Vectors - have magnitude and direction

Scalars - have magnitude only

Vectors - Graphical Representation

Vectors can be represented using “arrows”
Length of the arrow = magnitude
Direction the arrow points = direction (given by unit vectors or angle )

Vectors – Just a Walk in the Park !

Notation

Vector symbol A = Vector
 A = Scalar
Unit vector x
 = 1 unit in the x-direction

The Simplest Vector – The Position Vector

 Positions (points in space) can represent vectors if they are defined
relative to an origin.

A = + 3 m x

0 x (m)

B = - 4 m x

0 x (m)
Any position in space has a distance (magnitude) from the origin and
they have direction from the origin.

Vector Addition - The Tip to Tail Method

  
A + B = C

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 The sum of two vectors is a vector

The Tip to Tail Method – (Stacking Arrows)


A = + 3 m x

0 x (m)

B = - 4 m x

0 x (m)
Tip Tail
  
How to find vector C = A + B

Apply the Tip to Tail Method


1. Redraw the 1st vector of the addition ( A in this case)
 
2. Take the tail of vector B and connect it to the tip of vector A

 Do not change the orientation of B just “pick it up” and
“pin it down”- stack it right on top!
  
2. Connect the tail of A to the tip of B with the new vector C !

0 x (m)

Vector C is called the resultant or resultant vector

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Tip to Tail Method (Protractor and Ruler)

Example: A pilot flies 200 km north, then 300 km 45 o northeast

and finally 250 km southeast. Graphically, determine the pilot’s net
displacement for this trip.
N

W E

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Examples of Tip to Tail Method

A  3 m x
ˆ
   
B  4 m y
ˆ Find C  A  B

y y


B


A
x x

 
In general vector A and B do not have to lie on axis.
  
Find C  A B

y y

B

A x x

   
Using the above example show that A B  B  A
y

x
Adding 3 or more vectors

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      
A6y
ˆ B  10 ,70 o C 4 y
ˆ Find R  A  B  C

y y

x x

Practice Problems:

Graphical Vector Addition
1. Draw the vectors A  6 m,   30 o and B  8 m,   120 o individually, from the
  
origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) Find the vector R  A  B on the right hand
side.

y y

x x

y
y
 
2. Draw the vectors F1  4 N ,   20 o and F2  7 N ,   270 o individually, from the
  
origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) find the vector R  F1  F2 on the right hand
side.

x x
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3. Draw the vectors
  
F1  5 N ,   0 o and F2  4 N ,   90 o and F3  8 N ,   180 o
individually,
  
from

the origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) find the vector
R  F1  F2  F3 on the right hand side.

y y

x x

4. Draw the vectors

 y 270 o
  
F1  5 N ,   and F2  6 N ,   45 o and F3  8 y N ,   135 o and F4  8 N ,  
individually,
  
from

the

origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) find the vector
R  F1  F2  F3  F4 on the right hand side.

x x

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Subtracting Vectors -  Same as addition but now you are adding
a negative vector
    
A  3m x
ˆ B 4m y
ˆ Find R  A  B

y y

x x

Practice Problems: Graphical Vector Addition & Subtraction

1. Draw the vectors
  
F1  5 N ,   90 o and F2  3 N ,   45 o and F3  2 N ,   180 o
individually,
  
from
y
the origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) find
y the vector
R  F1  F2  F3 on the right hand side.

x x

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2. Draw the vectors
  
F1  4 N ,   270 o and F2  3 N ,   315 o and F3  2 N ,   210 o
individually,
  
from

the origin, on the left side. Graphically (tip to tail) find the vector
R  F1  F2  F3 on the right hand side.

y y

x x

Component Vectors – (on axis vectors)

How to convert from magnitude and direction form (polar form) to x̂
and ŷ form (component vectors)

Any

vector

A can be broken down into the component vectors
Ax and A y
c = hyp.

   
Consider the vector A  10 m , 50 o - To find Ax and Aby= use
adj. trigonometry
o
sin =
h
a
cos   9
h
o
tan =
a
 y
a = opp.

Component Vectors - Continued


Working Backwards: Given B = (13 m) x - (23 m) y

 y and direction form:

Find the vector B in magnitude

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Practice Problems: Breaking Vectors into Components
1. Draw and calculate the component vectors of the vector given.
a.)

A  8 m,   30 o y

b.)

A  10 m,   210 o
x

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 c. )
v
A  6 m,   135o y

2. Draw and write the following vectors in magnitude and direction form.

a.)
v y
A  3xˆ - 4yˆ

b.)
v
A  25xˆ + 16yˆ

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c. )
v
A  10xˆ - 12yˆ
y

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Adding Vectors in Component Form
 
Example: Add A = 3 x
 + 4 y
 and B = 7 x - 7 y

 
A+ B = 
 A x  B x  x   A y  B y  y
 

When adding vectors in component

form, add like components together

Practice Problems: Algebraic Vector Addition

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   
1. Find R  A  B in component form and magnitude and direction form (polar form)

A  8 m,   30 o y

B  16 m,   110 o

  
2. Find R  A  B in component form and magnitude and direction form (polar form)

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x

A  10 m,   210 o

B  20 m,   315 o

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