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6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

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12 views

6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

Uploaded by

hanasimegn4
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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6.1,6.

2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

6.1 Introduction to Vectors

Scalar vs. Vector


a quantity that has a quantity that has both
only magnitude magnitude AND direction
mass velocity
area friction
speed weight
age torque
temperature
Characteristics of Vectors:
1. A vector can be represented by a directed line segment:

"A" is the tail of the vector. (starting point) B


"B" is the head of the vector. (ending point) v
It is called AB, or "vector AB".
The magnitiude is denoted by lABl.
A
Vectors are also named using lower case letters. (u,v,w are common)
In this case v = AB

Eg. IF v represented the velocity of an airplane, the


direction of the arrow would represent the direction
of the plane and the length would represent its speed.

2. Equal Vectors
Two vectors are equal if they are parallel to each other and have
the same direction AND if the magnitudes are equal.

D
B

C
AB = CD
A

3. Opposite Vectors
Two vectors are opposite if they have the same magnitude but point in opposite directions.

F F FE and EF are opposites.

FE = - EF
E E
FE = EF
6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

6.2 Vector Addition

The Parallelogram Law for Adding Two Vectors


place the vectors tail to tail
complete the parallelogram formed by the two vectors

the sum or resultant is the diagonal of the parallelogram


(also a vector) whose tail meets the other tails

b
a a+

Ex. 1 Given vectors, u and v such that the angle between


them is 52 o , lul = 6 and lvl = 9, determine l u + v l. Include a diagram.

.
6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

The Triangle Law of Addition

translate one of the vectors so that the vectors are head to tail

the sum or resultant is the vector that goes from the tail of
the first to the head of the second vector

b
b
a+ b
a a+
a OR

b
Note:
determining the vector a - b is equivalent to finding a + (- b )

Ex. 2 Given vectors, w and x such that the angle between them is 39 o ,
lwl = 10 and lxl = 14, determine l w + x l. Include a diagram.

The Zero Vector


When two opposite vectors are added, the resultant is the zero vector.
The zero vector has a magnitude of 0, ie and no defined direction.
6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

Ex3 Given the vectors shown, construct one vector equivalent to x - y + z

x
z

Ex4 Express each of the following in terms of x, y and z, where


x = AB, y= AC and z = AD.

D E a) BH b) EC
F G
z

A y C
x c) DB d) HA
B H

e) BE

.
6.1,6.2 Intro to Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction Completed Note

Ex5 A plane is travelling due West at 450 km/h.


The velocity of the plane is affected by the direction and speed of the wind.
Determine the resultant ground velocity for each case.

a) The wind is from the west at 30 km/h.

b) The wind is from the south at 65 km/h.

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