German University in Cairo PHYS 101 Spring 2014

Physics Department Prof. Aladdin Abdullatif

Solutions to Sheet II
Vectors

Problem 1
A vector has x-component of -250 units and a y component of 40.0 units. Find the
magnitude and direction of this vector.

Solution:


Let us denote the vector as A , thus the x and y-components are Ax = - 250 units and Ay = 40


units. The magnitude of A can be found as follows

q
|A| = (250)2 + (40)2 = 253.2 units (1)

and the direction can calculated as follows

Ay 40
tan = = = 0.16 (2)
Ax 250


and = tan1 (0.16) = 170.9 . Thus A has a magnitude of 253.2 units and is directed at an
angle of 170.9 .

Problem 2
A displacement vector lying in x-y plane of 50.m and is directed at an angle of 120
with the positive x-axis. What are the x and y-components of this vector?

Solution:



Let us denote the vector as A . The x and y-components of A can be calculated as follows

Ax = 50 m cos(120) = 25 m (3)

and

Ay = 50 m sin(120) = 43.30 m (4)

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Problem 3
Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant displacement of two displacement
vectors of x and y-components ((3.0, 2.0) m, (-5, 3 ) m, and ( 6.0, 1.0 ) m, (10.0,
6.0)m.

Solution:



Let us denote by A the first displacement vector. The vector A is defined by the two points


(3,2) and (-5,3), and in terms of i and j components, A takes the following form


A = (x2 x1 )i + (y2 y1 )j = (5 3)i + (3 2)j = 8i + j (5)



And let us denote by B the second displacement vector. The vector B is defined by the two


points (6,1) and (10,6), In terms of i and j components, B takes the following form


B = (x2 x1 )i + (y2 y1 )j = (10 6)i + (6 1)j = 4i + 5j (6)


Let the resultant displacement be C , thus


C = A + B = 4i + 6j (7)

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With magnitude of | C | = 42 + 62 = 7.2 m, and direction of = tan ( 4 ) = 56.3 .
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Problem 4





Consider two vectors A = 2.0i-6.0j and B = 3.0i-2.0j. Calculate (a) A + B , (b)





A B , (c) | A B |, and (d) | A + B | (e) A B

Solution:


(a) A + B = (2i 6j) + (3i 2j) = 5i 8j


(b) A B = (2i 6j) (3i 2j) = i 4j


(c) | A + B | = p52 + 82 = 9.4


(d) | A B | = (1)2 + (4)2 = 4.1


(e) A B = 2 3 + (6 2) = 18

Problem 5
Obtain the components of the vectors having magnitude and directions of (a) 12.0
m , 150 , (b) 3.3 cm , 60 , (c) 22 m , 150 .

Solution:


(a) A = (12 m, 150 ) = 12 cos 150i + 12 sin 150j = 10.4i + 6j


(b) B = (3.3 m, 60 ) = 3.3 cos 60i + 3.3 sin 60j = 1.65i + 2.86j


(c) B = (22 m, 150 ) = 22 cos 150i + 22 sin 150j = 19i + 11j

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Problem 6
The vector A has x and y and z-components of 8, 12, and -4 units . (a) Write the
vector equation of this vector in terms of the unit vectors i,j, and k. (b) find the
unit vector of a vector B one forth the length of A pointing in the same direction
as A.

Solution:
(a)
In terms of the unit vectors i, j and k, the vector A can be written as follows


A = 8i + 12j 4k (8)

(b)
To find out the unit vector B, let us first write down the vector equation of the vector B

1 1
B = A = (8i + 12j 4k) = 2i + 3j k (9)
4 4
Thus the unit vector of the vector B is

B 2i + 3j k
B = = 2 = 0.53i + 0.80j 0.267k (10)
|B | 2 + 32 + 12

Problem 7
Find the resultant of the coplanar forces ( 100 N, 0 ) and (200 N, 90 )

Solution:

Let us first find the forces in component forms

F1 = (100 N, 0 )
= 100 cos(0)i + 100 sin(0)j = 100i (11)

F2 = (120 N, 90 )
= 200 cos(90)i + 200 sin(90)j = 200j (12)

The resultant force takes the following form

FT = F1 + F2
= 100i + 200j (13)

Thus FT has a magnitude of 1002 + 2002 = 223.6 and has a direction of
F
= tan1 ( FTT yx ) = tan1 ( 100
200
) = 63.4

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Problem 8
The resultant of two coplanar forces is 50 N, at an angle of 1430 . If one of the
two forces is 120 N at an angle of 238 . Find the other force.

Solution:




The resultant force FT = F1 + F2 , where FT = (50 N, 1430 ) and F1 = (120 N, 238 ). In terms


of x and y-components, FT and F1 take the following form.

FT = 50 cos(1430)i + 50 sin(1430)j
= 49.24i 8.68j (14)

F1 = 120 cos(238)i + 120 sin(238)j
= 63.59i 101.77j (15)


Thus F2 can be found as follows

F2 = FT F1 = 112.8i + 93j
(16)

Problem 9
In x-y plane subtract 80N, 0 , from -45N, 180 .

Solution:
In x, y- components, the vectors can be written as follows

A = (80 N, 0 ) = 80 cos(0)i + 8 sin(0)j = 80i


B = (45 N, 180 ) = 45 cos(180)i 45 sin(180)j = 45i



Thus subtracting A from B yields

B A = 45i 80i = 35i (17)

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Problem 10
Determine the resultant of the coplanar forces : (20N, 0 ), (20N, 30 ), (20N, 60 ),
and (20N, 90 ), (20N, 120 ), (20N, 150 ).

