Chapter 3 Vectors

3.1 Vector Analysis ....................................................................................................... 1

3.1.1 Introduction to Vectors ................................................................................... 1
3.1.2 Properties of Vectors ....................................................................................... 1
3.2 Coordinate Systems ................................................................................................ 6
3.2.1 Cartesian Coordinate System ......................................................................... 6
3.2.2 Cylindrical Coordinate System....................................................................... 8
3.3 Vectors ................................................................................................................... 10
3.3.1 The Use of Vectors in Physics ....................................................................... 10
3.3.2 Vectors in Cartesian Coordinates................................................................. 11
Example 3.1 Vector Addition................................................................................. 14
Example 3.2 Sinking Sailboat ................................................................................ 14
Example 3.3 Vector Addition................................................................................. 16
Example 3.4 Vector Description of a Point on a Line.......................................... 18
3.3.2 Transformation of Vectors in Rotated Coordinate Systems...................... 19
Example 3.5 Vector Decomposition in Rotated Coordinate Systems................. 21
3.4 Vector Product (Cross Product).......................................................................... 23
3.4.1 Right-hand Rule for the Direction of Vector Product ................................ 23
3.4.2 Properties of the Vector Product.................................................................. 25
3.4.3 Vector Decomposition and the Vector Product: Cartesian Coordinates.. 25
3.4.4 Vector Decomposition and the Vector Product: Cylindrical Coordinates27
Example 3.6 Vector Products................................................................................. 27
Example 3.7 Law of Sines....................................................................................... 28
Example 3.8 Unit Normal....................................................................................... 28
Example 3.9 Volume of Parallelepiped ................................................................. 29
Example 3.10 Vector Decomposition..................................................................... 29
 Chapter 3 Vectors

Philosophy is written in this grand book, the universe which stands

continually open to our gaze. But the book cannot be understood unless
one first learns to comprehend the language and read the letters in which
it is composed. It is written in the language of mathematics, and its
characters are triangles, circles and other geometric figures without
which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it; without
these, one wanders about in a dark labyrinth.1

Galileo Galilee
3.1 Vector Analysis

3.1.1 Introduction to Vectors

Certain physical quantities such as mass or the absolute temperature at some point in
space only have magnitude. A single number can represent each of these quantities, with
appropriate units, which are called scalar quantities. There are, however, other physical
quantities that have both magnitude and direction. Force is an example of a quantity that
has both direction and magnitude (strength). Three numbers are needed to represent the
magnitude and direction of a vector quantity in a three dimensional space. These
quantities are called vector quantities. Vector quantities also satisfy two distinct
operations, vector addition and multiplication of a vector by a scalar. We can add two
forces together and the sum of the forces must satisfy the rule for vector addition. We can
multiply a force by a scalar thus increasing or decreasing its strength. Position,
displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, and momentum are all physical quantities that
can be represented mathematically by vectors. The set of vectors and the two operations
form what is called a vector space. There are many types of vector spaces but we shall
restrict our attention to the very familiar type of vector space in three dimensions that
most students have encountered in their mathematical courses. We shall begin our
discussion by defining what we mean by a vector in three dimensional space, and the
rules for the operations of vector addition and multiplication of a vector by a scalar.

3.1.2 Properties of Vectors

A vector is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. Let a vector be denoted by
  
the symbol A . The magnitude of A is | A |≡ A . We can represent vectors as geometric
objects using arrows. The length of the arrow corresponds to the magnitude of the vector.
The arrow points in the direction of the vector (Figure 3.1).

1
Galileo Galilei, The Assayer, tr. Stillman Drake (1957), Discoveries and Opinions of
Galileo pp. 237-8.

1
 Figure 3.1 Vectors as arrows.

There are two defining operations for vectors:

(1)   Vector Addition:

    
Vectors can be added. Let A and B be two vectors. We define a new vector, C = A + B ,
 
the “vector addition” of A and B , by a geometric construction. Draw the arrow that
  
represents A . Place the tail of the arrow that represents B at the tip of the arrow for A
 
as shown in Figure 3.2a. The arrow that starts
 at the tail of A and goes to the tip of B is
defined to be the “vector addition” C 
=
A + B. There is an equivalent construction for the
law of vector addition. The vectors A and B can be drawn with their tails at the same
point. The two vectors form the sides of a parallelogram. The diagonal of the
  
parallelogram corresponds to the vector C = A + B , as shown in Figure 3.2b.

C= A+B C= A+B
B B

A A
(a) head to tail (b) parallelogram

Figure 3.2a Figure 3.2b

Vector addition satisfies the following four properties:

(i) Commutativity:

The order of adding vectors does not matter;

   
A
+
B
=
B
+
A
.
(3.1.1)

Our geometric definition for vector addition satisfies the commutative property (3.1.1).

We can understand this geometrically because in the head to tail representation for the

2
addition of vectors, it doesn’t matter which vector you begin with, the sum is the same
vector, as seen in Figure 3.3.

C=B+A C= A+B
B
A

B
A

Figure 3.3 Commutative property of vector addition.

(ii) Associativity:

When adding three vectors, it doesn’t matter which two you start with


  


(
A + B) +
C =
A +
(B + C) .
(3.1.2)

     
In Figure 3.4a, we add (B
+
C
) +
A
, and use commutativity to get A
+ (
B
+
C
) . In figure,
  
we add ( A
+
B
) +
C
to arrive at the same vector as in Figure 3.4a.

C
A
A + (B + C) (A + B) + C
B
B
B+C A+B

C A

Figure 3.4a Associative law.

