MCV4U - Calculus and Vectors [Chapter 6]

Kensukeken
April 30th, 2024

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1 Unit 6 - An Introduction to Vectors
1.1 Introduction to Vectors
A vector is a quantity that requires both a magnitude and a direction for a
complete description. Examples of vectors are weight, velocity and friction. On
the other hand, a scalar is a magnitude that can be completely speciÑed by just
one number. Examples of scalars include age, volume, area, speed, mass and
temperature.

A vector can be represented by a directed line segment. The magnitude of

the vector is indicated by the length of the line segment, and the direction of
the vector is indicated by an arrowhead on the end of the segment.

Speed is a scalar quantity. We can describe the speed of an airplane as 200

km/h.

Velocity is a vector quantity. We can refer to the velocity of one airplane as

400km=h in a southwesterly direction (represented by the vector ~a in the dia-
gram) and the velocity of another airplane as 100 km/h in a northerly direction
(represented by ~v )

~v

100 km/h

Origin
/h
km
0
40

~a

We can indicate movement in a direction from one location to another using

««!
vectors. For example, the vector AB is a line segment running from A to B
with its tail at A and its head at B. Its actual size, or magnitude, is denoted
««!
by jABj , and is represented by the length of the line segment. The magnitude
of a vector is always non-negative. The direction of the arrow represents the
direction of the airplane, and its length represents the speed.

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1.1.1 Equal Vectors
««! ««!
Equal Vectors: Two vectors AB and CD are equal if and only if

««! ««!
1. AB and CD are parallel to each other, and the direction from A to B is
the same as the direction from A to B is the same as the direction from
C to D.
««! ««!
2. The magnitude of AB equals the magnitude of CD. In other words,
««! ««!
jABj = jCDj

1.1.2 Opposite Vectors

««! ««!
Opposite Vectors: Two vector AB and CD are opposite if and only if
««! ««!
1. AB and CD are parallel to each other, and the direction from A to B is
the opposite of the direction from C to D. Another way of putting this is
that the direction from A to B is the same as the direction from D to C.
««! ««!
2. The magnitude of AB equals the magnitude of CD. In other words,
««! ««!
jABj = jCDj

1.1.3 Vector Addition

Triangle Law of Addition

You can determine the sum ~a + ~b by putting the tail of ~b on the tip of ~a and
then drawing a vector straight from the tail of ~a to the tip of ~b. The resulting
vector is called the resultant.
The method is sometimes also called the "tip to tail" method.

~b

~a
~a + ~b

A way of thinking about the sum of two vectors is as follows:

If you start at Point A and walk to Point B, then walk from Point B to C,
the net result is as if you walked from A directly to C.
««! ««! «!
Therefore, AB + BC = AC.

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Example
Suppose that an airplane is travelling with a component velocity of 500 km/h
N when it encounters a wind blowing with a velocity of 100 km/h E. What is
resultant velocity?

Solution

j~rj2 = j~aj2 + jwj

~2
= (500)2 + (100)2
[line width=0.7pt, ->, >=Stealth] (4.25,13) { (8.25,13); [line width=0.7pt, ->, >=Stealth] (4.25,8.25) { (4.25,13); [line width=0.7pt, ->, >=Stealth, dashed] (4.25,8.25) { (8.25,13); [line width=0.7pt, short] (4.25,9.25) .. controls (4.5,9.75) and (4.75,10) .. (5,9.25); [font= ] at (4.5,9) Õ; [font=] at (6,13.5) !; [font=] at (6,13.25) w ; [font=] at (3.75,11.25) !; [font=] at (3.75,11) a; [font=] at (7,10.75) r; [font=] at (7,11) !;
= 200000
j~rj Ü 509:9
100
tan(Õ) =
500
Õ Ü 11:3Ñ

) The resultant velocity is approximately 509.9 km/h, N 11:3Ñ

1.1.4 Angle Between Two Vectors

When you are told the angle between two vectors, it is always the angle between
those vectors if they are drawn tail to tail.

Note, however, that often when we add vectors, the angle that we use for our
sine law or cos law calculations will not be that same value.

Example 2
Two unit vectors ~a and ~b have an angle of 30Ñ between them. Determine the
magnitude and direction of 2~a + ~b.

