PHYSICAL QUANTITIES: VECTORS

Being able to predict the path of a thunderstorm is

essential for minimizing the damage it does to lives
and property. If a thunderstorm is moving at 20 km h in
a direction 53° north of east, how far north does the
thunderstorm move in 1 h?
 LEARNING GOALS

• The difference between scalars and vectors, and how to add and
subtract vectors graphically.

• What the components of a vector are, and how to use them in

calculations.

• What unit vectors are, and how to use them with components to
describe vectors.

• Explain the two ways of multiplying vectors vector product and

scalar product
Vectors and Vector Addition
Question: How to add and subtract vectors graphically.
Question: What the components of a vector are and how to use
them in calculations.
 Finding a vector’s magnitude and direction from its
components
We can find the magnitude and direction if we know the components.
By applying the
Pythagorean theorem to we can find the magnitude of vector

A  Ax2  Ay2

Direction

If  is measured from the positive x-axis, and a positive angle is

measured toward the
positive y-axis as in Fig., then
A y
tan  
Ax
 Ay 
1
 tan  
 Ax 
Question: How to use components to calculate the
vector sum (resultant) of two or more vectors.

A
Figure 1.21 shows two vectors Band
R sum
and their vector along with

the x- and y-components of all three

vectors. We can see from the diagram

that Rx  Ax  Bx
R y  Ay  B y
Figure shows this result for the case in
Ax , Ay , Bx , B y
which the components
and are all positive.
We can extend this procedure to find the
sum of any number of vectors.

Rx  Ax  Bx  C x  Dx  E x  .......
R y  Ay  B y  C y  D y  E y  ......

We can introduce a z-axis

perpendicular to the xy-plane; then in
general a vector has components in the
three coordinate directions. Its
magnitude A is

A  Ax2  Ay2  Az2

 Question: How to multiply a vector by a scalar
Multiplying a vector by a
scalar.

Component of D c A
Dx cAx
D y cAy
For example, Eq. (1.9) says that each

2A
component of the vector is twice as
great as the corresponding 2A
A component of the
vector soA is in the same direction as
3 Athe magnitude. Each
but has twice
component of the vector is three times
as great as the corresponding component of
 Question: What are unit vectors and how to
use them with components to describe
vectors.
Unit Vectors

A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude

of 1, with no units. Its only purpose is to point
—that is, to describe a direction in space.

In an x-y coordinate system we can

iˆ vector
define a unit that points

in the direction of the positive x- Ax  Ax iˆ
axis. 
ĵ
a unit vector that points in the Ay  Ay ˆj
direction of the positive y-axis.
 
Ax  Ax iˆ

Ay  Ay ˆj
Similarly, we can write a vector in terms of

its components as
A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj
Using unit vectors, we can express
the vector sum of two vectors and as

A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj

B Bx iˆ  B y ˆj
  
R A  B
( Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj )  ( Bx iˆ  B y ˆj )
( Ax  Bx )iˆ  ( Ay  B y ) ˆj
Rx iˆ  R y ˆj
If the vectors do not all lie in the
xy-plane, then we need a third
component.
We introduce a third unit vector
that points in the direction of the
positive

-axis (Fig. 1.24).ˆ Then
A  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj  AZ k
B Bx iˆ  B y ˆj  Bz kˆ

R ( Ax  Bx )iˆ  ( Ay  B y ) ˆj  ( Az  Bz )kˆ
Rx iˆ  R y ˆj  Rz kˆ
Question: Explain the two ways to multiply
vectors: the scalar (dot) product and the
vector (cross) product.
 Scalar Product
: :
The scalar product of two vectors A and B is denoted by
:
A.B . Because of this notation, the scalar product is also called
:
the
dot product. Although and are vectors, the quantity A.B is a
: :
A product,
scalar. To define the scalar B the two vectors and are
drawn with their tails at the same point (Fig). The angle ϕ between
their directions ranges from 0° to 180°. Figure bellow shows the
projection of the vector