(iii) Identity Element for Vector Addition:


There is a unique vector, 0 , that acts as an identity element for vector addition. For all

vectors A ,
    
A+0 = 0+A = A. (3.1.3)

(iv) Inverse Element for Vector Addition:

 
For every vector A , there is a unique inverse vector −A such that

3
   
A
+ (−
A
) =
0
. (3.1.4)

   
The vector −A has the same magnitude as A , | A |=| −A |= A , but they point in opposite
directions (Figure 3.5).

A A

Figure 3.5 Additive inverse

(2) Scalar Multiplication of Vectors:


Vectors can be multiplied by real numbers. Let A be a vector. Let c be a real positive

number. Then the multiplication of A by c is a new vector, which we denote by the
  
symbol c A . The magnitude of c A is c times the magnitude of A (Figure 3.6a),
 
cA = c A . (3.1.5)

 
Let c > 0 , then the direction of c A is the same as the direction of A . However, the
 
direction of −c A is opposite of A (Figure 3.6).

A cA cA

Figure 3.6 Multiplication of vector A by c > 0 , and −c < 0 .

Scalar multiplication of vectors satisfies the following properties:

(i) Associative Law for Scalar Multiplication:

The order of multiplying numbers is doesn’t matter. Let b and c be real numbers. Then
   
b (cA) = (bc)A = (cb A) = c (bA) . (3.1.6)

(ii) Distributive Law for Vector Addition:

Vectors satisfy a distributive law for vector addition. Let c be a real number. Then

4
    
c( A
+
B
) = c A
+ c B
.
(3.1.7)

Figure 3.7 illustrates this property.

c(A + B) c A + cB

C= A+B

cB cA
B
A

Figure 3.7 Distributive Law for vector addition.

(iii) Distributive Law for Scalar Addition:

Vectors also satisfy a distributive law for scalar addition. Let b and c be real numbers.
Then   
(b + c) A
= b A
+ c A
(3.1.8)

Our geometric definition of vector addition and scalar multiplication satisfies this
condition as seen in Figure 3.8.

(b + c) A bA + c A

cA

A bA

Figure 3.8 Distributive law for scalar multiplication.

(iv) Identity Element for Scalar Multiplication:

The number 1 acts as an identity element for multiplication,

 
1A = A. (3.1.9)

5
Unit vector:

Dividing a vector by its magnitude results in a vector of unit length which we denote with
a caret symbol 
A
 =  . (3.1.10)

 
Note that Aˆ = A / A = 1.

3.2 Coordinate Systems

Physics involve the study of phenomena that we observe in the world. In order to connect
the phenomena to mathematics we begin by introducing the concept of a coordinate
system. A coordinate system consists of four basic elements:

(1) Choice of origin

(2) Choice of axes
(3) Choice of positive direction for each axis
(4) Choice of unit vectors at every point in space

There are three commonly used coordinate systems: Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical.
In this chapter we will describe a Cartesian coordinate system and a cylindrical
coordinate system.

3.2.1 Cartesian Coordinate System

Cartesian coordinates consist of a set of mutually perpendicular axes, which intersect at a

common point, the origin O . We live in a three-dimensional spatial world; for that
reason, the most common system we will use has three axes.

(1) Choice of Origin: Choose an origin O at any point that is most convenient.

(2) Choice of Axes: The simplest set of axes is known as the Cartesian axes, x -axis, y -
axis, and the z -axis, that are at right angles with respect to each other. Then each point
P in space can be assigned a triplet of values (x P , y P , z P ) , the Cartesian coordinates of
the point P . The ranges of these values are: −∞ < xP < +∞ ,
−∞ < yP < +∞ , −∞ < z P < +∞ .

(3) Choice of Positive Direction: Our third choice is an assignment of positive direction
for each coordinate axis. We shall denote this choice by the symbol + along the positive
axis. In physics problems we are free to choose our axes and positive directions any way
that we decide best fits a given problem. Problems that are very difficult using the

6
conventional choices may turn out to be much easier to solve by making a thoughtful
choice of axes.

(4) Choice of Unit Vectors: We now associate to each point P in space, a set of three
unit vectors (î P , ĵP ,k̂ P ) . A unit vector has magnitude one: ˆi P = 1 , ˆjP = 1 , and kˆ P = 1 .
We assign the direction of î P to point in the direction of the increasing x -coordinate at
the point P . We define the directions for ĵP and k̂ P in the direction of the increasing
y -coordinate and z -coordinate respectively, (Figure 3.10). If we choose a different point
S , and define a similar set of unit vectors (îS , ĵS , k̂ S ) , the unit vectors at S and P
satisfy the equalities
îS = î P , ĵS = ĵP , and k̂ S = k̂ P , (3.2.1)

because vectors are equal if they have the same direction and magnitude regardless of
where they are located in space.

Figure 3.10 Choice of unit vectors at points P and S .

A Cartesian coordinate system is the only coordinate system in which Eq. (3.2.1) holds
for all pair of points. We therefore drop the reference to the point P and use (î, ĵ, k̂) to
represent the unit vectors in a Cartesian coordinate system (Figure 3.11).

.
+z
zP k̂
ĵ
î P

yP + y
0

xP
+x

Figure 3.11 Unit vectors in a Cartesian coordinate system

7
3.2.2 Cylindrical Coordinate System

Many physical objects demonstrate some type of symmetry. For example if you rotate a
uniform cylinder about the longitudinal axis (symmetry axis), the cylinder appears
unchanged. The operation of rotating the cylinder is called a symmetry operation, and the
object undergoing the operation, the cylinder, is exactly the same as before the operation
was performed. This symmetry property of cylinders suggests a coordinate system, called
a cylindrical coordinate system, that makes the symmetrical property under rotations
transparent.

