Vectors: IB Physics Power Points Topic 2

IB Physics Power Points
Topic 2
Kinematics
www.pedagogics.ca
LECTURE 1
VECTORS
Sections of Lecture 1
• What is a vector?
• Describing vectors
• Multiplication and Division of vectors
• Addition and Subtraction of Vectors
• Vectors in same or opposite directions
• Vectors at right angles
• All other vectors
What is a vector?
Vectors are quantities that have magnitude (size)

AND direction.
For example:
35 m is a scalar quantity.
35 m [East] is a vector quantity.
Quantities like temperature, time, mass and

distance are examples of scalar quantities.
Quantities like force, velocity, and displacement
are examples of vector quantities.
Describing Vectors
Consider a gravitational force of 65 N [down]
magnitude unit direction
Vectors are graphically represented by arrows:
Length = magnitude
Drawn to scale
When describing vectors, it is convenient to
use a standard (x,y) reference frame.
+ y direction
North
up
- x direction +x direction
West East
left right
- y direction
South
down
In physics, convention dictates vector direction
(angle) is measured from the x axis of the frame of
reference.
+ y direction
North
up
S
- x direction 30o +x direction

West
East
left
right
[right, 30o above horizontal]

[30o N of E] - y direction
[E, 30o upwards] South
down
In math it is common to describe direction differently:
For example:
To a physicist, the direction of

this vector is [60o S of W]
OR . . . measure the angle of

direction in a counter clockwise
direction from East. The same
vector direction is now described as
[240o] This method has advantages.
Multiplication and Division with Vectors
Any vector can be multiplied or divided by a
scalar (regular) number.
The multiplication or division will change the
magnitude of the vector quantity but not the
direction.
For example:
F 2F
Addition and Subtraction of Vectors
Part 1: Parallel vectors
Example 1: Blog walks 35 m [E], rests for 20 s and

then walks 25 m [E]. What is Blog’s overall
displacement? (what is displacement??)
Solve graphically s1 s2
by drawing a scale
diagram.

1 cm = 10 m
Place vectors head to
tail and measure
s  60 m [E]
resultant vector.
Solve algebraically by adding the two magnitudes.
WE CAN ONLY DO THIS BECAUSE THE VECTORS ARE
IN THE SAME DIRECTION.
SO 35 m [E] + 25 m [E] = 60 m [E]
Example 2: Blog walks 35 m [E], rests for 20 s and

then walks 25 m [W]. What is Blog’s overall
displacement?
x1 x2
Solve Graphically 
x1  x2 resultant
x  10 m [E]
Algebraic solution, we can still add the two
magnitudes. WE CAN ONLY DO THIS BECAUSE THE
VECTORS ARE PARALLEL!
WE MUST MAKE ONE VECTOR NEGATIVE TO
INDICATE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
SO 35 m [E] + 25 m [W]
= 35 m [E] + – 25 m [E]
= 10 m [E]
Note that 25 m [W] is the same as – 25 m [E]

Part 2: Perpendicular Vectors
Example 3: Blog walks 30 m [N], rests for 20 s and
then walks 40 m [E]. What is Blog’s overall
displacement?
Solve Graphically
x1  x2
x1 x2

length  50 m
  37o
x  50 m [37o N of E]
Part 2: Perpendicular Vectors
Algebraic solution: use trigonometry.
Diagram does not need

x1 x2
to be to scale.

x  302  402  50 m 
y
1 1  30  o
  tan  tan    37
x  40 
x  50 m [37o N of E]
Part 3 - Adding multiple vectors (method of components)
Consider the following 3 displacement vectors:

A student walks
3 m [45o N of E]
6 m [N]
5 m [30o N of W]
Vectors are illustrated here to scale.

