C H A P T E R 3

Vectors
3-1 VECTORS AND THEIR COMPONENTS
Learning Objectives
After reading this module, you should be able to . . .
3.01 Add vectors by drawing them in head-to-tail arrange- 3.04 Given the components of a vector, draw the vector
ments, applying the commutative and associative laws. and determine its magnitude and orientation.
3.02 Subtract a vector from a second one. 3.05 Convert angle measures between degrees and radians.
3.03 Calculate the components of a vector on a given coordi-
nate system, showing them in a drawing.

Key Ideas
● Scalars, such as temperature, have magnitude only. They ● The (scalar) components ax and ay of any two-dimensional
are specified by a number with a unit (10°C) and obey the vector :
a along the coordinate axes are found by dropping
rules of arithmetic and ordinary algebra. Vectors, such as dis- perpendicular lines from the ends of :
a onto the coordinate
placement, have both magnitude and direction (5 m, north) axes. The components are given by
and obey the rules of vector algebra. ax  a cos u and ay  a sin u,
: :
● Two vectors a and b may be added geometrically by draw-
ing them to a common scale and placing them head to tail. where u is the angle between the positive direction of the x
The vector connecting the tail of the first to the head of the axis and the direction of :a . The algebraic sign of a component
:
second is the vector sum : s . To subtract b from :a , reverse the indicates its direction along the associated axis. Given its
: : :
direction of b to get  b ; then add  b to : a . Vector addition is components, we can find the magnitude and orientation of
commutative and obeys the associative law. the vector :a with
ay
a  2a 2x  a 2y and tan   .
ax

What Is Physics?
Physics deals with a great many quantities that have both size and direction, and it
needs a special mathematical language — the language of vectors — to describe
those quantities. This language is also used in engineering, the other sciences, and
even in common speech. If you have ever given directions such as “Go five blocks
down this street and then hang a left,” you have used the language of vectors. In
fact, navigation of any sort is based on vectors, but physics and engineering also
need vectors in special ways to explain phenomena involving rotation and mag-
netic forces, which we get to in later chapters. In this chapter, we focus on the basic
language of vectors.

Vectors and Scalars

A particle moving along a straight line can move in only two directions. We can
take its motion to be positive in one of these directions and negative in the other.
For a particle moving in three dimensions, however, a plus sign or minus sign is no
longer enough to indicate a direction. Instead, we must use a vector.
40
 3-1 VECTORS AN D TH E I R COM PON E NTS 41

A vector has magnitude as well as direction, and vectors follow certain B'
(vector) rules of combination, which we examine in this chapter. A vector
quantity is a quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction and thus can be
represented with a vector. Some physical quantities that are vector quantities are A'
displacement, velocity, and acceleration. You will see many more throughout this
B"
book, so learning the rules of vector combination now will help you greatly in B
later chapters.
Not all physical quantities involve a direction. Temperature, pressure, energy, A"
mass, and time, for example, do not “point” in the spatial sense. We call such A
quantities scalars, and we deal with them by the rules of ordinary algebra. A sin- (a)
gle value, with a sign (as in a temperature of 40°F), specifies a scalar.
The simplest vector quantity is displacement, or change of position. A vec-
tor that represents a displacement is called, reasonably, a displacement vector.
(Similarly, we have velocity vectors and acceleration vectors.) If a particle changes B
its position by moving from A to B in Fig. 3-1a, we say that it undergoes a displace-
ment from A to B, which we represent with an arrow pointing from A to B.The ar-
row specifies the vector graphically. To distinguish vector symbols from other A
kinds of arrows in this book, we use the outline of a triangle as the arrowhead. (b)
In Fig. 3-1a, the arrows from A to B, from A to B, and from A to B have Figure 3-1 (a) All three arrows have the
the same magnitude and direction. Thus, they specify identical displacement vec- same magnitude and direction and thus
tors and represent the same change of position for the particle. A vector can be represent the same displacement. (b) All
shifted without changing its value if its length and direction are not changed. three paths connecting the two points cor-
The displacement vector tells us nothing about the actual path that the parti- respond to the same displacement vector.
cle takes. In Fig. 3-1b, for example, all three paths connecting points A and B cor-
respond to the same displacement vector, that of Fig. 3-1a. Displacement vectors
represent only the overall effect of the motion, not the motion itself.

Adding Vectors Geometrically

Suppose that, as in the vector diagram of Fig. 3-2a, a particle moves from A to B
and then later from B to C. We can represent its overall displacement (no matter
what its actual path) with two successive displacement vectors, AB and BC.
The net displacement of these two displacements is a single displacement from A
to C. We call AC the vector sum (or resultant) of the vectors AB and BC. This
sum is not the usual algebraic sum.
In Fig. 3-2b, we redraw the vectors of Fig. 3-2a and relabel them in the way B
that we shall use from now on, namely, with an arrow over an italic symbol, as Actual
in :
a . If we want to indicate only the magnitude of the vector (a quantity that lacks path
a sign or direction), we shall use the italic symbol, as in a, b, and s. (You can use
just a handwritten symbol.) A symbol with an overhead arrow always implies C
A
both properties of a vector, magnitude and direction. Net displacement
We can represent the relation among the three vectors in Fig. 3-2b with the is the vector sum
vector equation (a)
To add a and b,
: : :
s  a  b, (3-1) draw them
a b
head to tail.
:
which says that the vector : s is the vector sum of vectors :
a and b . The symbol  in
Eq. 3-1 and the words “sum” and “add” have different meanings for vectors than s
they do in the usual algebra because they involve both magnitude and direction. (b)
: This is the
Figure 3-2 suggests a procedure for adding two-dimensional vectors : a and b
: resulting vector,
geometrically. (1) On paper, sketch vector a to some convenient scale and at the
: from tail of a
proper angle. (2) Sketch vector b to the same scale, with its tail at the head of vec-
to head of b.
tor a , again at the proper angle. (3) The vector sum :
:
s is the vector that extends
:
from the tail of :a to the head of b . Figure 3-2 (a) AC is the vector sum of the
Properties. Vector addition, defined in this way, has two important proper- vectors AB and BC. (b) The same vectors
:
ties. First, the order of addition does not matter. Adding : a to b gives the same relabeled.
42 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

:
result as adding b to :
a (Fig. 3-3); that is,
a b
Vector sum : :
:
a+b abb:
a (commutative law). (3-2)
Start Finish
b+a
Second, when there are more than two vectors, we can group them in any order
: :
b a as we add them. Thus, if we want to add vectors : a , b , and :
c , we can add : a and b
:
first and then add their vector sum to :
c . We can also add b and : c first and then
:
add that sum to a . We get the same result either way, as shown in Fig. 3-4. That is,
You get the same vector
: : :
result for either order of (a  b)  :
c :
a  (b  :
c) (associative law). (3-3)
adding vectors.
: You get the same vector result for
Figure 3-3 The two vectors :
a and b can be
b any order of adding the vectors.
added in either order; see Eq. 3-2.
a a
a+b a+b

b+c

b+c

(a
c c
a+

a+

+b
(b

b+

)+
+c

c
)

:
Figure 3-4 The three vectors :
a , b , and :
c can be grouped in any way as they are added; see
Eq. 3-3.
: :
The vector b is a vector with the same magnitude as b but the opposite
–b direction (see Fig. 3-5). Adding the two vectors in Fig. 3-5 would yield
: :
b b  (b )  0.
: :
: : Thus, adding b has the effect of subtracting b . We use this property to define
Figure 3-5 The vectors b and b have the : :
the difference between two vectors: let d  :
a  b . Then
same magnitude and opposite directions.
: : :
d:
ab:
a  (b ) (vector subtraction); (3-4)
: :
that is, we find the difference vector d by adding the vector b to the vector : a.
Figure 3-6 shows how this is done geometrically.
As in the usual algebra, we can move a term that includes a vector symbol from
one side of a vector equation to the other, but we must change its sign. For example,
if we are given Eq. 3-4 and need to solve for :
a , we can rearrange the equation as
: : : :
db:
a or :
a  d  b.
Remember that, although we have used displacement vectors here, the rules
–b
for addition and subtraction hold for vectors of all kinds, whether they represent
a velocities, accelerations, or any other vector quantity. However, we can add
b only vectors of the same kind. For example, we can add two displacements, or two
velocities, but adding a displacement and a velocity makes no sense. In the arith-
(a) metic of scalars, that would be like trying to add 21 s and 12 m.
Note head-to-tail
arrangement for
–b
addition
Checkpoint 1
: :
The magnitudes of displacements :
a and b are 3 m and 4 m, respectively, and :
c :
a  b.
: :
Considering various orientations of a and b , what are (a) the maximum possible
d=a–b
magnitude for :
c and (b) the minimum possible magnitude?
a

(b) Components of Vectors

: : :
Figure 3-6 (a) Vectors a , b , and b . Adding vectors geometrically can be tedious. A neater and easier technique
:
(b) To subtract vector b from vector : a, involves algebra but requires that the vectors be placed on a rectangular coordi-
:
add vector b to vector : a. nate system. The x and y axes are usually drawn in the plane of the page, as shown
 3-1 VECTORS AN D TH E I R COM PON E NTS 43

