Vector Addition:

Component Method
 Vectors

Surveyors use accurate measures of

magnitudes and directions to create
scaled maps of large regions.
Objectives: After completing this
module, you should be able to:
• Demonstrate that you meet mathematics
expectations: unit analysis, algebra, scientific
notation, and right-triangle trigonometry.
• Define and give examples of scalar and vector
quantities.
• Determine the components of a given vector.
• Find the resultant of two or more vectors.
 Expectations
• You must be able convert units of
measure for physical quantities.

Convert 40 m/s into kilometers per hour.

m 1 km 3600 s
40--- x ---------- x -------- = 144 km/h
s 1000 m 1h
 Expectations (Continued)
• You must have mastered right-triangle
trigonometry.
y
sin   y = R sin 
R
y R
x
cos   x = R cos 
R

y 2
x tan   R = x2 + y2
x
 Physics is the Science of
Measurement

Length Weight Time

We begin with the measurement of length:

its magnitude and its direction.
 Distance: A Scalar Quantity
 Distance is the length of the actual path
taken by an object.

A scalar quantity:
s = 20 m B
Contains magnitude
only and consists of a
A
number and a unit.
(20 m, 40 mi/h, 10 gal)
Displacement—A Vector Quantity
• Displacement is the straight-line
separation of two points in a specified
direction.

A vector quantity:
D = 12 m, 20o B
Contains magnitude
A AND direction, a
 number, unit & angle.
(12 m, 300; 8 km/h, N)
 Distance and Displacement
• Displacement is the x or y coordinate of
position. Consider a car that travels 4
m, E then 6 m, W.

Net displacement:
D 4 m,E D = 2 m, W
What is the distance
x = -2 x = +4 traveled?
6 m,W 10 m !!
 Identifying Direction
A common way of identifying direction
is by reference to East, North, West,
and South. (Locate points below.)

N Length = 40 m
40 m, 50o N of E
60o 50o
W E 40 m, 60o N of W
60o
60o
40 m, 60o W of S

40 m, 60o S of E
S
 Identifying Direction
Write the angles shown below by using
references to east, south, west, north.

N N
45 o
W E
50o W E
S
S

50
Click
0
S of
to Esee the Answers
450 W .of
. .N
Vectors and Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates (R,) are an excellent
way to express vectors. Consider the
vector 40 m, 500 N of E, for example.

90o 90o
40 m R
180o 50o 180o 

0o 0o
270o 270o

R is the magnitude and is the direction.

Vectors and Polar Coordinates
Polar coordinates (R,) are given for each
of four possible quadrants:

90o
(R,) = 40 m, 50o
120o
210o
60 o
50 o (R,) = 40 m, 120o
180
o
0o
60o
60o (R,) = 40 m, 210o
3000

(R,) = 40 m, 300o
270o
 Rectangular Coordinates
y Reference is made to
(-2, +3) x and y axes, with +
(+3, +2) and - numbers to
+ indicate position in
+ space.
x
- Right, up = (+,+)
-
Left, down = (-,-)
(-1, -3) (+4, -3) (x,y) = (?, ?)
 Trigonometry Review
• Application of Trigonometry to Vectors

Trigonometry y
sin   y = R sin 
R
y R x
cos   x = R cos 
R
 y
x tan   R2 = x 2 + y 2
x
Example 1: Find the height of a building
if it casts a shadow 90 m long and the
indicated angle is 30o.
The height h is opposite 300 and
the known adjacent side is 90 m.

0 opp h
tan 30  
h adj 90 m
300
h = (90 m) tan 30o
90 m
h = 51.96 m
Finding Components of Vectors
A component is the effect of a vector along
other directions. The x and y components of
the vector (R, are illustrated below.

x = R cos 
R y = R sin 
y

Finding components:
x
Polar to Rectangular Conversions
 Example 2: A person walks 400 m in a
direction of 30o N of E. How far is the
displacement east and how far north?
N
N
R 400 m
y y=?
 
E
x E x=?

The x-component (E) is ADJ: x = R cos 

The y-component (N) is OPP: y = R sin 
Example 2 (Cont.): A 400-m walk in a
direction of 30o N of E. How far is the
displacement east and how far north?
N Note: x is the side
400 m adjacent to angle 300
y=?

