of
B
A.
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Figure 5: University Physics 13
th
edition gure E1.39 for problem 1.50.
Homework
Go to Mastering Physics and do the homework problems for Chapter 1.
Here are some extra problems:
Exercise A: A light-year is the distance light travels in one year (at a speed =
2.998 10
8
m/s). (a) How many meters are the in 1.00 light-year?
(b) An astronomical unit (AU) is the average distance from the
Sun to the Earth, 1.50 10
8
km. How man AUs are there in 1.00
light-year? (c) What is the speed of light in AU/hr?
Exercise B: The diameter of the Moon is 3480 km. (a) What is the surface area
of the Moon? (b) How many times larger is the surface area of the
Earth?
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Exercise C: Show that the folowing combination of the three fundamental
constants of nature (h, G, and c) form a quantity with the
dimensions of time:
t
p
=
Gh
c
5
.
This quantity, t
p
, is called the Planck time and is thought to be
the earliest time, after the creation of the Universe, at which the
currently known laws of physics can be applied.
Exercise D: Given the following three vectors:
A = 4.0
i 8.0
j,
B =
i +
j, and
C = 2.0
i + 4.0
j,
(a) Calculate
A +
B +
C = ?, and
(b)
A
B +
C=?
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