Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

Learning Goals Stop Light – Unit #6 Geometric Vectors

Green Yellow Red

Lesson Learning Goals “I am able to…”

review pre-requisite skills needed for the unit

6.0

recognize a vector with two properties

6.1

represent vectors in 2d space and apply trig relationships

6.2

perform arithmetic operations on vectors

6.3

Quiz

solve problems involving vectors

6.4

Extra

apply tension and force as vectors

6.4

Extra

Review (Pick/choose, graphic organizer, online practice test)

Unit 6 Test

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

6.1 Introduction to Vectors

Scalar: Vector:

Example 1: Classify each quantity as a scalar or a vector by placing a checkmark in the correct column.
Quantity Scalar Vector Quantity Scalar Vector
Time Mass
Position Force
Temperature Displacement
Electric Charge Age

Geometric Vectors: Algebraic Vectors:

Position Vector: Displacement Vector:

⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , 𝑂𝐵
Example #2: Draw the position vectors 𝑂𝐴 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ , and 𝑂𝐶
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ and 𝑅𝑄
Example #3: Draw the displacement vectors 𝑃𝑄 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗

Pythagorean Theorem (2D & 3D):

Magnitude:

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

Example #4: Using the diagram to the right, find the magnitude of the
following vectors.
a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐴 b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐵 c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑂𝐶

Example #5: Using the cube 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷𝐸𝐹𝐺𝐻 with side lengths equal to 10 𝑐𝑚,
find the magnitude of the following vectors.
a) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝐵 b) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵𝐷 c) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵𝐻

Equivalent or Equal Vectors: Example #6: Find 3 pairs of equivalent vectors in the
cube above.

Opposite Vectors: Example #7: Find 3 pairs of opposite vectors in the cube
above.

Parallel Vectors: ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ in the

Example #8: Find 3 parallel vectors to 𝐴𝐺
diagram to the right.

Direction – True (Azimuth) Bearing: Direction – Quadrant Bearing:

Example #9: Draw each vector given by Example #10: Draw each vector given by magnitude
magnitude and true bearing. and quadrant bearing.
a) 𝑟 = 2𝑚 at a true bearing of [060°] a) 𝑑 = 2𝑚 [𝑆60°𝐸]
b) 𝑎 = 5𝑚/𝑠 2 [225°] b) 𝐹 = 10𝑁 [𝑊]
Example #11: Convert each vector.
a) 𝑣 = 5𝑚/𝑠 [210°] (to quadrant bearing) b) 𝑑 = 25𝑚 [𝑁30°𝑊] (to true bearing)

Read Key Concepts Pg 310 C1 – C4

Pick/choose: #1 – 4, 5ace, 6ace, 7, 8, 9ace, 10ac, 11aceg, 13, 16
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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

6.2 Vector Addition and Subtraction

Vector Addition:

Triangle Law – In order to find the sum Parallelogram Law – To add two geometric
(resultant) of two geometric vectors: vectors, the following rule can also be used:

Example #1: Use the triangle law to Example #2: Use the parallelogram law to
compute the required operations: compute the required operations:

a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ b) 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 c) 𝑎 + 𝑐 a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ b) 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 c) 𝑎 + 𝑐

Polygon Law - In order to find the sum (resultant) Example #3: Use the Polygon law to compute the
of 𝑛 geometric vectors: required operations:
a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 b) 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 + 𝑑 c) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ + 𝑐 + 𝑑

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

Magnitude and Direction for Vector Sum: Let 𝜃 = ∠(𝑎, 𝑏⃗) be the angle between the vectors 𝑎 and 𝑏⃗ when
they are placed tail to tail. Then, the magnitude of the vector sum is given by:

Vector Subtraction - The subtraction operation Example #4: Use the Polygon law to compute the
between two vectors 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ can be understood as: required operations:
a) 𝑎 − 𝑏⃗ b) 𝑏⃗ − 𝑐 c) 𝑎 − 𝑐

Zero Vector:

Example #5: A cube (shown to the right) is

constructed from 3 vectors 𝑎, 𝑏⃗ and 𝑐 , as shown in
the left figure. Express the following in terms of 𝑎, 𝑏⃗
and 𝑐.
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
a) 𝐴𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
b) 𝐶𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
c) 𝐵𝐻

Example #6: In an orienteering race, you walk 100 𝑚 due east and then walk 𝑁70°𝐸 for 60 m. How far are
you from your starting position, and at what bearing?