This is the y component

in Fig. 3-7a. The z axis comes directly out of the page at the origin; we ignore it for
of the vector.
now and deal only with two-dimensional vectors.
y
A component of a vector is the projection of the vector on an axis. In y
Fig. 3-7a, for example, ax is the component of vector : a on (or along) the x axis and
ay is the component along the y axis. To find the projection of a vector along an
axis, we draw perpendicular lines from the two ends of the vector to the axis, as
ay a a ay
shown. The projection of a vector on an x axis is its x component, and similarly the
projection on the y axis is the y component. The process of finding the θ θ
components of a vector is called resolving the vector.
A component of a vector has the same direction (along an axis) as the vector. ax x x
O ax O
In Fig. 3-7, ax and ay are both positive because : a extends in the positive direction
(a) (b)
of both axes. (Note the small arrowheads on the components, to indicate their di-
rection.) If we were to reverse vector : a , then both components would be negative This is the x component
:
and their arrowheads would point toward negative x and y. Resolving vector b in of the vector.
Fig. 3-8 yields a positive component bx and a negative component by.
In general, a vector has three components, although for the case of Fig. 3-7a
The components a ay
the component along the z axis is zero. As Figs. 3-7a and b show, if you shift a vec-
and the vector θ
tor without changing its direction, its components do not change.
form a right triangle. (c)
Finding the Components. We can find the components of : a in Fig. 3-7a geo- ax
metrically from the right triangle there: Figure 3-7 (a) The components ax and ay of
vector :a . (b) The components are unchanged if
ax  a cos u and ay  a sin u, (3-5) the vector is shifted, as long as the magnitude
and orientation are maintained. (c) The com-
ponents form the legs of a right triangle whose
where u is the angle that the vector : a makes with the positive direction of the hypotenuse is the magnitude of the vector.
x axis, and a is the magnitude of :a . Figure 3-7c shows that :
a and its x and y com-
ponents form a right triangle. It also shows how we can reconstruct a vector from
This is the x component
its components: we arrange those components head to tail. Then we complete a
of the vector.
right triangle with the vector forming the hypotenuse, from the tail of one com- y (m)
ponent to the head of the other component. bx = 7 m
θ O x (m)
Once a vector has been resolved into its components along a set of axes, the
components themselves can be used in place of the vector. For example, : a in
Fig. 3-7a is given (completely determined) by a and u. It can also be given by its b y = –5 m
components ax and ay. Both pairs of values contain the same information. If we
know a vector in component notation (ax and ay) and want it in magnitude-angle
notation (a and u), we can use the equations b

ay
a  2a 2x  a 2y and tan   (3-6) This is the y component
ax of the vector.
:
to transform it. Figure 3-8 The component of b on the
In the more general three-dimensional case, we need a magnitude and two x axis is positive, and that on the y axis is
angles (say, a, u, and f) or three components (ax, ay, and az) to specify a vector. negative.

Checkpoint 2
In the figure, which of the indicated methods for combining the x and y components of vector :
a are proper to determine that vector?

y y y y y y

ax ax
ax ax ax x x x
x x x
ay ay ay
ay ay ay a a
a
a a a
ax

(a) (b) (c) (d ) (e) (f )

44 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

Sample Problem 3.01 Adding vectors in a drawing, orienteering

In an orienteering class, you have the goal of moving as far a

(straight-line distance) from base camp as possible by a –c
making three straight-line moves. You may use the follow- b b
ing displacements in any order: (a) : a , 2.0 km due east –b
30° d=b+a–c
:
(directly toward the east); (b) b , 2.0 km 30° north of east
(at an angle of 30° toward the north from due east); c –c
This is the vector result
(c) :
c , 1.0 km due west. Alternatively, you may substitute for adding those three
: :
either b for b or : c for :
c . What is the greatest distance Scale of km
vectors in any order.
you can be from base camp at the end of the third displace- 0 1 2
ment? (We are not concerned about the direction.) (a) (b)
Figure 3-9 (a) Displacement vectors; three are to be used. (b) Your
Reasoning: Using a convenient scale, we draw vectors : a, distance from base camp is greatest if you undergo
:
: : :
b , c , b , and :
c as in Fig. 3-9a. We then mentally slide the displacements : a , b , and :
c , in any order.
vectors over the page, connecting three of them at a time
:
in head-to-tail arrangements to find their vector sum d . order, because their vector sum is the same for any order.
The tail of the first vector represents base camp. The head (Recall from Eq. 3-2 that vectors commute.) The order
of the third vector represents the point at which you stop. shown in Fig. 3-9b is for the vector sum
:
The vector sum d extends from the tail of the first vector
: :
to the head of the third vector. Its magnitude d is your dis- db:
a  (:
c ).
tance from base camp. Our goal here is to maximize that
Using the scale given in Fig. 3-9a, we measure the length d of
base-camp distance.
this vector sum, finding
We find that distance d is greatest for a head-to-tail
:
arrangement of vectors : a , b , and :
c . They can be in any d  4.8 m. (Answer)

Sample Problem 3.02 Finding components, airplane flight

A small airplane leaves an airport on an overcast day and is KEY IDEA

later sighted 215 km away, in a direction making an angle of
22° east of due north. This means that the direction is not We are given the magnitude (215 km) and the angle (22° east
due north (directly toward the north) but is rotated 22° to- of due north) of a vector and need to find the components
ward the east from due north. How far east and north is the of the vector.
airplane from the airport when sighted?
Calculations: We draw an xy coordinate system with the
positive direction of x due east and that of y due north (Fig.
y 3-10). For convenience, the origin is placed at the airport.
(We don’t have to do this. We could shift and misalign the
200 coordinate system but, given a choice, why make the prob-
P :
d lem more difficult?) The airplane’s displacement d points
from the origin to where the airplane is sighted.
:
Distance (km)

22° To find the components of d , we use Eq. 3-5 with u 

68° ( 90°  22°):
km

100
215

dx  d cos u  (215 km)(cos 68°)

 81 km (Answer)
θ
0 x dy  d sin u  (215 km)(sin 68°)
0 100
Distance (km)  199 km  2.0  102 km. (Answer)

Figure 3-10 A plane takes off from an airport at the origin and is Thus, the airplane is 81 km east and 2.0  102 km north of
later sighted at P. the airport.

Additional examples, video, and practice available at WileyPLUS

 3-1 VECTORS AN D TH E I R COM PON E NTS 45

Problem-Solving Tactics Angles, trig functions, and inverse trig functions

Tactic 1: Angles—Degrees and Radians Angles that are Quadrants

IV I II III IV
measured relative to the positive direction of the x axis are
positive if they are measured in the counterclockwise direc-
tion and negative if measured clockwise. For example, 210° +1
and 150° are the same angle. sin

Angles may be measured in degrees or radians (rad). To –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°
relate the two measures, recall that a full circle is 360° and
–1
2p rad. To convert, say, 40° to radians, write
2
rad
40  0.70 rad. (a)
360
Tactic 2: Trig Functions You need to know the definitions
of the common trigonometric functions — sine, cosine, and
tangent — because they are part of the language of science
and engineering. They are given in Fig. 3-11 in a form that +1
does not depend on how the triangle is labeled. cos
You should also be able to sketch how the trig functions
–90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°
vary with angle, as in Fig. 3-12, in order to be able to judge
whether a calculator result is reasonable. Even knowing –1
the signs of the functions in the various quadrants can be
of help. (b)

Tactic 3: Inverse Trig Functions When the inverse trig

functions sin1, cos1, and tan1 are taken on a calculator,
you must consider the reasonableness of the answer you
get, because there is usually another possible answer that
+2 tan
the calculator does not give. The range of operation for a
calculator in taking each inverse trig function is indicated
+1
in Fig. 3-12. As an example, sin1 0.5 has associated angles
of 30° (which is displayed by the calculator, since 30° falls
within its range of operation) and 150°. To see both values, –90° 0 90° 180° 270° 360°
draw a horizontal line through 0.5 in Fig. 3-12a and note –1
where it cuts the sine curve. How do you distinguish a cor-
rect answer? It is the one that seems more reasonable for –2
the given situation.
(c)
Tactic 4: Measuring Vector Angles The equations for
cos u and sin u in Eq. 3-5 and for tan u in Eq. 3-6 are valid Figure 3-12 Three useful curves to remember. A calculator’s range
only if the angle is measured from the positive direction of of operation for taking inverse trig functions is indicated by the
darker portions of the colored curves.

leg opposite θ
sin θ =
hypotenuse
the x axis. If it is measured relative to some other direc-
Hypotenuse Leg
leg adjacent to θ tion, then the trig functions in Eq. 3-5 may have to be in-
cos θ = opposite θ
hypotenuse terchanged and the ratio in Eq. 3-6 may have to be
θ
Leg adjacent to θ inverted. A safer method is to convert the angle to one
leg opposite θ
tan θ = measured from the positive direction of the x axis. In
leg adjacent to θ
WileyPLUS, the system expects you to report an angle of
Figure 3-11 A triangle used to define the trigonometric direction like this (and positive if counterclockwise and
functions. See also Appendix E. negative if clockwise).

Additional examples, video, and practice available at WileyPLUS

46 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

3-2 UNIT VECTORS, ADDING VECTORS BY COMPONENTS

Learning Objectives
After reading this module, you should be able to . . .
3.06 Convert a vector between magnitude-angle and unit- 3.08 Identify that, for a given vector, rotating the coordinate
vector notations. system about the origin can change the vector’s compo-
3.07 Add and subtract vectors in magnitude-angle notation nents but not the vector itself.
and in unit-vector notation.

Key Ideas
● Unit vectors î, ĵ, and k̂ have magnitudes of unity and are in which axî, ayĵ, and azk̂ are the vector components of :
a and
directed in the positive directions of the x, y, and z axes, ax, ay, and az are its scalar components.
respectively, in a right-handed coordinate system. We can ● To add vectors in component form, we use the rules
write a vector :a in terms of unit vectors as
rx  ax  bx ry  ay  by rz  az  bz.
:
a  axî  ayĵ  azk̂, :
Here a and b are the vectors to be added, and :
:
r is the vector
sum. Note that we add components axis by axis.

