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Check Your Understanding Verify that vector v ^ obtained in [link] is indeed a unit vector by computing its magnitude. If the convoy in [link] was moving across a desert flatland—that is, if the third component of its velocity was zero—what is the unit vector of its direction of motion? Which geographic direction does it represent?

v ^ = 0.8 i ^ + 0.6 j ^ , 36.87 ° north of east

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Summary

  • Analytical methods of vector algebra allow us to find resultants of sums or differences of vectors without having to draw them. Analytical methods of vector addition are exact, contrary to graphical methods, which are approximate.
  • Analytical methods of vector algebra are used routinely in mechanics, electricity, and magnetism. They are important mathematical tools of physics.

Problems

For vectors B = i ^ 4 j ^ and A = −3 i ^ 2 j ^ , calculate (a) A + B and its magnitude and direction angle, and (b) A B and its magnitude and direction angle.

a. A + B = −4 i ^ 6 j ^ , | A + B | = 7.211 , θ = 213.7 ° ; b. A B = 2 i ^ 2 j ^ , | A B | = 2 2 , θ = −45 °

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A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements given by vectors D 1 = ( 3.0 i ^ 4.0 j ^ 2.0 k ^ ) mm , D 2 = ( 1.0 i ^ 7.0 j ^ + 4.0 k ^ ) mm , and D 3 = ( −7.0 i ^ + 4.0 j ^ + 1.0 k ^ ) mm . (a) Find the resultant displacement vector of the particle. (b) What is the magnitude of the resultant displacement? (c) If all displacements were along one line, how far would the particle travel?

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Given two displacement vectors A = ( 3.00 i ^ 4.00 j ^ + 4.00 k ^ ) m and B = ( 2.00 i ^ + 3.00 j ^ 7.00 k ^ ) m , find the displacements and their magnitudes for (a) C = A + B and (b) D = 2 A B .

a. C = ( 5.0 i ^ 1.0 j ^ 3.0 k ^ ) m , C = 5.92 m ;
b. D = ( 4.0 i ^ 11.0 j ^ + 15.0 k ^ ) m , D = 19.03 m

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A small plane flies 40.0 km in a direction 60 ° north of east and then flies 30.0 km in a direction 15 ° north of east. Use the analytical method to find the total distance the plane covers from the starting point, and the geographic direction of its displacement vector. What is its displacement vector?

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In an attempt to escape a desert island, a castaway builds a raft and sets out to sea. The wind shifts a great deal during the day, and she is blown along the following straight lines: 2.50 km and 45.0 ° north of west, then 4.70 km and 60.0 ° south of east, then 1.30 km and 25.0 ° south of west, then 5.10 km due east, then 1.70 km and 5.00 ° east of north, then 7.20 km and 55.0 ° south of west, and finally 2.80 km and 10.0 ° north of east. Use the analytical method to find the resultant vector of all her displacement vectors. What is its magnitude and direction?

D = ( 3.3 i ^ 6.6 j ^ ) km , i ^ is to the east, 7.34 km, −63.5 °

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Assuming the + x -axis is horizontal to the right for the vectors given in the following figure, use the analytical method to find the following resultants: (a) A + B , (b) C + B , (c) D + F , (d) A B , (e) D F , (f) A + 2 F , (g) C 2 D + 3 F , and (h) A 4 D + 2 F .

The x y coordinate system has positive x to the right and positive y up. Vector A has magnitude 10.0 and points 30 degrees counterclockwise from the positive x direction. Vector B has magnitude 5.0 and points 53 degrees counterclockwise from the positive x direction. Vector C has magnitude 12.0 and points 60 degrees clockwise from the positive x direction. Vector D has magnitude 20.0 and points 37 degrees clockwise from the negative x direction. Vector F has magnitude 20.0 and points 30 degrees counterclockwise from the negative x direction.

