General Physics I (22101) : Chapter 3

1)

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Instructor : Dr. Iyad SAADEDDIN

2)

Chapter 3:Vectors

Vector vs. Scalar Quantities

Coordinate Systems
Properties of Vectors
Vector Algebra
Components and Unit Vectors

Scalars and Vectors

Scalar quantities only have a single value

(magnitude) and an appropriate unit.
Distance (5 m), time (4 sec.), mass (5 gr.)

Vector quantities have a magnitude and direction

coupled with a unit.
Displacement (5 ft. to left), velocity (10 mph, due north),
acceleration (9.8 m/s2, downward)

The curved line: The path taken

The red arro w: Displacement vector
A

3)

4)

Coordinate Systems

Proper solution of a problem requires a

uniform point of reference and a system to
identify location.
- Vertical axis

The arrow (vector) repres ents

the displacement from point Q
to point P
Thes e points are represented
by the Cartesian (rectangular)
coordinate system (x,y)

Rectangular and Polar Coordinates

Points in rectangular coordinate system
(x,y) can be represented by Polar
coordinate system (r,?)

r: distance from the origin O

?: angle between x-axis and and r
Right a
ngle tr
ian gle

x
From cartesian to polar

tan
- horizontal axis

y
x

x y

From polar to cartesian

x r cos
2

y r sin

(? measured counterclockwise from +ve

x-axis)

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5)

6)

Example

Vectors

Find polar coordinate for

the point Q (-3.5, -2.5) in
cartesian coordinate
Soln.: we need r and ?.

Indicated by an arrow.
Tip points away from the starting
point in the direction of the vector.

Denoted by

Magnitude is equal to the length of

A or A

r x 2 y 2 ( 3.5) 2 ( 2.5) 2 4.3m

y 2.5
tan
0.714
x 3.5
tan 1 0.714 216 or 36 in the 3rd quarter

the arrow and denoted by A or A

Hence point Q in polar coordinate is (4.3, 216)

7)

8)

Adding Vectors

Draw vector A.

Draw vector B starting from the tip of A.

Draw the resultant vector R = A + B from
the beginning of A to the tip of B.

Two vectors are equal if they have

the same magnitude and direction.

Rules of Vector Addition

Cumulative law ():

Associative law ():

A B B A

A ( B C ) ( A B) C

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9)

Negative of a Vector and Vector

Subtraction

10)

Multiplying a Vector by a Scalar

-A has the same magnitude as A but is in

the opposite direction.
A
-A
A + ( -A ) = 0
To subtract B from A, just add the negative
of B to A.
A B = A + ( -B )

If the scalar is positive, the direction of the

vector does not change but its magnitude is
multiplied by the scalar value.
If it is negative, its direction is reversed and
its magnitude multiplied.

11)

2A

-2A

12)

Example:

Example:
Soln.: assume vector A=20km, and
vector B=35km
Analyse the triangle abc as shown
We can solve the right angle tria ngle
abd, where (ab)+(bd)=(ad)

Car travel 20 km due

north, then 35 km 60

R R ( A B cos 60) ( B sin 60 )

west of north, find the

R A 2 AB cos 60 B cos 60 B sin 60

resul tant R (magnitud e

R A B 2 AB cos 60

and directi on)

or R A B 2 AB cos 120
R 48.2 km
B sin 60
0.808
A B cos 60
39
tan

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13)

14)

Components of a Vector
Components

Unit Vectors
Since component of a vector sc aler, we need to add
some thing to adentify the direction of the component
Unit vector may introduced

of a

vector,
are projections of the
vector on the coordinate
axis; they are along the
coordinate axis (x, y, z)
are scalar values; but when
added, result in the vector;

A Ax Ay

Ax A cos
Ay A sin

Unit vector is
A dimens ionless vector
with a magnitude of 1.
Used only to spec ify
direction.

A x is Projection of A on x-axis
A y is Projection of A on y-axis

A A Ax 2 Ay 2

i , j , k represent unit
vectors in the x, y and z
directions res pectively.

