Chapter 3

Vectors
Details and Figures in this presentation are taken from: Halliday,
David, Robert Resnick, Jearl Walker. Principles of Physics, 10 th Ed,
University Physics by Young and Freedman, 11 th Ed, Physics for
Scientists and Engineers by Serway, 5 th Ed, Physics for Scientists
and engineers by Giancoli 3 rd Ed, and many websites like
physicsclassroom.com, HyperPhysics.com & Past exams of PHYCS
101 Department of Physics at UoB.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

Vector Addition: 6 + 8 = ?
Most of us are accustomed to the following form of mathematics:
6 + 8 = 14.
Yet, we are extremely uneasy about this form of mathematics:
6 + 8 = 10
and
6+8=2
and
6 + 8 = 5.

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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
 Physical Properties (Quantities)
 Scalar Quantities:
Temperature, time,
distance, speed, area,
volume, mass, density,…
are given completely by their
magnitude and so only need
a number and unit to
represent them.

The speedometer of a vehicle shows

speeds in both miles per hour and
kilometers per hour.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Physical Properties (Quantities)
 Vector Quantities:
Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force,…. for
which we must know direction as well as
magnitude in order to represent them.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

Vector Direction

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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Test Problem
Which of the following is NOT an example of a vector quantity?

a) Force
b) Velocity
c) Mass
d) Displacement
e) Acceleration

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Some Properties of Vectors
Two vectors are equal if and
only if they are equal in both
magnitude and direction.

Negative of a
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Scalar Multiplication
Multiplying a vector by a number or scalar just has the effect
of changing its scale.
Multiplying a vector by a scalar
will ONLY CHANGE its
magnitude.

Multiplying a Thus if a = 12 , Then 2a = 24

vector by
“-1” does not
change the
magnitude, but
it does reverse Thus if a = 12 ,
it's direction or
then
in a sense, it's -1/2 a
angle.
-a = -12

If a = 12, then
(-1/2)a = -6
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Basic Vector Operations
Both a magnitude and a direction must be specified for a vector quantity, in
contrast to a scalar quantity which can be quantified with just a number. Any
number of vector quantities of the same type (i.e., same units) can be combined
by basic vector operations.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Vector Addition Is Commutative

https://twitter.com/i/status/1228641773108572160

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Coordinate Systems

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Cartesian Coordinate System

When we include negative values, the x and y axes divide the

space up into 4 pieces:

Quadrants I, II, III and IV

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Polar Coordinate System
Polar coordinates are in the form: (r,), where 'r' is the distance from
the origin to the point, and '' is the angle measured from the positive
'x' axis to the point.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Quiz
Given the shown Cartesian coordinate of a point, find
both polar coordinate r and  of that point.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Quiz
Given the shown polar coordinate r and  of a point,
find Cartesian coordinate of that point.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Vectors Addition & Subtraction

1-D Case:

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nd
 Quiz
For cases such as those shown in the diagrams below, what is
the resultant and how can it be determined?

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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
 Right Angle Triangle Used to Define the
Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometry
(from Greek trigōnon, "triangle" and metron, "measure") is a
branch of mathematics that studies relationships involving
lengths and angles of triangles.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Right Angle Triangle Used to Find the
Components of a Vector

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Finding the Magnitude of a Vector

2 2
Magnitude of a vector c  a b
When you know the x- and y- components of a
vector, and the vectors form a right triangle, you can
find the magnitude using the Pythagorean
theorem. Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
Finding the Magnitude of a Vector

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 x and y Component s of a Vector
Vector Components
2-D Case: y

X-component

y-component
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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
 Test Problem
A dog is held by applying 100 N force as shown in the figure.
Find the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) components of this
force.
y y 100 N
Solutio x

n 37°
 Fx F cos  x
 Fx 100 cos 37 80 N
 Fy F sin 
 Fy 100 sin 37 60 N
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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
 Exampl
e horizontal (x) and
Find the vertical (y) components of the
100 m displacement of the superman.

Solutio
n D D cos 
x

 Dx 100 cos 330

 Dx 86.6m
 D y D sin 
 D y 100 sin 330
 D y  50.0m
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Test Problem
A student walks 1-km due North then 2-km eastward. Find the
magnitude and direction ϕ of his resultant displacement.

