Vectors

Coordinate Systems

Vector Components

Unit Vector

Vectors Addition

Vectors Multiplications

Scalar Product
Vector Product

Conceptual Questions
Coordinate Systems

Cartesian Coordinate System Polar Coordinate System

Relationship between Two Systems

 Coordinate Systems

Soln.
r: ɵ:

Distance from the origin to the point the angle between a line drawn from the
origin to the point & +ve x-axis

Signs of x and y tell us the point lies in the 3rd quadrant.

ɵ = 216° and not 35.5 °

Vector & Scalar Quantities

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

Scalars: (a), (d), (e).

None of these quantities has a direction

Vectors: (b), (c).

For these quantities, the direction is

necessary to specify the quantity completely
Components of a Vector & Unit Vector

For example
Components of a Vector & Unit Vector
Vectors Addition Their Components

Three Components System

 Vectors Addition Their Components
Quick Quiz 3.3 If vector B is added to vector A, under
what condition does the resultant vector A + B have The magnitudes will add numerically
magnitude A + B? (a) A and B are parallel and in the (a) only if the vectors are in the same
same direction. (b) A and B are parallel and in opposite direction
directions. (c) A and B are perpendicular.

Quick Quiz 3.4 If vector B is added to vector A, which

two of the following choices must be true in order for
the resultant vector to be equal to zero? (a) A and B are (b)
parallel and in the same direction. (b) A and B are and
parallel and in opposite directions. (c) A and B have the (c).
same magnitude. (d) A and B are perpendicular.
In order to add to zero, the vectors
must point in opposite directions and
have the same magnitude

Quick Quiz 3.5 Choose the correct response to make From the Pythagorean theorem, the
the sentence true: A component of a vector is (a) magnitude of a vector is always
(b) larger than the absolute value of each
always, (b) never, or (c) sometimes larger than the
magnitude of the vector. component

Quick Quiz 3.7 If A + B = 0, the corresponding Each set of components must add
components of the two vectors A and B must be (a) (d) to zero, so the components must be
equal (b) positive (c) negative (d) of opposite sign. of opposite sign
 Vectors Addition Their Components

(a) 7 m ( in same direction)

(b) 1 m ( in opposite direction)

Checkpoint 2
Components must be head to tail; must
In the figure, which of the indicated methods for
c,d, f extend from tail of one component to head
combining the x and y components of vector a are of the other
proper to determine that vector?

(a) +, +

(b) +, -

(c) +, +
 Adding Vectors by Their Components

Soln. Magnitude of the resultant displacement

Components of the resultant displacement

 Adding Vectors by Their Components
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
(B) Determine the components of the hiker’s resultant displacement R for the trip. Find an
expression for R in terms of unit vectors.
Soln.
Components of the hiker’s
Components of the hiker’s
displacement for each day
resultant displacement
Vectors Multiplication Multiplying vector by a vector Scalar Product
Soln.

The angle between the directions of

two vectors is included in the definition
of their scalar product