First choose an origin O and axis through O , which we call the z -axis. The
cylindrical coordinates for a point P are the three numbers (r,θ , z) (Figure 3.12). The
number z represents the familiar coordinate of the point P along the z -axis. The
nonnegative number r represents the distance from the z -axis to the point P . The points
in space corresponding to a constant positive value of r lie on a circular cylinder. The
locus of points corresponding to r = 0 is the z -axis. In the plane z = 0 , define a
reference ray through O , which we shall refer to as the positive x -axis. Draw a line
through the point P that is parallel to the z -axis. Let D denote the point of intersection
between that line PD and the plane z = 0 . Draw a ray OD from the origin to the point
D . Let θ denote the directed angle from the reference ray to the ray OD . The angle θ is
positive when measured counterclockwise and negative when measured clockwise.
+z

r
. P (r, , z)

r
z

O
x
+x
y
r
.
D (r, ,0) +y

Figure 3.12 Cylindrical Coordinates

The coordinates (r,θ ) are called polar coordinates. The coordinate transformations
between (r,θ ) and the Cartesian coordinates (x, y) are given by

8
 x = r cosθ , (3.2.2)
y = r sin θ . (3.2.3)

Conversely, if we are given the Cartesian coordinates (x, y) , the coordinates (r,θ ) can
be determined from the coordinate transformations

r = +(x 2 + y 2 )1 2 , (3.2.4)
θ = tan −1 ( y / x) . (3.2.5)

We choose a set of unit vectors (r̂P ,θ̂ P ,k̂ P ) at the point P as follows. We choose k̂ P to
point in the direction of increasing z . We choose r̂P to point in the direction of
increasing r , directed radially away from the z -axis. We choose θˆ P to point in the
direction of increasing θ . This unit vector points in the counterclockwise direction,
tangent to the circle (Figure 3.13a). One crucial difference between cylindrical
coordinates and Cartesian coordinates involves the choice of unit vectors. Suppose we
consider a different point S in the plane. The unit vectors (r̂S ,θˆ S ,kˆ S ) at the point S are
also shown in Figure 3.13. Note that r̂P ≠ r̂S and θ̂ P ≠ θ̂ S because their direction differ.
We shall drop the subscripts denoting the points at which the unit vectors are defined at
and simple refer to the set of unit vectors at a point as (r̂,θ̂,k̂) , with the understanding
ˆ depend on the location of the point in question.
that the directions of the set (r̂,θ)

. k̂ S +z
r̂S k̂ P

ˆ
S
S
P
. r̂P
ˆ
P

+x

+y

Figure 3.13a Unit vectors at two different points in cylindrical coordinates.

9
 +y
ˆ ĵ r̂
î

+x

Figure 3.13b Unit vectors in polar coordinates and Cartesian coordinates.

The unit vectors (r̂,θ̂) at the point P also are related to the Cartesian unit vectors ( î, ĵ )
by the transformations
r̂ = cosθ î + sin θ ĵ , (3.2.6)
θ̂ = − sin θ î + cosθ ĵ . (3.2.7)

Similarly the inverse transformations are given by

î = cosθ r̂ − sin θ θ̂ , (3.2.8)

ĵ = sin θ r̂ + cosθ θ̂ . (3.2.9)

A cylindrical coordinate system is also a useful choice to describe the motion of an object
moving in a circle about a central point. Consider a vertical axis passing perpendicular to
the plane of motion passing through that central point. Then any rotation about this
vertical axis leaves circles unchanged.

3.3 Vectors
3.3.1 The Use of Vectors in Physics

From the last section we have three important ideas about vectors, (1) vectors can exist at
any point P in space, (2) vectors have direction and magnitude, and (3) any two vectors
that have the same direction and magnitude are equal no matter where in space they are
located. When we apply vectors to physical quantities it’s nice to keep in the back of our
minds all these formal properties. However from the physicist’s point of view, we are
interested in representing physical quantities such as displacement, velocity, acceleration,
force, impulse, and momentum as vectors. We can’t add force to velocity or subtract
momentum from force. We must always understand the physical context for the vector
quantity. Thus, instead of approaching vectors as formal mathematical objects we shall
instead consider the following essential properties that enable us to represent physical
quantities as vectors.

10
3.3.2 Vectors in Cartesian Coordinates

(1) Vector Decomposition: Choose a coordinate system with an origin, axes, and unit
vectors. We can decompose a vector into component vectors along each coordinate axis
(Figure 3.14).

+z A
Az

Ax
.
0 Ay +y
+x

Figure 3.14 Component vectors in Cartesian coordinates.


A vector A at P can be decomposed into the vector sum,
   
A
=
A
x +
A
y +
A
z ,
(3.3.1)


where A x is the x -component vector pointing in the positive or negative x -direction,
 
A y is the y -component vector pointing in the positive or negative y -direction, and A z
is the z -component vector pointing in the positive or negative z -direction.