E ADJ = HYP x Cos 300
x=?
x = R cos 

x = (400 m) cos 30o The x-component is:

= +346 m, E Rx = +346 m
 Example 2 (Cont.): A 400-m walk in a
direction of 30o N of E. How far is the
displacement east and how far north?
N Note: y is the side
400 m opposite to angle 300
y=?

E OPP = HYP x Sin 300
x=?
y = R sin 

y = (400 m) sin 30o The y-component is:

= + 200 m, N Ry = +200 m
Example 2 (Cont.): A 400-m walk in a
direction of 30o N of E. How far is the
displacement east and how far north?
N
400 m The x- and y-
Ry = components are
 +200 m each + in the
E
Rx = first quadrant
+346 m

Solution: The person is displaced 346 m east

and 200 m north of the original position.
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
90o
First Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
R +
 0o > < 90o
0
o
+
x = +; y = +
x = R cos 
y = R sin 
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
90o
Second Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
R
+  90o > < 180o
180o
x=-; y=+

x = R cos 
y = R sin 
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
Third Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
 180o > < 270o
180o
x=- y=-
-
R x = R cos 
y = R sin 
270o
Signs for Rectangular Coordinates
Fourth Quadrant:
R is positive (+)
 270o > < 360o
+ 360o
x=+ y=-

R x = R cos 
y = R sin 
270 o
Resultant of Perpendicular Vectors
Finding resultant of two perpendicular vectors is
like changing from rectangular to polar coord.

2 2
R R x y
y

y
x tan  
x
R is always positive;  is from + x axis
Example 3: A 30-lb southward force
and a 40-lb eastward force act on a
donkey at the same time. What is the
NET or resultant force on the donkey?
Draw a rough sketch. Choose rough scale:
Ex: 1 cm = 10 lb
Note: Force has40direction
lb just like length
does. We can treat force vectors just as40 welb
have length vectors to find the resultant
force. The procedure is the same!
4 cm = 40 lb
30 lb 3 cm = 30 lb
30 lb
 Finding Resultant: (Cont.)
Finding (R,) from given (x,y) = (+40, -30)

40 lb  Rx 40 lb

Ry

30 lb R 30 lb

R= x2 + y2 R= (40)2 + (30)2 = 50 lb

-30
tan =  = -36.9o  = 323.1o
40
 Four Quadrants: (Cont.)
30 lb
R R 30 lb
 R = 50 lb
Ry   Ry

Rx Rx 40 lb
40 lb
40 lb Rx   Rx 40 lb
 
Ry Ry
R = 50 lb
30 lb R R 30 lb

 = 36.9o;  = 36.9o; 143.1o; 216.9o; 323.1o

 Unit vector notation (i,j,k)
y Consider 3D axes (x, y, z)
j Define unit vectors, i, j, k
i x
k Examples of Use:
z 40 m, E = 40 i 40 m, W = -40 i
30 m, N = 30 j 30 m, S = -30 j
20 m, out = 20 k 20 m, in = -20 k
 Example 4: A woman walks 30 m, W;
then 40 m, N. Write her displacement
in i,j notation and in R, notation.
In i,j notation, we have:
+40 m R R = Rxi + Ry j

 Rx = - 30 m Ry = + 40 m
-30 m
R = -30 i + 40 j

Displacement is 30 m west and 40 m

north of the starting position.
Example 4 (Cont.): Next we find her
displacement in R, notation.

+40 R
m
  = 1800 - 53.130
-30 m
 = 126.9o

2 2
R  (30)  (40) R = 50 m

(R,) = (50 m, 126.9o)

Example 6: Town A is 35 km south and 46 km
west of Town B. Find length and direction of
highway between towns.
46 km
R = -46 i – 35 j

R  (46 km) 2  (35 km) 2 35 B
km
R = 57.8 km R=?
A
46 km
tan  
35 km  = 1800 + 52.70

 = 52.70 S. of W.  = 232.70
 Example 7. Find the components of the 240-N
force exerted by the boy on the girl if his arm
makes an angle of 280 with the ground.

