Storyline

Chapter 3:
Vectors

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 10e

Raymond A. Serway 1
John W. Jewett, Jr.
Cartesian Coordinate System

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Polar Coordinate System

y
x = r cos θ tan θ =
x
y = r sin θ 2 2
=r x +y
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 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 ) =
2 2 2 2
r= x +y = 4.30 m

y
tan θ =
x
−2.50 m
= = 0.714
−3.50 m
θ = 216° 4
 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.

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Displacement Vector

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 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

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 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]

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 Basic Vector Arithmetic
 
=A B=only if A B
Both point in the same direction along parallel lines

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 Vector Addition

   
A + B = B + A ( commutative law of addition )
     
( ) ( )
A + B + C = A + B + C ( associative law of addition )
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Vector Addition

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 Vector Subtraction and
Scalar Multiplication
     
( )
A + − A =0 ( )
A − B = A + −B


scalar multiplication: 12mA
 Quick Quiz 3.2
 
The magnitudes of two vectors A and B are A = 12 units and
B = 8 units. Which pair of numbers represents the largest
and smallest possible values for the magnitude of the resultant
  
vector R= A + B?

(a) 14.4 units, 4 units

(b) 12 units, 8 units
(c) 20 units, 4 units
(d) none of these answers

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 Quick Quiz 3.2
 
The magnitudes of two vectors A and B are A = 12 units and
B = 8 units. Which pair of numbers represents the largest
and smallest possible values for the magnitude of the resultant
  
vector R= A + B?

(a) 14.4 units, 4 units

(b) 12 units, 8 units
(c) 20 units, 4 units
(d) none of these answers

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 Quick Quiz 3.3
 
If vector B is added to vector A, which two of the following
choices must be true for the resultant vector to be equal to zero?
 
(a) A and B are parallel and in the same direction.
 
(b) A and B are parallel and in opposite directions.
 
(c) A and B have the same magnitude.
 
(d) A and B are perpendicular.

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 Quick Quiz 3.3
 
If vector B is added to vector A, which two of the following
choices must be true for the resultant vector to be equal to zero?
 
(a) A and B are parallel and in the same direction.
 
(b) A and B are parallel and in opposite directions.
 
(c) A and B have the same magnitude.
 
(d) A and B are perpendicular.

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 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.

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 Example 3.2:
A Vacation Trip
R= A2 + B 2 − 2 AB cos θ

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

2 2
R=
= 48.2 km
sin β sin θ
=
B R
B
sin β = sin θ
R
35.0 km
= sin120° =0.629
48.2 km
β = 38.9° 18
 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.

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 Components of a Vector

Ax
cos θ = ⇒ Ax = A cos θ =A Ax 2 + Ay 2
A
Ay  Ay 
sin θ = ⇒ Ay = A sin θ θ = tan  
−1

A  Ax 

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Components of a Vector

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 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.

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 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.

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 Unit Vectors

ˆi
ˆj
kˆ

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Components of a Vector
and Unit Vectors


A Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj
=

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Components of a Vector
and Unit Vectors

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Vector Addition using Components
  
( ) (
R = A + B = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Bx ˆi + By ˆj )

R = ( Ax + Bx ) ˆi + ( Ay + By ) ˆj

R = Rx ˆi + Ry ˆj ⇒
R=
x Ax + Bx
R=
y Ay + By

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Vector Addition using Components

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 Magnitude of a Vector

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

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 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
R=
z Az + Bz
2 2 2
R= Rx + Ry + Rz

Rx Ry Rz
cos θ x = cos θ y = cos θ z =
R R R
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 Quick Quiz 3.5
For which of the following vectors is the magnitude of
the vector equal to one of the components of the vector?

( a ) A = 2ˆi + 5ˆj

( b ) B = −3ˆj

( c ) C = 5kˆ

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 Quick Quiz 3.5
For which of the following vectors is the magnitude of
the vector equal to one of the components of the vector?

( a ) A = 2ˆi + 5ˆj

( b ) B = −3ˆj

( c ) C = 5kˆ

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 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

2.0, By =
Bx = −4.0, Bz =
0

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 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 2 2
R= Rx + Ry =
= 20
= 4.5

Ry −2.0
tan θ = = = −0.50 → θ = 333°
Rx 4.0 34
 Example 3.4:
The Resultant Displacement
A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements:
( ) ( )
∆r1= 15ˆi + 30ˆj + 12kˆ cm, ∆r2= 23ˆi − 14ˆj − 5.0kˆ cm,
( )
and ∆r = −13ˆi + 15ˆj cm. Find unit-vector notation for
3

the resultant displacement and magnitude.

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 Example 3.4:
The Resultant Displacement
   
∆r = ∆r1 + ∆r2 + ∆r3
= (15 + 23 − 13) ˆi cm + ( 30 − 14 + 15 ) ˆj cm
+ (12 − 5.0 + 0 ) kˆ cm

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

( 25 cm ) + ( 31 cm ) + ( 7.0 cm ) =
2 2 2
= 40 cm
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 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.

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 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
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 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 = −17.7 km + 34.6 km =
Ay + By = 17.0 km


=R ( )
37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km

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 Example 3.5:
Taking a Hike

=R ( )
37.7ˆi + 17.0ˆj km

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 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
= θ = = 0.450
Rcar,x −37.7 km

⇒ θ = 204.2°, or 24.2° south of west

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