VECTOR TUTORIAL
ANSWERS
SYDNEY NKHOMA
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
TEAM LEGENDS
SYDNEY NKHOMA
EAGLE MIND
CLEM JR
ANTHONY KANYANGALA
1. Can the magnitude of a vector have a negative value? Explain.
YES. If the vector is going to the west direction and south direction, we consider that
vector to be negative.
2. If the component of vector 𝑨 along the direction of vector 𝑩 is zero, what can you
conclude about the two vectors?
- The vectors are parallel. The word ‘along’ means they are going in the same
direction. So, if vectors are going in the same direction regardless of the magnitude of
the vector, they are parallel.
3. Two points in a plane have polar coordinates (2.50 m, 30.0°) and (3.80 m, 120.0°).
Determine:
a. (a) the Cartesian coordinates of these points and [(-1.9, 3.29) m]
b. (b) the distance between them. [4.55 m]
a. The polar coordinates (2.50m,30.0°) & (3.80m,120°) to Cartesian coordinates
i. (2.50m, 30.0°)
𝑥=r Cos 𝜃 𝑦=r Sin𝜃
𝑥=2.50 Cos 30° 𝑦 = 2.50 sin 30°
𝑥=2.165063509 𝑦 = 1.25m
𝑥=2.2m
(𝑥, 𝑦) = (2.2𝑚, 1.25𝑚)
ii. (3.80m, 120°)
x = r Cos 𝜃 𝑦=r Sin𝜃
x = 3.80 Cos 120° y = 3.80 Sin 120°
x = - 1.9 m y = 3.29 m
(𝑥, 𝑦) = (−1.9𝑚, 3.29)
Hence,
(2.50𝑚, 30) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (3.80𝑚, 120) 𝑖𝑠 (2.2𝑚, 1.25𝑚) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (−1.9𝑚 , 3.29𝑚) 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠
𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑦
b. D = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1)2
D = √(−1.9 − 2.2)2 + (3.29 − 1.25)2
D= √(−4.1)2 + (2.04)2
D = √16.81 + 4.1616
D = √20.9716
D= 4.579475953m
D= 4.6m
4. A map suggests that Atlanta is 730 miles in a direction of 5.00° north of east from Dallas. The
same map shows that Chicago is 560 miles in a direction of 21.0° west of north from Atlanta.
Figure 1, shows the locations of these three cities. Modeling the Earth as flat, use this
information to find the displacement from Dallas to Chicago. [788 miles at 48.0 north
𝑇𝐼𝑃; 𝑽𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑺 𝑪𝑨𝑵 𝑩𝑬 𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑭𝑻𝑬𝑫
𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
560𝑚
21° 730𝑚
5° 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
FORCE X- COMPONENT RESULT Y- COMPONENT RESULT
730N 730 Cos 5° 727 730 Sin 5 64
560 N -560 Sin 21° -201 560 Cos 21 523
Σfx 526 Σfy 587
i. Resultant
R2=x2+y2
R=√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
R=√(526)2 + (587)2
R=√276676 + 344569
R=√621245
R=788.1909667
R=788miles
ii. Direction C
Σfy
Tan 𝜃 = Σfx
587m
587
Tan 𝜃 = 526
587
𝜃 = tan−1
526
A 𝜃 B
𝜃 = 48. 13706144 526m
𝜃 = 48°
5. A person going for a walk follows the path shown in Figure 2. The total trip consists of
four straight- line paths. At the end of the walk, what is the person’s resultant
displacement measured from the starting point?
𝑇𝐼𝑃: 𝑽𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑶𝑹𝑺 𝑪𝑨𝑵 𝑩𝑬 𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑭𝑻𝑬𝑫.
𝒚 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔
200m
60°
𝒙 − 𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒔
30° 100m
150m 300m
FORCE X– RESULT Y– RESULT
COMPONENT COMPONENT
100 N 100 100 0 0
150 N -150 Cos 30° -130 -150 Sin 30° -75
200 N -200 Cos 60° -100 200 Sin 60° 173
300 N 0 0 -300 -300
Σfx -130 Σfy -202
i. Resultant
𝑅 2=𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
𝑅=√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
R=√(−130)2 + (−202)2
R=√16,900 + 40,804
R=√57,704
R=240.216569
R=240m
ii. Direction 130
∑ 𝑓𝑦
Tan 𝜃 = ∑
𝑓𝑥
−202
Tan 𝜃 = −130 202
−202
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1(−130)
𝜃 = 57°
FROM THE STARTING POINT, 57° + 180° = 237°
6. Two forces of 30N and 40N are inclined to each other at an angle of 60°.
a. Calculate their resultant. [60.83 N @ 34.6°]
b. What will be the angle if the forces are inclined at right angles to each other? [53°]
B 40N C
30N 30N
6666606
60°
A 40N
Let 𝑥 𝑏𝑒 30𝑁 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 𝑏𝑒 40𝑁
a. (𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑟𝑢𝑙𝑒, )
𝑅 2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 -2xy Cos (2×60)
𝑅 2 = (30)2 + (40)2 -2(30)(40) Cos 120°
𝑅 2 = 900 + 1600 − 2400 Cos 120°
𝑅 2 = 2500 − 2400 Cos 120°
𝑅 2 = 3700
𝑅 = √3700
𝑅 = 60.8276253
𝑅 = 60.83
b. The forces are inclined at right angles to each other.