Solution:

Let us first find the forces in x,y-component forms.

F1 = (20 N, 0 ) = 20 cos(0)i + 20 sin(0)j = 20i


F2 = (20 N, 30 ) = 20 cos(30)i + 20 sin(30)j = 17.32i + 10j


F3 = (20 N, 60 ) = 20 cos(60)i + 20 sin(60)j = 10i + 17.32j


F4 = (20 N, 90 ) = 20 cos(90)i + 20 sin(90)j = 20j


F5 = (20 N, 120 ) = 20 cos(120)i + 20 sin(120)j = 10i + 17.32j


F6 = (20 N, 15 ) = 20 cos(150)i + 20 sin(150)j = 17.32i + 10j
The resultant of the forces can be calculated as follows

FT = F1 + F2 + F3 + F4 + F5 + F6 = 20i + 74.64j N (18)

F
with magnitude of | F | = 202 + 74.642 = 77.27 N and direction of = tan1 ( Fxy ) = 75

Problem 11
A sled is being pulled by a force of 25 N exerted in a rope inclined 30 with the
horizontal . What is the effective component of the force pulling the sled? What is
the component tending to lift the sled vertically?

Solution:

The x-component of the force, Fx is the effect component of the force in pulling the sled hori-
zontally,
Fx = 25 cos 30 = 21.65 N (19)
The y-component of the force, Fy is the effect component of the force tending to lift the sled
vertically,
Fy = 25 sin 30 = 12.5 N (20)

Problem 12
A block of mass 9 kg rests on a plane making a 16 angle with the horizontal. De-
termine the component of the weight normal to the plane.

Solution:

The component of the weight normal to the plane is given by the weight times the cosine of the
inclinet angle, that is
n = M g cos 16 = 9 9.8 cos 16 = 84.8 N (21)

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Problem 13
Express in terms of the unit vectors i,j , and k the force of 200N that starts at the
point (2,5,-3) and passes through the point (-3,2,1).

Solution:


We first use the two points to find out a unit vector in the same direction of the force F .


Let us denote by A the vector that connects the two points (2,5,-3) and (-3,2,1)

A = (x2 x1 )i + (y2 y1 )j + (z2 z1 )k
= (3 2)i + (2 5)j + (1 + 3)k = 5i + 3j + 4k (22)

p
with magnitude of | A | = (5)2 + (3)2 + (4)2 = 7.07, and a unit vector of

A
A = = 0.7i 0.42j + 0.57k (23)
|A|



Since A and F are in the same direction, so F = A = 0.7i 0.42j + 0.57k. In i, j, k


components F takes the following form

F = | F | F = 200 (0.7i 0.42j + 0.57k) = 140i 84j + 113.15k (24)

Problem 14
Determine the resultant of the three concurrent forces F1 =2.0i + 3.3j - 2.6k, F2 =
- i + 5.2j - 2.9k, and F3 = 8.3 i - 6.6j + 5.8k.

Solution:

The resultant of the three concurrent forces can be found by carrying out the vector sum of
three forces

FT = F1 + F2 + F3
= 9.3i + 1.9j + 0.3k (25)

FT x
with magnitude of |FT | = 9.32 + 1.92 + 0.32 = 9.5 N, and it makes an angle of = cos1 ( |F T|
)
F
= 11.78 with the x-axis, an angle of = cos1 ( |FTTy| ) = 78.5 with the y-axis, and an angle of
FT z
= cos1 ( |F T|
) = 88.2 with the z-axis

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Problem 15
The pulley Shown in the figure below is free to ride on the supporting guide wire.
If the pulley supports a 72.5 kg man, what is the tension in the wire?

Solution:

Let T be the tension force of the wire. The equilibrium of the object requires that Fy = 0 that
leads to

T sin 20 + T sin 20 = M g
T (2 sin 20) = 72.5 9.8
72.5 9.8
T = = 1038.7 N (26)
2 sin 20

Problem 16
Two cables support a mass of 22.5 kg as shown the Figure below. Determine the
tension in each cable?

Solution:

Let T1 and T2 denote the tension forces of the wires hanged at the angles of 60 and 30
respectively. The equilibrium of the object requires that Fx = 0 and Fy = 0. Resolving the
forces into their x and y-components yields
T1 cos 60 = T2 cos 30
cos 30
T1 = T2 = 1.73 T2 (27)
cos 60
and
T1 sin 60 + T2 sin 30 = M g (28)

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Substituting from Eq(27) into Eq(28) one finds

(1.73 T2 ) sin 60 + T2 sin 30 = M g

T2 (1.73 sin 60 + sin 30) = 22.5 9.8
22.5 9.8
T2 = = 110.35 N (29)
1.73 sin 60 + sin 30
and T1 = 1.73 T2 = 190.9 N

Problem 17
What horizontal force F is required to hold the 10-kg mass in the position shown
in the figure below?

Solution:

Let us first denote by T the tension force of the wire hanged at an angle of 72 from roof as
shown in the above figure. The equilibrium of the object requires that Fx = 0 and Fy = 0.
Analyzing the x and y-components of the forces yields

F = T cos(72) (30)

and

T sin(72) = M g (31)

The tension force can be calculated from equation 31 as follows

Mg 10 9.8
T = = = 103.04 N, (32)
sin(72) sin(72)

and the horizontal force F required to hold the object in the shown position is

F = T cos(72) = 103.04 cos(72) = 31.84 N (33)