Unit Vectors
The unit vectors point A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of exactly 1 and points in a particu-
along axes. lar direction. It lacks both dimension and unit. Its sole purpose is to point — that
is, to specify a direction. The unit vectors in the positive directions of the x, y, and
y
z axes are labeled î, ĵ , and k̂, where the hat ˆ is used instead of an overhead arrow
as for other vectors (Fig. 3-13). The arrangement of axes in Fig. 3-13 is said to be a
ĵ right-handed coordinate system. The system remains right-handed if it is rotated
x rigidly. We use such coordinate systems exclusively in this book.
k̂ î Unit vectors are very useful for expressing other vectors; for example, we can
:
express : a and b of Figs. 3-7 and 3-8 as
z
:
Figure 3.13 Unit vectors î, ĵ, and k̂ define the a  axî  ay ĵ (3-7)
directions of a right-handed coordinate :
and b  bxî  by ĵ. (3-8)
system.
These two equations are illustrated in Fig. 3-14. The quantities axî and ayĵ are vec-
tors, called the vector components of : a . The quantities ax and ay are scalars, called
the scalar components of : a (or, as before, simply its components).

This is the y vector component.

y

y
a y ˆj a
b x î
θ O x
θ
b
x
O a xˆi b y ˆj
Figure 3-14 (a) The vector components
This is the x vector
of vector : a . (b) The vector components
: (a) component.
of vector b . (b)

Adding Vectors by Components

We can add vectors geometrically on a sketch or directly on a vector-capable
calculator. A third way is to combine their components axis by axis.
 3-2 U N IT VECTORS, ADDI NG VECTORS BY COM PON E NTS 47

To start, consider the statement

: :
r :
a  b, (3-9)
: : :
which says that the vector r is the same as the vector (a  b ). Thus, each
:
component of : :
r must be the same as the corresponding component of (a  b ):
rx  ax  bx (3-10)
ry  ay  by (3-11)
rz  az  bz. (3-12)
In other words, two vectors must be equal if their corresponding components are
:
equal. Equations 3-9 to 3-12 tell us that to add vectors :
a and b , we must (1) re-
solve the vectors into their scalar components; (2) combine these scalar compo-
nents, axis by axis, to get the components of the sum : r ; and (3) combine
the components of r to get r itself. We have a choice in step 3. We can express :
: :
r
in unit-vector notation or in magnitude-angle notation.
This procedure for adding vectors by components also applies to vector
: :
subtractions. Recall that a subtraction such as d  :a  b can be rewritten as an
: : :
addition d  : a  (b). To subtract, we add :a and b by components, to get
dx  ax  bx, dy  ay  by, and dz  az  bz,
:
where d  dxî  dyĵ  dzk̂. (3-13)

y
Checkpoint 3
(a) In the figure here, what are the signs of the x
: : d2
components of d1 and d2? (b) What are the signs of
: : d1
the y components of d1 and d2? (c) What are the
: :
signs of the x and y components of d1  d2?
x

Vectors and the Laws of Physics

So far, in every figure that includes a coordinate system, the x and y axes are par-
allel to the edges of the book page. Thus, when a vector : ay a
a is included, its compo-
nents ax and ay are also parallel to the edges (as in Fig. 3-15a). The only reason for θ
that orientation of the axes is that it looks “proper”; there is no deeper reason. x
O ax
We could, instead, rotate the axes (but not the vector : a ) through an angle f as in (a)
Fig. 3-15b, in which case the components would have new values, call them ax and
ay. Since there are an infinite number of choices of f, there are an infinite num- Rotating the axes
ber of different pairs of components for : a. changes the components
Which then is the “right” pair of components? The answer is that they are all but not the vector.
equally valid because each pair (with its axes) just gives us a different way of de-
scribing the same vector : a ; all produce the same magnitude and direction for the y
vector. In Fig. 3-15 we have y'

a  2a x2  a y2  2ax 2  ay2 (3-14)

and
u  u  f. (3-15) a x'
a'y a'x
θ' φ
The point is that we have great freedom in choosing a coordinate system, be- x
cause the relations among vectors do not depend on the location of the origin or O
on the orientation of the axes. This is also true of the relations of physics; they are (b)
all independent of the choice of coordinate system. Add to that the simplicity and Figure 3-15 (a) The vector :
a and its
richness of the language of vectors and you can see why the laws of physics are components. (b) The same vector, with the
almost always presented in that language: one equation, like Eq. 3-9, can repre- axes of the coordinate system rotated
sent three (or even more) relations, like Eqs. 3-10, 3-11, and 3-12. through an angle f.
48 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

Sample Problem 3.03 Searching through a hedge maze

A hedge maze is a maze formed by tall rows of hedge. Calculations: To evaluate Eqs. 3-16 and 3-17, we find the x and
After entering, you search for the center point and then y components of each displacement. As an example, the com-
for the exit. Figure 3-16a shows the entrance to such a ponents for the first displacement are shown in Fig. 3-16c. We
maze and the first two choices we make at the junctions draw similar diagrams for the other two displacements and
we encounter in moving from point i to point c. We un- then we apply the x part of Eq. 3-5 to each displacement, using
dergo three displacements as indicated in the overhead angles relative to the positive direction of the x axis:
view of Fig. 3-16b:
dlx  (6.00 m) cos 40°  4.60 m
d1  6.00 m 1  40° d2x  (8.00 m) cos (60°)  4.00 m
d2  8.00 m 2  30° d3x  (5.00 m) cos 0°  5.00 m.
d3  5.00 m 3  0°,
Equation 3-16 then gives us
where the last segment is parallel to the superimposed
dnet, x  4.60 m  4.00 m  5.00 m
x axis. When we reach point c, what are the magnitude and
:
angle of our net displacement d net from point i?  13.60 m.
Similarly, to evaluate Eq. 3-17, we apply the y part of Eq. 3-5
KEY IDEAS to each displacement:
:
(1) To find the net displacement d net, we need to sum the dly  (6.00 m) sin 40° = 3.86 m
three individual displacement vectors:
d2y  (8.00 m) sin (60°) = 6.93 m
: : : :
d net  d 1  d 2  d 3.
d3y  (5.00 m) sin 0°  0 m.
(2) To do this, we first evaluate this sum for the x compo-
Equation 3-17 then gives us
nents alone,
dnet,x  dlx  d2x  d3x, (3-16) dnet, y  3.86 m  6.93 m  0 m
 3.07 m.
and then the y components alone, :
Next we use these components of d net to construct the vec-
dnet,y  d1y  d2y  d3y. (3-17)
tor as shown in Fig. 3-16d: the components are in a head-to-
:
(3) Finally, we construct d net from its x and y components. tail arrangement and form the legs of a right triangle, and

y
y
a Three First
vectors vector
a d1 u2 d2
u1 d1
i x d1y

b d x
3
c d1x
i (b)
b
c y (c)
Net
vector dnet,x
(a) i x
dnet,y
dnet

(d)

Figure 3-16 (a) Three displacements through a hedge maze. (b) The displacement vectors. (c) The first displacement vector and its
components. (d) The net displacement vector and its components.
 3-2 U N IT VECTORS, ADDI NG VECTORS BY COM PON E NTS 49

the vector forms the hypotenuse. We find the magnitude and tangent on a calculator. The answer it displays is mathe-
:
angle of d net with Eq. 3-6. The magnitude is matically correct but it may not be the correct answer for
the physical situation. In those cases, we have to add 180°
dnet  2d2net,x  d2net,y (3-18)
to the displayed answer, to reverse the vector. To check,
 2(13.60 m)2  (3.07 m)2  13.9 m. (Answer) we always need to draw the vector and its components as
we did in Fig. 3-16d. In our physical situation, the figure
To find the angle (measured from the positive direction of x), shows us that   12.7° is a reasonable answer, whereas
we take an inverse tangent: 12.7°  180°  167° is clearly not.
  tan1
dnet,y
dnet,x  (3-19)
We can see all this on the graph of tangent versus angle
in Fig. 3-12c. In our maze problem, the argument of the in-
verse tangent is 3.07/13.60, or 0.226. On the graph draw
 tan1  –3.07
13.60 m 
m
 12.7°. (Answer) a horizontal line through that value on the vertical axis. The
line cuts through the darker plotted branch at 12.7° and
The angle is negative because it is measured clockwise from also through the lighter branch at 167°. The first cut is what
positive x. We must always be alert when we take an inverse a calculator displays.

Sample Problem 3.04 Adding vectors, unit-vector components

Figure 3-17a shows the following three vectors: KEY IDEA

:
a  (4.2 m)î  (1.5 m)ĵ, We can add the three vectors by components, axis by axis,
:
b  (1.6 m)î  (2.9 m)ĵ, and then combine the components to write the vector
and :
c  (3.7 m)ĵ. sum :
r.

What is their vector sum :

r which is also shown? Calculations: For the x axis, we add the x components of :
a,
:
y
b , and :
c , to get the x component of the vector sum :
r:
rx  ax  bx  cx
b
3
To add these vectors,  4.2 m  1.6 m  0  2.6 m.
2 find their net x component Similarly, for the y axis,
and their net y component.
1 ry  ay  by  cy
x  1.5 m  2.9 m  3.7 m  2.3 m.
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4
–1 We then combine these components of :
r to write the vector
a in unit-vector notation:
–2
:
r r  (2.6 m)î  (2.3 m)ĵ, (Answer)
–3
c where (2.6 m)î is the vector component of : r along the x axis
(a) and (2.3 m)ĵ is that along the y axis. Figure 3-17b shows
Then arrange the net
one way to arrange these vector components to form : r.
y components head to tail.
2.6iˆ (Can you sketch the other way?)
x We can also answer the question by giving the magnitude
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3 4
–1 and an angle for :
r . From Eq. 3-6, the magnitude is
–2.3ĵ
r
–2 r  2(2.6 m)2  (2.3 m)2  3.5 m (Answer)
–3
and the angle (measured from the x direction) is

(b) This is the result of the addition.   tan1 

2.3 m
2.6 m 
 41, (Answer)

Figure 3-17 Vector :

r is the vector sum of the other three vectors. where the minus sign means clockwise.