(2) Vector Components: Once we have defined unit vectors (î, ĵ, k̂) , we then define the
   
components of a vector. Recall our vector decomposition, A
=
A
x +
A
y +
A
z . We define

the x-component vector, A x , as

A = A ˆi .
x x (3.3.2)

In this expression the term Ax , (without the arrow above) is called the x -component of

the vector A . The x -component Ax can be positive, zero, or negative. It is not the

magnitude of A x which is given by ( Ax 2 )1/ 2 . The x -component Ax is a scalar quantity

and the x -component vector, A x is a vector. In a similar fashion we define the y -

component, Ay , and the z -component, Az , of the vector A according to

 
A y = Ay ˆj, A z = Az kˆ . (3.3.3)

11
 
A vector A is represented by its three components ( Ax , Ay , Az ) . Thus we need three

numbers to describe a vector in three-dimensional space. We write the vector A as

A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ . (3.3.4)


(3) Magnitude: Using the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of A is,

A = Ax2 + Ay2 + Az2 . (3.3.5)


(4) Direction: Let’s consider a vector A = ( Ax , Ay ,0) . Because the z -component is zero,
 
the vector A lies in the x-y plane. Let θ denote the angle that the vector A makes in
the counterclockwise direction with the positive x -axis (Figure 3.15).

+y
ĵ
A î
Ay
P A
x

+x
Figure 3.15 Components of a vector in the xy -plane.

Then the x -component and y -component are

Ax = Acos(θ ), Ay = Asin(θ ) . (3.3.6)

We now write a vector in the xy -plane as


A = Acos(θ ) ˆi + Asin(θ ) ˆj (3.3.7)

Once the components of a vector are known, the tangent of the angle θ can be
determined by
Ay Asin(θ )
= = tan(θ ) , (3.3.8)
Ax Acos(θ )

and hence the angle θ is given by

⎛A ⎞
θ = tan −1 ⎜ y ⎟ . (3.3.9)
⎝ Ax ⎠

12
Clearly, the direction of the vector depends on the sign of Ax and Ay . For example, if
both Ax > 0 and Ay > 0 , then 0 < θ < π / 2 . If Ax < 0 and Ay > 0 then π / 2 < θ < π .
If Ax < 0 and Ay < 0 then π < θ < 3π / 2 . If Ax > 0 and Ay < 0 , then 3π / 2 < θ < 2π .
Note that tan(θ ) is a double valued function because

− Ay Ay Ay − Ay
= , and = . (3.3.10)
− Ax Ax − Ax Ax
 
(5) Unit Vectors: Unit vector in the direction of A : Let A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ . Let A
ˆ

denote a unit vector in the direction of A . Then


A Ax î + Ay ĵ +
Az k̂
 =  = .
(3.3.11)

A ( Ax 2 + Ay 2 +
Az 2 )1/ 2

 
(6) Vector Addition: Let A and B be two vectors in the x-y plane. Let θ A and θ B
 
denote the angles that the vectors A and B make (in the counterclockwise direction)
with the positive x -axis. Then

A = Acos(θ A ) î + Asin(θ A ) ĵ , (3.3.12)

B = Bcos(θ B ) î + Bsin(θ B ) ĵ (3.3.13)
  
In Figure 3.16, the vector addition C = A + B is shown. Let θ C denote the angle that the

vector C makes with the positive x-axis.
+y C= A+B

B By
C y = Ay + By
A B
C
Ay
A
+x
Ax Bx

Cx = Ax + Bx

Figure 3.16 Vector addition using components.


From Figure 3.16, the components of C are

Cx = Ax + Bx , C y = Ay + By . (3.3.14)

13
In terms of magnitudes and angles, we have

Cx = C cos(θ C ) = Acos(θ A )+ Bcos(θ B )

(3.3.15)
C y = C sin(θ C ) = Asin(θ A ) + Bsin(θ B ).


We can write the vector C as

C = ( Ax + Bx ) î + ( Ay + By ) ĵ = C cos(θ C ) î + C sin(θ C ) ĵ , (3.3.16)

Example 3.1 Vector Addition

   
Given two vectors, A = 2 ˆi + −3 ˆj + 7 kˆ and B = 5iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ , find: (a) A ; (b) B ; (c)
    
A + B ; (d) A − B ; (e) a unit vector  pointing in the direction of A ; (f) a unit vector B̂

pointing in the direction of B .

Solution:
 
( ) ( )
1/2 1/2
(a) A = 22 + (−3)2 + 7 2 = 62 = 7.87 . (b) B = 52 + 12 + 22 = 30 = 5.48 .

 

A +
B = ( Ax + B
x ) î + ( Ay + By ) ĵ + ( Az + Bz ) k̂
(c) = (2 + 5) î + (−3+ 1) ĵ + (7 + 2) k̂
= 7 î − 2 ĵ + 9 k̂.
 
A − B = ( Ax − Bx ) î + ( Ay − By ) ĵ + ( Az − Bz ) k̂
(d) = (2 − 5) î + (−3− 1) ĵ + (7 − 2) k̂
= −3 î − 4 ĵ + 5 k̂.
 
(e) A unit vector
 Â in the direction of A can be found by dividing the vector A by the
magnitude of A . Therefore
 
(
 = A / A = 2 î + −3 ĵ + 7 k̂ / 62 . )
 
( )
(f) In a similar fashion, B̂ = B / B = 5î + ĵ + 2k̂ / 30 .

Example 3.2 Sinking Sailboat

14
A Coast Guard ship is located 35 km away from a checkpoint in a direction 52 north of
west. A distressed sailboat located in still water 24 km from the same checkpoint in a
direction 18 south of east is about to sink. Draw a diagram indicating the position of
both ships. In what direction and how far must the Coast Guard ship travel to reach the
sailboat?

Solution: The diagram of the set-up is Figure 3.17.