Solution
We can start by drawing two diagrams:

2~a + ~b ~b
~b
Ñ
30
Origin
~a 2~a

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j~rj2 = j2~aj2 + j~bj2 « 2j2~ajj~bj cos(150Ñ )
p ! sin Õ sin 150Ñ
3 =
2 2
= (2) + (1) « 2(2)(1) « j~bj j~rj
2
p sin Õ = 0:1718
=5+3 3 Õ = 9:9Ñ
j~rj Ü 2:91

) The resultant vector has a magnitude of approximately 2.91 with a direc-

tion of approximately 9:9Ñ rotated from ~a towards ~b

Example
In the picture below of a rectangle prism, we know that
««! «! «!
AB = ~a; AC = ~b; AE = ~c:

Determine an expression in terms of ~a; ~b and ~c equal to each of the following

Solution
a)
««! ««! ««!
CH = CG + GH
= ~c + ~a

[line width=0.7pt, short] (3,12) { (5.75,12); [line width=0.7pt, short] (3,12) { (3,7.75); [line width=0.7pt, short] (3,7.75) { (5.75,7.75); [line width=0.7pt, short] (5.75,12) { (5.75,7.75); [color=rgb,255:red,43; green,255; blue,0, line width=0.7pt, short] (3,12) { (4.5,13); [line width=0.7pt, short] (5.75,12) { (7.25,13); [color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,221, line width=0.7pt, short] (4.5,13) { (7.25,13); [color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,0, line width=0.7pt, short] (4.5,13) { (4.5,9); [line width=0.7pt, short] (3,7.75) { (4.5,9); [line width=0.7pt, short] (4.5,9) { (7.25,9); [line width=0.7pt, short] (7.25,13) { (7.25,9); [line width=0.7pt, short] (5.75,7.75) { (7.25,9); [font= ] at (2.5,12) C; [font=] at (2.5,7.75) G; [font=] at (4.25,13.75) A; [font=] at (7.5,13.5) B; [font=] at (6.25,11.75) D; [font=] at (5,9.5) E; [font=] at (7.75,9.5) F; [font=] at (6.75,7.75) H; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,208] at (5.75,13.5) !; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,208] at (5.75,13.25) a; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,17; green,255; blue,0] at (3.5,13) !; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,17; green,255; blue,0] at (3.5,12.75) b; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,0] at (5,11) !; [font=, color=rgb,255:red,255; green,0; blue,0] at (5,10.75) c;
b)
««! ««! ««!
F G = F E + EG
= «~a + ~b

««!
c) CF = ~a « ~b + ~c

1.1.5 Representing Vectors on a Cartesian Plane

Components: We can repeat a two-dimensional vector on a Cartesian plane.
For example:
Ò A vector that moves 1 unit to the right and 2 units up could be represented
«««!
by the vector (1; 2).
Ò A vector that moves 3 units to the left and 5 units down could be repre-
«««««!
sented by the vector («3; «5)
Ò A vector that only moves 10 units down could be represented by the vector
«««««!
(0; «10)

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1.1.6 Unit Vectors on the Cartesian Plane
A unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of 1.
«««!
A vector that moves 1 unit to the right is (1; 0) and a vector that moves 1
«««!
unit unit up is (0; 1). These vectors are so signiÑcant that they are referred to
«««! «««!
as ~i and ~j respectively. In other words, ~i = (1; 0) and ~j = (0; 1).
All vectors represented with components on the two-dimensional Cartesian
plane can be represented as a sum or diÐerence of these unit vectors, for example,
««««! «««! «««!
(3; «4) = 3(1; 0) « 4(0; 1) = 3~i « 4~j

1.1.7 Distributive Property With Vectors

Component Form

Example
Simplify 3(2~a « 5~b + ~c) « 2(~a « 4~b + 6~c)

Solution

= 6~a « 15~b + 3~c « 2~a + 8~b « 12~c

= 4~a « 7~b « 9~c

Example
Given that ~u = (3; «1); ~v = («4; «7); w
~ = (10; 1), state the components of the
vector 4~u + 2~u « 7w
~

Solution

««««! «««««! ««««!

