PHY1014

Vectors
(Algebraic)

Coordinate Systems PHY1014

Cartesian Coordinates

Quadrants

Axes
◼ Labels
◼ Positive direction

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Vector Components PHY1014

Using a (rectangular) coordinate system, we can use

components to manipulate vectors algebraically.

We shall use Cartesian coordinates, a right-handed system

of axes:

y
(The (entire) system can be
rotated – any which way – x
to suit the situation.)
z
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Vector Components PHY1014

By introducing axes, we specify the directions of the

vector components.

𝐴Ԧ is constrained to resolve into 𝐴Ԧ𝑥 y

and 𝐴Ԧ𝑦 at right angles to each

other.
A
Note that, provided that we adhere Ay

to the right-handed Cartesian

convention, the axes may be Ax
x
orientated in any way which suits a
given situation.
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Vector Components PHY1014

Resolution can also be seen as a projection of 𝐴Ԧ onto each

of the axes to produce vector components 𝐴Ԧ𝑥 and 𝐴Ԧ𝑦 .
Ax, the scalar component of 𝐴Ԧ
(or, as before, simply its y
component) along the x-axis … A

▪ has the same magnitude as 𝐴Ԧ𝑥 Ay

▪ is positive if it points right;

Ax
negative if it points left. x
▪ remains unchanged by a translation
of the axes (but is changed by a
rotation).
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Determining Components of a Vector PHY1014

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

y (m)
Ax = +6 m 8

6
Ay = +3 m
4 A
Ay
2
Ax
0 x (m)
0 2 4 6 8

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

y (m)

Ax = +6 m 8

Ay = +3 m A 4
Ay
2
Ax
x (m)
-8 -6 -4 -2 0

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

y (m)
Ax = +6 m -8 -6 -4 -2
x (m)
Ax
Ay = +3 m -2
A -4
Ay
-6
-8

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

y (m)
Ax = -2 m 4
A 2 Ay
Ay = +4 m Ax
x (m)
-4 -2 2
-2

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

Ax = -6 m y (m)
Ax 4
Ay = -5 m 2
Ay
x (m)
-8 -4 4
-2
A

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Vector Components PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are…

y (m)
4
Ax = -8 m
Ax 2 x (m)

4
Ay = -3 m Ay
-4
-8 A -4

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Vector Components
PHY1010W PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are… y (m)

Ay
Ax = +A cos m
 x (m)
Ay = A sin m Ax

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Vector Components
PHY1010W PHY1014

The components of 𝐴Ԧ are… y (m)

Ax
x (m)
Ax = –A sin m

A Ay
Ay = – A cos m

Note that we can (re)combine components into a single vector, i.e.

(re)write it in polar notation, by calculating its magnitude and
direction using Pythagoras and trigonometry:
 Ax 
A= Ax 2 + A y 2  = tan −1   (On this slide!)
 Ay 
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Moving Between Representations PHY1014

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Think-Pair-Share 4 PHY1014

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Think-Pair-Share 5 PHY1014

Write the vector 𝐶Ԧ in polar notation?

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Unit Vectors PHY1014

iˆ  (1 , + x-direction )
ˆj  (1 , + y -direction )
Ax = Ax iˆ

Ax = Ax iˆ
Ay = Ay ˆj

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Decomposition of a Vector PHY1014

𝐴Ԧ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗Ƹ

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Decomposition of a Vector PHY1014

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Tilted Axes PHY1014

◼ Axes don’t have to be

vertical and horizontal
◼ Think of a slope, where
you want the x-axis
parallel to the slope and
the y-axis perpendicular
to the slope

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Think-Pair-Share 6 PHY1014

Write the vector below in unit vector notation

where the axis are parallel and perpendicular
to the slope

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Example 2 PHY1014

Draw the following vector 𝑟Ԧ = −2.00𝑖Ƹ − 1.00𝑗Ƹ cm

Label the angle that specifies the vector’s direction
and then find its magnitude.

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Algebraic Vector Addition PHY1014

Suppose 𝐷 = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 + 𝐶Ԧ

𝐷 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝐵𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝐶𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐶𝑦 𝑗Ƹ

𝐷 = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶𝑦 𝑗Ƹ

and 𝐷 = 𝐷𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐷𝑦 𝑗Ƹ

Thus Dx = Ax + Bx + Cx and Dy = Ay + By + Cy
In other words, we can add vectors by adding their
components, axis by axis, to determine a single resultant
component in each direction. These resultants can then be
combined, or simply presented in unit vector notation.
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Algebraic Vector Addition PHY1014

y
The process of vector
addition by the
addition of
components can By
B

Dy = Ay + By
visualised as follows: D

A+ B = D
Ay
A
x
Ax Bx

Dx = Ax + Bx

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Algebraic Vector Addition PHY1014

While it is often quite

acceptable to present as 𝐷 y

𝐷 = 𝐷𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝐷𝑦 𝑗Ƹ
its polar form is easily B
Dy = Ay + By

D
reconstituted from
Dx and Dy
A

𝐷𝑥 2 + 𝐷𝑦 2
x
using 𝐷 =
Dx = Ax + Bx
𝐷𝑦
and 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝐷𝑥
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Example 3 PHY1014

Let 𝐴Ԧ = 6𝑖Ƹ − 4𝑗Ƹ , 𝐵 = −4𝑖Ƹ + 6𝑗Ƹ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹Ԧ = 𝐴Ԧ − 5𝐵

(a) Write 𝐹Ԧ in unit vector notation?

(b) Write 𝐹Ԧ in polar notation

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Example 4 PHY1014

Let :
𝐴Ԧ = 4.0 m, 20° S of E ,
𝐵 = 2.0 m, North
𝐶Ԧ = 5.2 m, 70° S of 𝑊 .

Find the magnitude of

𝐷 = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 + 𝐶Ԧ

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Example 5 PHY1014

The two vectors shown have

equal magnitudes of 10.0 m
and the angles shown are
θ1 = 30° and θ2 = 105°.
Find the resultant vector of
these two vectors in both unit
vector notation and polar
notation.

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