Coast Guard N
ship
35 km

52
W E
18
24 km
checkpoint
sailboat
S

Figure 3.17 Example 3.2

Coast Guard N
ship + y ĵ
ˆi

r1
1
+x
W E
2
r2
sailboat
S

Figure 3.18 Coordinate system for sailboat and ship

Choose the checkpoint as the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system with the positive x -
axis in the East direction and the positive y –axis in the North direction. Choose the
corresponding unit vectors î and ĵ as shown in Figure 3.18. The Coast Guard ship is
then a distance r1 = 35 km at an angle θ1 = 180 − 52 = 128 from the positive x -axis,
and the sailboat is at a distance r2 = 24 km at an angle θ 2 = −18 from the positive x -
axis. The position of the Coast Guard ship is then

15
 
r1 = r1 (cosθ1 î + sin θ1 ĵ)

r = −21.5km î + 27.6km ĵ

and the position of the sailboat is


r2 = r2 (cosθ 2 î + sin θ 2 ĵ)

r2 = 22.8km î − 7.4km ĵ.

Coast Guard N
ship ĵ
21 ˆi

r1 r2 r1

W E
r2
sailboat
S
Figure 3.19 Relative position vector from ship to sailboat

The relative position vector from the Coast Guard ship to the sailboat is (Figure 3.19)

 

r2 −
r1 = (22.8km î − 7.4km ĵ) − (−21.5km î + 27.6km ĵ)



r2 −
r1 = 44.4km î − 35.0km ĵ.

The distance between the ship and the sailboat is

 
r2 − r1 = ((44.4km)2 + (−35.0km)2 )1/2 = 56.5km

The rescue ship’s heading would be the inverse tangent of the ratio of the y - and x -
components of the relative position vector,

θ 21 = tan −1 (−35.0km/44.4km) = −38.3 .

or 38.3 South of East.

Example 3.3 Vector Addition

16
       
Two vectors A and B , such that B = 2 A , have a resultant C
=
A
+
B
of magnitude
 
26.5 . The vector C makes an angle θ C = 41 with respect to vector A . Find the
 
magnitude of each vector and the angle between vectors A and B .

Solution: We begin by making a sketch of the three vectors, choosing A to point in the
positive x -direction (Figure 3.20).

C= A+B
B
ĵ
ˆi

A
Figure 3.20 Choice of coordinates system for Example 3.3
 
Denote the magnitude of C by C ≡ C = (Cx )2 + (C y )2 = 26.5 . The components of
  
C
=
A
+
B
are given by

Cx = Ax + Bx = C cosθ C = (26.5)cos(41 ) = 20 (3.3.17)

C y = By = C sin θ C = (26.5)sin(41 ) = 17.4 .

(3.3.18)

 
From the condition that B = 2 A , the square of their magnitudes satisfy

(Bx )2 + (By )2 = 4( Ax )2 . (3.3.19)

Using Eqs. (3.3.17) and (3.3.18), Eq. (3.3.19)becomes

(C
x −
Ax )2 + (C y )2 = 4(
Ax )2
(C
x )2 − 2Cx Ax + (
Ax )2 + (C y )2 = 4(
Ax )2 .

This is a quadratic equation

0 = 3( Ax )2 + 2Cx Ax − C 2

which we solve for the component Ax :

17
 −2Cx ± (2Cx )2 + (4)(3)(C 2 ) −2(20) ± (40))2 + (4)(3)(26.5)2
Ax = = = 10.0,
6 6

where we choose the positive square root because we originally chose Ax > 0 . The

components of B are then given by Eqs. (3.3.17) and (3.3.18):

Bx = Cx − Ax = 20.0 − 10.0 = 10.0

By = 17.4 .


The magnitude of B = (Bx )2 + (By )2 = 20.0 which is equal to two times the magnitude
  
of A = 10.0 . The angle between A and B is given by


θ = sin −1 (By / B ) = sin −1 (17.4 / 20.0 N) = 60 .

Example 3.4 Vector Description of a Point on a Line

a
+y d a
P1 . . ĵ
ˆi

.P 2
A
+x

Figure 3.21 Example 3.4

Consider two points, P1 with coordinates (x1 , y1 ) and P2 with coordinates (x1 , y1 ) , that

are separated by distance d . Find a vector A from the origin to the point on the line
connecting P1 and P2 that is located a distance a from the point P1 (Figure 3.21).

 
Solution: Let r1 = x1î + y1 ĵ be the position vector of P1 and r2 = x2 î + y2 ĵ the position


vector of P2 . Let r1 − r2 be the vector from P2 to P1 (Figure 3.22a). The unit vector
     
pointing from P2 to P1 is given by r̂21 = (
r1 −
r2 ) /
r1 −
r2 = (
r1 −
r2 ) / d , where
d = ((x2 − x1 )2 + ( y2 − y1 )2 )1/2

18
 P1 . r1 r2 P1 . .
s = a(r1 r2 ) / d

r1 . P2 r1 . P2
A r2 A r2

Figure 3.22a: Relative position vector Figure 3.22b: Relative position vector
  
The vector s in Figure 3.22b connects A to the point at r1 , points in the direction of r̂12 ,
     
and has length a . Therefore s = ar̂21 = a(r1 −
r2 ) / d . The vector r1 =
A
+
s . Therefore






 

A =
r1 −
s = r1 − a(r1 −
r2 ) / d = (1− a / d)r1 + (a / d)r2


A = (1− a / d)(x1
î + y1 ĵ) + (a / d)(x2 î + y2 ĵ)

⎛ a(x2 − x1 ) ⎞ ⎛ a( y2 − y1 ) ⎞
A =
⎜ x1 +
î + y + ĵ.
⎝ ((x2 − x1 )2 + ( y2 − y1 )2 )1/2 ⎟⎠ ⎜⎝ 1 ((x2 − x1 )2 + ( y2 − y1 )2 )1/2 ⎟⎠

3.3.2 Transformation of Vectors in Rotated Coordinate Systems

Consider two Cartesian coordinate systems S and S′ such that the (x′, y′) coordinate
axes in S′ are rotated by an angle θ with respect to the (x, y) coordinate axes in S ,
(Figure 3.23).