A
tan 1 y
Ax

15)

i j k 1

16)

Unit Vectors

Using Unit Vectors

vector A then can be

represented with unit vectors as

Adding vectors is done by adding each component type (x

components together and y components together) for the
vectors together.

A Ax i A y j

Assume the two vectors

A Ax i Ay j B B xi B yj

Unit vector can be introduced in

any direction like unit vector in

direction of A , where

Axi Ay j
A
A
Ax Ay
A

R A B Axi A yj Bx i B y j

R Rx i R y j

R Ax B x i Ay B y j

Ax B x 2 Ay B y 2

and

tan

Ry
Rx

Ay B y
Ax Bx

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17)

Ex:

Example

a: Find magnitude and direction of R=A+B

b: find unit vector in the
direction of B

B ( 2i 4 j )m
if A (2i 2 j) m

R 4 2 20 4 .5m
a) R (2 2)i ( 2 4) j

R
R
R (4i 2 j)m
tan y tan 1 y
Rx
Rx
tan 1

B
2i 4 j
2 4
b) B

i
j
B
2 4
20
20

Example
Solution: we have 3 vectors as shown
a, b, and c; The resultant R = a+b+c

a a xi a y j a cos 30i a sin 30 j 152i 88 j

b bxi b y j b cos 110 i b sin 110 j 52.3i 144 j

c c xi c y j c cos 180i c sin 180 j 195i 0 j

R Rxi Ry j ( ax bx cx )i (a y by c y ) j

R 95.3i 232 j
R Rx Ry (95.3) (232) 251km
1

tan

232
112.8
95.3

2
27
4

Airplane flies from the origin

to city A, located 175 km in a
direction 30.0 north of east.
Next, it flies 153 km 20.0 west of
north to city B. Finally, it
flies 195 km due west to city C.
Find the location of city C
relative to the origin.

The Scalar or Dot Product of Two Vectors

Dot product: is the product of IAI and the projection
of vector B on vector A

A B A B cos

A B AB cos
If ?=0

(scalar quantity)

A B AB

If ?=90 A B 0

If ?=180 A B AB

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The Scalar or Dot Product of Two Vectors

Example

Dot product characteristics

If A 2.0i 3.0 j and B 1.0i 2.0j find

1) Commutative

a) A B

A B B A

2) Distributive in multiplication A B C A B A C

For unit vectors i i j j k k 1

( // )

i j i k j k 0

(- )

For vectors represented by components

A Ax i Ay j Az k

B B x i B y j Bz k

A B Ax Bx Ay B y Az B z

2
A A Ax Ax Ay Ay Az Az A

Vector or Cross Product

For two vectors A and B, the cross product a third
vector C so that

C AB

The m agnitude of the vector C is

C AB sin

(if ?=0 C=0, if ?=90C=AB)

C direction is perpendicular (- ) to
both vectors A and B
You can us e the right-hand
rule to find the direction of C.
W e begin with first vector in the
cross product and 0<?<180

b) angle between A and B

solution :

a) A B Ax Bx Ay B y 2 6 4


1 A B
b) A B AB cos cos
AB
4
cos 1
60.2
65

A A 2 3 13

B B 1 2 5

Properties of Vector Product

A B B A

AA 0
Unit vectors cross product
i j j i k
j k k j i

A B C A B AC

d dA dB
A B
B A
dt
dt
dt

For vectors
repres ented by
components

k i i k j

A Ax i Ay j Az k

B Bx i B y j Bz k

i

A B Ax

j
Ay

k
Az ( Ay Bz Az By )i ( Ax Bz Az Bx )j ( Ax By Ay Bx ) k

Bx

By

Bz

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Example

If A 2 i 3j and B i 2j find



AB ?
B A ?
( A B ).( B A)
i

A B 2
1

j k
3 0 (3(0) 0(2))i (2(0) 0(2))j (2(2) 3( 1))k
2 0
0 - 0 ( 4 3)k 7k

B A A B 7 k

( A B) (B A) (7 k).(7k) 49

Example:

If A 2i 3j and

B i 4j 2k find

a) A B

b ) A 2B

c) A B

d )angle between A and B

e )A B

f )unit vector in the direction of A

g ) angle between A and z axis