Resolved Problems

VECTORS

Attention Read the subject in the textbook and in the lecture notes and reproduce the resolved problems here. Others are left for you to practice.

PROBLEM 1 Two vectors, whose magnitudes are 6 and 9 units in length, form an angle of (a) 0°.
(b) 60°, (c) 90°, (d) 150°, (e) 180°. Determine the magnitude of the sum of these vectors and the direction of the resultant vector with
relation to the smallest vector.

SOLUTION Let's |choose

|| | the direction Ox in the direction and in the sense of the vector a. In Figure 1,
c = a + b, represents the sum of the vectors a and b, Σ is the angle between these vectors and ⊚ is the direction of the resultant with

vector relationship (smaller vector). According to what we saw in class, the sum of two vectors, in terms of the
components, it can be written as
c xax bx ,cyay+by→c=cxi + candj
from where we can calculate the direction tenth in relation to the Ox axis, using the expression
cy cy
tg = c x →😊 =arctg c x

As the direction of Ox coincides with the direction of vector a, the angle θ is also the angle between the resultant vector and the
vector, as the problem demands. Based on the figure, we will calculate the resultant vector and its direction in relation to
for each of the cases shown.

y y
y

b c b
c
θ = 60º
α = 0º c α α θ = 90º
x x x
a b a a
(a) (b) (c)
y
y

j b θ = 150º
c α b α = 180º
I
x x
a c a
(d) (e)

Figure 1 Geometric representation of c = a + b

(a) Components:

a x a 6,bxb=9 c x6 + 9 = 15
c = 15i
a y0,by0 c y0

Logo

c=15
c = 10.5i + 3j
0º

(b) Components:
Prof. Dr. Abraham Moysés Cohen Department of Physics 1
 Federal University of Amazonas

a x cos 0º = 6, bxbcos60º = 9 * 0.5 = 4.5 c x 64,5 10,5

c = 10.5i + 7.8j
3 c y0 + 7.8 = 7.8
a y asen0º 0,bycosine 60 degrees equals 9 7.8
2

Logo,

c 10,527,8213,1
c 10,5i7,8j 7.8
arctan Approximately 37 degrees
10.5

(c)Components:

a x a 6,bxbcos90º = 0 c x6 + 0 = 6
c = 6i + 9j
a y0, b y∠90º = 9 c y0 + 9 = 9

Logo

c = 6292 36 + 81 = 10.8
c = 6i + 9j
arctan 9 ≈56º
6

(d) Components:

3
a x a 6,bxb * cos(150º) = 9 * - -7.8 c x 6 - 7.8 = -1.8
2 c = -1.8i + 4.5j
c y0 + 4.5 = 4.5
a y0, b yabsen 150º = 9 · 0.5 = 4.5

Logo,

c = (-1.8)24.524.8
c = -1.8i + 4.5j
4.5
arctan ≈100°
-1.8

(e)Components:

a x a 6,bx b cos 180º = 9 (−1) = −9 c x6 - 9 = -3

c = -3i
a y 0, b ycosine of 180 degrees equals 0 c y0 + 0 = 0

Logo,

c=3
c = -3i
180º

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PROBLEM 2 Calculate the angle between two vectors, with magnitudes of 10 and 15 units in length, in the
cases in which the sum of these vectors is (a) 20 units of length and (b) 12 units of length. Draw
an appropriate figure.
SOLUTION Sejaa | =| |10eb
| = 15, eΣo is the angle between the two vectors that we want to calculate. Let's choose the

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axis Ox in the direction and sense of the vector, so thatxa=10eay0. Assim

(a)c |= | (ax+bx 2b220

a = 10i |a | = a x= 10 y
c = a + b = axi + (ayby j
b=bx i + by j | x2+by215
|b=b (b)c =| | (a)xbx 2+b212
y

(a) In this case, c =

| |20e, therefore,

|a | = ax2ay2 ax10
a x 10,bx2by2225
| x2 by215
|b=b 2 2 2
ax nullx by ax2ax b x bx2by2400
2 2
|c | = axbx ayby 20

Thus, substituting the values in the last equation, one finds

100 + 2 * 10bx225 = 400bx 400−325 3.75
20
From the equation bx2by2225, we can find by That is to say,

b y± 225−bx2± 225–14.1 ± 14.5

Thus, we have two vectors that satisfy the conditions of the problem:
b 13.75i + 14.5j

b 23.75i - 14.5j

To calculate the angle between the two vectors, simply calculate the angle between the vector and the x-axis. Thus,
14.5
1arctan 75.5º
3.75
-14.5 -75.5º
2arctan
3.75

y y

c
b
a
θ1 x
x θ2
a
c b

(a) |c| = 20

Figure 2 Solutions for c = 20.

| |
(b) Do this item, following the same procedure as (a).
★★★
Prof. Dr. Abraham Moysés Cohen Department of Physics 3
 Federal University of Amazonas

PROBLEM 3 Two vectors form an angle of 110°. One of the vectors is 20 units long and makes
an angle of 40° with the resultant vector of the sum of the two. Determine the magnitude of the second vector and the sum vector.