To determine the resultant displacement, add the
individual vectors graphically by drawing them head to
tail.
Show scale diagram solution here
The resultant displacement is 11 m [102o] OR 11 m [78o N of W]

It is not possible to add
the vectors shown in the
diagram by the algebra
methods discussed
previously. The vectors
+ x direction are neither parallel or
West perpendicular.
left
Method of Components
To add vectors that are not in the same or perpendicular
directions – use method of components.
All vectors can be described in terms of two components
called the x component and the y component.
This is a
displacement
vector of
magnitude 36 m
The vector has

been placed on an
x,y coordinate axis
with the tail at the
origin (0,0)
The x component of this vector is shown by the green line.
The y component of this vector is shown by the pink line.
x
You may have noticed that the original vector is just the sum
of the two vector components
y
+
x
There is NO
difference in 36 m [34o N of E]
displacement
between walking
36 m [34o N of E]
and walking x m
[E] followed by y m
[N]
Now consider this vector
36 m [34o N of E]
Graphically added
Resultant
to a second vector
18 m [45o S of E]
We can’t use algebra to add
these vectors directly BUT
we could use algebra to add
their components.
18 m [45o S of E]
36 m [34o N of E]
y1 y2
x2
x1
y2
y1
To get the same resultant
x1 x2
Now you need
It really is
toelementary!
meet my old
Conclusion: Adding the vectors Greek friend
graphically using their components
produces the same result.
BONUS: Components can be added using

math methods because all x components
are in the same plane as are all y
components. Furthermore, x and y
components are perpendicular and can be
added to each other using Pythagorean
theorem.
Meet Hipparchus,
considered to be the father
of trigonometry.
He is here to remind you of
our fictitious Mayan hero
Chief Soh Cah Toa
opposite

adjacent
Determining Components
y
sin    
S
y S
x
 cos    
S
x
The x component = S (cos )
The y component = S (sin )
Where S is the magnitude of the original vector and

 is the angle between the original vector and the x axis
Examples:
Resolve the following vectors into x and y components
Vector X Y
15.2 m [27o N of E] 13.5 m 6.90 m
12.7 ms-1 [56o] 7.1 ms-1 10.5 ms-1
45.0 N [48o N of W] -30.1 N 33.4 N

725 m [205o] -657 m -306 m
Solving vector problems
Example: Blog starts his walk at the old oak tree.
He walks 55 m [42o S of E] to Point A. He then
walks 75 m [185o] to Point B. He then walks a final
62 m [78o N of W] to Point C. What is Blog’s overall
displacement?
Step 1 (always) C
Sketch a diagram
(does not have to be to
scale but it helps) A
B
Step 2: Resolve vectors into x and y components
and add them.
Vector X Y
55 m [42o S of E] 40.9 -36.8
75 m [185o] -74.7 -6.54
62 m [78o N of W] -12.9 60.6
s x  Ax  Bx  C x
s x  55 cos(42)  75 cos(185)  62 cos(78)
s x  40.9  74.7  12.9
s x  46.7
Step 2: Resolve vectors into x and y components
and add them.
Vector X Y
55 m [42o S of E] 40.9 -36.8
75 m [185o] -74.7 -6.54
62 m [78o N of W] -12.9 60.6
s y  Ay  By  Cy
s y  55 sin(42)  75 sin(185)  62 sin(78)
s y  36.8  6.54  60.6
s y  17.3
Step 3: Use sum of components to determine
resultant.
Sx = -46.7 m OR 46.7 m [W]
Sy = 17.3 m or 17.3 m [N]
Use trig to find length and
direction of resultant.
Sy = 17.3 m
49.8 m [20.3o N of W]
Sx = - 46.7 m

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IB Physics Power Points

Vectors are quantities that have magnitude (size)

Quantities like temperature, time, mass and

magnitude unit direction

Vectors are graphically represented by arrows:

- x direction 30o +x direction

[right, 30o above horizontal]

To a physicist, the direction of

OR . . . measure the angle of

Example 1: Blog walks 35 m [E], rests for 20 s and

Example 2: Blog walks 35 m [E], rests for 20 s and

Note that 25 m [W] is the same as – 25 m [E]

Diagram does not need

Consider the following 3 displacement vectors:

Vectors are illustrated here to scale.

The resultant displacement is 11 m [102o] OR 11 m [78o N of W]

The vector has

The y component of this vector is shown by the pink line.

BONUS: Components can be added using

The x component = S (cos )

The y component = S (sin )

Where S is the magnitude of the original vector and

15.2 m [27o N of E] 13.5 m 6.90 m

12.7 ms-1 [56o] 7.1 ms-1 10.5 ms-1

45.0 N [48o N of W] -30.1 N 33.4 N

55 m [42o S of E] 40.9 -36.8

75 m [185o] -74.7 -6.54

62 m [78o N of W] -12.9 60.6

55 m [42o S of E] 40.9 -36.8

75 m [185o] -74.7 -6.54

62 m [78o N of W] -12.9 60.6

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