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒
Tan 𝜃 = 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 C
40
Tan 𝜃 = 40N
30
40
𝜃=𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 30
𝜃=53.13010235
𝜃=53° A 30N B
7. A man is going due east with a velocity of 3 km/h. Rain falls vertically downward with a
speed of 10 km/h. Find the angle at which he should hold his umbrella to save himself
from rain. [16.7°]
3km/hr.
A C
10
Tan 𝜃= 3
10
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 3
𝜃=73.30075577
𝜃=90° − 73.30075577°
𝜃=16.6992423
𝜃=16.7°
8. A system of coplanar forces is shown in Figure 3. Calculate the magnitude and direction
of the resultant using:
a. Analytical method
b. Triangle forces
c. Parallelogram rule
a. Analytical method
16N 15N
45° 60°
30°
11N 22N
FORCE X- COMP RESULT Y-COMP RESULT
15N 15 Cos 60° 7.5 15 Sin 60° 13
22N 0 0 -22 -22
11N -11 Cos 30° -10 -11 Sin 30° -6
16N -16 Cos 45° -11 16 Sin 45° 11
Σfx -13.5 Σfy -4
1. RESULTANT 2. DIRECTION
∑ 𝑓𝑦
R=√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 Tan 𝜃 = ∑ 𝑓𝑥
R=√(−13.5)2 + (−4)2
−4
R=√182.25 + 16 Tan 𝜃 = −13.5
R=√198.25
4
R=14.08012784 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1( )
13.5
R=14
𝜃 = 16.50436138°
𝜃 = 90° − 16.50436138°
𝜃 = 73°
9. In a two-dimensional tug-of-war, Alex, Betty, and Charles pull horizontally on an
automobile tire at the angles shown in the overhead view of Fig. 5-30. The tire remains
stationary in spite of the three pulls. Alex pulls with force F: of magnitude 220 N, and
Charles pulls with a force Fc of magnitude 170N. Note that the direction of Fc is not
given. What is the magnitude of Betty’s force FB? [241 N]
REPRESENT THE DIAGRAM ON CARTESIAN PLANE
GIVEN Alex’s force = 220N
Charles’ force = 170N
𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
A C
22ON 170N
47° 𝜃 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
Let Betty’s force magnitude be K
Following the first condition of equilibrium,
𝛴𝑓𝑦 = 220 sin 47° + 170 sin 𝜃 − 𝐾 sin 90 = 0
161 + 170 sin 𝜃 − 𝐾 = 0
161+ 170 Sin 𝜃 = K ……. (i)
𝛴𝑓𝑥 = −220 cos 47 + 170 cos 𝜃 = 0
-150 + 170 Cos 𝜃 = 0
-150 + 170 Cos 𝜃 = 0 …….(ii)
From equation ii,
-150 + 170 Cos 𝜃 = 0
170 Cos 𝜃 = 150
150
cos θ = 170
150
𝜃 = cos−1 170
𝜃 = 28°
Substitute 28° 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝜃 in equation (i)
K = 161 + 171 𝑆𝑖𝑛 28°
K = 241N
HENCE, the magnitude of Betty’s force is 241N
10. In Figure 5, let the mass of the block be 8.5 kg and the angle be 30° Find (a) the tension
in the cord and (b) the normal force acting on the block. (c) If the cord is cut, find the
magnitude of the resulting acceleration of the block. [42 N, 72 N and – 4.9 m/s ]
2
1st Approach
Fnet= T – Fr (Fr is friction force)
But Fnet = m𝑎𝑠𝑠 × 𝑎𝑐𝑐. (acc. is acceleration)
Acc. on a smooth surface;
Acc. =g Sin 𝜃
Acc. =9.81 Sin 30°
Acc. =4.905 m/𝑠 2
Fnet=T – Fr
(8.5) × (4.905)= T - 0 (on a frictionless material)
41.6925 = T
T = 42N
2nd Approach
Fnet= W – T
(m×a) =(m×g) – T
(8.5 × 4.905) = (8.5×9.81) –T
41.6925 = 83.385= - T
-41.6925= - T
T = 42N