Storyline

Chapter 3:
Vectors

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 10e

Raymond A. Serway
John W. Jewett, Jr.
Cartesian Coordinate System
Polar Coordinate System

y
x = r cos q tan q =
x
y = r sin q
r= x +y
2 2
 Example 3.1:
Polar Coordinates
The Cartesian coordinates of a point in the xy plane are
(x, y) = (-3.50, -2.50) m as shown in the figure. Find
the polar coordinates of this point.

( -3.50 m ) + ( -2.50 m ) = 4.30 m

2 2
r= x +y =
2 2

y
tan q =
x
-2.50 m
= = 0.714
-3.50 m
q = 216°
 Vector and Scalar Quantities

A scalar quantity is completely specified by a single

value with an appropriate unit and has no direction.

A vector quantity is completely specified by a number

with an appropriate unit (the magnitude of the vector)
plus a direction.
Displacement Vector
 Quick Quiz 3.1
Which of the following are vector quantities and which
are scalar quantities?
(a) your age
(b) acceleration
(c) velocity
(d) speed
(e) mass
 Quick Quiz 3.1
Which of the following are vector quantities and which
are scalar quantities?
(a) your age [scalar]
(b) acceleration [vector]
(c) velocity [vector]
(d) speed [scalar]
(e) Mass [scalar]
 Basic Vector Arithmetic
! !
A = B only if A = B
Both point in the same direction along parallel lines
 Vector Addition

! ! ! !
A + B = B + A ( commutative law of addition )
! ! ! ! ! !
( ) ( )
A + B + C = A + B + C ( associative law of addition )
Vector Addition
 Vector Subtraction and
Scalar Multiplication
! ! ! ! ! !
( )
A + -A = 0 ( )
A - B = A + -B

!
scalar multiplication: mA
 Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0 km in a
direction 60.0° west of north as shown in the figure.
Find the magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant
displacement.
 Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
R= A2 + B 2 - 2 AB cos q

( 20.2 km ) + ( 35.0 km ) - 2 ( 20.2 km )( 35.0 km ) cos120°

2 2
R=
= 48.2 km
sin b sin q
=
B R
B
sin b = sin q
R
35.0 km
= sin120° = 0.629
48.2 km
b = 38.9°
 Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
Suppose the trip were taken with the two vectors in
reverse order: 35.0 km at 60.0° west of north first and
then 20.0 km due north. How would the magnitude and
the direction of the resultant vector change?

They would not change.

 Components of a Vector

Ax
cos q = Þ Ax = A cos q A= Ax 2 + Ay 2
A
Ay æ Ay ö
sin q = Þ Ay = A sin q q = tan ç ÷
-1

A è Ax ø
 Quick Quiz 3.4
Choose the correct response to make the sentence true:
A component of a vector is
(a) always
(b) never
(c) sometimes
larger than the magnitude of the vector.
 Quick Quiz 3.4
Choose the correct response to make the sentence true:
A component of a vector is
(a) always
(b) never
(c) sometimes
larger than the magnitude of the vector.
 Unit Vectors

ˆi
ˆj
kˆ
Components of a Vector
and Unit Vectors

!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj
Vector Addition using Components
 Magnitude of a Vector

( Ax + Bx ) + ( Ay + By )
2 2
R = Rx + Ry =
2 2

Ry Ay + By
tan q = =
Rx Ax + Bx
 Vectors in Three Dimensions
!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ
!
B = Bx ˆi + By ˆj + Bz kˆ
!
R = ( Ax + Bx ) ˆi + ( Ay + By ) ˆj + ( Az + Bz ) kˆ
Rz = Az + Bz
R = Rx + Ry + Rz
2 2 2

Rx Ry Rz
cos q x = cos q y = cos q z =
R R R
 Example 3.3:
The Sum of Two Vectors
! !
Find the sum of two vectors A and B lying in the
xy plane and given by
! !
( ) (
A = 2.0ˆi + 2.0ˆj and B = 2.0ˆi - 4.0ˆj )
!
A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ

Ax = 2.0, Ay = 2.0, Az = 0

Bx = 2.0, By = -4.0, Bz = 0
 Example 3.3:
The Sum of Two Vectors
!
R = ( Ax + Bx ) ˆi + ( Ay + By ) ˆj
= ( 2.0 + 2.0 ) ˆi + ( 2.0 - 4.0 ) ˆj
= 4.0ˆi - 2.0ˆj

( 4.0 ) + ( 2.0 )
2 2
R = Rx + Ry =
2 2

= 20 = 4.5

Ry -2.0
tan q = = = -0.50 ® q = 333°
Rx 4.0
 Example 3.4:
The Resultant Displacement
A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements:
( ) ( )
Dr1 = 15ˆi + 30ˆj + 12kˆ cm, Dr2 = 23ˆi - 14ˆj - 5.0kˆ cm,
( )
and Dr = -13ˆi + 15ˆj cm. Find unit-vector notation for
3

the resultant displacement and magnitude.

 Example 3.4:
The Resultant Displacement
! ! ! !
Dr = Dr1 + Dr2 + Dr3
= (15 + 23 - 13) ˆi cm + ( 30 - 14 + 15 ) ˆj cm
+ (12 - 5.0 + 0 ) kˆ cm

(
= 25ˆi + 31ˆj + 7.0kˆ cm)
R = Rx + Ry + Rz
2 2 2

( 25 cm ) + ( 31 cm ) + ( 7.0 cm ) = 40 cm
2 2 2
=
 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0 km southeast
from her car. She stops and sets up her tent for the night.
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 displacement for
each day.
 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike

Ax = A cos ( -45.0° ) = ( 25.0 km )( 0.707 ) = 17.7 km

Ay = A sin ( -45.0° ) = ( 25.0 km )( -0.707 ) = -17.7 km

Bx = A cos ( 60.0° )
= ( 40.0 km )( 0.500 ) = 20.0 km
By = A sin ( 60.0° )
= ( 40.0 km )( 0.866 ) = 34.6 km
 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
( B ) Determine! the components of the hiker's resultant
!
displacement R for the trip. Find an expression for R
in terms of unit vectors.

Rx = Ax + Bx = 17.7 km + 20.0 km = 37.3 km

Ry = Ay + By = -17.7 km + 34.6 km = 17.0 km

!
( )
R = 37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km
 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
!
( )
R = 37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km
 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike
After reaching the tower, the hiker wishes to return to
her car along a single straight line. What are the
components of the vector representing this hike?
What should the direction of the hike be?
! !
(
R car = -R = -37.7ˆi - 17.0ˆj km )
Rcar,y -17.0 km
tan q = = = 0.450
Rcar,x -37.7 km

Þ q = 204.2°, or 24.2° south of west