COLLEGE PHYSICS – MODULE 02

VECTORS

COLLEGE OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL

GENERAL EDUCATION
COLLEGE PHYSICS

MODULE 02:

VECTORS

Solve, using experimental and theoretical

Objective approaches, multi-concept, rich-context
problems involving measurement, common two-
dimensional geometric figures and basic
trigonometry.

Overview •
•
Measurements
Units of measurements
• Conversions
• 2D Geometric Formulas
• Trigonometry

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COLLEGE PHYSICS – MODULE 02
VECTORS

I. VECTORS
Each of the physical quantities we will encounter in this book can be categorized as either a
vector quantity or a scalar quantity. A vector has both direction and magnitude (size). A scalar
can be completely specified by its magnitude with appropriate units and has no direction.
Equality of Two Vectors. Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude and the
same direction. This property allows us to translate a vector parallel to itself in a diagram
without affecting the vector. In fact, for most purposes, any vector can be moved parallel to
itself without being affected.
Adding Vectors. When two or more vectors are added, they must all have the same
units. For example, it doesn’t make sense to add a velocity vector, carrying units of meters per
second, to a displacement vector, carrying units of meters. Scalars obey the same rule: It would
be similarly meaningless to add temperatures to volumes or masses to time intervals.
Vectors can be added geometrically or algebraically. To add vector B to vector A
geometrically, first draw A on a piece of graph paper to some scale, such as 1 cm x 1 m, so that
its direction is specified relative a coordinate system. Then draw vector B to the same scale
with the tail of B starting at the tip of A, as shown in the figure below. Vector B must be drawn
along the direction that makes the proper angle relative vector A. The resultant vector
R = A + B is the vector drawn from the tail of A to the tip of B. This procedure is known as the
triangle method of addition.

This same general approach can also be used to add more than two vectors. The
resultant vector sum R = A + B + C + D is the vector drawn from the tail of the first vector to the
tip of the last. Again, the order in which the vectors are added is unimportant.

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COLLEGE PHYSICS – MODULE 02
VECTORS

Negative of a Vector. The negative of a vector has the same magnitude but in opposite
direction.
Subtracting Vectors. Vector subtraction makes use of the definition of the negative of a
vector. We define the operation A - B as the vector -B added to the vector A:
⃗𝑨
⃗ − ⃗𝑩
⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗𝑨 + (−𝑩
⃗⃗ )

Multiplying or Dividing a Vector by a Scalar. Multiplying or dividing a vector by a scalar

gives a vector. For example, if vector A is multiplied by the scalar number 3, the result, written
3A, is a vector with a magnitude three times that of A and pointing in the same direction. If we
multiply vector A by the scalar -3, the result is -3A, a vector with a magnitude three times that
of A and pointing in the opposite direction (because of the negative sign).

II. COMPONENTS OF VECTOR

One method of adding vectors makes use of the projections of a vector along the axes of a
rectangular coordinate system. These projections are called components. Any vector can be
completely described by its components.

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VECTORS

𝐴 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑦
𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴 cos 𝜃
𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃

𝐴 = √𝐴𝑥2 + 𝐴𝑦2

𝐴𝑦
tan 𝜃 =
𝐴𝑥

The angle theta need not always be defined from the positive axis. Take note that the
trigonometric functions will base on the location of the angle.

III. SAMPLE PROBLEMS

1. A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0km in a
direction 60° west of north, as shown in the figure.
Using a graph, find the magnitude and direction of a
single vector that gives the net effect of the car’s
trip. This vector is called the car’s resultant
displacement.

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VECTORS

Solution:

Let 𝐴 represent the fi rst displacement vector, 20.0 km north, and 𝐵 ⃗ the second displacement
vector, extending west of north. Carefully graph the two vectors, drawing a resultant vector 𝑅⃗
⃗ . Measure the length of this
with its base touching the base of 𝐴 and extending to the tip of 𝐵
vector, which turns out to be about 48 km. The angle 𝛽, measured with a protractor, is about
39° west of north.

2. (a)Find the horizontal and vertical components of the 1.00 x102m displacement of a
superhero who flies from the top of a tall building along the path shown in the figure.
(b) Suppose instead the superhero leaps in the other direction along a displacement
vector 𝐵⃗ to the top of a flagpole where the displacement components are given
by Bx=-25.0m and By=10.0m. Find the magnitude and direction of the displacement
vector.

Solution:
a.) 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴 cos 𝜃 = (1.00𝑥102 𝑚) cos(−30.0) = 𝟖𝟔. 𝟔𝟎𝒎
𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃 = (1.00𝑥102 𝑚) sin(−30.0) = −𝟓𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝒎

b.) 𝐵 = √𝐵𝑥2 + 𝐵𝑦2 = √(−25.0)2 + (10.0)2 = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟗𝒎

𝐵𝑦 10.00
𝜃 = tan−1 ( ) = tan−1 ( ) = −𝟐𝟏. 𝟖° 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟓𝟖. 𝟐°
𝐵 𝑥 25.00

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VECTORS

3. A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0 km 45.0° south of east from her base camp. On
the second day she walks 40.0 km in a direction 60.0° north of east, at which point she
discovers a forest ranger’s tower.
a. Determine the components of the hiker’s displacements in the first and second
days.
b. Determine the components of the hiker’s total displacement for the trip.
c. Find the magnitude and direction of the displacement from base camp.
For (a)
𝐴𝑋 = 𝐴 cos(−45°) = (25.0𝑘𝑚) cos(−45°) = 𝟏𝟕. 𝟕𝒌𝒎
𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴 sin(−45°) = (25.0𝑘𝑚) sin(−45°) = −𝟏𝟕. 𝟕𝒌𝒎
𝐵𝑥 = 𝐵 cos 60° = (40.0𝑘𝑚) cos 60° = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟎𝒌𝒎
𝐵𝑥 = 𝐵 sin 60° = (40.0𝑘𝑚) sin 60° = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟔𝒌𝒎
For (b): Find the resultant of A and B
𝑅𝑥 = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 = 17.7 + 20.0 = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟕𝒌𝒎
𝑅𝑦 = 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 = 17.7 + 34.6 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟗𝒌𝒎
For (c): Find the magnitude and direction of R

𝑅 = √𝑅𝑥2 + 𝑅𝑦2 = √(37.7)2 + (16.9)2 = 𝟒𝟏. 𝟑𝒎

𝑅𝑦 16.90
𝜃 = tan−1 ( ) = tan−1 ( ) = 𝟐𝟒. 𝟏°
𝑅𝑥 37.7

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