ĵ ĵ
ˆi î
+y ĵ
rotation + y'
by angle î
+x '
+x

Figure 3.23 Rotated coordinate systems

The components of the unit vector î′ in the î and ĵ direction are given by

i′x = î′ cosθ = cosθ and i′y = î′ sin θ = sin θ . Therefore

î′ = ix′ î + i′y ĵ = î cosθ + ĵsin θ . (3.3.20)

19
A similar argument holds for the components of the unit vector ĵ′ . The components of ĵ′
in the î and ĵ direction are given by jx′ = − ĵ′ sin θ = − sin θ and j′y = ĵ′ cosθ = cosθ .
Therefore
ĵ′ = jx′ î + j′y ĵ = ĵcosθ − î sin θ . (3.3.21)

Conversely, from Figure 3.23 and similar vector decomposition arguments, the
components of î and ĵ in S′ are given by

î = î′cosθ − ĵ′sin θ , (3.3.22)

ĵ = î′sin θ + ĵ′cosθ . (3.3.23)


Consider a fixed vector r = x î + yĵ with components (x, y) in coordinate system S . In

coordinate system S′ , the vector is given by r = x′ î′ + y′ĵ′ , where (x′, y′) are the
components in S′ , (Figure 3.24).

ĵ î
ˆi
ĵ
y rotation
by angle
r
r
y' x'

x
Figure 3.24 Transformation of vector components

Using the Eqs. (3.3.20) and (3.3.21), we have that


r = x î + yĵ = x( î′cosθ − ĵ′sin θ ) + y( ĵ′cosθ + î′sin θ )
 (3.3.24)
r = (x cosθ + y sin θ ) î′ + (x sin θ − y cosθ ) ĵ′.

Therefore the components of the vector transform according to

x′ = x cosθ + y sin θ , (3.3.25)

y′ = x sin θ − y cosθ . (3.3.26)

We now consider an alternate approach to understanding the transformation laws for the
components of the position vector of a fixed point in space. In coordinate system S ,
 
suppose the position vector r has length r = r and makes an angle φ with respect to
the positive x -axis (Figure 3.25).

20
 ĵ î
ˆi
ĵ
y rotation
by angle
r
r
y' x'

x
Figure 3.25 Transformation of vector components of the position vector

Then the components of r in S are given by

x = r cosφ , (3.3.27)
y = r sin φ . (3.3.28)

In coordinate system S′ , the components of r are given by

x′ = r cos(φ − θ ) , (3.3.29)
y′ = r sin(φ − θ ) . (3.3.30)

Apply the addition of angle trigonometric identities to Eqs. (3.3.29) and (3.3.30) yielding

x′ = r cos(φ − θ ) = r cosφ cosθ + r sin φ sin θ = x cosθ + y sin θ , (3.3.31)

y′ = r sin(φ − θ ) = r sin φ cosθ − r cos φ sin θ = y cosθ − x sin θ , (3.3.32)

in agreement with Eqs. (3.3.25) and (3.3.26).

Example 3.5 Vector Decomposition in Rotated Coordinate Systems


With respect to a given Cartesian coordinate system S , a vector A has components

Ax = 5 , Ay = −3 , Az = 0 . Consider a second coordinate system S′ such that the (x′, y′)

coordinate axes in S′ are rotated by an angle θ = 60 with respect to the (x, y)
coordinate axes in S , (Figure 3.26). (a) What are the components Ax ' and Ay ' of vector

A in coordinate system S′ ? (b) Calculate the magnitude of the vector using the ( Ax , Ay )
components and using the ( Ax ' , Ay ' ) components. Does your result agree with what you
expect?

21
 ĵ ĵ î
ˆi

rotation
Ax = 60
by angle
= 60
Ay A
A
Figure 3.26 Example 3.4

Solution: a) We begin by considering the vector decomposition of A with respect to the
coordinate system S ,

A = Ax î + Ay ĵ . (3.3.33)

Now we can use our results for the transformation of unit vectors î and ĵ in terms of î′

and ĵ′ , (Eqs. (3.3.22) and (3.3.23)) in order decompose the vector A in coordinate
system S′

A = Ax î + Ay ĵ = Ax (cosθ î′ − sin θ ĵ′) + Ay (sin θ î′ + cosθ ĵ′)
= ( Ax cosθ + Ay sin θ ) î′ + (− Ax sin θ + Ay cosθ ) ĵ′ (3.3.34)
= Ax′ î + Ay′ ĵ,
where
Ax′ = Ax cosθ + Ay sin θ (3.3.35)
Ay′ = − Ax sin θ + Ay cosθ . (3.3.36)

We now use the given information that Ax = 5 , Ay = −3 , and θ = 60 to solve for the

components of A in coordinate system S′

Ax′ = Ax cosθ + Ay sin θ = (1/ 2)(5 − 3 3) ,

Ay′ = − Ax sin θ + Ay cosθ = (1/ 2)(−5 3 − 3) .

b) The magnitude can be calculated in either coordinate system


A = ( Ax )2 + ( Ay )2 = (5)2 + (−3)2 = 34

((1/ 2)(5 − 3 3)) + ((1/ 2)(−5 3 − 3))

 2 2
A = ( Ax′ )2 + ( Ay′ )2 = = 34 .


