Problem Set 2: Vectors

AP Physics C Supplementary Problems

Problems selected from Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. (1993). Fundamentals of Physics (4
th
ed.). New
York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

1. What are the properties of two vectors a and b such that
(a) a + b = c and a + b = c;
(b) a + b = a b;
(c) a + b = c and a
2
+ b
2
= c
2
?

2. A person walks in the following pattern: 3.1 km north, then 2.4 km west, and
finally 5.2 km south. (a) Construct the vector diagram that represents this motion.
(b) How far and in what direction would a bird fly in a straight line to arrive at the
same final point?

3. Calculate the components of a vector a in the xy plane if its direction is 250
o

counterclockwise from the positive x-axis and its magnitude is 7.3 units.

4. The x-component of a certain vector is -25 units and the y-component is +40
units. (a) Calculate the magnitude of the vector. (b) Calculate the angle between
the direction of the vector and the positive x-axis.

5. A ship set out to sail to a point 120 km due north. An unexpected storm blows the
ship to a point 100 km due east of its starting point. How far, and in what
direction, must it now sail to reach its original destination?

6. Find the vector components of the sum r of the vector displacements c and d
whose components in meters along three perpendicular directions are c
x
= 7.4, c
y

= -3.8, c
z
= -6.1; d
x
= 4.4, d
y
= -2.0, d
z
= 3.3.

7. Two vectors a and b have equal magnitudes of 10 units. They are oriented as
shown below and their vector sum is r. Find (a) the x and y components of r, (b)
the magnitude of r, and (c) the angle r makes with the positive x-axis.

a
b
x
y
30
o

105
o


8. Given vector a in the +x direction, a vector b in the +y direction, and the scalar
quantity d; (a) Determine the direction of a x b. (b) Determine the direction of b
x a. (c) Determine the direction of b/d. (d) Determine the magnitude of a
.
b.

Vectors 2
9. Two vectors, r and s, lie in the xy plane. Their magnitudes are 4.5 and 7.3 units,
respectively, whereas their directions are 320
o
and 85
o
measured
counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Calculate the values of (a) r
.
s and (b)
r x s.

Answers:
1. a) a and b point in the same direction b) b = 0
c) a and b are perpendicular
2. a) diagram b) 3.2 km, 41
o
S of W
3. a
x
= -2.5 units; a
y
= -6.9 units
4. a) 47.2 units b) 122
o

5. 156 km, 50
o
N of W
6. r
x
= 11.8 m; r
y
= -5.8 m; r
z
= -2.8 m
7. a) r
x
= 1.6 units; r
y
= 12.1 units b) 12.2 units c) 82
o

8. a) +z b) -z c) +y d) 0
9. a) -18.8 units
2
b) 27 units
2
, +z direction