Raymond A.

Serway
Chris Vuille

Mechanics 2
Chapter 3
Vectors and
Two-Dimensional Motion
 Scalars and Vectors
Scalars have only Vectors have magnitude
magnitude. and direction.

Which of the following quantities are scalars and which

are vectors? distance
velocity
density mass force
molecular speed
acceleration displacement mass
volume
acceleration change in surface force of
due to gravity velocity area gravity
 Adding Vectors Graphically
Vectors 𝑎Ԧ and 𝑏 are given in the diagram.
How do we add: 𝑐Ԧ = 𝑎Ԧ + 𝑏 ?
Solution: 𝑎Ԧ 𝑏
1. Draw 𝑎Ԧ to scale. (It doesn’t matter
where you draw it. Vectors have a
length and direction, but no position.)
2. Draw 𝑏 to scale. Vector 𝑏 must start
from the end of 𝑎.Ԧ
3. Now draw a vector that connects the
beginning of 𝑎Ԧ to the end of 𝑏. That
vector is the resultant, 𝑐.
Ԧ
 𝑎Ԧ
Adding Vectors Graphically:
Example Problem 𝑏
𝑐Ԧ
Tallula walks 5.0 m 30º N of E. She then walks 4.0 m South.
Find the magnitude and direction of her total displacement.
 Graphically Adding Vectors
• When you have many
vectors, just keep repeating
the “tip-to-tail” process
until all are included
• The resultant is still drawn
from the origin of the first
vector to the end of the last
vector

Section 3.1
 Subtracting Vectors Graphically
Vectors 𝑎Ԧ and 𝑏 are given in the diagram.
How do we subtract: 𝑐Ԧ = 𝑎Ԧ − 𝑏 ?
Solution: 𝑎Ԧ 𝑏
We rewrite the problem as addition:
𝑐Ԧ = 𝑎Ԧ + (−𝑏)

The vector −𝑏 is 𝑏 going in the opposite

direction.
 Subtracting Vectors Graphically: Example Problem
𝑚
Tallula cycles with a velocity of 5.0 [N].
𝑠
𝑚
She then turns a corner and cycles at 5.0 [E].
𝑠
What is her change in velocity?
 Resolving a Vector into Components
Tallula walked from her house to Bob’s house, a displacement of 𝑐.
Whatever route she chose, the displacement is the same.
The vector 𝑐Ԧ can be resolved into components as shown.

This is not the only way that vector 𝑐Ԧ can be resolved into components.
There are an infinite number of ways.

𝑐Ԧ
 Resolving a Vector into Components: Example Problem
Bob pulls Tallula, who is sitting on a toboggan.
He pulls with a force of 500 N at an angle of elevation of 30.0º.
What are the horizontal and vertical components of the force?
Resolving a Vector into Orthogonal Components
In general, a vector 𝐹Ԧ can be resolved into orthogonal
components in the following way:

𝐹 𝐹 sin 𝜃 is opposite θ
𝐹 sin 𝜃
𝜃 𝐹 cos 𝜃 is adjacent to θ
𝐹 cos 𝜃
Angle of Elevation and Angle of Depression

An angle of elevation of 20º is shown.

It is always measured relative to the horizontal.

20º

An angle of depression of 20º is shown.

It is always measured relative to the horizontal.
20º
Resolving a Vector into Orthogonal 𝐹
𝐹 sin 𝜃
Components: 𝜃
Example Problem 𝐹 cos 𝜃
A rocket is travelling at an angle of elevation of 75.0º with a
velocity of 400 m/s.
What is its vertical velocity? What is its horizontal velocity?
Resolving a Vector into Orthogonal 𝐹
𝐹 sin 𝜃
Components: 𝜃
Example Problem 𝐹 cos 𝜃
Tallula fires a cruise missile at Bob in a direction 21.0º W of N.
The missile’s velocity is 30.0 m/s.
What is the northerly component of the missile’s velocity?
What is the westerly component?
Resolving a Vector into Orthogonal 𝐹
𝐹 sin 𝜃
Components: 𝜃
Example Problem 𝐹 cos 𝜃
Tallula and her skis are standing on a 15.0º slope. The force of gravity
on Tallula is 600 N straight down. What force is pulling her down the
slope? (What is the component of the force parallel to the slope?)

15º
Adding Vectors using Orthogonal Components
To add two or more vectors, follow these steps:
+
1. Resolve the vectors into orthogonal components.

2. Add the components that are in the same direction.

+ = + =
3. You now have two orthogonal components. Construct a right triangle from them
by connecting them tip-to-tail, drawing the longer component first.