Additional examples, video, and practice available at WileyPLUS

50 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

3-3 MULTIPLYING VECTORS

Learning Objectives
After reading this module, you should be able to . . .
3.09 Multiply vectors by scalars. 3.13 Given two vectors, use a dot product to find how much
3.10 Identify that multiplying a vector by a scalar gives a vec- of one vector lies along the other vector.
tor, taking the dot (or scalar) product of two vectors gives a 3.14 Find the cross product of two vectors in magnitude-
scalar, and taking the cross (or vector) product gives a new angle and unit-vector notations.
vector that is perpendicular to the original two. 3.15 Use the right-hand rule to find the direction of the vector
3.11 Find the dot product of two vectors in magnitude-angle that results from a cross product.
notation and in unit-vector notation. 3.16 In nested products, where one product is buried inside
3.12 Find the angle between two vectors by taking their dot prod- another, follow the normal algebraic procedure by starting
uct in both magnitude-angle notation and unit-vector notation. with the innermost product and working outward.

Key Ideas
: : :
● The product of a scalar s and a vector v is a new vector ● The vector (or cross) product of two vectors
a and b is
:
whose magnitude is sv and whose direction is the same as written :
a  b and is a vector :
c whose magnitude c is given by
that of :
v if s is positive, and opposite that of :
v if s is negative.
c  ab sin ,
To divide :v by s, multiply :v by 1/s.
: :
● The scalar (or dot) product of two vectors a and b is writ- in which  is the smaller of the angles between the directions
:
ten :
:
a  b and is the scalar quantity given by of :
a and b . The direction of :
c is perpendicular to the plane
:
: : defined by :a and b and is given by a right-hand rule, as shown
a  b  ab cos , in Fig. 3-19. Note that :
: :
a  b  ( b  : a ). In unit-vector
:
in which  is the angle between the directions of : a and b . notation,
A scalar product is the product of the magnitude of one vec- : :
a  b  (axî  ayĵ  azk̂)  (bxî  byĵ  bzk̂),
tor and the scalar component of the second vector along the
direction of the first vector. In unit-vector notation, which we may expand with the distributive law.
: : ● In nested products, where one product is buried inside an-
a  b  (axî  ayĵ  azk̂)(bxî  byĵ  bzk̂),
other, follow the normal algebraic procedure by starting with
which may be expanded according to the distributive law. the innermost product and working outward.
: :
Note that :
a bb: a.

Multiplying Vectors*
There are three ways in which vectors can be multiplied, but none is exactly like
the usual algebraic multiplication. As you read this material, keep in mind that a
vector-capable calculator will help you multiply vectors only if you understand
the basic rules of that multiplication.

Multiplying a Vector by a Scalar

If we multiply a vector : a by a scalar s, we get a new vector. Its magnitude is
the product of the magnitude of : a and the absolute value of s. Its direction is the
direction of :
a if s is positive but the opposite direction if s is negative. To divide :
a
by s, we multiply :a by 1/s.

Multiplying a Vector by a Vector

There are two ways to multiply a vector by a vector: one way produces a scalar
(called the scalar product), and the other produces a new vector (called the vector
product). (Students commonly confuse the two ways.)

*This material will not be employed until later (Chapter 7 for scalar products and Chapter 11 for vec-
tor products), and so your instructor may wish to postpone it.
 3-3 M U LTI PLYI NG VECTORS 51

The Scalar Product

: :
The scalar product of the vectors :
a and b in Fig. 3-18a is written as :
a  b and
defined to be
: :
a  b  ab cos f, (3-20)
:
where a is the magnitude of : a , b is the magnitude of b , and  is the angle between
: : :
a and b (or, more properly, between the directions of : a and b ). There are actually
two such angles:  and 360°  . Either can be used in Eq. 3-20, because their
cosines are the same.
Note that there are only scalars on the right side of Eq. 3-20 (including the
:
value of cos ). Thus : a  b on the left side represents a scalar quantity. Because of
: :
the notation, a  b is also known as the dot product and is spoken as “a dot b.”
A dot product can be regarded as the product of two quantities: (1) the mag-
nitude of one of the vectors and (2) the scalar component of the second vector
along the direction of the first vector. For example, in Fig. 3-18b, : a has a scalar
:
component a cos  along the direction of b ; note that a perpendicular dropped
: :
from the head of : a onto b determines that component. Similarly, b has a scalar
:
component b cos  along the direction of a .

If the angle  between two vectors is 0°, the component of one vector along the
other is maximum, and so also is the dot product of the vectors. If, instead,  is 90°,
the component of one vector along the other is zero, and so is the dot product.

Equation 3-20 can be rewritten as follows to emphasize the components:

: :
a  b  (a cos f)(b)  (a)(b cos f). (3-21)
The commutative law applies to a scalar product, so we can write
: : :
a  b  b :
a.
When two vectors are in unit-vector notation, we write their dot product as
: :
a  b  (ax î  ayĵ  azk̂) (bx î  byĵ  bzk̂), (3-22)
which we can expand according to the distributive law: Each vector component
of the first vector is to be dotted with each vector component of the second vec-
tor. By doing so, we can show that
: :
a  b  axbx  ayby  azbz. (3-23)

a
φ
b
(a)

Component of b
along direction of
a is b cos φ

Multiplying these gives

the dot product. a
φ
Figure 3-18 (a) Two vectors :
a b
: Component of a
and b , with an angle f between
along direction of
them. (b) Each vector has a
component along the direction Or multiplying these b is a cos φ
(b)
of the other vector. gives the dot product.
52 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

Checkpoint 4
: :
Vectors C and D have magnitudes of 3 units and 4 units, respectively. What is the
: : : :
angle between the directions of C and D if C  D equals (a) zero, (b) 12 units, and
(c) 12 units?

The Vector Product

: :
The vector product of :
a and b , written :
a  b , produces a third vector :
c whose
magnitude is

c  ab sin f, (3-24)

:
where f is the smaller of the two angles between : a and b . (You must use the
smaller of the two angles between the vectors because sin f and sin(360°  f)
:
differ in algebraic sign.) Because of the notation, :
a  b is also known as the cross
product, and in speech it is “a cross b.”

: : :
If :
a and b are parallel or antiparallel, :
a  b  0. The magnitude of :
a  b , which can
: : : :
be written as a  b  , is maximum when a and b are perpendicular to each other.

:
The direction of : c is perpendicular to the plane that contains :
:
a and b .
: :
Figure 3-19a shows how to determine the direction of c  a  b with what is
:
known as a right-hand rule. Place the vectors : a and b tail to tail without altering
their orientations, and imagine a line that is perpendicular to their plane where
they meet. Pretend to place your right hand around that line in such a way that
:
your fingers would sweep : a into b through the smaller angle between them. Your
outstretched thumb points in the direction of : c.
The order of the vector multiplication is important. In Fig. 3-19b, we are
: :
determining the direction of : c b  : a , so the fingers are placed to sweep b
into :
a through the smaller angle. The thumb ends up in the opposite direction
from previously, and so it must be that :
c  : c ; that is,
: :
b: :
a  (a  b ). (3-25)

In other words, the commutative law does not apply to a vector product.
In unit-vector notation, we write
: :
a  b  (axî  ay ĵ  az k̂)  (bxî  by ĵ  bz k̂), (3-26)
which can be expanded according to the distributive law; that is, each component
of the first vector is to be crossed with each component of the second vector. The
cross products of unit vectors are given in Appendix E (see “Products of
Vectors”). For example, in the expansion of Eq. 3-26, we have

axî  bxî  axbx( î  î )  0,

because the two unit vectors î and î are parallel and thus have a zero cross prod-
uct. Similarly, we have
axî  by ĵ  axby( î  ĵ )  axby k̂.
In the last step we used Eq. 3-24 to evaluate the magnitude of î  ĵ as unity.
(These vectors î and ĵ each have a magnitude of unity, and the angle between
them is 90°.) Also, we used the right-hand rule to get the direction of î  ĵ as
being in the positive direction of the z axis (thus in the direction of k̂).
 3-3 M U LTI PLYI NG VECTORS 53

Continuing to expand Eq. 3-26, you can show that

: :
a  b  (ay bz  byaz)î  (azbx  bz ax)ĵ  (axby  bx ay)k̂. (3-27)
A determinant (Appendix E) or a vector-capable calculator can also be used.
To check whether any xyz coordinate system is a right-handed coordinate
system, use the right-hand rule for the cross product î  ĵ  k̂ with that system. If
your fingers sweep î (positive direction of x) into ĵ (positive direction of y) with
the outstretched thumb pointing in the positive direction of z (not the negative
direction), then the system is right-handed.

