Vectors Workbook

Introduction to Vectors (Section 9.1)................................................................................2

Addition of Vectors........................................................................................................2
Polygon Method of Adding Vectors...............................................................................2
Parallelogram Method of Adding Vectors.....................................................................3
Scalar Multiple of Vectors.............................................................................................3
Subtraction of Vectors...................................................................................................3
Components of Vectors (Section 9.2)..............................................................................4
Components of a Vector...............................................................................................4
Resolving a Vector Into Components...........................................................................4
Components of Cectors in the First Quadrant..............................................................4
Components of Vectors in Quadrants Other Than the First Quadrant..........................5
Vector Addition by Components (Section 9.3).................................................................6
Answers to Examples.....................................................................................................10
Vectors

Introduction to Vectors (Section 9.1)

Scalars are quantities described by a number that shows only magnitude.

Examples:

Vectors are quantities that are only fully described if both magnitude and direction are
given.

Examples:

Addition of Vectors
Vectors are not added the same way as scalars. We have to consider both their
direction and their magnitude.

⃗
A or A is a vector with magnitude A and direction θ .

Let ⃗
A and ⃗
B represent two vectors directed from O to P and P to Q, respectively.

⃗
R
O Q

⃗
B
⃗
A

The vector sum ⃗ ⃗ is the vector ⃗ , from the initial point O to the terminal point
A+ B R
Q.

Here, the vector ⃗

R is called the resultant. In general, a resultant is a single vector that is
the sum of two or more vectors.

Other representations of vectors are shown in the examples in “Vector Addition by

Components”.

Polygon Method of Adding Vectors

To add two vectors ⃗A and ⃗ B, move ⃗ B so that its tail touches the head of ⃗A . The vector
sum ⃗A+ ⃗ R , which is drawn from the tail of ⃗
B is the resultant vector ⃗ A to the head of ⃗B.

Example 1: Add ⃗
A+ ⃗ ⃗ and ⃗
B +C ⃗ +⃗
A+ C B. Is the answer the same or different?

⃗
B
⃗
A ⃗
C
2
Vectors

Parallelogram Method of Adding Vectors

To add two vectors ⃗ A and ⃗B, move both vectors tail to tail, so that they have a common
initial point. Let the vectors be the sides of a parallelogram. The vector sum ⃗ A+ ⃗B is the
resultant ⃗ R , which corresponds to the diagonal of the parallelogram.

⃗
B
⃗
R

⃗
A

Example 2: Add the given vectors using both methods. What do you notice about the
resultants?

⃗
B ⃗
C

Scalar Multiple of Vectors

C is the same direction as ⃗
If ⃗ C has a magnitude n times that of ⃗
A , and ⃗ A , then

⃗
C =n ⃗
A

Where n ⃗
A is the scalar multiple of vector ⃗
A.

Example 3: Find 3 ⃗
A +2 ⃗
B.

⃗
B
⃗
A

Subtraction of Vectors
B is subtracted from vector ⃗
Vector ⃗ A by reversing the direction of ⃗
B and proceeding with
vector addition.

Example 4: Find 2 ⃗
A−⃗
B

⃗
A ⃗
B
3
Vectors

Components of Vectors (Section 9.2)

Now we’ll learn how to add vectors without using a diagram.

Components of a Vector
Two vectors that when added together have a resultant equal to the original vector are
called components of the original vector.

Resolving a Vector Into Components

x - and y -components: These components are vectors directed along the axes that
when added together equal the given vector.

Place the original vector on the coordinate plane such that the initial point of the vector
is at the origin. The initial points of the component vectors are then at the origin and the
terminal sides lie on the axes.

Finding these component vectors is called resolving the vector into its components.

Procedure:

1. Place vector ⃗
A such that θ is in standard position.

2. Calculate ⃗
A x and ⃗
A y from ⃗
A x = Acosθ and ⃗
A y =Asinθ .

3. Check the components for direction and magnitude.

Components of Cectors in the First Quadrant

Example 5:

a) The tension ⃗A in a cable supporting a picture is 7.25 N. If the cable makes an angle
of 62.0° with the horizontal, find the horizontal and vertical components of the tension.

4
Vectors

b) The tension ⃗T in a cable supporting a picture is 85.0 N. If the cable makes an angle
of 53.5° with the horizontal, find the horizontal and vertical components of the tension.

Components of Vectors in Quadrants Other Than the First Quadrant

Example 6:

a) Resolve a vector 14.4 units long and directed at an angle of 126° into its x - and y -
components.

b) Resolve a vector of 14.4 units long and directed at an angle of 306.0° into its x - and y
-components.

5
Vectors

Vector Addition by Components (Section 9.3)

Now that we know how to find the components of vectors, we can use this to add
vectors.

Procedure
1. Place each vector with its tail at the origin.
2. Resolve each vector into its x - and y -components.
3. Add the magnitudes of the x -components of the given vectors to obtain R x (the
magnitude of the x -component of the resultant).
4. Add the magnitudes of the y -components of the given vectors to obtain R y (the
magnitude of the y -component of the resultant).
R with: R=√ R x + R y
5. Find the magnitude of ⃗ 2 2

6. Find the direction of ⃗

R with: θ=tan
−1
( )
Ry
Rx

Putting it all together for ⃗

A with magnitude A and direction θ :

A=√ A 2x + A2y
A x = Acosθ

A y =Asinθ θ=ta n
−1
( )
Ay
Ax

6
Vectors

Example 7: Find the resultant vectors for the following.

a) Find the resultant of two vectors ⃗

A and ⃗
B where

A=25 ,θ A=16.3 °∧B=13 ,θ B =67.4 °.

Vecto 𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North

r

⃗
A

⃗
B

⃗
R

b) Find the resultant ⃗

R of two vectors ⃗
A and ⃗
B, where A = 8.1 with an angle of 57° from
standard position, and B = 5.4 with an angle of 322° from standard position.

Vecto 𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North

r

⃗
A

⃗
B

⃗
R

7
Vectors

c) Find the resultant vector v R=v 1 +v 2 given:

v 1=18.4 @202.4 ° Vecto 𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North

r
v 2=16.6 @65 °
v1

v2

vR

d) Find the resultant vector v r=v 1−v 2 given:

v 1=1654 @36.37 °

v 2=9807 @253.06 °
Vecto 𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North
r

v1

v2

vR

8
Vectors

e) Find the resultant vector for the following:

y
15.6°

18° 64.5 km
54 km

Vector Magnitude Angle 𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North

f) Find the resultant ⃗

R ,of the sum of the three given vectors ⃗
T ,⃗
U ,⃗
V with T =422 ,
U =405 and V =210.

𝑥 or East 𝑦 or North
y
⃗
V

70° ⃗
T
x

55°

⃗
U

9
Vectors

Answers to Examples ⃗
B
⃗
C
⃗
R
⃗
B
⃗
R ⃗
B
⃗
R ⃗
R
1. ⃗
B and ⃗
C 2. ⃗
B 3.
⃗
C ⃗
R ⃗
B
⃗
C ⃗
A ⃗
A ⃗
A
⃗
A
⃗
A
⃗
A ⃗
A
4.
⃗
R −⃗
B

5. a) A x =3.40, A y =6.40 b) T x =50.56 , T y =68.33

6. a) V x =−8.46, V y =11.64 b) V x =8.46, V y =−11.65

7. a) R=34.7 ,θ=33.3 b) R=9.34 @21.8

c) v R=12.8@ 141.2° . d) v R=11,177.08 @67.99 °

e) v R=56.76 km@ 36.82° f) R=178.78 ,θ=311.248 °

10