This result agrees with what I expect because the length of vector A is independent of
the choice of coordinate system.

22
3.4 Vector Product (Cross Product)
 
Let A and B be two vectors. Because any two non-parallel
 vectors form a plane, we

denote the angle θ to be the angle between the vectors A and B as shown in Figure
   
3.27. The magnitude of the vector product A× B of the vectors A and B is defined to

be product of the magnitude of the vectors A and B with the sine of the angle θ
between the two vectors,
   
A
×
B
=
A
B
sin(θ ) . (3.3.37)

The angle θ between the vectors is limited to the values 0 ≤ θ ≤ π ensuring that
sin(θ ) ≥ 0 .

Figure 3.27 Vector product geometry.

 
The direction of the vector product is defined as follows. The vectors A and B form a
plane. Consider the direction perpendicular to this plane. There are two possibilities: we
shall choose one of these two (the one shown in Figure 3.27) for the direction of the
 
vector product A × B using a convention that is commonly called the “right-hand rule”.

3.4.1 Right-hand Rule for the Direction of Vector Product

 
The first step is to redraw the vectors A and B so that the tails are touching. Then draw
 
an arc starting from the vector A and finishing on the vector B . Curl your right fingers
the same way as the arc. Your right thumb points in the direction of the vector product
 
A × B (Figure 3.28).

23
 C=A B

Figure 3.28 Right-Hand Rule.

 
You should remember that the direction of the vector product A × B is perpendicular to
 
the plane formed by A and B . We can give a geometric interpretation to the magnitude
of the vector product by writing the magnitude as
   
(

A
×
B
=
A
B
sin θ . ) (3.3.38)

 
The vectors A and B form a parallelogram. The area of the parallelogram is equal to the
height times the base, which is the magnitude of the vector product. In Figure 3.29, two
different representations of the height and base of a parallelogram are illustrated. As
 
depicted in Figure 3.29(a), the term B sin θ is the projection of the vector B in the

direction perpendicular to the vector B . We could also write the magnitude of the vector
product as
   
(
)
A
×
B
=
A
sin θ B
.
(3.3.39)

 
The term A sin θ is the projection of the vector A in the direction perpendicular to the

vector B as shown in Figure 3.29(b). The vector product of two vectors that are parallel
(or anti-parallel) to each other is zero because the angle between the vectors is 0 (or π )
and sin(0) = 0 (or sin(π ) = 0 ). Geometrically, two parallel vectors do not have a unique
component perpendicular to their common direction.

B sin A sin
B B

A A

(a) (b)

24
   

Figure 3.29 Projection of (a) B
perpendicular to A , (b) of A perpendicular to B

3.4.2 Properties of the Vector Product

(1)   The vector product is anti-commutative because changing the order of the vectors
changes the direction of the vector product by the right hand rule:
   
A × B = −B × A . (3.3.40)


(2)   The vector product between a vector c A where c is a scalar and a vector B
is
   
c A × B = c (A × B) . (3.3.41)
Similarly,
   
A × c B = c (A × B) . (3.3.42)
  
(3)   The vector product between the sum of two vectors A and B with a vector C is
      
(A + B) × C = A × C + B × C (3.3.43)
Similarly,
      
A × (B + C) = A × B + A × C . (3.3.44)

3.4.3 Vector Decomposition and the Vector Product: Cartesian Coordinates

We first calculate that the magnitude of vector product of the unit vectors î and ĵ :

| ˆi × ˆj |=| ˆi || ˆj |sin(π / 2) = 1 , (3.3.45)

because the unit vectors have magnitude | ˆi |=| ˆj |= 1 and sin(π / 2) = 1 . By the right hand
rule, the direction of î × ĵ is in the +k̂ as shown in Figure 3.30. Thus î × ĵ = k̂ .

k̂ = ˆi ˆj
ˆj

ˆi

Figure 3.30 Vector product of î × ĵ

25
We note that the same rule applies for the unit vectors in the y and z directions,

ˆj× kˆ = ˆi, kˆ × ˆi = ˆj . (3.3.46)

By the anti-commutatively property (1) of the vector product,

ĵ× î = −k̂, î × k̂ = − ĵ (3.3.47)

The vector product of the unit vector î with itself is zero because the two unit vectors are
parallel to each other, ( sin(0) = 0 ),

| ˆi × ˆi |=| ˆi || ˆi | sin(0) = 0 . (3.3.48)

The vector product of the unit vector ĵ with itself and the unit vector k̂ with itself are
also zero for the same reason,
ˆj × ˆj = 0, kˆ × kˆ = 0 . (3.3.49)

With these properties in mind we can now develop an algebraic expression for the vector
product in terms of components. Let’s choose a Cartesian coordinate system with the

vector B pointing along the positive x-axis with positive x-component Bx . Then the
 
vectors A and B can be written as

A = Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az kˆ (3.3.50)

B = Bx ˆi , (3.3.51)

respectively. The vector product in vector components is

 
A × B = ( Ax ˆi + Ay ˆj + Az k)
ˆ × B ˆi .
x (3.3.52)
This becomes,
 
A × B = ( Ax î × Bx î) + ( Ay ĵ× Bx î) + ( Az k̂ × Bx î)
= Ax Bx (î × î) + Ay Bx ( ĵ× î) + Az Bx (k̂ × î) . (3.3.53)
= − Ay Bx kˆ + Az Bx ˆj

The vector component expression for the vector product easily generalizes for arbitrary
vectors

A =
Ax î + Ay ĵ + Az k̂ (3.3.54)


B = Bx ˆi + By ˆj + Bz kˆ , (3.3.55)
to yield

26
  
A × B = ( Ay Bz − Az By ) ˆi + ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ˆj + ( Ax By − Ay Bx ) kˆ . (3.3.56)

3.4.4 Vector Decomposition and the Vector Product: Cylindrical Coordinates

Recall the cylindrical coordinate system, which we show in Figure 3.31. We have chosen
two directions, radial and tangential in the plane, and a perpendicular direction to the
plane.