Checkpoint 5
: :
Vectors C and D have magnitudes of 3 units and 4 units, respectively. What is the an-
: : : :
gle between the directions of C and D if the magnitude of the vector product C  D
is (a) zero and (b) 12 units?

a
b b b

(a)

b
a a a

c

(b)
:
Figure 3-19 Illustration of the right-hand rule for vector products. (a) Sweep vector :
a into vector b with the fingers of your right hand.
: : :
Your outstretched thumb shows the direction of vector : c :a  b . (b) Showing that b  :a is the reverse of :
a  b.
54 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

Sample Problem 3.05 Angle between two vectors using dot products
:
What is the angle  between : a  3.0î  4.0ĵ and b  We can separately evaluate the left side of Eq. 3-28 by
2.0î  3.0k̂? (Caution: Although many of the following writing the vectors in unit-vector notation and using the
steps can be bypassed with a vector-capable calculator, you distributive law:
will learn more about scalar products if, at least here, you : :
a  b  (3.0î  4.0ĵ ) (2.0î  3.0k̂)
use these steps.)
 (3.0î ) (2.0î )  (3.0î ) (3.0k̂)
KEY IDEA  (4.0ĵ ) (2.0î )  (4.0ĵ ) (3.0k̂).
We next apply Eq. 3-20 to each term in this last expression.
The angle between the directions of two vectors is included The angle between the unit vectors in the first term (î and î) is
in the definition of their scalar product (Eq. 3-20): 0°, and in the other terms it is 90°.We then have
: :
a  b  ab cos f. (3-28) : :
a  b  (6.0)(1)  (9.0)(0)  (8.0)(0)  (12)(0)
:
Calculations: In Eq. 3-28, a is the magnitude of a , or  6.0.
Substituting this result and the results of Eqs. 3-29 and 3-30
a 23.02  (4.0)2  5.00, (3-29) into Eq. 3-28 yields
:
and b is the magnitude of b , or 6.0  (5.00)(3.61) cos f,
6.0
b  2(2.0)2  3.02  3.61. (3-30) so   cos1  109 110. (Answer)
(5.00)(3.61)

Sample Problem 3.06 Cross product, right-hand rule

In Fig. 3-20, vector :

a lies in the xy plane, has a magnitude of z
Sweep a into b.
18 units, and points in a direction 250° from the positive di-
:
rection of the x axis. Also, vector b has a magnitude of
12 units and points in the positive direction of the z axis.What a b
:
is the vector product :c : a  b? c=a
b

This is the resulting

KEY IDEA vector, perpendicular to
250°
160° both a and b.
When we have two vectors in magnitude-angle notation, we
x y
find the magnitude of their cross product with Eq. 3-24 and
the direction of their cross product with the right-hand rule Figure 3-20 Vector :
c (in the xy plane) is the vector (or cross)
:
of Fig. 3-19. product of vectors : a and b .

Calculations: For the magnitude we write gives the direction of : c . Thus, as shown in the figure, :
c lies in
the xy plane. Because its direction is perpendicular to the
c  ab sin f  (18)(12)(sin 90°)  216. (Answer)
direction of : a (a cross product always gives a perpendicular
To determine the direction in Fig. 3-20, imagine placing the vector), it is at an angle of
fingers of your right hand around a line perpendicular to the
: 250°  90°  160° (Answer)
plane of :a and b (the line on which : c is shown) such that
:
your fingers sweep : a into b . Your outstretched thumb then from the positive direction of the x axis.

Sample Problem 3.07 Cross product, unit-vector notation

: :
If :
a  3î  4ĵ and b  2î  3k̂, what is :
c :
a  b? Calculations: Here we write
:
c  (3î  4ĵ )  (2î  3k̂)
KEY IDEA
 3î  (2î )  3î  3k̂  (4ĵ )  (2î )
When two vectors are in unit-vector notation, we can find
their cross product by using the distributive law.  (4ĵ )  3k̂.
 R EVI EW & SU M MARY 55

:
We next evaluate each term with Eq. 3-24, finding the This vector :
c is perpendicular to both :a and b , a fact you
direction with the right-hand rule. For the first term here, :
can check by showing that :
c:a = 0 and :
c  b = 0; that is, there
the angle f between the two vectors being crossed is 0. For is no component of :
c along the direction of either :
:
a or b .
the other terms, f is 90°. We find In general: A cross product gives a perpendicular
:
c  6(0)  9( ĵ )  8(k̂)  12î vector, two perpendicular vectors have a zero dot prod-
uct, and two vectors along the same axis have a zero
 12î  9 ĵ  8 k̂. (Answer) cross product.

Additional examples, video, and practice available at WileyPLUS

Review & Summary

Scalars and Vectors Scalars, such as temperature, have magni- Adding Vectors in Component Form To add vectors in com-
tude only. They are specified by a number with a unit (10°C) and ponent form, we use the rules
obey the rules of arithmetic and ordinary algebra. Vectors, such as
displacement, have both magnitude and direction (5 m, north) and rx  ax  bx ry  ay  by rz  az  bz. (3-10 to 3-12)
:
obey the rules of vector algebra. Here :a and b are the vectors to be added, and :
r is the vector sum.
: Note that we add components axis by axis.We can then express the
Adding Vectors Geometrically Two vectors : a and b may sum in unit-vector notation or magnitude-angle notation.
be added geometrically by drawing them to a common scale
and placing them head to tail. The vector connecting the tail of Product of a Scalar and a Vector The product of a scalar s and
the first to the head of the second is the vector sum : s . To a vector :v is a new vector whose magnitude is sv and whose direc-
: : :
subtract b from : a , reverse the direction of b to get  b ; then tion is the same as that of :
v if s is positive, and opposite that of :
v if
:
add  b to :a . Vector addition is commutative s is negative. (The negative sign reverses the vector.) To divide : v by
: : : s, multiply :
v by 1/s.
abb:
a (3-2)
and obeys the associative law The Scalar Product The scalar (or dot) product of two vectors :
a
: :
and b is written :
a  b and is the scalar quantity given by
: : :
(a  b)  :
c :
a  (b  :
c ). (3-3) : :
a  b  ab cos f, (3-20)
: :
Components of a Vector The (scalar) components ax and ay of in which f is the angle between the directions of a and b . A scalar
any two-dimensional vector :a along the coordinate axes are found product is the product of the magnitude of one vector and the
by dropping perpendicular lines from the ends of :
a onto the coor- scalar component of the second vector along the direction of the
: :
dinate axes. The components are given by first vector. Note that : a  b  b :
a, which means that the scalar
product obeys the commutative law.
ax  a cos u and ay  a sin u, (3-5)
In unit-vector notation,
where u is the angle between the positive direction of the x axis : :
a  b  (axî  ay ĵ  az k̂ ) (bxî  by ĵ  bz k̂ ), (3-22)
and the direction of :a . The algebraic sign of a component indi-
cates its direction along the associated axis. Given its compo- which may be expanded according to the distributive law.
nents, we can find the magnitude and orientation (direction) of
the vector :
a by using The Vector Product The vector (or cross) product of two vectors
: : :
a and b is written :
a  b and is a vector :
c whose magnitude c is
ay
a  2a 2x  a 2y and tan   (3-6) given by
ax c  ab sin f, (3-24)
Unit-Vector Notation Unit vectors î , ĵ, and k̂ have magnitudes of in which f is the smaller of the angles between the directions of :
a
:
unity and are directed in the positive directions of the x, y, and z and b . The direction of : c is perpendicular to the plane
:
axes, respectively, in a right-handed coordinate system (as defined defined by :a and b and is given by a right-hand rule, as shown in
by the vector products of the unit vectors). We can write a vector :
a Fig. 3-19. Note that :
: :
a  b  ( b  :a ), which means that the vec-
in terms of unit vectors as tor product does not obey the commutative law.
: In unit-vector notation,
a  axî  ay ĵ  az k̂ , (3-7)
: :
a  b  (axî  ay ĵ  az k̂ )  (bxî  by ĵ  bz k̂ ), (3-26)
in which axî , ay ĵ , and az k̂ are the vector components of :
a and ax, ay,
and az are its scalar components. which we may expand with the distributive law.
56 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

Questions
:
1 Can the sum of the magnitudes y 6 Describe two vectors :
a and b such that
of two vectors ever be equal to the :
(a) :
ab :
c and a  b  c;
magnitude of the sum of the same : :
: :
two vectors? If no, why not? If yes, d2 (b) a  b  a  b ;
when? :
x (c) :
ab :
c and a2  b2  c2.
2 The two vectors shown in Fig. 3-21 : : : :
7 If d  a  b  (:
:
c ), does (a) :
a  ( d )  :
c  ( b ), (b) :
a
lie in an xy plane. What are the signs : : : : : : :
( b )  d  c , and (c) c  ( d )  a  b ?
of the x and y components, respec- : :
: : : :
tively, of (a) d1  d2, (b) d1  d2, and
d1 8 If :
a b :
a :
c , must b equal :
c?
: : : : :
(c) d2  d1? 9 If F  q(: v  B) and : v is perpendicular to B, then what is the
Figure 3-21 Question 2. :
3 Being part of the “Gators,” the direction of B in the three situations shown in Fig. 3-24 when con-
University of Florida golfing team y stant q is (a) positive and (b) negative?
must play on a putting green with an y y y
alligator pit. Figure 3-22 shows an Hole F F
overhead view of one putting chal- v v
lenge of the team; an xy coordinate Gator x x x
system is superimposed. Team mem- pit
z v z z F
bers must putt from the origin to the
hole, which is at xy coordinates (8 m, (1) (2) (3)
x
12 m), but they can putt the golf ball
using only one or more of the fol- Figure 3-24 Question 9.
lowing displacements, one or more Figure 3-22 Question 3.
:
times: 10 Figure 3-25 shows vector A and
D B
: : : four other vectors that have the same
d1  (8 m)î  (6 m)ĵ, d2  (6 m)ĵ, d3  (8 m)î.
magnitude but differ in orientation. θ
The pit is at coordinates (8 m, 6 m). If a team member putts the (a) Which of those other four vectors θ A
: θ
ball into or through the pit, the member is automatically trans- have the same dot product with A ? (b) θ
ferred to Florida State University, the arch rival. What sequence Which have a negative dot product
:
of displacements should a team member use to avoid the pit and with A ? C
the school transfer? E
11 In a game held within a three-
:
4 Equation 3-2 shows that the addition of two vectors :
a and b is dimensional maze, you must move Figure 3-25 Question 10.
commutative. Does that mean subtraction is commutative, so that your game piece from start, at xyz co-
: : :
ab b: a? ordinates (0, 0, 0), to finish, at coordinates (2 cm, 4 cm, 4 cm).
5 Which of the arrangements of axes in Fig. 3-23 can be labeled The game piece can undergo only the displacements (in centime-
“right-handed coordinate system”? As usual, each axis label indi- ters) given below. If, along the way, the game piece lands at coordi-
cates the positive side of the axis. nates (5 cm, 1 cm, 1 cm) or (5 cm, 2 cm, 1 cm), you lose the
game. Which displacements and in what sequence will get your
game piece to finish?
z x : :
p  7î  2ĵ  3k̂ r  2î  3ĵ  2k̂
: :
q  2î  ĵ  4k̂ s  3î  5ĵ  3k̂.
: :
x x y 12 The x and y components of four vectors : a , b,:
c , and d are given
below. For which vectors will your calculator give you the correct an-
y z z gle u when you use it to find u with Eq. 3-6? Answer first by examin-
y
ing Fig. 3-12, and then check your answers with your calculator.
(a ) (b ) (c )
ax  3 ay  3 cx  3 cy  3
bx  3 by  3 dx  3 dy  3.
x z
x
13 Which of the following are correct (meaningful) vector
expressions? What is wrong with any incorrect expression?
: : : : : :
z y y (a) A  (B  C) (f) A  (B  C)
: : : :
(b) A  (B  C) (g) 5  A
: : : : :
y
z x (c) A  (B  C) (h) 5  (B  C)
: : : : :
(d ) (e ) (f ) (d) A  (B  C) (i) 5  (B  C)
: : : : : : :
Figure 3-23 Question 5. (e) A  (B  C) (j) (A  B)  (B  C)
 PROB LE M S 57