SOLUTION Let's suppose that c = a + | b,

| where a = 20, making an angle θ = 40º with the resulting vector.
Choosing the x-axis in the direction and sense of the vector, the angle between the vector and this axis is 110º.
even if entreaeb.

c b
θ =110º
α =40º
x
a

Figure 3
Calculation of the modulus of the vector b In the same way, it is the angle between the vector and the x-axis (Figure 3). In terms
the components:

a x acos0º=20 b xbcos110º = -0.34bxaxbx20 - 0.34b

c = (20 - 0.34b)i + 0.94bj
a ysen0º=0 b yabsen110º=0.94bcyay by0.94b

For = 40º, and as we know that

cy 0.94b 0.94b = (20 - 0.34b) * tg(40º)
tg = c x tg40° =
20−0.34b
you (tg40º=0.84)
0.94b = (20 - 0.34b) * 0.84 { 0.94b + 0.29b = 16.8 { b = 13.7

What is the modulus of the vector b.

Calculation of the magnitude of the sum vector To calculate the modulus of the vector, just use its representation.
c = (20 - 0.34b)i + 0.94b where b = 13.7. Thus,

c = (20 - 0.34 * 13.7)i + 0.94 * 13.7j = 15.3i + 12.9j c = 15.3212.9220 | |

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PROBLEM 4 The resultant vector of two others is 10 units long and forms an angle of 35° with
one of the component vectors, which is 12 units long. Determine the magnitude of the other vector and the angle
between the two.
SOLUTION Let a + b = 10. We will
| | | choose
| a = 12 and the Ox axis in the direction and sense of this vector. Thus, the
the resulting vector makes an angle θ = 35° with the vector a, by construction, with the Ox axis. In the same way, Σ is the
the angle between also the angle between the axis Ox (direction deb) (Figure 4). The components of these vectors
are

a xacos0º=12 b xbcosΣ = bcosΣ cx axbx12 + b cos Σ c = (12 + b cos(Σ)) i + b sin(Σ) j

a yas is 0° = 0 b andabsenty aybyabsent

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c b

α =35º θ =?

x
a

Figure 4
Calculation of the angle between the vectors a and b But, since we know the magnitude and the direction of it, we can
calculate its components, that is,

c xccos35° = 10 * 0.82 = 8.2 c ycos(35°) = 10 * 0.57 = 5.7 => c = 8.2i + 5.7j

Comparing with the other expression dec, we obtain

8.2 minus 12 -3.8 5.7

12 + bcosΣ = 8.2 cosΣ =
b b tgΣ= sen b − 5,7 -1.5
bsen = 5.7 5.7 cosΣ -3.8 3.8
sen=s
b b
or

Σ = arctg(-1.5) ≈ 123.7º

Calculation of the vector's magnitude With the angle now we can calculate using the expression for c
c = (12 + b cos(Σ)) i + b sen(Σ) j = (12 - 0.55b) i + 0.83b j

As we know that c = 10,

| | then

2 2
|c | = √(12 - 0.55b) 0.83b 10

and then we can calculate the module deb. That is,

12 - 0.55b20.83b210(12 - 0.55b)20.83b2 100 0.99b2-13, 2b + 44 = 0

This quadratic equation has two equal roots, b = 6.7, which is the magnitude of the vector we are looking for.

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PROBLEM 5 Determine the angle between two vectors, of 8 and 10 units in length, when the vector
The resultant makes an angle of 50° with the larger vector. Also calculate the magnitude of the resultant vector.

SOLUTION Do this problem; it's similar to the previous one.

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PROBLEM 6 The resultant of two vectors is 30 units in length and forms angles of 25° with them.
50°. Determine the magnitudes of the two vectors

SOLUTION Solve this problem; it is similar to the previous ones.

★★★

Prof. Dr. Abraham Moysés Cohen Department of Physics 5

 Federal University of Amazonas

PROBLEM 7 Determine the orthogonal components of a vector of 15 units in length that forms a
ângulo, com o eixoOx, positivo, de (a) 50°, (b) 130, c) 230° e (d) 310°.
SOLUTION Left for you to train.
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PROBLEM 8 Three vectors in the same plane have lengths of 6, 5, and 4 units, respectively. The
the first and the second form an angle of 50°, while the second and the third form an angle of 75°.
Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant relative to the largest vector.