1.25 Calculating the scalar

product of:
A.B  AB cos 
two vectors,
 : :
into the direction of A ; this projection is the component of B in
:
the direction of A and is equal to B cos . . Then
: :
A.B to be the magnitude of A multi- plied by the component of
: :
B A
in the direction of which is expressed as an equation as
:
A.B  A B cos  Definition of cross the scalar
product or dot product.
 Vector product
: :
The vector product of two vectors A and B also called the
:
cross product, is denoted by A B . As the name suggests, the
vector product is itself a vector.
: :
To define the vector product , two vectors A and B with their tails
at the same point (Fig. 1.29a) are drawn. The two vectors then lie in
a plane. The vector product is a vector quantity with a direction
: :
perpendicular to this plane (that is, perpendicular to both A and B
AB sin 
and
Thata is,
magnitude equal to
:
A B  AB sin  Where

 is unit
There are always two directions perpendicular to a given plane, one
:
on each side of the plane. The direction of A B is chosen as
follows.
:
If we imagine to rotate vector A about the perpendicular line
:
until it is aligned with B choosing the smaller of the two possible
: :
angles between A and B . The fingers of our right hand is
curled around the perpendicular line so that the fingertips point in
the direction of rotation; the thumb will then point in the direction
:
of A B . Figure 1.29a shows this right-hand Rule and describes a
second way to think about this rule.
 :
Similarly, the direction of B A can be determined by rotating
: :
B A
:
into as in Fig.A 
1.29b.
B The result is a vector that is
: :
opposite to the vector TheAvector product B is not
: fact, for any two vectors
commutative. In and
A B  B A
 : :
The angle  is measured from A toward B and the smaller of the
two possible angles is taken, so  is in the ranges from 0° to 180°
sin  0 AB sin 180
: :
Then A Band  0It is also
is never negative.
 180
noted  when
that and are parallel or antiparallel, or or
The vector product of two parallel or antiparallel vectors is
always zero.
In particular, the vector product of any vector
with itself is zero.
Similar to the scalar product, a geometrical interpretation for the
magnitude of the vector product can be given as shown in Fig.
1.30a,
:
B sin  is the component of vectorB that is perpendicular to the
: :
direction of vector A . The magnitude of A B equals the
: :
magnitude of A multiplied by the componentB of
: :
A
perpendicular to B
 :
Figure 1.30b shows that the magnitude of A B also equals
:
the magnitude of B multiplied by the component of
: :
A perpendicular to B.
Question: show that the scalar product
can be positive, negative and zero
 : :
we can define A.B to be the magnitude of B
: :
multiplied by the component of A in the direction of B as in
Fig. 1.25c. Hence
:
A.B B  A cos    AB cos 

The scalar product is a scalar quantity, not a vector, and it may be

positive, negative, or zero. When  is between 0° and 90 and
cos   0

then the scalar product is positive.

When  is between 90° and 180 so that cos   0 the
: : :
component of B in the direction of A is negative, and A.B is
:
negative (Fig. 1.26b). Finally, when  90 , A.B  AB cos 90 0
(Fig. 1.26c). The scalar product of two perpendicular vectors is
always zero.
 : :
For any two vectors andA B, AB cos   BA cos 
and
This means that the scalar product obeys the commutative law of
multiplication; the order of the two vectors does not matter.
1.26 The scalar product
can be positive, negative, or zero, :
depending
: on the angle between A
andB
If

If

If
Quick Quiz

1. The magnitudes of two vectors and

are A=12 units and B=8 units.
Which pair of numbers represents the
largest and smallest possible values for
the magnitude of the resultant vector
(a) 14.4 units, 4 units (b) 12 units, 8
units (c) 20 units, 4 units (d) none of
these answers
A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0 km in a
direction 60.0° west of north as shown in Figure. Find the
magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant displacement.

