Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 1

Physics 111: Lecture 2

Todays Agenda

Review of Vectors

Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 2
Vectors (review):
In 1 dimension, we could specify direction with a + or - sign.
For example, in the previous problem a
y
= -g etc.

In 2 or 3 dimensions, we need more than a sign to specify the
direction of something:

To illustrate this, consider the position vector r in 2 dimensions.

Example: Where is Chicago?
Choose origin at Urbana
Choose coordinates of
distance (miles), and
direction (N,S,E,W)
In this case r is a vector that
points 120 miles north.
Chicago
Urbana
r
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 3
Vectors...
There are two common ways of indicating that something is
a vector quantity:

Boldface notation: A



Arrow notation:
A =

A
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 4
Vectors...
The components of r are its (x,y,z) coordinates
r = (r
x
,r
y
,r
z
) = (x,y,z)

Consider this in 2-D (since its easier to draw):
r
x
= x = r cos
r
y
= y = r sin
y
x
(x,y)

where r = |r |
r
arctan( y / x )
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 5
Vectors...
The magnitude (length) of r is found using the Pythagorean
theorem:
r r x y
2 2
r
y
x
The length of a vector clearly does not depend on its direction.
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 6
Unit Vectors:
A Unit Vector is a vector having length 1
and no units
It is used to specify a direction
Unit vector u points in the direction of U
Often denoted with a hat: u =



Useful examples are the Cartesian
unit vectors [ i, j, k ]
point in the direction of the
x, y and z axes
U
x
y
z
i
j
k

Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 7
Vector addition:
Consider the vectors A and B. Find A + B.
A
B
A
B
A
B
C = A + B
We can arrange the vectors as we want, as long as we
maintain their length and direction!!
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 8
Vector addition using components:
Consider C = A + B.

(a) C = (A
x
i + A
y
j) + (B
x
i + B
y
j) = (A
x
+ B
x
)i + (A
y
+ B
y
)j
(b) C = (C
x
i + C
y
j)

Comparing components of (a) and (b):

C
x
= A
x
+ B
x

C
y
= A
y
+ B
y
C
B
x
A
B
y
B
A
x
A
y
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 9
Lecture 2, Act 2
Vectors
Vector A = {0,2,1}
Vector B = {3,0,2}
Vector C = {1,-4,2}


What is the resultant vector, D, from
adding A+B+C?
(a) {3,5,-1} (b) {4,-2,5} (c) {5,-2,4}
Physics 111: Lecture 2, Pg 10
Lecture 2, Act 2
Solution

D = (A
X
i + A
Y
j + A
Z
k) + (B
X
i + B
Y
j + B
Z
k) + (C
X
i + C
Y
j + C
Z
k)

= (A
X
+ B
X
+ C
X
)i + (A
Y
+ B
Y
+ C
Y
)j + (A
Z
+ B
Z
+ C
Z
)k

= (0 + 3 + 1)i + (2 + 0 - 4)j + (1 + 2 + 2)k

= {4,-2,5}