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Given the vectors in the preceding figure, find vector R that solves equations (a) D + R = F and (b) C 2 D + 5 R = 3 F . Assume the + x -axis is horizontal to the right.

a. R = −1.35 i ^ 22.04 j ^ , b. R = −17.98 i ^ + 0.89 j ^

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A delivery man starts at the post office, drives 40 km north, then 20 km west, then 60 km northeast, and finally 50 km north to stop for lunch. Use the analytical method to determine the following: (a) Find his net displacement vector. (b) How far is the restaurant from the post office? (c) If he returns directly from the restaurant to the post office, what is his displacement vector on the return trip? (d) What is his compass heading on the return trip? Assume the + x -axis is to the east.

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An adventurous dog strays from home, runs three blocks east, two blocks north, and one block east, one block north, and two blocks west. Assuming that each block is about a 100 yd, use the analytical method to find the dog’s net displacement vector, its magnitude, and its direction. Assume the + x -axis is to the east. How would your answer be affected if each block was about 100 m?

D = ( 200 i ^ + 300 j ^ ) yd , D = 360.5 yd, 56.3 ° north of east; The numerical answers would stay the same but the physical unit would be meters. The physical meaning and distances would be about the same because 1 yd is comparable with 1 m.

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If D = ( 6.00 i ^ 8.00 j ^ ) m , B = ( −8.00 i ^ + 3.00 j ^ ) m , and A = ( 26.0 i ^ + 19.0 j ^ ) m , find the unknown constants a and b such that a D + b B + A = 0 .

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Given the displacement vector D = ( 3 i ^ 4 j ^ ) m, find the displacement vector R so that D + R = −4 D j ^ .

R = −3 i ^ 16 j ^

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Find the unit vector of direction for the following vector quantities: (a) Force F = ( 3.0 i ^ 2.0 j ^ ) N , (b) displacement D = ( −3.0 i ^ 4.0 j ^ ) m , and (c) velocity v = ( −5.00 i ^ + 4.00 j ^ ) m/s .

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At one point in space, the direction of the electric field vector is given in the Cartesian system by the unit vector E ^ = 1 / 5 i ^ 2 / 5 j ^ . If the magnitude of the electric field vector is E = 400.0 V/m, what are the scalar components E x , E y , and E z of the electric field vector E at this point? What is the direction angle θ E of the electric field vector at this point?

E = E E ^ , E x = + 178.9 V / m , E y = −357.8 V / m , E z = 0.0 V / m , θ E = tan −1 ( 2 )

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A barge is pulled by the two tugboats shown in the following figure. One tugboat pulls on the barge with a force of magnitude 4000 units of force at 15 ° above the line AB (see the figure and the other tugboat pulls on the barge with a force of magnitude 5000 units of force at 12 ° below the line AB. Resolve the pulling forces to their scalar components and find the components of the resultant force pulling on the barge. What is the magnitude of the resultant pull? What is its direction relative to the line AB?

The situation in the problem is illustrated as viewed from above. Line A B is vertical on the page, with A at the top and B at the bottom. Two tugboats above the barge are pulling it. The one on the right with 5000 units at an angle of 12 degrees counterclockwise from the line A B and the one on the right with 4000 units at an angle of 15 degrees.

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In the control tower at a regional airport, an air traffic controller monitors two aircraft as their positions change with respect to the control tower. One plane is a cargo carrier Boeing 747 and the other plane is a Douglas DC-3. The Boeing is at an altitude of 2500 m, climbing at 10 ° above the horizontal, and moving 30 ° north of west. The DC-3 is at an altitude of 3000 m, climbing at 5 ° above the horizontal, and cruising directly west. (a) Find the position vectors of the planes relative to the control tower. (b) What is the distance between the planes at the moment the air traffic controller makes a note about their positions?

a. R B = ( 12.278 i ^ + 7.089 j ^ + 2.500 k ^ ) km , R D = ( −0.262 i ^ + 3.000 k ^ ) km ; b. | R B R D | = 14.414 km

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Practice Key Terms 2

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Source:  OpenStax, University physics volume 1. OpenStax CNX. Sep 19, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12031/1.5
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