Solutio
n
 Rx 2 km and R y 1 km
 R  Rx2  R y2  2 2  12
 R  5 2.24 km
Rx 2
 tan    2
Ry 1
 tan  1  2  63.4
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Example of Vector Components
Resultant of 2 vectors

Lets decompose vectors

A and B into their x and
y-components.
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Magnitude and Direction of
the Resultant of 2 Vectors

Vector Direc x  comp y  comp

A  A cos  A sin 
R  Rx2  R y2
B  B cos  B sin 
 Ry 
1
 tan  
R  Rx Ry
 Rx 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
Magnitude and Direction of
the Resultant of 2 Vectors

y
2 2
R  R R x y
x
 Ry 
1
 tan  
 Rx 

Vector Direction x  component y  component

12 200 12 cos 20 11.3 12 sin 20 4.1

25 600 25 cos 60 12.5 25 sin 60 21.7

R  23.8 25.8
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
Magnitude and
Direction of the
Resultant of 2 Vectors
y

2 2
R  R R x y

 Ry 
1
 tan  
 Rx 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Magnitude and direction of a
Resultant of 3 vectors
Vector Direc x  comp y  comp
y A  A cos  A sin 
B  B cos  B sin 
x C  C cos C sin

R  Rx Ry

R  Rx2  R y2

 Ry 
1
 tan  
 Rx 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Exampl
e covers the
A postman
shown displacements.
Find the magnitude
and direction of the
postman’s resultant
displacement.

Vector Direction x  comp y  comp

SOLUTION:
2 .6 90 2.6 cos 90 2.6 sin 90
• Resolve each
4 .0 0 4.0 cos 0 4.0 sin 0
force into
rectangular 3.1 45 3.1 cos 45 3.1sin 45
components.
R  Rx Ry
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Solutio
nx and y-components of each
Find the
displacement.

Vector Direction x  component y  component

2 .6 90 2.6 cos 90 0 2.6 sin 90 2.6
4 .0 0 4.0 cos 0 4.0 4.0 sin 0 0
3.1 45 3.1 cos 45 2.2 3.1sin 45 2.2

R  6 .2 4.8
• Calculate the magnitude and direction.
4.8 km  4.8 
2 2
R  6.2  4.8 7.8 km tan     tan  1   37.7 38
6.2 km  6.2 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Magnitude and direction of a
Resultant of 4 vectors
Vector Direc x  comp y  comp
A  A cos  A sin 
y
B  B cos  B sin 
x C  C cos C sin
D  D cos  D sin 
R  Rx Ry

R  Rx2  R y2

 Ry 
1
 tan  
 Rx 
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Test Problem
In the Figure, four forces act on
bolt A. Determine the resultant
of the forces acting on the bolt.

SOLUTION:
• Resolve each force into rectangular components.

Force mag x  comp y  comp


F1 150  129.9  75.0

F2 80  27.4  75.2

F3 110 0  110 .0

F4 100  96.6  25.9
R  199.1 14.3
• Calculate the magnitude and direction. 14.3 N
tan     4.1
R  199.12  14.32 200 N 199.1 N
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Unit Vectors
Vectors which have magnitude = unit length.
We label them as i and j
with i running along the x-
axis and j running up the
y-axis.

Then we can write

vector A as:

A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj
2 2
A  A A x y

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 In three dimensions: the vectors
i, j and k which run along the x,
y and z axes respectively, all
have unit length.

It is sometimes convenient to write the vectors i, j and k in row

vector form giving:
i = (1, 0, 0) j = (0, 1, 0) k = (0, 0, 1)

Any 3 dimensional vector can be written as a linear

combination of these 3 vectors:
e.g., (2, 3, -5) = 2i + 3j -5k
= 2(1, 0, 0) + 3(0, 1, 0) - 5(0, 0, 1).
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Test Problem
A block on a smooth surface is pulled by a force F = 100 N, as
shown in the figure. The force F can be expressed as:

a ) F 160i  120 j

b) F  80i  60 j

c) F 80i  60 j

d ) F 160i  120 j 100 sin 37

e) F 80i  60 j

100 cos 37

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Test Problem
An object is acted upon by two forces:
F1 ( 10iˆ  5 ˆj ) N and F2 (10iˆ  15 ˆj ) N
What is the magnitude of the total force F (in N) acting on the object?