F = 240 N

Fy F
280
Fy
Fx

Fx = -|(240 N) cos 280| = -212 N Or in i,j notation:

Fy = +|(240 N) sin 280| = +113 N F = -(212 N)i + (113 N)j

Example 8. Find the components of a 300-N
force acting along the handle of a lawn-
mower. The angle with the ground is 320.

F = 300 N
32o Fx
320
32o Fy Fy
F

Fx = -|(300 N) cos 320| = -254 N Or in i,j notation:

Fy = -|(300 N) sin 320| = -159 N F = -(254 N)i - (159 N)j
 Component Method
1. Start at origin. Draw each vector to scale
with tip of 1st to tail of 2nd, tip of 2nd to
tail 3rd, and so on for others.

2. Draw resultant from origin to tip of last

vector, noting the quadrant of the resultant.

3. Write each vector in i,j notation.

4. Add vectors algebraically to get resultant in

i,j notation. Then convert to (R,).
Example 9. A boat moves 2.0 km east then
4.0 km north, then 3.0 km west, and finally
2.0 km south. Find resultant displacement.
1. Start at origin. N
D 3 km, W
Draw each vector to 2 km, S C B
scale with tip of 1st 4 km, N
to tail of 2nd, tip of
2nd to tail 3rd, and
E
A
so on for others. 2 km, E

2. Draw resultant from origin to tip of last

vector, noting the quadrant of the resultant.
Note: The scale is approximate, but it is still
clear that the resultant is in the fourth quadrant.
Example 9 (Cont.) Find resultant displacement.
3. Write each vector N
in i,j notation: D 3 km, W
2 km, S C B
A = +2 i 4 km, N
B= +4j E
A
C = -3 i 2 km, E
D= -2j 4. Add vectors A,B,C,D
algebraically to get
R = -1 i + 2 j resultant in i,j notation.
1 km, west and 2 5. Convert to R, notation
km north of origin. See next page.
Example 9 (Cont.) Find resultant displacement.
Resultant Sum is: N
D 3 km, W
R = -1 i + 2 j 2 km, S C B
4 km, N
Now, We Find R, 
E
2 2 A
R  (1)  (2)  5 2 km, E

R = 2.24 km
2 km R Ry= +2
tan  
1 km km

 = -63.40 N or W Rx = -1 km
Example 10 Find resultant displacement.
Vector A has
components of 2m
and 4m along x and
y-axis, vector B has
4m and 2m, and
vector C has 3m and
2m. What is the
sum of x
components of
resultant vector?
USE THE ANSWER
OF ANALYTICAL
METHOD
 Reminder of Significant Units:
N
For convenience, we D 3 km
follow the practice of 2 km C B
4 km
assuming three (3)
significant figures for E
A
all data in problems. 2 km

In the previous example, we assume that the

distances are 2.00 km, 4.00 km, and 3.00 km.

Thus, the answer must be reported as:

 Significant Digits for Angles
Since a tenth of a
R 30 lb
degree can often be
significant, sometimes a  Ry
fourth digit is needed.
Rx 40 lb
Rule: Write angles to
the nearest tenth of a  Rx 40 lb
degree. See the two 
examples below: Ry
R 30 lb
 = 36.9 ; 323.1
o o
 Summary for Vectors
 A scalar quantity is completely specified
by its magnitude only. (40 m, 10 gal)
 A vector quantity is completely specified by
its magnitude and direction. (40 m, 300)

Components of R:
R
Ry
Rx = R cos  
Ry = R sin  Rx
 Summary Continued:
 Finding the resultant of two perpendicular
vectors is like converting from polar (R, )
to the rectangular (Rx, Ry) coordinates.

Resultant of Vectors:
2 2 R
R x y Ry

y
tan   Rx
x
Component Method for Vectors

 Start at origin and draw each vector in

succession forming a labeled polygon.
 Draw resultant from origin to tip of last
vector, noting the quadrant of resultant.
 Write each vector in i,j notation (Rx,Ry).
 Add vectors algebraically to get resultant
in i,j notation. Then convert to (R
Conclusion of Chapter 3B - Vectors