PhysicsPagesCh03_Bb.

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88 CHAPTER 3 Vectors

MAGNITUDE OF CROSS PRODUCT C  AB sin  (3.30)

CROSS PRODUCTS OF UNIT VECTORS

In cyclic order, positive: ijk jki k ij (3.31)
In reverse order, negative: j  i  k k  j  i i  k j (3.32)

CROSS PRODUCT IN TERMS OF COMPONENTS A  B  (AyBz  Az By)i  (AzBx  AxBz)j  (AxBy  AyBx)k (3.33)

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. A large oil tanker proceeds from Kharg Island (Persian Gulf ) 4. If A and B are any arbitrary vectors, then A  (B  A)  0.
to Rotterdam via the Cape of Good Hope. A small oil tanker Explain.
proceeds from Kharg Island to Rotterdam via the Suez Canal. 5. Why is there no vector division? (Hint: If A and B are given
Are the displacement vectors of the two tankers equal? Are and if A  B  C, then there exist several vectors C that satisfy
the distances covered equal? this equation, and similarly for A  B  C.)
2. An airplane flies from Boston to Houston and back to Boston. 6. Assume that A is some nonzero vector. If A  B  A  C, can
Is the displacement zero in the reference frame of the Earth? we conclude that B  C? If A  B  A  C, can we conclude
In the reference frame of the Sun? that B  C? What if both A  B  A  C and A  B 
3. Does a vector of zero magnitude have a direction? Does it A  C?
matter?

PROBLEMS
y
3 . 2 Ve c t o r A d d i t i o n a n d S u b t r a c t i o n †
km 60
.0
18
9.5

1. A ship moves from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

60
km

Bay to Alcatraz Island and from there to Point Blunt. The first
x
displacement vector is 10.2 km due east, and the second is 5.9 P km
.0
km due north. What is the resultant displacement vector? 12
60
2. In midtown Manhattan, the street blocks have a uniform size P'
of 80 m  280 m, with the shortest side oriented at 29 east of
north (“uptown”) and the long side oriented at 29 north of FIGURE 3.26 Successive displacement vectors of an aircraft.
west. Suppose you walk three blocks uptown and then two
blocks to the left. What is the magnitude and direction of your 4. A sailboat tacking against the wind moves as follows: 3.2 km at
displacement vector? 45 east of north, 4.5 km at 50 west of north, 2.6 km at 45 east
3. Figure 3.26 shows the successive displacements of an aircraft of north. What is the net displacement for the entire motion?
flying a search pattern. The initial position of the aircraft is P 5. The recommended route for yachts entering the small harbor
and the final position is P
. What is the net displacement of South Bay at Mosquito Island (British Virgin Islands) is as
(magnitude and direction) between P and P
? Find the answer follows: from the northeast side of Mosquito Rock proceed on
both graphically (by carefully drawing a page-size diagram a course of 135 (magnetic) for 1450 m; then alter course to
with protractor and ruler and measuring the resultant) and 180 and proceed for 620 m; then alter course to 285 and
trigonometrically (by solving triangles). proceed for 1190 m; finally alter course to 0 and proceed for

†
For help, see Online Concept Tutorial 4 at www.wwnorton.com/physics
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Problems 89

730 m to reach South Bay harbor. What is the displacement

vector from Mosquito Rock to the harbor? Solve this problem
graphically, by making an accurate, large diagram showing the Lighthouse A
successive displacement vectors.
6. A man runs 2.5 km north and then 1.5 km in a direction
30 east of north. A woman walks directly between the same
initial and final points. What distance does the woman walk?
In what direction? α 2α