(A) 20 Solutio
(B) 25
n
(C) 30
(D) 35 
 F F1  F2  ( 10iˆ  5 ˆj )  (10iˆ  15 ˆj ) N 
(E) 40 
F F1  F2  0iˆ  20 ˆj N 
2 2
 F  0  20 20 N
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Extra Examples
&
Solved Test Problems

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Exampl
e
The diagram below shows the position of a cross-country skier at various times.
At each of the indicated times, the skier turns around and reverses the direction
of travel. In other words, the skier moves from A to B to C to D. Use the diagram
to determine the distance traveled by the skier and the resulting displacement
during these three minutes.

Solutio
n

The skier covers a distance = AB + BC + CD

=180 m + 140 m + 100 = 420 m
The skier’s displacement is AD = 140 m due east.
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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Example
Consider the tow truck at the right. If the tensional force in the cable is
1000 N and if the cable makes a 60 angle with the horizontal, then
what is the vertical component of force which contributes to lifting the
car off the ground?

Solutio
n
 Fy F sin 
 Fy 1000 sin 120
 Fy  866 N

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nd
 Example
A hiker leaves camp and hikes 11 km, north and then hikes 11 km
east. Determine the resulting displacement of the hiker.
Solutio
n

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Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2 Semester 2019-2020
nd
 Exampl
e of the velocity V
The direction r with respect to the horizontal
direction (x-axis) is:

(a) 76°
(b) 60°
(c) 40°
(d) 14°
(e) 10° Vy 5
 tan    0.25   tan  1  0.25 14
Vx 20
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Test Problem
In the Figure, F1= 50 N and F2= 50 N. Find the magnitude of
the net (resultant) force in N.

(a) 53.9
(b) 58.3 Solutio
(c) 64.0 n
(d) 70.7  Fx F1 cos 53  F2 cos 37 30  40  10 N
 Fy F1 sin 53  F2 sin 37 40  30 70 N
 
 F   10 iˆ  70 ˆj N
 F  Fx2  Fy2   10 2  70 2  5000 70.7 N
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Exampl
epulled by three persons as shown in the
A box
Figure. Determine the fourth force that cancels
the resultant.

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Solutio
LetnD be the fourth force that will cancel the resultant.
Vector Direction x  component y  component
100 30 100 cos 30 86.6 100 sin 30 50.0
80 120 80 cos120  40.0 80 sin 120 69.3
40 233 40 cos 53  24.1 40 sin 233  31.9
D  Dx Dy
R  0 0

Rx  Ax  Bx  C x  Dx 0 86.6    40.0     24.1  Dx

R y  Ay  B y  C y  D y 0 50.0  69.3    31.9   D y
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Then:
Dx  22.5 N
D y  87.4 N
2 2
D  D  D 90.2 N;
x y

Also:
tan   D y Dx  3.88
 75.5 in the third quadrant
φ 180  α 256 , counterclockwise from  x-axis
 

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020

 Test Problem
Given two forces: A (2iˆ  3 ˆj  kˆ) N and B (  4iˆ  2 ˆj  kˆ) N
Calculate the magnitude of each vector. Then find A+B, B+A,
A-B, and B-A.
Solution
A  4  9  1 3.74 N
B  16  4  1 4.58 N

A  B ( 2iˆ  5 ˆj  0kˆ) N

 A  B ( 2iˆ  5 ˆj ) N
 B  A A  B A  B (6iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) N

 B  A ( 2iˆ  5 ˆj ) N B  A ( 6iˆ  ˆj  2kˆ) N

Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020
 Test Problem
An airplane travels the following displacenents in km :
P 3iˆ  5 ˆj  2kˆ
Q  2iˆ  4 ˆj  4kˆ
S 3iˆ  3 ˆj  4kˆ
Calculate the resul tan t displacement ( Sum).
Solutio
n  R P  Q  S and 2
R  Rx  R y  Rz
2 2

 R [(3  2  3)iˆ  ( 5  4  3) ˆj  (2  4  4)kˆ]km

 R [4iˆ  4 ˆj  2kˆ]km
 R  16  16  4  36 6km
Dr. Khalil Ebrahim, PHYCS 101, 2nd Semester 2019-2020