NOTES

P H Y S I C S

MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
RESOLUTION OF VECTORS

What you already know What you will learn

• Scalars and Vectors • Unit Vectors

• Representation of vectors • Resolution of a Vector
• Properties of Vectors • Vector addition using parallelogram law
• Types of Vectors • Vector addition using component form
• Three laws of vector addition • Vector Subtraction

BOARDS
Unit vector y

• A vector with a magnitude equal to 1 and A

A=
having a direction same as the original vector |A| j
is known as a unit vector. Magnitude i
• It represents the direction of the vector. x
A = |A|A k
• i, j, and k are the unit vectors along the
coordinate axes x, y, and z respectively. Vector Direction z

Comment on magnitude and direction of the following vectors.

i. r1 = 2i + 2j ii. r2 = 2i - 2√3 j

Solution

PB Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Recollect the related formulae Apply the formulae for the Apply the formulae for the
given vectors given vectors
|R| = √Rx2 + Ry2
|r1| = √22 + 22 = √8 Ry 2
Ry tan θ1 = = =1
Rx 2
tan θ = |r2| = √22 + (-2√3)2 = 4
Rx
⇒ θ1 = 45°
Ry -2√3
tan θ2 = = = -√3
Rx 2
⇒ θ2 = -60°

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 02

The unit vector along A = 2i + 3j is

Solution

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Recollect the related formula Apply the formula Express the required solution
A |A| = √a21 + a22 A 2i + 3j 2i 3j
A= A = |A| = = +
|A| √13 √13 √13
= √a21 + a22

The unit vector along A = 5i + j - 2k is

Solution

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Recollect the related formula Apply the formula Express the required solution
A 5i + j - 2k
A= A |A| = √a21 + a22 + a32 A= =
|A| |A| √30
= √52 + 12 + (-2)2 5i j 2k
= + -
= √30 √30 √30 √30

Resolution of a vector
MAIN

• A vector in a 2-D space can be expressed as the sum of its components along the x and y axes.
This is known as resolution of a vector.

Using simple trigonometry,

R cos θ P
we get,
PB N
OM
cos θ = ⇒ OM = R cos θ
R
R sin θ R R sin θ
PM
sin θ = ⇒ PM = R sin θ
R
θ x
O R cos θ M

RY
|R| = √R + R
2 2 tan θ =
x y
Rx

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 03

y
How do we write vector in terms of
rectangular components

N P R = Rx + Ry
R = Rxi + Ry j

R Ry R = R cos θi + R sin θj
Composed Resolved form
θ form
O Rx M

• For a vector along 3 dimensions, R = √Rx2 + Ry2 + Rz2

The resultant of vectors OA and OB is perpendicular as shown in the figure. find the angle AOB
Y
B
R
Step 1 Step 2
6 Resolve the vectors. Equate the forces along
θ
π-θ the axes
X
O 4 A Bx = B cos (π - θ) = -6cos θ
Bx = A ⇒ -6cos θ = 4
By = B sin (π - θ) = 6 sin θ 2
⇒ Cos θ = -
3

ADVANCED Vector Addition – Parallelogram Law

• Parallelogram law is used to add two vectors which have the same point of origin but have
different directions
• According to this law, if P and Q are two vectors and θ is the angle between them, then

D
PB C
|R| = R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQcosθ
Q R
Q sinθ
tan α =
P + Q cosθ
θ
α
|P - Q| ≤ R ≤ |P + Q| A B
P

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 04

θ = 60°

10 N
Find magnitude of the resultant force.

10 N
θ = 60°

Step 2 Step 4
BOARDS Apply the formula
List the forces
P =10 N, Q = 10 N R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos θ
Solution Angle between them
θ = 60° R = √102 + 102 + 2 × 10 × 10 cos 60
60°
Step 1 Step 3 R = √100 + 100 + 100
Rearrange 60° Recollect the relevant formula
the forces R = √300
60° R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos θ = 10√3 N

The angle between two vectors is the smaller angle between them when they are
placed tail to tail.