4. The hypotenuse of the triangle is the resultant vector.

5. Determine the length of the resultant using 𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 opp

adj
6. Determine the angle using tan 𝜃 =
𝑜𝑝𝑝 θ
𝑎𝑑𝑗
Adding Vectors using Orthogonal Components: Example Problem
Tallula walks 5.00 m 38.0º N of E.
She then walks 8.00 m 25.0º E of S.
What is her total displacement?
 Homework

Work on all problems from sections 3.1 and 3.2.

End of chapter pp 80-81, questions 1-21.

Adding Vectors: Relative Velocity Problem
Tallula paddles her boat across the river Acheron. N
The velocity of her boat is 1.500 m/s [N] relative to the water.
The water flows at 0.900 m/s [E] relative to the shore. W E
What is the velocity of the boat relative to the shore?
S
Adding Vectors: Relative Velocity Problem
Tallula wants to paddle straight across the river Acheron, N
because Bob has prepared a picnic lunch on the other side.
If she can paddle at 1.50 m/s relative to the water, and if W E
the water flows at 0.900 m/s East, at what angle should she
aim her boat? S
 Homework

Work on all problems from section 3.5.

End of chapter pp 83-85, questions 35-43.

 Review of Free-Fall in One Dimension
Free fall: falling under the influence of only the gravitational force.
Air resistance is ignored.
𝑚
In free fall, acceleration is constant and given by 𝑔Ԧ = 9.80 [down].
𝑠2

We use the following formulas, which are valid for uniform acceleration:
2 𝟐 1
𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 𝒂𝑡 𝒗 = 𝒗𝒐 + 2𝒂𝑑 𝑑 = 𝑣𝑜 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑡 2
2
Remember to keep track of which direction is positive, and adjust the
signs of v, a, d, appropriately.

e.g. Tallula throws a pumpkin e.g. Tallula throws a pumpkin up

down from the top of the CN with a speed of 2.00 m/s. What is
Tower with a speed of 2.00 m/s. its speed 1.50 s later? In what
What is its speed 1.50 s later? direction is it travelling? How far
How far has it travelled? is it from Tallula?
 Motion in 2 Dimensions
Horizontal and vertical motions can be treated
separately.

We have separate equations for the horizontal and

vertical motions:

HORIZONTAL VERTICAL

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡

1 1
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑥 𝑡 2 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 𝑡 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑡 2
2 2

These equations hold true for ALL problems (involving uniform acceleration).
However, we will solve a particular class of problems for which we can simplify these
equations.
 Projectile Motion
When you throw a ball, you accelerate it with your hand.
Once it leaves your hand, the only force acting on the ball is gravity.
𝑚
The ball only accelerates downward, at the rate 𝑔 = 9.80 2 .
𝑠

In the special class of problems called Projectile Motion Problems,

we assume that there is no air resistance and that gravity is the only
force.

Then it follows that:

𝑎𝑥 = 0 and 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑔 (or 𝑎𝑦 = −𝑔 if up is positive)

HORIZONTAL VERTICAL

𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑣𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 − 𝑔𝑡

𝑑𝑥 = 𝑣𝑜𝑥 𝑡 1 2
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑣𝑜𝑦 𝑡 − 𝑔𝑡
2
 Projectile Motion: Example Problem
Tallula throws a ball with a horizontal velocity of 4.00 m/s [W] from the
top of the CN tower.

(a) What is the ball’s vertical

velocity 3.00 s later?

(b) What is the ball’s

horizontal velocity 3.00 s later?

(c) How far does the ball

travel in the vertical direction in
3.00 s?

(d) How far does the ball travel

in the horizontal direction in
3.00 s?
 Projectile Motion: Example Problem
Tallula throws a ball at an angle of elevation of 30.0º with a velocity of
10.0 m/s. How far away does it land?
 Projectile Motion: Example Problem
Bob throws a baseball horizontally from the roof of his
house. The initial height of the ball is 20.0 m and the ball’s
initial velocity is 26.0 m/s.
(a) For how much time is the ball in the air?
(b) How far does the ball travel in a horizontal direction?
 Projectile Motion

The path will be a parabola. Like all

parabolas, it will be symmetric about a
line of symmetry that passes through the
vertex.
 Projectile Motion: Example Problem
A turnip is thrown upward from the top of a building at an angle of 30.0º
from the horizontal and with an initial speed of 20.0 m/s. The point of
release is 45.0 m above the ground.
(a) How long does it
take to hit the ground?
(b) Find the turnip’s
speed at impact.
(c) Find the horizontal
range of the turnip.
 Homework

Work on all problems from section 3.4.

End of chapter pp 81-83, questions 22-34.