Vector Applications

Geometrical problems
Resultant velocity
Resultant force
Relative velocities

Geometrical problems
Example: Prove that the altitudes of a
triangle are concurrent.
Proof:
Let the altitudes from A and B meet at O.
We shall prove that OC is perpendicular to
AB.
Let OA , OB , OC be the vectors a, b, c
respectively.

Then AB AO OB
=ba

Similarly, BC = c b

CA = a c

a-c

c-b

a
A

b-a

Geometrical problems

Since OA is perpendicular to BC

OA BC 0

a(c b) = 0
Similarly, b(a c) = 0
a(c b) + b(a c) = 0
ac ab + ba bc = 0
ac bc = 0
(a b)c = 0 or c(b a) = 0

is perpendicular to OC
BA
That is, CO is an altitude of the triangle.
So the altitudes are concurrent.

c-b

a
A

Thus,

a-c

b-a

Geometrical problems
Example: Prove the cosine rule
c2 = a2 + b2 2abcos C
for ABC
Proof:
A
a=b+c
b
c=ab
C
a
cc = (a b)(a b)
cc = aa + bb 2ab
c2 = a2 + b2 2abcos C

c
B

Resultant vector
A single vector, r, which is equivalent to a few
vectors is the resultant vector.
Problems usually involve

velocities

forces

Resultant velocity
Example 1: A boat is rowed at a velocity of 8
km h-1 due north straight across a river which is
flowing due east at 6 km h-1. Find the
magnitude and direction of the resultant
velocity of the boat. If the breath of the river is
100 m, find how far down the river the boat
will reach the opposite bank.
Example 2: A river is flowing at 3 km h-1 and
its breath is 100 m. If a man can row a boat at 5
km h-1, find the direction in which he must row
in order to go straight across the river, and the
time it takes him to cross.

Resultant velocity
Example 3: A river is flowing due east at a
speed of 3 m s-1. A boy rows a boat at 5 m s-1
right across the river from the south bank when
there is a wind from the north-east at 4 m s-1.
Find the resultant velocity.

Resultant force
Example 1: Find the resultant of two forces of
magnitudes 8 N and 10 N if the angle between
them is (a) 60, (b) 90, (c) 120.
Example 2: A force of 8 N together with a
force of magnitude p have a resultant of 17 N.
Find the value of p if the angle between the two
forces is 60.

Resultant force
Example 3: Find the resultant of forces of
magnitudes 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 newtons, the angle
between consecutive pairs being 30.

3N
2N
30 30
30
1N
30

4N

5N

Relative velocity
Two objects, A and B, are moving with
velocities vA and vB respectively.
The velocity of A relative to B, vAB, is
vAB = vA vB .
Likewise, the velocity of B relative A, vBA, is
vBA = vB vA .
-vA

vA
vB

vA

vAB

-vB

vBA

vB

Relative velocity
Example 1: Two cars, A and B, are moving due
east with speeds of 70 km h-1.
v
The velocity of car B relative to car A
v
vBA = vB vA = 0
A

Example 2: Car A is moving due east with

speed of 70 km h-1 while car B is moving due
east with speed of 90 km h-1.
v
The velocity of car B relative to car A
is 20 km h-1 due east.
v
A

Relative velocity
Example 3: Car A is moving due east at 70 km
h-1 and car B is moving due west at 70 km h-1.
vA

The velocity of A relative B is

140 km h-1 due east.

vA
vAB

- vB

vB

Relative velocity
Example 4: Particle A is moving due east with a velocity
of 1 m s-1 and particle B is moving due north with
velocity 1 m s-1. The particles started to move
simultaneously from a point O. Find the velocity of A
relative to B.

vAB = vA vB
vA
vB
vAB has a magnitude of 2
- vB
vAB
-1
vA
m s south-east.
This means that from the point of view of B, A is
moving towards the south-east.

Relative velocity
The relative distance between
the particle after t s is
2t m

Example 4: (contd)

Motions of A and B

Motions of A as viewed from B

Relative velocity
Example 5: Two particles, A and B, move due east and due north
respectively with speeds of 1 m s-1. Initially the particles are 5 m
west and south of a fixed point O.
vA

Velocity of A relative to B:

vAB = vA vB
vAB has a magnitude of
2 m s-1 to the south-east.
Initially, B is 5 2 m to the southeast of A.
Thus, assuming that B is stationary,
A moves towards B with vAB and
they will collide after 5 seconds.

-vB

vAB

vA

5m

5 2m

O
5m
vB

Relative velocity
Example 6: Initially particle A is 10 m due west and
particle B is 5 m due south of a fixed point O. The particles
started to move simultaneously with A moving due east at 1
m s-1 and B moving due north at 1 m s-1. What is the
shortest distance apart and when does this happen?
The relative velocity
vA

vAB = vA vB
vAB -vB
If B is reduced to rest,
vA
then A moves with a velocity of

O
A
-1

2 m s south-east
vB
B

Relative velocity
The shortest distance between the particles is the
perpendicular distance from B to the relative path.
BN =

AN =

5
2

= 3.535 m

5
10 2
2

vA

10 m
O
5m

vB
B

The motion of A relative to B.

Time for A to reach N

AN
2

= 7.5 s

5m