Problems
Tutoring problem available (at instructor’s discretion) in WileyPLUS and WebAssign
SSM Worked-out solution available in Student Solutions Manual WWW Worked-out solution is at
http://www.wiley.com/college/halliday
• – ••• Number of dots indicates level of problem difficulty ILW Interactive solution is at
Additional information available in The Flying Circus of Physics and at flyingcircusofphysics.com

Module 3-1 Vectors and Their Components •12 A car is driven east for a distance of 50 km, then north for 30
•1 SSM What are (a) the x component and (b) the y component of a km, and then in a direction 30° east of north for 25 km. Sketch the
vector :a in the xy plane if its direction is 250° y vector diagram and determine (a) the magnitude and (b) the angle
counterclockwise from the positive direction of the car’s total displacement from its starting point.
of the x axis and its magnitude is 7.3 m? r •13 A person desires to reach a point that is 3.40 km from her
•2 A displacement vector : r in the xy plane θ present location and in a direction that is 35.0° north of east.
x
is 15 m long and directed at angle u  30° in However, she must travel along streets that are oriented either
Fig. 3-26. Determine (a) the x component Figure 3-26 north – south or east – west. What is the minimum distance she
and (b) the y component of the vector. Problem 2. could travel to reach her destination?
:
•3 SSM The x component of vector A is •14 You are to make four straight-line moves over a flat desert
25.0 m and the y component is 40.0 m. (a) What is the magni- floor, starting at the origin of an xy coordinate system and ending
: :
tude of A ? (b) What is the angle between the direction of A and at the xy coordinates (140 m, 30 m). The x component and y
the positive direction of x? component of your moves are the following, respectively, in me-
•4 Express the following angles in radians: (a) 20.0°, (b) 50.0°, ters: (20 and 60), then (bx and 70), then (20 and cy), then (60
(c) 100°. Convert the following angles to degrees: (d) 0.330 rad, and 70). What are (a) component bx and (b) component cy?
(e) 2.10 rad, (f) 7.70 rad. What are (c) the magnitude and (d) the angle (relative to the pos-
itive direction of the x axis) of the overall displacement?
•5 A ship sets out to sail to a point 120 km due north. An unex-
•15 SSM ILW WWW The two vec-
pected storm blows the ship to a point 100 km due east of its : y
tors :
a and b in Fig. 3-28 have equal
starting point. (a) How far and (b) in what direction must it now
magnitudes of 10.0 m and the angles
sail to reach its original destination?
are 1  30° and 2  105°. Find the b
•6 In Fig. 3-27, a heavy piece of (a) x and (b) y components of their
d θ2
machinery is raised by sliding it a vector sum : r , (c) the magnitude of :
r,
distance d  12.5 m along a plank and (d) the angle : r makes with the
oriented at angle u  20.0° to the positive direction of the x axis.
horizontal. How far is it moved a
•16 For the displacement vectors θ1
(a) vertically and (b) horizontally? θ : : x
a  (3.0 m)î  (4.0 m)ĵ and b  O
: :
•7 Consider two displacements, (5.0 m)î  (2.0 m)ĵ , give a  b in
one of magnitude 3 m and another Figure 3-27 Problem 6. Figure 3-28 Problem 15.
(a) unit-vector notation, and as (b) a
of magnitude 4 m. Show how the magnitude and (c) an angle (rela-
:
displacement vectors may be combined to get a resultant displace- tive to î ). Now give b  :a in (d) unit-vector notation, and as (e) a
ment of magnitude (a) 7 m, (b) 1 m, and (c) 5 m. magnitude and (f) an angle.
: :
:
Module 3-2 Unit Vectors, Adding Vectors by Components •17 ILW Three vectors a , b , and c each have a magnitude of
•8 A person walks in the following pattern: 3.1 km north, then 50 m and lie in an xy plane. Their directions relative to the positive
2.4 km west, and finally 5.2 km south. (a) Sketch the vector dia- direction of the x axis are 30°, 195°, and 315°, respectively. What are
:
gram that represents this motion. (b) How far and (c) in what di- (a) the magnitude and (b) the angle of the vector : ab: c , and
: : :
rection would a bird fly in a straight line from the same starting (c) the magnitude and (d) the angle of a  b  c ? What are the
:
point to the same final point? (e) magnitude and (f) angle of a fourth vector d such that
: : : :
•9 Two vectors are given by (a  b )  ( c  d )  0?
: : : :
: •18 In the sum A  B  C, vector A has a magnitude of 12.0 m
a  (4.0 m)î  (3.0 m)ĵ  (1.0 m)k̂
and is angled 40.0° counterclockwise from the x direction, and vec-
: :
and b  (1.0 m)î  (1.0 m)ĵ  (4.0 m)k̂. tor C has a magnitude of 15.0 m and is angled 20.0° counterclock-
: : wise from the x direction. What are (a) the magnitude and (b) the
In unit-vector notation, find (a) :
a  b , (b) :
a  b , and (c) a third :
: : : : angle (relative to x) of B?
vector c such that a  b  c  0.
•19 In a game of lawn chess, where pieces are moved between
•10 Find the (a) x, (b) y, and (c) z components of the sum : r of
: the centers of squares that are each 1.00 m on edge, a knight is
the displacements : c and d whose components in meters are
moved in the following way: (1) two squares forward, one square
cx  7.4, cy  3.8, cz  6.1; dx  4.4, dy  2.0, dz  3.3.
:
rightward; (2) two squares leftward, one square forward; (3) two
•11 SSM (a) In unit-vector notation, what is the sum : a  b if squares forward, one square leftward. What are (a) the magnitude
: :
a  (4.0 m)î  (3.0 m)ĵ and b  (13.0 m)î  (7.0 m)ĵ ? What and (b) the angle (relative to “forward”) of the knight’s overall dis-
:
are the (b) magnitude and (c) direction of :
a  b? placement for the series of three moves?
58 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

