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Vectors

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31 views17 pages

Vectors

Uploaded by

asmi sehgal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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AP Physics C

Chapter 3

Vectors
Scalar: a quantity with
magnitude (size) only.
Scalar operation: 3 + 5 = 8
Vector: a quantity with
both magnitude and
direction.
Vector operation: 3 units East + 5 units
West = 2 units West
OR 3 + (-5) = -2
The answer to a vector operation is called
the vector sum or the resultant vector.
You can work with vectors
mathematically or
graphically 3 East
To add GRAPHICALLY:
1. Connect the tip of 5 West
one vector to the tail
of the second (“tip to
tail”).
2. The resultant is then
found by drawing a
vector from the tail 2 West
of the first vector to
the tip of the last
vector.
Adding vectors
mathematically is like
playing with triangles.
Using the Pythagorean
3E Theorem we can find the
magnitude (size) of the
resultant vector.
4 resultant
42 + 3a
2 + b
= c2; c==c 5 units
2 2 2
N
 We can use trig. functions to
find the direction of the
resultant.
Resultant = SOH CAH TOA
5 units at 53° N of
E  = 53° N of E
Some triangles are more
complex than others.
Law of Cosines

resultant c2 = 5 2 + 4 2 – 2·5·4·cos(120°)
4
 c = 7.81 units
5 Law of Sines

Resultant =
7.81 units at 26.33° N
of E
B = 26.33° N of E
Another solution:
playing with right triangles
Instead, resolve the angled vector into
components.
The light blue
resultant
4 sin vectors are the x-
60° and y-components

of the original blue
5E 4 cos vector.
60°

3.4
6

5 + 2 =
7 7.81 units at 26.33° N
About x-y-components
 For the following situation: r

 The following will be true:


r
ry
rx = rcos

ry = rsin rx
Unit Vectors
Unit Vector: vector with a magnitude of
one unit pointed along an axis.
y i

j 3i

k i
x 3i + j
z
Operations on Vectors in
Component Form
 Some vectors can be three
dimensional, thus at times, it
will be useful to resolve vectors
into their components.
 Finding the magnitude of a three
dimensional vector is simple.
 To add these vectors, simply add each component.

 To multiply a vector by a scalar,


distribute the scalar through.
 To subtract these vectors, simply subtract each component.
Finding Magnitude
y

A
Ay
Az x
so…
Axz
Ax
z
Sample Problem – Vector Operations
 For two vectors, A = 5i + 3j – 6k and B = -2i + 4j +
k, calculate each of the following:
– the magnitude of each vector,
– A+B (in unit vector notation), and
– the magnitude of A-B.
Sample Problem – Adding
Vectors
A cyclist rides 3 miles North, then 4 miles West. After
resting at a light, the cyclist rides 2 miles at 60º South
of West to her destination. Calculate the magnitude
of the cyclist’s displacement.
Multiplying Vectors:
The Dot Product
Dot Product: scalar result of vectors
acting in the same direction.

We are concerned only with


B the components of A and B
that act in the same
 A Thus, direction.
we end up with:
B·cos

Note: The dot product always results in a scalar


(numerical) value, with no direction.
Multiplying Vectors:
The Cross Product
Cross Product: vector result of vectors
acting perpendicular to each other.
y

We are concerned only with


B·sin B the components of A and B
that act at right angles to
 A Thus,each other.
we end up with:
x

z AxB

Note: The cross product always results in a vector


that is perpendicular to the original vectors.
Operations on Vectors in
Component Form
Dot and Cross Products can
become really tedious
when you have vectors in
three or more dimensions.
Note the following:

Keep in mind that i x j = k, j x k = i, k x i = j, etc.

For most vectors, basic math rules apply such as the


rules for commutivity and associativity. The most
common exception is with the cross product,
where i x j = - (j x i).
A•B = ABcos = AxBx+AyBy+AzBz
 Yep…let’s use a two dimensional example…

y
A•B = ABcos
= (5)(3.6)cos(33.7)
= 15
B
A A•B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz
x
= (5)(3) + (0)(2) + (0)(0)
A = 5i or
= 15
A = 5 @ 0º
B = 3i + 2j or
B = 3.6 @ 33.7º
Sample Problem – Vector
Products
 For two vectors, A = 5i + 3j – 6k and B = -2i + 4j +
k, calculate each of the following:
– the scalar product (A•B)
– the vector product (AxB)

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