The law of cosines to find R:

A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0 km in a
direction 60.0° west of north as shown in Figure 3.11a. Find the
magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant displacement.

to find the direction of measured from the northerly direction the law of
sines can be used

The resultant displacement of the car is 48.2 km in a direction 38.9° west

Figure illustrates typical proportions of male (m) and
female (f) anatomies.
The displacements and from the soles of the feet to
the navel have magnitudes of 104 cm and 84.0 cm,
respectively.
The displacements and from the navel to
outstretched
fingertips have magnitudes of 100 cm and 86.0 cm,
respectively. Find the vector sum of these
displacements for both people
Question: Express the cross product of and in
terms of their components and the corresponding
unit vectors
The vector product of any
vector
with itself is zero, so
iˆ iˆ  ˆj  ˆj kˆ kˆ 0
Using Eqs. (1.22)
and (1.23) and the right-hand
rule, we find

iˆ  ˆj  ˆj iˆ kˆ
ˆj kˆ  kˆ  ˆj iˆ
kˆ iˆ  iˆ kˆ  ˆj
  
 
A B  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj  Az kˆ  Bx iˆ  B y ˆj  Bz kˆ 
 Ax iˆ Bx iˆ  Ax iˆ B y ˆj  Ax iˆ Bz kˆ
 Ay ˆj Bx iˆ  Ay ˆj B y ˆj  Ay ˆj Bz kˆ
 Az iˆ Bx iˆ  Az iˆ B y ˆj  Az iˆ Bz kˆ
 
A B Ay Bz  Az B y iˆ  Az Bx  Ax Bz ˆj  Ax B y  Ay Bx kˆ

  
Thus the component of C  A B

C x  Ay Bz  Az B y
C y  Az Bx  Ax Bz
C z  Ax B y  Ay Bx
The vector product can also be expressed in
determinant form as

iˆ ˆj kˆ
 
A B  Ax Ay Az
Bx By Bz
 Question: Express the dot product of and in terms
of their components and the corresponding unit
vectors
j , kˆ
sinceiˆ, ˆ all have magnitude 1 and are
perpendicular to each other

iˆ.iˆ  ˆj. ˆj kˆ.kˆ 1

cos 0 1
Because
iˆ. ˆj iˆ.kˆ  ˆj.kˆ 0 cos 90 0

 
A.B  Ax iˆ  Ay ˆj  Az kˆ  Bx iˆ  B y ˆj  Bz kˆ 
 Ax iˆ.Bx iˆ  Ax iˆ.B y ˆj  Ax iˆ.Bz kˆ
 Ay ˆj.Bx iˆ  Ay ˆj.B y ˆj  Ay ˆj.Bz kˆ
 Az kˆ.Bx iˆ  Az kˆ.B y ˆj  Az kˆ.Bz kˆ

A.B  Ax Bx  Ay B y  Az Bz
 Biosciences problems

Dislocated Shoulder: A
patient with a
dislocated shoulder is
put into a traction
apparatus as shown in Fig.
P1.73. The pulls and have
equal magnitudes and
must combine to produce
an outward traction force
of 5.60 N on the patient’s
A sailor in a small sailboat encounters shifting winds.
She
sails 2.00 km east, then 3.50 km southeast, and then
an additional distance in an unknown direction. Her
final position is 5.80 km directly east of the starting
point (Fig. P1.72). Find the magnitude and direction of
the third leg of the journey. Draw the vector addition
diagram and show that it is in qualitative agreement
Three horizontal ropes pull
on a large stone stuck in the
ground, producing the vector
forces and shown in Fig. Find
the magnitude and direction
of a fourth force on the
stone that will make the
vector sum of the four forces
zero.
Question: Three horizontal ropes pull on a large stone stuck in the
ground, producing the vector forces , and and shown in Figure.
Find the magnitude and direction of a fourth force on the stone that
will make the vector sum of the four forces zero.
The angles of the vectors are measured from +x –axis toward +y –
axis and these are A= 300 , B=(900 + 300 )=1200 and C=(180o
+530 )=2330

Now Using these equation we will find the component of these forces
along +x axis and +y Axis.
Force Angle X Component Y Component
(N) (N)

A=100N 30 Ax = Ay =
100cos300 100sin30o

= 86.60 = 50

Bx By
B=80N 120 = =
80cos1200 80sin1200
Cx Cy
= -40 = 69.28
C=40N 233 = =
40cos233o 40sin233o

= -24.07 = -
Rx  Ax  Bx  C x y  Ay  B y  C y
R31.95

Rx = 22.53 N Ry
= 87.34 N
 R  Rx2  R y2 Y
B R
2 2
 (22.53)  (87.34)
90.2 N 0 0
A
30 75.64

Rx
 tan 1 ( ) 300
Ry
 X 530 x
87.34
tan  1 ( )
22.53
0
C
75.64 Y
Fourth Force

The direction of the fourth is 75.640 with – X axis.