4~u « 2~v = 7w
~ = 4(3; «1) + 2(«4; «7) « 7(10; 1)
«««««! ««««««! ««««!
= (12; «4) + («8; «14) « (70; 7)
«««««««««««««««««««! «««««««!
= (12 « 8 « 70; «4 « 14 « 7) = («66; «25)

1.1.8 Taking DiÐerent Paths Questions

Another type of question is the "taking diÐerent paths" question. For some
questions, you have to try getting from one place to another in a variety of ways
unit a solution to your problem presents itself.

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1.2 Forces
Generally speaking, force can be deÑned as that which changes, or tends to
change, the state of rest, or uniform motion of a body.
The description of a force's magnitude, without also specifying its direction,
has little practical value. Since force has a magnitude and direction, therefore
force is a vector.

Often, there are a number of forces working on an object.

Ò The resultant force is the single force that would produce exactly the same
eÐect as all of the forces acting together.
Ò Equilibrium is a state in which an object does not move (i.e., its net
force is 0).

Ò The equilibrant of a number of forces is the single force that opposes

the resultant of the forces; therefore when the equilibrant is applied to the
object, the object is in a state of equilibrium. The equilibrant is equal to
the resultant times negative 1.

The Newton is the unit of measurement for force. One Newton is equal to the
amount of force necessary to cause a mass of one kg to accelerate at one metre
per second squared. In other 1N = 1kg Å m=s2

Example
Two children, James and Fred, are pushing on a rock. James pushes with a force
of 80 N in an easterly direction and Fred pushes with a force of 60 N in the
same direction.Determine the resultant and the equilibrant of these two forces.

Solution
[""name = 0; anchor = center; innersep = 0; "60"pos = 0:7; f rom = 1«3; to = 1«7]["80"; f rom = 1«3; to = 0]
) the resultant force is 140N east
the equilaterat force is 140N west

Ò Of course, forces acting on an object are not always collinear. The manner
that we determine the resultant force is to add the vectors representing
each of the individual forces. We can use numerous diÐerent methods to
do this, including

Ò the triangle law of addition of vectors, or

Ò the parallelogram law of addition, or

Ò adding components

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The best way to approach the situation will often depend on the speciÑc ques-
tion, and it will be helpful for us to recall the sin law and the cos law.
sin A sin B sin C a b c
= = or = =
a b c sin A sin B sin C

c2 = a2 + b2 « 2ab cos C
Of course, we need to remember that the angle between two vectors refers to
\tail-to-tail", but often in our calculations we use the angle between the tip and
the tail, which is a diÐerent value.

Example
Two forces of 20N and 40N act at an angle of 30Ñ to each other. Determine the
resultant of these two forces.

Resultant
20N
30Ñ
Origin 40N

jrj2 = 202 + 402 « 2(20)(40) cos 150Ñ

jrj Ü 58:2
sin 150Ñ sin Õ
Ü
58:2 40
Õ Ü 20:1Ñ

) the resultant force is approximately 58.2N in a direction of 20:1Ñ related from

the 20N force to the 40N force.

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1.2.1 Equilibrium:
A group of forces is said to be in equilibrium when there is no movement.

imgs/equilibrium.png

?Ñgurename? 1: Forces in equilibrium

As you may notice, when there are two forces in equilibrium, they are op-
posite vectors.
When there are more than two forces in equilibrium, they form a closed polygon.

Example
Given that three forces of 2 N, 3N and 4N are in equilibrium, determine the
angle between the two smallest forces?

Solution

42 = 22 + 32 « 2(2)(3) cos Õ
16 = 4 + 9 « 12 cos Õ
Õ Ü 104:5Ñ

) the angle between the two smallest is approximately 75:5Ñ

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 imgs/force_2.png

1.2.2 Component Vectors

It is often convenient to break a vector down into one or more vectors that
together comprise the original vector.