Two forces of equal magnitude 5 units have an angle 60° between them. Find
magnitude and direction of the resultant force.

Solution
Step 2
Step 1 List the forces
Step 4
Visualise the forces P = 5 N, Q = 5 N
Apply the formula
Angle between them
θ = 60° |R| = √52 + 52 + 2 × 5 × 5 cos 60°

Step 3 |R| = 5√3

PB 5 5 sin 60°
Recollect the relevant formula α = tan-1
5 + 5 cos 60°
R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos θ
60° α = 30°
Q sinθ
5 tan α =
P + Q cosθ

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 05

A river is flowing at 5 m/s. A man swims with velocity 2 m/s at an angle 37° to
direction of flow. Find the resultant velocity of the man.

Solution

Step 2
Step 1 List the velocities
Step 4
Visualise the velocities P = 5 m/s, Q = 2 m/s
Apply the formula
Angle between them
θ = 37° R = √52 + 22 + 2 × 10 × cos 37°
2 m/s Step 3 R = √45
R Recollect the relevant formula 2
α = tan-1
Q 37° 11
R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos θ
α° Q sinθ
P 5 m/s tan α =
P + Q cosθ

If the magnitude of the resultant of two vectors of equal magnitudes is equal to the
magnitude of either vectors, then find the angle between those two vectors?

Solution

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Visualise the situation. Recollect the relevant formula Apply the formula
Let A and B be the
R = √P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos θ x = √x2 + x2 + 2x2 cos θ
given two vectors
1
Cos θ = -
|A| = |B| = |R| = x(say) 2
θ = 120°

MAIN
Vector addition – Component form

PB Let, i j k

A = Axi + Ay j + Azk, A Ax Ay Az
B = Bxi + By j + Bzk,
and C = Cxi + Cy j + Czk B Bx By Bz

be three vectors.
C Cx Cy Cz

Then the vector A + B + C can be written as

(Ax + Bx + Cx)i + (Ay + By + Cy) j + (Az + Bz + Cz)k

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 06

Find the vector A + 2B + C, where A = 2i - j + k, B = 3i + 4j - 2k and C = i - j - k, also

find it’s magnitude

Step 1 Step 2
List all the required vectors Group the similar components of the
A = 2i - j + k vectors together
2B = 6i + 8j -4k
A + 2B + C = (2 + 6 + 1)i + (-1 + 8 - 1)j + (1 - 4 - 1)k
C=i-j-k
Step 3 Step 4
Perform the addition Calculate magnitude
A + 2B + C = 9i + 6j - 4k
|A + 2B + C| = √92 + 62 + (- 4)2 = √133

Three given forces are acting at a point

F₁ = 10N; 53o east of north
F₂ = 20√2N; 45o south to west
F₃ = 15N; 37o east to south
Find the resultant vector in composed form.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Visualise the given vectors: Resolve the given vectors Add the respective
compounds of the
F1 F1 = 10sin53o i + 10cos53oj vectors.
= 8i + 6j
F1 = 8i + 6j
53o F2 = -20 i - 20j
F2 = -20√2cos45o i - 20√2sin45oj
F3 = 9 i - 12j
= -20 i - 20j
45o F = - 3 i -26j

37 o F3 = 15sin37o i - 15cos37oj
= 9 i - 12j

F2 F3

PB
F1

F = -3i -26j 53o

|F| = √(-3)2 + (-26)2
Step 4
Recompose the vector. |F| = √685 45o α
-26 = tan-1 --------
α = tan-1 -------- 26
-3 3 37 o

F2 F F3

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 07

Find the resultant of two vectors F₁ and F₂ shown in the figure below

F2 5 Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

F1
4√2 List the force Resolve the forces Add the respective
|F1| = 4√2 and |F2| = 5 F1x = 4 and F1Y = 4 components of the
37 o forces.
F1 = 4i + 4j
F1 + F2
F2x = -3 and F2Y = 4
o
45
= (4 - 3)i + (4 + 4)j
F2 = -3i + 4j
= i +8j

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