+z
!

k̂ ˆ

z r̂
+y
r
+x

Figure 3.31 Cylindrical coordinates

The unit vectors are at right angles to each other and so using the right hand rule, the

vector product of the unit vectors are given by the relations

r̂ × θ̂ = k̂ (3.3.57)
θ̂ × k̂ = r̂ (3.3.58)
k̂ × r̂ = θ̂ . (3.3.59)
   
Because the vector product satisfies A
×
B
= −
B
×
A
, we also have that

θ̂ × r̂ = −k̂ (3.3.60)
k̂ × θ̂ = −r̂ (3.3.61)
r̂ × k̂ = − θ̂ . (3.3.62)
Finally

r̂ × r̂ = θ̂ × θ̂ = k̂ × k̂ = 0 . (3.3.63)

Example 3.6 Vector Products

   
Given two vectors, A = 2 ˆi + −3 ˆj + 7 kˆ and B = 5ˆi + ˆj + 2kˆ , find A × B .

Solution:

27
  
A × B = ( Ay Bz − Az By ) î + ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ĵ + ( Ax By − Ay Bx ) k̂
= ((−3)(2) − (7)(1)) î + ((7)(5) − (2)(2)) ĵ + ((2)(1) − (−3)(5)) k̂
= −13 î + 31 ĵ + 17 k̂.

Example 3.7 Law of Sines

For the triangle shown in Figure 3.32(a), prove the law of sines,
  
A
/ sin α = B / sin β = C
/ sin γ , using the vector product.

Figure 3.32(a) Example 3.6 Figure 3.32(b) Vector analysis

  
Solution: Consider the area of a triangle formed by three vectors A , B , and C , where
     
A+B+C = 0 (Figure 3.32(b)). Because A + B + C = 0 , we have that
               
0 = A × (A + B + C) = A × B + A × C . Thus A × B = −A × C or A × B = A × C . From
       
Figure 17.7b we see that A × B = A B sin γ and A × C = A C sin β . Therefore
     
A B sin γ = A C sin β , and hence B / sin β = C / sin γ . A similar argument shows that
 
B / sin β = A / sin α proving the law of sines.

Example 3.8 Unit Normal

 
Find a unit vector perpendicular to A = ˆi + ˆj − kˆ and B = −2ˆi − ˆj + 3kˆ .
   
Solution: The vector product A × B is perpendicular to both A and B . Therefore the
     
unit vectors n̂ = ± A × B / A × B are perpendicular to both A and B . We first calculate

 
A × B = ( Ay Bz − Az By ) î + ( Az Bx − Ax Bz ) ĵ + ( Ax By − Ay Bx ) k̂
= ((1)(3) − (−1)(−1)) î + ((−1)(2) − (1)(3)) ĵ + ((1)(−1) − (1)(2)) k̂
= 2 î − 5 ĵ − 3 k̂.

We now calculate the magnitude

28
  
A × B = (22 + 52 + 32 )1/2 = (38)1/2 .

Therefore the perpendicular unit vectors are

   
n̂ = ± A × B / A × B = ±(2 î − 5 ĵ − 3 k̂) / (38)1/2 .

Example 3.9 Volume of Parallelepiped

 
Show that the volume of a parallelepiped with edges formed by the vectors A , B , and
   
C is given by A ⋅ (B × C) .

Solution: The volume of a parallelepiped is given by area of the base times height. If the
 
base is formed by the vectors B and C , then the area of the base is given by the
     
magnitude of B × C . The vector B × C = B × C n̂ where n̂ is a unit vector perpendicular
to the base (Figure 3.33).

Figure 3.33 Example 3.9


The projection of the vector A along the direction n̂ gives the height of the

parallelepiped. This projection is given by taking the dot product of A with a unit vector

and is equal to A ⋅ nˆ = height . Therefore
        
A ⋅ (B × C) = A ⋅ ( B × C )n̂ = ( B × C )A ⋅ n̂ = (area)(height) = (volume) .

Example 3.10 Vector Decomposition


Let A
be an arbitrary vector
 and let n̂ be a unit vector in some fixed direction. Show
that A = (A ⋅ n̂)n̂ + (n̂ × A) × n̂ .
 
Solution: Let A = An̂ + A⊥ ê where A is the component A in the direction of n̂ , ê is

the direction of the projection of A in a plane perpendicular to n̂ , and A⊥ is the

29
  

component of A in the direction of eˆ . Because eˆ ⋅ nˆ = 0 , we have that A ⋅ n̂ = A . Note

that 
n̂ × A = n̂ × ( An̂ + A⊥ ê) = n̂ × A⊥ ê = A⊥ (n̂ × ê) .

The unit vector n̂ × ê lies in the plane perpendicular to n̂ and is also perpendicular to ê .

Therefore (n̂ × ê) × n̂ is also a unit vector that is parallel to ê (by the right hand rule. So


(n̂ × A) × n̂ = A⊥ ê . Thus
  
A =
An̂ + A⊥ ê = (A ⋅ n̂)n̂ + (n̂ × A) × n̂ .

30
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8.01 Classical Mechanics

Fall 2016

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