Problem: A patient with a dislocated shoulder is put into a
traction apparatus as shown in Figure. The pulls A and B have
equal magnitudes and must combine to produce an outward
traction force of 5.60 N on the patient’s arm. How large should
these pulls be?
  
A R
320
320

B

From this parallelogram we can write the

resultant
R  A  B  2 AB cos 
2 2

 A2  A2  2 AA cos 64 0
 2 A2  2 A2 cos 64 0
 2 A2 (1  cos 64 0 )
 R 2 2 A2 (1  cos 64 0 )
(5.6) 2 2 A2 (1  cos 64 0 )
2 (5.6) 2
2A 
(1  cos 64 0 )
2 (5.6) 2
A 
2(1  cos 64 0 )
31.36
A
2(1  .44)
A  10.89
A 3.3

As A=B, So the pulls are 3.3 N

Vector has magnitude 6 units and is in the direction of
the +X-axis. Vector has magnitude 4 units and lies in
the xy-plane, making an angle of 30° with the +X-
axis. Find the vector product

 
AB sin  6 4  sin 30 12

By the right-hand rule, the direction of is along the +z

axis. (the direction of the unit vector
Ax 6 Ay 0 Az 0

Bx 4 cos 30 2 3 By 4 sin 30 2 Bz 0

C x 0 0  0 2  0

 
C y 0  2 3  6 0  0
 
C z 6 2  0  2 3 12

 C 12kˆ

C x  Ay Bz  Az B y

Note: C y  Az Bx  Ax Bz
C z  Ax B y  Ay Bx
 Find the angle between and

𝐴= √ 2 2+ 22 + ( − 1 ) =3
2

𝐵 =√ 62 + ( − 3 ) + ( 2 ) =7
2 2

⃗
𝐴.⃗
𝐵=( 2 ) ( 6 ) + ( 2 )( − 3 ) + ( −1 )( 2 ) =4
⃗
𝐴. ⃗
𝐵 4
⃗ ⃗
𝐴 . 𝐵= 𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 ⟹ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃= = =0.1905 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜃=79°
𝐴𝐵 21
Determine the value of a so that and are
perpendicular

and are perpendicular if

Then
What is the angle between the vector
and
 
   A 3.60m
C  A B 
B 2.4m

Ax 3.6 cos 70 1.23 Ay 3.6 sin 70 3.38 Az 0

Bx 2.4 cos 210  2.07 By 2.4 sin 210  1.2 Bz 0
 
C x 3.380  0  1.2  0
C  A B
C y 0  2.07  1.230  0 C x  Ay Bz  Az B y
C z 1.23 1.2  3.38 2.07  5.524 C y  Az Bx  Ax Bz

 C 5.524kˆ
C z  Ax B y  Ay Bx
Determine a unit vector perpendicular to the plane and

Let vector be perpendicular to the plane of and Then is

perpendicular to and also to . Hence

⃗ =𝑐 𝑖+𝑐
𝐶 ^ ^ ^
2 𝑗 +𝑐 3 𝑘

( )
1
1^ 1^ ^
𝑐3 𝑖 − 𝑗 +𝑘
⃗
or 𝐶
=
2 3
=± ( 3^ 2^ 6
𝑖− 𝑗+

√
𝐶
[( ) ( ) ]
2 2 7 7 7
2 1 1 2
or 𝑐3 + − +( 1 )
2 3

Solving (i) and (ii) we get

Determine a unit vector perpendicular to the plane
and

Let vector be perpendicular to the plane of and

Then is perpendicular to and also to .
Hence or and
or

Solving (i) and (ii) we get

Then a unit vector in the direction of is

Determine a unit vector
perpendicular to the plane