Name : Rocky R.

Nikijuluw Date : June 22, 2022

Book Information :

Title : Concurrent Vectors Made Easy

Author : R. N. Cherchuck
Date of Publication : 2015
This ebook is written to explain the topic that is mentioned to be not understood
by first year college students of Engineering Physics. Furthermore this book provides
step by step explanation in order to help these students understand the topic of vector.
This eBook deals with Concurrent Vectors and how to solve them easily. It illustrates
four different ways to solve Concurrent Vectors. It looks at graphical methods, using
Triangular Law, parallelograms and the component method written in four chapter in
total.
The first chapter talks about Rules and Basic Understanding of Vectors where
the author provides six rules of understanding the basic theory of vector. The author
provided pictures to accompany each and every rule to make it easier for the students
to understand. Rule number 1 - a vector has magnitude and direction. Rule number 2 -
a vector has a head and a tail while the magnitude is pointing outward. Rule number 3
- when adding or subtracting vectors we always put the head of one vector with the tail
of one vector. Rule number 4 - never change the magnitude of a vector when adding
them since it would not be the same vector. Rule number 5 - negative vectors are in
opposite direction and added in the same way. Rule number 6 - direction can be
represented globally from the east side of Cartesian coordinate system.
In the second chapter written the Graphical Method - Parallelogram.
The parallelogram law of vector addition is a method that is used to add of two vectors
in vector theory. The parallelogram law of vector addition is used to add two vectors
when the vectors that are to be added form the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram by
joining the tails of the two vectors. Then, the sum of the two vectors is given by the
diagonal of the parallelogram.

Furthermore, the third chapter talks about triangle law in vector addition.
Triangle law of vector addition states that when two vectors are represented as two sides
of the triangle with the order of magnitude and direction, then the third side of the
triangle represents the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.
While the last chapter talks about vector component method. Vectors that are
represented in cartesian coordinates can be decomposed into vertical and horizontal
components. For instance, a vector A at an angle Φ can be decomposed into its vertical
and horizontal components as seen in the picture.
In the image,
• Ax, represents the component of vector A along
the horizontal axis (x-axis), and
• Ay, represents the component of vector A along
the vertical axis (y-axis).
We can note that the three vectors form a right
triangle and that the vector A can be expressed as:
• A = Ax + Ay
Mathematically, using the magnitude and the angle of
the given vector, we can determine the components of
a vector.
• Ax = A cos Φ
• Ay = A sin Φ
For two vectors, if its horizontal and vertical components are given, then the resultant
vector can be calculated. For instance, if the values of Ax and Ay are provided, then
we will be able to calculate the angle and the magnitude of the vector A as follows:
• |A| = √ ((Ax)2+(Ay)2)
And the angle can be found as:
• Φ = tan-1 (Ay/ Ax)
Hence, we can conclude that:
• If the components of a vector are provided, then we can determine the resultant
vector
• Likewise, we can determine the components of a vector using the above
equations, if the vector is provided.
Hence the name, the book is written in a very simple way as if the author is
explaining the concept directly to the readers. The writing style makes the concept of
vector is easier to understand.