SOLUTION Let's consider the equation a + b + c, where a = 6, b = 5, and

| | |c |=| 4,| and with the choice of the Ox axis.
direction and sense of the vectors, the directions of these vectors are: Σa0°, Σb 50ºEc 75° + 50° = 125° (Figure 5).

c
75º

50º

b
α =? θ b =50º
x
a

Figure 5
The components of these vectors can then be calculated:

a xacos0º=6 b x bcosΣb5cos50°=3.2 c xccosΣc 4cos125º = -2.3

a yasen0°=0 b ybsenb 5sen50º 3,8 c yYouc4 sin 125º = 3.3

d xaxbxcx 63,2−2,3 6,9

d = 6.9i + 7.1j
d yaybycy0 + 3.8 + 3.3 = 7.1

Magnitude of the resultant vector From p = 6.9i + 7.1j, the modulus of p can be easily calculated.

| x2 dy26.92+7.129.9
|d=d

Direction of the resultant vector The direction of the vector is given by

dy 7.1 θ = arctan(1.0) = 45°

tg =
dx 6.9
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PROBLEM 9 Four coplanar vectors are given, measuring 8, 12, 10, and 6 units in length, respectively;
The last three, together with the first, form angles of 70°, 150°, and 200°, respectively. Determine the magnitude and the
direction of the resultant vector

SOLUTION This problem is similar to the previous one. Solve it.

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PROBLEM 10 Prove that if the sum and the difference of two vectors are perpendicular, the two vectors have

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identical modules.
SOLUTION We will denote by s = a + b and d = b - a the sum and the difference of two arbitrary vectors a and
respectively, and choose the axis Ox in the direction and sense of a. Thus, the angle Σ between the vectors a and b also gives the
direction of vector b. Let δ be the angle between the sum vector s and the difference vector d, whose directions are given by θ.se d,
respectively (Figure 6).

φ s
b d αs
θ
αs αd
x
a

Figure 6
Let's calculate the components of these vectors in the Oxy system:

s xa + bx 2 +b2
s = a + bx y
ax a b xbcosΣ s and by
a y0 b yabsent d xbx-a
d = bx-a=>2by2
d y by

From Figure 6, we know that

d s d− s

Taking the sine of both sides in the expression for δ, we find

sin(x) = sin(θ)d− ssendcoss-sen😊 s cosined

But,
sy by dy by
sens s send
a + bx 2
+by2 d 2 2
ïbx−a by
,
cosines sx a + bx
cosd dx b x -a
s 2 2 d
abx by ˠbx-a2by2

So

by a + bx by b x -a
send −
2 2 2 2
bx -a⇒2by2 a + bx by a + bx by bx−a2by2

Now let's consider the condition of perpendicularity between the vectors, expressed by δ = 90º (or δ =
2
rad). So, remembering that quesen90º=1, it is found

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by a + bx by b x-a
1= −
2 2 2 2 2 2
bx−a2by2 a + bx by a + bx by x-a implies by

By making the product and simplifying the result, one finds

2aby
1
bx −a=>2±by2 a + bx 2
+by2

you, (carefully follow the next passages):

bx−a2+by2a + bx 2 2 2 2
by4a b y
-2bx2 a 2bx4+2bx2 b y2a4+2by2 a 2by44a2 b y2
a 4-2bx2 a 2+2by2 a 2 bx4by42bx2 b y2=> 4a2 b y2
2
a 4-2bx2 a 2+2by2 a 2 bx2by2 4a2 b y2
a 4b4−2bx2 a 2-4a2 b y22by2 a 20
a 4b4-2bx2 a 2-2a2 b y20
a 4 4-2a2 bx2by20
a 4b4-2a2 b 20
2
â2-b2 0
where we use2bx2+by2 Logo
a 2-b20 if a = b

cqd.
Observation This solution becomes much simpler with the use of other properties of vectors that we will see.
later (scalar product).
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PROBLEM 11 Given the vectors
a 3i−5j, b −i4j
calculate: (a) the modulus and the direction of the sum vector; (b) the modulus and the direction of the difference a - b.

SOLUTION As we know the projections of the vectors, that is,

a x3,ay5
b x −1,by 4
we can represent them in the Oxy system (Figure 7).

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y y

4 4

b b
3 d 3
x x
θs -1 θd
-1 s
a a

-5 -5

s=a+b d=a-b
Figure 7
Magnitude and direction of the sum vector Denoting the sum vector as s = a + b, then

s = 221 + 1 = 5 approximately 2.24

s xax+bx3-1=2
sy -1
s y ay+by −54 −1 tg s sx s −26,6º
2

Modulus and direction of the difference vector The components of the difference vector are

d xax-bx3 - (-1) = 4 d=42-92 117 is approximately 10.82

d yay-by-5 - 4 = -9 dy -9
tg d s−66.0º
dx 4

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Prof. Dr. Abraham Moysés Cohen Department of Physics 9