Read Key Concepts Pg 325 C1 – C4

Pick/choose: #1bc, 3bd, 4adefh, 5, 6b, 9, 11 - 14

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

6.3 Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

Muliplication of a vector by a scalar – By Properties – The following properties apply for
multiplying a vector 𝑣 by a scalar 𝑘 we obtain: multiplication of a vector by a scalar:

Example #1: Given the vector 𝑣 , draw the following vectors:

a) 2𝑣 b) −3𝑣 c)
1
𝑣
1
d) − 4 𝑣
2

Examples #2: Given the vectors 𝑎 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 𝑘⃗

and 𝑏⃗ = −𝑖 + 3𝑗 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
2𝑘, write following vectors in
⃗
terms 𝑖, 𝑗 and 𝑘:

a) 𝑎 + 𝑏⃗ b) 2𝑎 − 3𝑏⃗

Collienear Vectors: Unit Vector:

Example #3: If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are two unit vectors with Example #4: Given ‖𝑢 ⃗ ‖ = 8, ‖𝑣 ‖ = 12, and
an angle of 30° between them, find the ⃗ + 𝑣 ‖ = 16, determine the magnitude and
‖𝑢
magnitude and direction of the vector 3𝑥 − 5𝑦. direction of 2𝑢
⃗ − 3𝑣.

Read Key Concepts Pg 334 C1 – C4

Pick/choose: #1bc, 2ce, 4ace, 5c, 6b, 7bd, 8, 9, 11aceh, 13, 17, 18, 19
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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

6.4 Applications of Vector Addition

Force can be represented as a vector and just as forces can be summed to find the resultant (net force), so
too can velocities be summed to find the net velocity. (Not surprising since both force and velocity are
examples of vectors.) A net velocity is a single velocity that represents the contributions of multiple
velocities, i.e., an aircraft flying with or against the wind.

Example 1
An airplane heading due north at 400 km/h encounters a 50 km/h wind from north 60∘ east. Determine the
resultant velocity (magnitude and heading) of the plane.

Example 2
Mr. Park leaves a dock paddling a canoe at 4 m/s. He heads downstream at 60∘ to the riverbank. If the
current is flowing at 3 m/s, how far will Mr. Park travel in 10 seconds?

Practice 1
Mr. Park leaves a dock paddling a canoe at 4 m/s. In what direction must Mr. Park leave the dock if he
wishes to travel straight across the river, perpendicular to the current? How long will it take him to cross
the 150 m wide river?

Read Key Concepts Pg 343 C1 – C4

Pick/choose: #1ace, 2, 3ab, 5, 8, 9, 20, 21

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

6.4 Tension and Forces as Vectors

Newton's First Law
An object will remain in a state of equilibrium (rest or constant motion) unless acted upon by an
external force.

Forces
Newton's first law mentioned the word force. What is a force?

A force is either a push or a pull.

A force can be described in terms of a direction and a magnitude (the strength of the force; that is, the
strength of the push/pull).

A force can be described in terms of a direction and a magnitude (the strength of the force). The strength
of the force may also be thought of as the strength of the push/pull.

This leads to a natural mathematical interpretation of force as a vector since we have both direction and
magnitude.

Example 1
Jimmy Woo pulls a wagon with a force of 50 N. The handle on the wagon makes an angle of 30∘ to the
horizontal. How much of Jimmy’s force is being exerted to pull the wagon forward? How much force is
tending to lift the wagon upwards?

Example 2
A 2 kg parcel is resting on a ramp inclined at an angle of 30∘ to the horizontal. Calculate the components
of the force of gravity on the parcel that are parallel to and perpendicular to the ramp. What are the
physical effects of each force?
Force Diagram

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Unit 6 Geometric Vectors Date:_________________

Practice 1
At a dance, a disco ball is suspended from the ceiling by two wires that make angles of 20∘ and 30∘ with the
ceiling. If the ball has a mass of 12.5 kg, find the tension in each wire.

Force Diagram

May the force(s) be with you!

Pick/choose: Pg 343 Tension: #4, 12

Forces: Pg 343 #10, 11, 15, 16, 17
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