7. An airplane flies 480 km in a direction 40 east of north to a P P'

hub city, and then 370 km in a direction 10 north of west to a
FIGURE 3.27 A lighthouse and two positions of a ship.
final destination. By plotting these individual displacements
on graph paper, carefully determine the magnitude and direc-
tion of the net displacement. sight to the lighthouse and the direction of motion of the ship.
He then measures how far the ship advances through the water
8. One speedboat travels 14 km in a direction 60 south of east.
until the angle between the line of sight and the direction of
A second boat has the same displacement, but instead travels
motion is twice as large as it was initially. Prove that the mag-
due east and then due south. What distance did the second
nitude of the displacement vector PP
equals the magnitude of
boat travel east? What distance south?
the position vector AP
of the ship relative to the lighthouse.
9. The resultant of two displacement vectors has a length of
*15. The radar operator of a stationary Coast Guard cutter observes
5.0 m and a direction due north. One of the displacement
that at 10h30m an unidentified ship is at a distance of 9.5 km on
vectors has a length of 2.2 m and a direction 35 east of north.
a bearing of 60 east of north and at 11h10m the unidentified
What is the other displacement vector?
ship is at a distance of 4.2 km on a bearing of 33 east of north.
10. Three displacement vectors A, B, and C are, respectively, 4.0 cm Measured from its position at 10h30m, what is the displacement
at 30 west of north, 8.0 cm at 30 east of north, and 3.0 cm vector of the unidentified ship at 11h10m? Assuming that the
due north. Carefully draw these vectors on a sheet of paper. unidentified ship continues on the same course at the same
Find A  B  C graphically. Find A  B  C graphically. speed, what will be its displacement vector at 11h30m? What
11. During the maneuvers preceding the Battle of Jutland, the will be its distance and bearing from the cutter?
British battle cruiser Lion moved as follows (distances are in *16. Suppose that two ships proceeding at constant speeds are on
nautical miles): 1.2 nmi due north, 6.1 nmi at 38 east of converging straight tracks. Prove that the ships will collide if
south, 2.9 nmi at 59 east of south, 4.0 nmi at 89 east of and only if the bearing of each remains constant as seen from
north, and 6.5 nmi at 31 east of north. the other. This constant-bearing rule is routinely used by
(a) Draw each of these displacement vectors and draw the net mariners to check whether there is danger of collision. (Hint:
displacement vector. A convenient method of proof is to draw the displacement
(b) Graphically or algebraically find the distance between the vector from one ship to the other at several successive times.)
initial position and the final position.
*12. The Earth moves around the Sun in a circle of radius 1.50  3 . 3 T h e P o s i t i o n Ve c t o r ; C o m p o n e n t s
1011 m at (approximately) constant speed.
o f a Ve c t o r †
(a) Taking today’s position of the Earth as origin, draw a dia-
gram showing the position vector 3 months, 6 months, 9 17. A displacement vector has a magnitude of 12.0 km in the
months, and 12 months later. direction 40.0 west of north. What is the north component of
(b) Draw the displacement vector between the 0-month and this vector? The west component?
the 3-month positions, the 3-month and the 6-month 18. A vector length of 5.0 m is in the x–y plane at an angle of 30
positions, etc. Calculate the magnitude of the displacement with the x axis. What is the x component of this vector? The
vector for one of these 3-month intervals. y component?
*13. Both Singapore and Quito are (nearly) on the Earth’s equator; 19. A displacement vector has a magnitude of 4.0 m and a
the longitude of Singapore is 104 east and that of Quito is vertically downward direction. What is the component of this
78 west. What is the magnitude of the displacement vector vector along a line sloping upward at 25? (Hint: Place your
between these cities? What is the distance between them x axis along the sloping line.)
measured along the equator? 20. Air traffic controllers usually describe the position of an air-
*14. By a method known as “doubling the angle on the bow,” the craft relative to the airport by altitude, horizontal distance, and
navigator of a ship can determine his position relative to a bearing. Suppose an aircraft is at altitude 500 m, distance
fixed point, such as a lighthouse. Figure 3.27 shows the 15 km, and bearing 35 east of north. What are the x, y, and z
(straight) track of a ship passing by a lighthouse. At the components (in meters) of the position vector? The x axis is
point P, the navigator measures the angle  between the line of east, the y axis is north, and the z axis is vertical.
†
For help, see Online Concept Tutorial 4 at www.wwnorton.com/physics
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90 CHAPTER 3 Vectors