••20 An explorer is caught in a whiteout (in which the an ant’s displacement from the nest (find it in the figure) if the
snowfall is so thick that the ground cannot be distinguished from ant enters the trail at point A? What are the (c) magnitude and
the sky) while returning to base camp. He was supposed to travel (d) angle if it enters at point B?
due north for 5.6 km, but when the snow clears, he discovers that
he actually traveled 7.8 km at 50° north of due east. (a) How far
and (b) in what direction must he now travel to reach base camp? b
a m
l
••21 An ant, crazed by the Sun on a hot Texas afternoon, darts c
A n
over an xy plane scratched in the dirt. The x and y components of e
h k B
four consecutive darts are the following, all in centimeters: (30.0, d o
40.0), (bx, 70.0), (20.0, cy), (80.0, 70.0). The overall displace- g p r
f
ment of the four darts has the xy components (140, 20.0). What i j
q
are (a) bx and (b) cy? What are the (c) magnitude and (d) angle y
s
(relative to the positive direction of the x axis) of the overall
v
displacement? t
x u
••22 (a) What is the sum of the following four vectors in unit-
vector notation? For that sum, what are (b) the magnitude, (c) the w
angle in degrees, and (d) the angle in radians?
: :
Figure 3-29 Problem 29.
E: 6.00 m at 0.900 rad F: 5.00 m at 75.0
: : ••30 Here are two vectors:
G: 4.00 m at 1.20 rad H: 6.00 m at 210
: :
: :
a  (4.0 m)î  (3.0 m)ĵ and b  (6.0 m)î  (8.0 m)ĵ.
••23 If B is added to C  3.0î  4.0ĵ , the result is a vector in the
:
positive direction of the y axis, with a magnitude equal to that of C. What are (a) the magnitude and (b) the angle (relative to î ) of :
a?
:
: What are (c) the magnitude and (d) the angle of b ? What are (e)
What is the magnitude of B? :
: the magnitude and (f) the angle of : a  b ; (g) the magnitude and
••24 Vector A , which is directed along an x axis, is to be added : :
: (h) the angle of b  a ; and (i) the magnitude and ( j) the angle of
to vector B, which has a magnitude of 7.0 m. The sum is a third vec- : : :
a  b ? (k) What is the angle between the directions of b  : a
tor that is directed along the y axis, with a magnitude that is 3.0 : :
: : and a  b ?
times that of A . What is that magnitude of A ?
••31 In Fig. 3-30, a vector : a with a magnitude of 17.0 m is
••25 Oasis B is 25 km due east of oasis A. Starting from oasis directed at angle   56.0° counterclockwise from the x axis.
A, a camel walks 24 km in a direction 15° south of east and then What are the components (a) ax and (b) ay of the vector? A sec-
walks 8.0 km due north. How far is the camel then from oasis B? ond coordinate system is inclined by angle   18.0° with respect
••26 What is the sum of the following four vectors in (a) unit- to the first. What are the components (c) ax and (d) ay in this
vector notation, and as (b) a magnitude and (c) an angle? primed coordinate system?
: : y' y
A  (2.00 m)î  (3.00 m)ĵ B: 4.00 m, at 65.0
: : ay
C  (4.00 m)î  (6.00 m)ĵ D: 5.00 m, at 235
a
: : : : : : :
••27 If d1  d2 5d3, d1  d2 3d3, and d3  2î  4ĵ, then a'y
: :
what are, in unit-vector notation, (a) d1 and (b) d2?
x'
••28 Two beetles run across flat sand, starting at the same point.
θ' θ a'x
Beetle 1 runs 0.50 m due east, then 0.80 m at 30° north of due east.
Beetle 2 also makes two runs; the first is 1.6 m at 40° east of due x
north. What must be (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction of its O ax
θ'
second run if it is to end up at the new location of beetle 1?
••29 Typical backyard ants often create a network of Figure 3-30 Problem 31.
chemical trails for guidance. Extending outward from the nest, a
trail branches (bifurcates) repeatedly, with 60° between the •••32 In Fig. 3-31, a cube of edge z
branches. If a roaming ant chances upon a trail, it can tell the length a sits with one corner at the ori-
way to the nest at any branch point: If it is moving away from gin of an xyz coordinate system. A
the nest, it has two choices of path requiring a small turn in body diagonal is a line that extends a
its travel direction, either 30° leftward or 30° rightward. If from one corner to another through y
a
it is moving toward the nest, it has only one such choice. the center. In unit-vector notation, a
Figure 3-29 shows a typical ant trail, with lettered straight sec- what is the body diagonal that extends x
tions of 2.0 cm length and symmetric bifurcation of 60°. Path v is from the corner at (a) coordinates (0, Figure 3-31 Problem 32.
parallel to the y axis. What are the (a) magnitude and (b) angle 0, 0), (b) coordinates (a, 0, 0), (c) coor-
(relative to the positive direction of the superimposed x axis) of dinates (0, a, 0), and (d) coordinates (a, a, 0)? (e) Determine the
 PROB LE M S 59

:
angles that the body diagonals make with the adjacent edges. ponent of b; and (e) the x component and (f) the y component of :
c ? If
: : :
(f) Determine the length of the body diagonals in terms of a. c  pa  qb, what are the values of (g) p and (h) q?
: : :
Module 3-3 Multiplying Vectors ••44 In the product F  qv  B, take q  2,
: :
•33 For the vectors in Fig. 3-32, with a  4, b  3, and c  5, what v  2.0î  4.0ĵ  6.0k̂ and F  4.0î  20ĵ  12k̂.
are (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction :
: What then is B in unit-vector notation if Bx  By?
of :a  b, (c) the magnitude and (d) the di- y
rection of :a: c , and (e) the magnitude Additional Problems
:
and (f) the direction of b  : c ? (The z axis c : : :
b 45 Vectors A and B lie in an xy plane. A has magnitude 8.00 and
is not shown.) :
angle 130°; B has components Bx  7.72 and By  9.20. (a)
: : : :
•34 Two vectors are presented as
: x What is 5A  B? What is 4A  3B in (b) unit-vector notation and
:
a  3.0î  5.0ĵ and b  2.0î  4.0ĵ . Find a (c) magnitude-angle notation with spherical coordinates (see
: : : : : : : :
(a) a  b , (b) a  b , (c) (a  b )  b , and Fig. 3-34)? (d) What is the angle between the directions of A and
: Figure 3-32 : :
(d) the component of a along the direc- 4A  3B? (Hint: Think a bit before you resort to a calculation.)
: Problems 33 and 54. :
tion of b . (Hint: For (d), consider Eq. 3-20 What is A  3.00k̂ in (e) unit-vector notation and (f) magnitude-
and Fig. 3-18.) angle notation with spherical coordinates?
•35 Two vectors, : r and :
s , lie in the xy plane. Their magnitudes are z
4.50 and 7.30 units, respectively, and their directions are 320° and
85.0°, respectively, as measured counterclockwise from the positive
x axis. What are the values of (a) : r :s and (b) :
r : s? φ
: :
•36 If d1  3î  2ĵ  4k̂ and d2  5î  2ĵ  k̂, then what is y
: : : :
(d1  d2)  (d1  4d2)? θ
•37 Three vectors are given by : a  3.0î  3.0ĵ  2.0k̂,
:
b  1.0î  4.0ĵ  2.0k̂, and : c  2.0î  2.0ĵ  1.0k̂. Find (a) x
: : : :
a  (b  :
c ), (b) :
a  (b  :
c ), and (c) :
a  (b  : c ).
Figure 3-34 Problem 45.
: : :
••38 For the following three vectors, what is 3C  (2A  B)?
: 46 Vector :a has a magnitude of 5.0 m and is directed east.
A  2.00î  3.00ĵ  4.00k̂ :
Vector b has a magnitude of 4.0 m and is directed 35° west of due
: : :
B  3.00î  4.00ĵ  2.00k̂ C  7.00î  8.00ĵ north. What are (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction of :
a  b?
: :
: : What are (c) the magnitude and (d) the direction of b  a ? (e)
••39 Vector A has a magnitude of 6.00 units, vector B has a mag-
: : Draw a vector diagram for each combination.
nitude of 7.00 units, and A  B has a value of 14.0. What is the angle : : :
: :
between the directions of A and B? 47 Vectors A and B lie in an xy plane. A has magnitude 8.00
:
: and angle 130°; B has components Bx  7.72 and By  9.20.
••40 Displacement d1 is in the yz plane 63.0° from the positive
What are the angles between the negative direction of the y axis
direction of the y axis, has a positive z component, and has a mag- :
: and (a) the direction of A , (b) the direction of the product
nitude of 4.50 m. Displacement d2 is in the xz plane 30.0° from the : : : :
A  B, and (c) the direction of A  (B  3.00k̂)?
positive direction of the x axis, has a positive z component, and has :
: : : :
magnitude 1.40 m. What are (a) d1  d2, (b) d1  d2, and (c) the an- 48 Two vectors : a and b have the components, in meters,
: :
gle between d1 and d2? ax  3.2, ay  1.6, bx  0.50, by  4.5. (a) Find the angle between
:
the directions of : a and b . There are two vectors in the xy plane that
••41 SSM ILW WWW Use the definition of scalar product, :
are perpendicular to a and have a magnitude of 5.0 m. One, vector
: : :
a  b  ab cos , and the fact that :a  b  axbx  ayby  azbz to cal- : :
c , has a positive x component and the other, vector d , a negative x
culate the angle between the two vectors given by : a  3.0î  component. What are (b) the x component and (c) the y compo-
:
3.0ĵ  3.0k̂ and b  2.0î  1.0ĵ  3.0k̂. nent of vector : c , and (d) the x component and (e) the y component
:
••42 In a meeting of mimes, mime 1 goes through a displacement of vector d ?
:
d1  (4.0 m)î  (5.0 m)ĵ and mime 2 goes through a displacement 49 SSM A sailboat sets out from the U.S. side of Lake Erie for a
: : : : :
d2  (3.0 m)î  (4.0 m)ĵ . What are (a) d1  d2, (b) d1  d2, point on the Canadian side, 90.0 km due north. The sailor, how-
: : :
(c) (d1  d2)  d2, and (d) the com- ever, ends up 50.0 km due east of the starting point. (a) How far
: y
ponent of d1 along the direction of c and (b) in what direction must the sailor now sail to reach the orig-
:
d2? (Hint: For (d), see Eq. 3-20 and inal destination?
Fig. 3-18.) : :
50 Vector d1 is in the negative direction of a y axis, and vector d2
••43 SSM ILW The three vectors in is in the positive direction of an x axis. What are the directions of
: :
Fig. 3-33 have magnitudes a  3.00 m, b (a) d2 /4 and (b) d1 /(4)? What are the magnitudes of products (c)
: : : :
b  4.00 m, and c  10.0 m and angle θ d1  d2 and (d) d1  (d2 /4)? What is the direction of the vector result-
: : : :
  30.0°. What are (a) the x compo- a
x
ing from (e) d1  d2 and (f) d2  d1? What is the magnitude of the
nent and (b) the y component of :
a ; (c) vector product in (g) part (e) and (h) part (f)? What are the (i)
: :
the x component and (d) the y com- Figure 3-33 Problem 43. magnitude and (j) direction of d1  (d2/4)?
60 CHAPTE R 3 VECTORS