Ò In two dimensions, this is most commonly done by considering the hori-

zontal and vertical components of a vector.
Ò In three dimensions, this is most commonly done by considering the com-
ponents along each of the three axes.

f~
f~y

Consider the vector f~ shown at

the right.
We can break f~ down into O f~x A
a horizontal and a vertical
«
! «
!
component vector. jfx j = j f j cos Õ
«
! «
!
jfy j = j f j sin Õ

Example
Kayla pulls on a rope attached to her sleigh with a force of 200N. If the rope
makes an angle of 20o with the horizontal, determine:
a) the force that pulls the sleigh forward

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 b) the force that tends to lift the sleigh

N
200 Fy
o
20
Fx

Solution
Let the force applied by Kayla be F = 200 N.
The force F can be decomposed into two components:

a) The horizontal component (Fx ) that pulls the sleigh forward.

b) The vertical component (Fy ) that tends to lift the sleigh.

Using trigonometric identities:

Ò Fx = F cos(Õ)

Ò Fy = F sin(Õ)
Given F = 200 N and Õ = 20Ñ :

a) The force that pulls the sleigh forward:

Fx = 200 cos(20Ñ ) Ü 200 Å 0:9397 = 187:94 N

b) The force that tends to lift the sleigh:

Fy = 200 sin(20Ñ ) Ü 200 Å 0:3420 = 68:40 N

Therefore:

a) The force that pulls the sleigh forward is approximately 187:94 N.

b) The force that tends to lift the sleigh is approximately 68:40 N.

Example
A mass of 20 kg is suspended from a ceiling by two lengths of rope that make
angles of 60o and 45o with the ceiling. Determine the magnitude of the tension
in each rope.

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 T1

T2
60o 45o
20 kg

Solution
Given:
2
W = mg = 20 kg Å 9:8 m/s = 196 N
Using equilibrium conditions: 1. Horizontal equilibrium:
T1 cos(60Ñ ) = T2 cos(45Ñ )
T1 Å 0:5 = T2 Å 0:7071
T1 = 1:4142T2
2. Vertical equilibrium:
T1 sin(60Ñ ) + T2 sin(45Ñ ) = W
T1 Å 0:8660 + T2 Å 0:7071 = 196
1:4142T2 Å 0:8660 + T2 Å 0:7071 = 196
1:2247T2 + 0:7071T2 = 196
1:9318T2 = 196
196
T2 = Ü 101:44 N
1:9318
Now, substituting T2 back into the equation for T1 :
T1 = 1:4142 Å 101:44 Ü 143:42 N
Therefore, the tensions in the ropes are:
Ò T1 Ü 143:42 N
Ò T2 Ü 101:44 N

1.3 Velocity
Example 1
A plane is heading due north with an air speed of 400 km/h when it is blown
oÐ course by a wind of 100 km/h from the northeast. Determine the resultant
ground velocity of the airplane.

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 Solution

j~rj2 = (400)2 + (100)2 « 2(400)(100) cos 45

j~rj Ü 336:8
sin Õ sin 45
Ü
100 336:8
Resultant Õ Ü 12:1Ñ

400 km/h ) the resultant velocity is approx

336:8km=hN 12:1Ñ w
/h
km
0
10

45o

Example 2
A plane is traveling 400 km/h in the direction W 25N when it encounters a
wind. As a result of the wind, the resultant velocity of the plane is 410 km/h,
W 10N. What is the velocity of the wind?

400 Solution
km
/h
o ~ = (410)2 (400)2 « 2(410)(400) cos 15
jwj
410 km 10o25
/h jwj
~ Ü 106:2
nd

(410)2 = (400)2 + (106:2)2 « 2(400)(106:2) cos Õ

Wi

Õ Ü 87:9Ñ

Õ to the left of south is Ü 22:9Ñ

) the velocity of the wind is approx
106:2km=h; s; 22:1Ñ

Example 3
A river is 2 km wide and Òows at 6 km/h. Anna is driving a motorboat, which
has a speed of 20 km/h in still water, and she heads out from one bank in a
direction perpendicular to the current. A marina lies directly across the river
from the starting point on the opposite bank.

Solution
2 km
Ò a) Time to cross: = 0:1 h
nt

20 km/h
lta

20 km/h or 6 minutes.
su
Re

Ò b) Distance downstream:

6 km/h 13
 6 km/h Å 0:1 h = 0:6 km Resultant velocity:
Ò c) To end up at the marina: p
Vresultant = (20 cos(16:7Ñ ))2 + (20 sin(16:7Ñ ) « 6)2
à á
6
Õ = tan«1 Ü 16:7Ñ upstream Ü 19:2 km/h
20

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