Vectors and Two Dimensional Motion

Lesson 1 : Some Properties of Vectors

Adding Vectors

A

BR = A + B

Resultant (R) is drawn from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last

vector

Commutative Law of Addition

When two vectors are added, the sum is independent of the order of the addition.

A + B = B + A

A

B

RB

A

Example 1

A car travels 20.0 km due north and then 35.0 km in a direction 60.0o west of north. Find the magnitude and direction of the

car’s resultant displacement.

20.0 km

35.0 km

R

Negative of a Vector

The vector that when added to A gives zero for the vector sum.

A + (-A) = 0

A

-A

A and –A have the same magnitude but point in opposite directions

Subtracting Vectors

We define the operation A – B as vector –B added to vector A.

A – B = A + (-B)

AB

-B

C = A - B

Multiplying a Vector by a Scalar

When vector A is multiplied by a positive scalar quantity m, then the product mA is a

vector with the same direction of A and magnitude mA.

When vector A is multiplied by a negative scalar quantity -m, then the product -mA is

a vector directed opposite A and magnitude mA.

Lesson 2 : Components of a Vector and Unit Vectors

A

Ax

Ay

A = Ax + Ay

q

Ax = A cosq

Ay = A sinq

Signs of the Components Ax and Ay

Ax positive

Ay positive

Ax positive

Ay negative

Ax negative

Ay positive

Ax negative

Ay negative

Unit Vectors

A unit vector is a dimensionless vector having a magnitude of exactly 1.

Units vectors specify a given direction in space.

i

i (x direction)j

j (y direction)

kk (z direction)

Ax i = Axi x^ ^

Ay j = Ay j x^ ^

A = Ax i + Ay j^ ^

y

x

(x,y)

r

Position Vector (r)

r = x i + y j^ ^

Vector Addition Using Unit Vectors

R = A + B = (Ax i + Ay j ) + ( Bx i + By j )^ ^ ^ ^

R = (Ax + Bx ) i + ( Ay + By ) j^ ^

Rx = Ax + Bx

Ry = Ay + By

Given : A = Ax i + Ay j^ ^

B = Bx i + By j^ ^

AB

Since R = Rx2 + Ry

2

R = (Ax + Bx)2 + (Ay + By)2

(magnitude)

tan q = Ry

Rx

tan q = Ay + By

Ax + Bx

(direction)

Example 1

Find the magnitude and direction of the position vector below.

r = 10 i – 6 j^ ^x

y

Example 2

b) find the magnitude and direction of the resultant.

Given the vectors

A = -7 i + 4 j

B = 5 i + 9 j

^ ^

^ ^

a) find an expression for the resultant A + B in terms of unit vectors.

Example 3

A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0 km southeast from her car. She stops and sets up her tent for the night. On the second day, she

walks 40.0 km in a direction 60.0o north of east.

a) Determine the components of the hiker’s displacement for each day.

b) Determine the components of the hiker’s resultant displacement (R) for the trip.

c) Find an expression for R in terms of unit vectors.

Lesson 3 : Vector Multiplication

Vector x Vector

Dot Product(scalar product)

Cross Product(vector product)

X

Dot Product

A

Bq

To what extent are these two vectors in the same direction ?

Answer : Dot Product

A

Bq

A cosq

When vectors are parallel, dot product is a maximum.

When vectors are perpendicular, dot product is a minimum.

A . B = AB cosq

A . B = (AxBx + AyBy)

A . A = (Ax2 + Ay

2) = A2

Example 1

Find the angle between the two vectors

A = -7 i + 4 j

B = -2 i + 9 j

^ ^

^ ^

Example 2

Two vectors r and s lie in the x-y plane. Their magnitudes are 4.50 and 7.30,

respectively, and their directions are 320o and 85.0o, respectively, as measured

counterclockwise from the +x axis. What

is the value of r . s ?

Example 3

Find the component of A = 5 i + 6 j

that lies along the vector B = 4 i – 8 j.^ ^

^ ^

Cross Product

The vector product a x b produces a third vector c whose magnitude is

C = AB sinq

The cross product is maximum when vectors are perpendicular.

The cross product is minimum (0) when vectors are parallel.

Direction of the Cross Product

The direction of c is perpendicular to the plane that contains a and b.

Right-Hand Rule

1. Place vectors a and b tail-to-tail.

3. Pretend to place your right hand around that line so that your fingers sweep a

into b through the smaller angle between them.

