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Chapter 3
Problem 3.24. Given the vectors A = 2.00i + 6.00j and B = 3.00i 2.00j, (a) draw the vector sum C = A + B and the
vector difference D = A B. (b) Calculate C and D, in terms of unit vectors. (c) Calculate C and D in terms of polar
coordinates, with angles measured with respect to the positive x axis.
(a)
D
B
A
B
A
C
(b)
(c)
q p
rC = C2x + C2y = 5.002 + 4.002 = 6.40 (5)
Cy 4.00
C = arctan = arctan = 38.7 (6)
Cx 5.00
q p
rD = D2x + D2y = (1.00)2 + 8.002 = 8.06 (7)
Dy 8.00
D = arctan = arctan = 97.1 (8)
Dx 1.00
Be careful with any arctan() evaluations. The standard arctan() has a range of 90 (or /2 in radians), which means that
vectors with negative x values will need some manual correction. For example, arctan(8/(1)) = 82.9 , but that points
down and to the right, not up and to the left like D. You can correct for such back side angles by adding 180 , which gives
82.9 + 180 = 97.1 , the correct angle for D.
(1, 8)
97.1
180.0
x
82.9
(1, 8)
The reason for the ambiguity is that 82.9 corresponds to arctan(8/1) which does point down and to the right. There is
no way for the arctan() function to give different value for 8/(1) than it does for 8/1, so you have to make the adjustment
by hand. If your calculator has an atan2() function, its a good idea to use that instead, as it handles any back side
corrections automatically.
Problem 3.28. In a game of American football, a quarterback takes the ball from the line of scrimmage, runs backward a
distance of 10.0 yards, and then runs sideways parallel to the line of scrimmage for 15.0 yards. At this point, he throws a
forward pass downfield 50.0 yards perpendicular to the line of scrimmage. What is the magnitude of the footballs resultant
displacement?
pass
scramble
lt
resu
drop
Problem 3.29. The helicopter view in Fig. P3.29 shows two people pulling on a stubborn mule. The person on the right
pulls with a force F1 of magnitude 120 N and direction 1 = 60.0 . The person on the left pulls with a force F2 of magnitude
80.0 N and direction of 2 = 75.0 . Find (a) the single force that is equivalent to the two forces shown and (b) the force that
a third person would have to exert on the mule to make the resultant force equal to zero. The forces are measured in units of
newtons (symbolized N).
y F1
F2
2 1
x
(a)
Ftot = F1 + F2 = |F1 |(cos(1 )i + sin(1 )j) + |F2 |( cos(2 )i + sin(2 )j) (11)
= [|F1 | cos(1 ) |F2 | cos(2 )]i + [|F1 | sin(1 ) + |F2 | sin(2 )]j (12)
= {[120 cos(60.0 ) 80.0 cos(75.0 )]i + [120 sin(60.0 ) + 80.0 sin(75.0 )]j} N (13)
= (39.3i + 181j) N (14)
Problem 3.36. Three displacement vectors of a croquet ball are shown in Figure P3.36, where |A| = 20.0 units, |B| =
40.0 units, and |C| = 30.0 units. Find (a) the resultant in unit-vector notation and (b) the magnitude and direction of the
resultant displacement.
y B
A
(a)
y B
C
A r
r=A+B+C (20)
= {20.0j + 40.0[cos(45 )i + sin(45 )j] + 30.0[cos(45 )i + sin(45 )j]} units (21)
= (49.5i + 27.1j) units (22)
(b)
q p
|r| = r2x + r2y = 49.52 + 27.12 units = 56.4 units (23)
27.1
r = arctan = 28.7 (24)
49.5
Problem 3.43. You are standing on the ground at the origin of a coordinate system. An airplane flies over you with constant
velocity parallel to the x axis at a fixed height of 7.60 103 m. At time t = 0, the airplane is directly above you so that the
vector leading from you to it is P0 = 7.60 103j m. At t = 30.0 s, the position vector leading from you to the airplane is
P30 = (8.04 103i + 7.60 103j) m as suggested in Figure P3.43. Determine the magnitude and orientation of the airplanes
position vector at t = 45.0 s.
R30
R0
The airplane is flying at a constant velocity, so well compute that velocity first,
Problem 3.63. A rectangular parallelpiped has dimensions a, b, and c as shown in Figure 3.63. (a) Obtain a vector
and R2 make
expression for the face diagonal vector R1 . (b) What is the magnitude of this vector? (c) Notice that R1 , ck,
a right triangle. Obtain a vector expression for the body diagonal vector R2 .
(a)
R1 = ai + bj (31)
(b) q p
|R1 | = R21,x + R21,y = a2 + b2 (32)
(c)
= ai + bj + ck
R2 = R1 + ck (33)