:
51 Rock faults are ruptures along which opposite faces of rock 58 A vector d has a magnitude of 2.5 m and points north. What
:
have slid past each other. In Fig. 3-35, points A and B coincided be- are (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction of 4.0d ? What are (c)
:
fore the rock in the foreground slid down to the right. The net dis-
9: the magnitude and (d) the direction of 3.0d ?
placement AB is along the plane of the fault. The horizontal compo- :
9: 9: 59 A has the magnitude 12.0 m and is angled 60.0° counterclock-
nent of AB is the strike-slip AC. The component of AB that is
wise from the positive direction of the x axis of an xy coordinate
directed down the plane of the fault is the dip-slip AD. (a) What is the :
9: system. Also, B  (12.0 m)î  (8.00 m)ĵ on that same coordinate
magnitude of the net displacement AB if the strike-slip is 22.0 m and
system. We now rotate the system counterclockwise about the origin
the dip-slip is 17.0 m? (b) If the plane of the fault is inclined at angle :
9: by 20.0° to form an xy system. On this new system, what are (a) A
  52.0° to the horizontal, what is the vertical component of AB ? :
and (b) B, both in unit-vector notation?
: :
Strike-slip 60 If : a  b  2:c, :
a  b  4:
c , and :
c  3î  4ĵ , then what are
: :
(a) a and (b) b ?
C :
61 (a) In unit-vector notation, what is : r : ab: c if
: :
a  5.0î  4.0ĵ  6.0k̂, b  2.0î  2.0ĵ  3.0k̂, and :
c  4.0î 
B
A 3.0ĵ  2.0k̂? (b) Calculate the angle between : r and the positive z
:
Dip-slip D axis. (c) What is the component of : a along the direction of b ? (d)
:
What is the component of : a perpendicular to the direction of b but
φ : :
in the plane of a and b ? (Hint: For (c), see Eq. 3-20 and Fig. 3-18;
for (d), see Eq. 3-24.)
Fault plane 62 A golfer takes three putts to get the ball into the hole. The
Figure 3-35 Problem 51. first putt displaces the ball 3.66 m north, the second 1.83 m south-
east, and the third 0.91 m southwest. What are (a) the magnitude
and (b) the direction of the displacement needed to get the ball
52 Here are three displacements, each measured in meters:
: : : into the hole on the first putt?
d1  4.0î  5.0ĵ  6.0k̂, d2  1.0î  2.0ĵ  3.0k̂, and d3 
: : : :
4.0î  3.0ĵ  2.0k̂. (a) What is r  d1  d2  d3? (b) What is the 63 Here are three vectors in meters:
angle between : r and the positive z axis? (c) What is the compo- :
: : d1  3.0î  3.0ĵ  2.0k̂
nent of d1 along the direction of d2? (d) What is the component of
: : : :
d1 that is perpendicular to the direction of d2 and in the plane of d1 d2  2.0î  4.0ĵ  2.0k̂
:
and d2? (Hint: For (c), consider Eq. 3-20 and Fig. 3-18; for (d), con- :
d3  2.0î  3.0ĵ  1.0k̂.
sider Eq. 3-24.)
: : : : : : :
53 SSM A vector : a of magnitude 10 units and another vector b What results from (a) d1  (d2  d3), (b) d1  (d2  d3), and
: : :
of magnitude 6.0 units differ in directions by 60°. Find (a) the (c) d1  (d2  d3)?
scalar product of the two vectors and (b) the magnitude of the vec- 64 SSM WWW A room has dimensions 3.00 m (height) 
:
tor product :
a  b. 3.70 m  4.30 m. A fly starting at one corner flies around, ending
54 For the vectors in Fig. 3-32, with a  4, b  3, and c  5, calcu- up at the diagonally opposite corner. (a) What is the magnitude of
: :
late (a) :
a  b , (b) :
a :
c , and (c) b  :
c. its displacement? (b) Could the length of its path be less than this
magnitude? (c) Greater? (d) Equal? (e) Choose a suitable coordi-
55 A particle undergoes three successive displacements in a
: : nate system and express the components of the displacement vec-
plane, as follows: d1, 4.00 m southwest; then d2, 5.00 m east; and
: tor in that system in unit-vector notation. (f) If the fly walks, what
finally d3, 6.00 m in a direction 60.0° north of east. Choose a coor-
is the length of the shortest path? (Hint: This can be answered
dinate system with the y axis pointing north and the x axis pointing
: without calculus. The room is like a box. Unfold its walls to flatten
east. What are (a) the x component and (b) the y component of d1?
: them into a plane.)
What are (c) the x component and (d) the y component of d2?
:
What are (e) the x component and (f) the y component of d3? 65 A protester carries his sign of protest, starting from the ori-
Next, consider the net displacement of the particle for the three gin of an xyz coordinate system, with the xy plane horizontal. He
successive displacements. What are (g) the x component, (h) the y moves 40 m in the negative direction of the x axis, then 20 m
component, (i) the magnitude, and ( j) the direction of the net dis- along a perpendicular path to his left, and then 25 m up a water
placement? If the particle is to return directly to the starting point, tower. (a) In unit-vector notation, what is the displacement of
(k) how far and (l) in what direction should it move? the sign from start to end? (b) The sign then falls to the foot of
the tower. What is the magnitude of the displacement of the sign
56 Find the sum of the following four vectors in (a) unit-vector
from start to this new end?
notation, and as (b) a magnitude and (c) an angle relative to x. :
: 66 Consider : a in the positive direction of x, b in the positive di-
P: 10.0 m, at 25.0° counterclockwise from x :
rection of y, and a scalar d. What is the direction of b /d if d is
: :
Q: 12.0 m, at 10.0° counterclockwise from y (a) positive and (b) negative? What is the magnitude of (c) : ab
: : :
R: 8.00 m, at 20.0° clockwise from y and (d) a  b /d? What is the direction of the vector resulting from
: :
:
S : 9.00 m, at 40.0° counterclockwise from y a  b and (f) b  :
(e) : a ? (g) What is the magnitude of the vector
: : :
product in (e)? (h) What is the magnitude of the vector product in
:
57 SSM If B is added to A, the result is 6.0î  1.0ĵ . If B is subtracted (f)? What are (i) the magnitude and (j) the direction of : a  b /d if d
: :
from A, the result is 4.0î  7.0ĵ .What is the magnitude of A? is positive?
 PROB LE M S 61

67 Let î be directed to the east, ĵ be directed to the north, and k̂ 72 A fire ant, searching for hot sauce in a picnic area, goes
:
be directed upward. What are the values of products (a) î  k̂, (b) through three displacements along level ground: d l for 0.40 m
(k̂)  (ĵ), and (c) ĵ  (ĵ)? What are the directions (such as east southwest (that is, at 45° from directly south and from directly
: :
or down) of products (d) k̂  ĵ, (e) (î)  (ĵ), and (f) (k̂)  (ĵ)? west), d 2 for 0.50 m due east, d 3 for 0.60 m at 60° north of east.
68 A bank in downtown Boston is robbed (see the map in Let the positive x direction be east and the positive y direction
Fig. 3-36). To elude police, the robbers escape by helicopter, mak- be north. What are (a) the x component and (b) the y compo-
:
ing three successive flights described by the following displace- nent of d l? Next, what are (c) the x component and (d) the y
:
ments: 32 km, 45° south of east; 53 km, 26° north of west; 26 km, 18° component of d 2? Also, what are (e) the x component and (f)
:
east of south. At the end of the third flight they are captured. In the y component of d 3?
what town are they apprehended? What are (g) the x component, (h) the y component, (i) the
magnitude, and (j) the direction of the ant’s net displacement? If
the ant is to return directly to the starting point, (k) how far and (1)
BOSTON N
and Vicinity in what direction should it move?
:
Salem 73 Two vectors are given by : a  3.0î  5.0ĵ and b  2.0î  4.0ĵ.
5 10 km : : : :
Woburn Find (a) :
a  b , (b) : :
a  b , (c) (a  b )  b , and (d) the component of
: :
Lexington Lynn a along the direction of b .
Arlington Medford Bank 74 Vector : a lies in the yz plane 63.0 from the positive direction
of the y axis, has a positive z component, and has magnitude 3.20
:
Waltham Winthrop units. Vector b lies in the xz plane 48.0 from the positive direction
of the x axis, has a positive z component, and has magnitude 1.40
BOSTON : : :
Newton Massachusetts units. Find (a) :
a  b , (b) :
a  b , and (c) the angle between :
a and b .
Brookline Bay
Wellesley 75 Find (a) “north cross west,” (b) “down dot south,” (c) “east
cross up,” (d) “west dot west,” and (e) “south cross south.” Let each
Framingham “vector” have unit magnitude.
: :
Dedham Quincy 76 A vector B, with a magnitude of 8.0 m, is added to a vector A,
which lies along an x axis. The sum of these two vectors is a third
Weymouth
vector that lies along the y axis and has a magnitude that is twice
: :
Walpole the magnitude of A. What is the magnitude of A?
77 A man goes for a walk, starting from the origin of an xyz
Figure 3-36 Problem 68.
coordinate system, with the xy plane horizontal and the x axis east-
ward. Carrying a bad penny, he walks 1300 m east, 2200 m north,
69 A wheel with a radius of 45.0 cm P
and then drops the penny from a cliff 410 m high. (a) In unit-vector
rolls without slipping along a hori- notation, what is the displacement of the penny from start to its
zontal floor (Fig. 3-37). At time t1, landing point? (b) When the man returns to the origin, what is the
the dot P painted on the rim of the magnitude of his displacement for the return trip?
wheel is at the point of contact be- P :
tween the wheel and the floor. At a 78 What is the magnitude of : a  (b  : a ) if a  3.90, b  2.70,
later time t2, the wheel has rolled and the angle between the two vectors is 63.0°?
At time t1 At time t2
:
through one-half of a revolution. 79 In Fig. 3-38, the magnitude of : a is 4.3, the magnitude of b is
What are (a) the magnitude and (b) Figure 3-37 Problem 69. 5.4, and   46°. Find the area of the triangle contained between
the angle (relative to the floor) of the two vectors and the thin diagonal line.
the displacement of P?
70 A woman walks 250 m in the direction 30° east of north, then
175 m directly east. Find (a) the magnitude and (b) the angle of her
final displacement from the starting point. (c) Find the distance she
b
walks. (d) Which is greater, that distance or the magnitude of her
displacement?
: f
71 A vector d has a magnitude 3.0 m and is directed south. What
: a
are (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction of the vector 5.0 d ? What
:
are (c) the magnitude and (d) the direction of the vector 2.0 d ? Figure 3-38 Problem 79.