2. Imagine a perpendicular line to their plane where they meet.

4. Your outstretched thumb points in the direction of c.

Order of Cross Product is Important

Commutative law does not apply to a vector product.

A x B = -B x A

In unit-vector notation :

A x B = (Axi + Ayj + Azk) x (Bxi + Byj + Bzk)^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Example 4

Vector A lies in the x-y plane, has a magnitude of 18 units, and points in a

direction 250o from the + x axis. Vector B has a magnitude of 12 units and points

along the +z axis. What is the vector product c = a x b ?

Example 5

If A = 3 i – 4 j and B = -2 i + 3 k, what is c = a x b ?

^ ^ ^ ^

Lesson 4 : Projectile Motion

To describe motion in two dimensions precisely, we use the position vector, r.

r(t1)r(t2)

Dr

Dr = r(t2) – r(t1)

vav =Dr

Dt

v =Dr

Dtlim =

dr

dtDt 0

v =dr

dt=

dx

dt+i

^ dy

dtj^

a =dv

dt=

d2r

dt2

Example 1

An object is described by the position vector

r(t) = (3t3 - 4t) i + (1 – ½ t2) j^ ^

Find its velocity and acceleration for arbitrary times.

Example 2

A rabbit runs across a parking lot. The coordinates of the rabbit’s position as

functions of time t are given by

x = -0.31t2 + 7.2t + 28

y = 0.22t2 – 9.1t + 30

a) Find its velocity v at time t = 15s in unit-vector notation and magnitude-angle notation.b) Find its acceleration a at time t = 15s in unit-vector notation and magnitude- angle notation.

Analyzing Projectile Motion

In projectile motion, the horizontal motion and the vertical motion are independent of

each other. Neither motion affects the other.

vvy

vx

X-Direction Constant Velocity

Y-Direction Constant

Acceleration

Initial x and y Components

v i

vix

viy

vix = vi cosq

viy = vi sinq

q

Horizontal Motion Equations

Vertical Motion Equations

Dx = vix t

vx = vix

vy = viy - gt

Dy = ½ (vy + viy) t

Dy = viy t – ½ gt2

vy2 = viy

2 – 2 gDy

Upward and toward right is +

ay = -g

Proof that Trajectory is a Parabola

Dx = vix t

t = Dxvix

Dy = viy t – ½ gt2

Dy = viy ( ) – ½ g ( )2Dxvix

Dxvix

y = viy

vix( )x + (-

g

2vix

)x2

(equation of a parabola)

Maximum Height of a Projectile

vy = viy - gt

0 = vi sinq - gt (at peak)

t =vi sinq

g(at peak)

Dy = viy t – ½ gt2

( )h = (vi sinq)vi sinq

g

vi sinq

g- ½ g

2

h =vi

2 sin2q

2g

Horizontal Range of a Projectile

Dx = R = vix t

R = vi cosq 2t (twice peak time)

t =vi sinq

g(at peak)

R = vi cosq 2vi sinq

g

sin 2q = 2sinqcos q (trig identity)

R =vi

2 sin 2q

g

Example 3

A ball rolls off a table 1.0 m high with a speed of 4 m/s. How far from the base

of the table does it land ?

Example 4

An arrow is shot from a castle wall 10. m high. It leaves the bow with a speed of 40. m/s

directed 37o above the horizontal.

a) Find the initial velocity components.

b) Find the maximum height of the arrow.

c) Where does the arrow land ?

d) How fast is the arrow moving just before impact ?

Example 5

A stone is thrown from the top of a building upward at an angle of 30o to the horizontal

with an initial speed of 20.0 m/s.

a) If the building is 45.0 m high, how long does it take the stone to reach the ground ?

b) What is the speed of the stone just before it strikes the ground ?

Example 6 A projectile is launched from the top of a cliff above level ground. At launch

the projectile is 35 m above the base of the cliff and has a velocity of 50 m/s at an angle of 37o with the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. Consider the following two cases and use g = 10 m/s2, sin 37o = 0.60, and cos 37o = 0.80.

b) Calculate the horizontal distance R that the projectile travels before it hits the ground.

c) Calculate the speed of the projectile at points A, B, and C.

a) Calculate the total time from launch until the projectile hits the ground at point C.

Case I : The projectile follows the path shown by the curved line in the following diagram.