21. The displacement vectors A and B are in the x–y plane. Their *34. A vector has components Ax  5.0, Ay  3.0, Az  1.0.
components are Ax  3.0 cm, Ay  2.0 cm, Bx  1.0 cm, What is the magnitude of this vector? What is the angle
By  3.0 cm. between this vector and the x axis? The y axis? The z axis?
(a) Draw a diagram showing these vectors. *35. Find a vector that has the same direction as 3i  6j  2k but
(b) Calculate the resultant of A and B. Draw the resultant on a magnitude of 2 units.
your diagram. *36. Given that A  6i  2j and B   4i  3j  8k, find a vector
22. A vector in the x–y plane has a magnitude of 8.0 units. The C such that 3A  2C  4B.
angle between the vector and the x axis is 52. What are the x,
y, and z components of this vector? 3 . 4 Ve c t o r M u l t i p l i c a t i o n
23. Given that a vector has a magnitude of 6.0 units and makes an
angle of 45 and 85 with the x and y axes, respectively, find 37. Calculate the dot product of the vectors 5i  2j  k and
the x and y components of this vector. Does the given infor- 2i  k.
mation determine the z component? What can you say about 38. Calculate the dot product of the vectors A and B described in
the z component? Example 1.
24. What is the magnitude of the vector 3i  2j  k? 39. Find the magnitude of the vector 2i  j  2k. Find the
25. Suppose that A   5i  3j  k and B  2i  j  3k. magnitude of the vector 3i  6j  2k. Find the angle between
Calculate the following: these two vectors.
(a) A  B 40. Show that, in three dimensions, the dot product of two vectors
can be expressed as [see Eq. (3.24)]
(b) A  B
A  B  Ax Bx  Ay By  Az Bz
(c) 2A  3B
26. A position vector has x component 6.0 m, y component 41. Find the angle between the vector A  3.0i  4.0j  2.0k and
8.0 m, and zero z component. What is the magnitude of this the x axis.
vector? What angle does it make with the x axis? 42. For the two vectors A  4.0i  3.0j  2.0k and B  1.0i 
27. A vector of length 14 m points in a direction 135 counter- 2.0j  1.0k, calculate A  B and A  B.
clockwise from the x axis. What is its x component? Its y 43. The dot product of two vectors and the magnitude of the cross
component? product of the same vectors are equal. What is the angle
28. Four vectors are given by A  2.5i  3.5j, B  1.0i  4.5j  between the two vectors?
2.5k, C  1.5i  2.0j  3.0k, and D  3.0j  1.5k. What is 44. The displacement vector A has a length of 50 m and a direc-
the vector E  A  B  C  D? What is the vector F  tion of 30 east of north; the displacement vector B has a
A  B  C  D? What is the magnitude of E? The length of 35 m and a direction 70 west of north. What are the
magnitude of F? magnitude and direction of the cross product A  B? The
29. What is the unit vector parallel to the vector A  2.0i  cross product B  A?
4.0j  4.0k? 45. Calculate the cross product of the vectors A and B described
*30. Two vectors are given by A  2.0i  3.0j  1.0k and B  in Example 1.
1.0i  2.0j  Bzk. The magnitude of the resultant A  B is 46. Calculate the cross product of the vectors 2i  5j  3k and
6.0. What are the two possible values of Bz ? i 2k.
*31. Three vectors are given by A  2.0i  3.0j, B  1.0i  5.0j, *47. Suppose that
and C  1.0i  3.0j. Find constants c1 and c2 such that A  i cos t  j sin t
c1A  c2B  C.
where  is a constant. Find dA/dt (note that i and j behave as
*32. An air traffic controller notices that one aircraft approaching
constants in differentiation). Show that dA/dt is perpendicular
the airport is at an altitude of 2500 m, (horizontal) distance
to A.
120 km, and bearing 20 south of east. A second aircraft is at
altitude 3500 m, distance 110 km, and bearing 25 south of *48. The displacement vector A has a length of 30 m and a direc-
east. What is the displacement vector from the first aircraft tion 20 south of east. The displacement vector B has a length
to the second? Express your answer in terms of altitude, of 40 m and a direction 20 west of north. Find the compo-
(horizontal) distance, and bearing. nent of A along B. Find the component of B along A.
*33. A remarkably fast crossing of the Atlantic by sail was achieved *49. The two vectors A  5.0i  2.0j  3.0k and B  Bx i  3.0j 
in 1916 by the four-masted ship Lancing, which sailed from Bz k have cross product C  A  B  2.0j  Czk. Find the
New York (latitude 4048
north, longitude 7358
west) to values of Bx , Bz , and Cz .
Cape Wrath, Scotland (latitude 5836
north, longitude 51
*50. Two vectors A and B lie in the x–y plane. Show that the
west), in 6 34 days. What was the magnitude of the displace- tangent of the angle  between them is given by
ment vector for this trip?