Chapter 3:

Solutions of Homework Problems

Vectors in Physics


12. Picture the Problem: The given vector components correspond to the vector r as drawn at y
right.

14 m
x
 9.5m 
(a) Use the inverse tangent function to find the   tan  1
  34 or 34° below −9.5 m
distance angle  :  14 m  
r
the +x axis

14 m    9.5 m 
2 2
(b) Use the Pythagorean Theorem to r  rx2  ry2 

determine the magnitude of r :
r  17 m

 9.5m  2 
(c) If both rx and ry are doubled, the direction   tan 1    34
 14 m  2 
will remain the same but the magnitude will
 28 m    19 m   34 m
2 2
double: r

 
15. Picture the Problem: The two vectors A (length 50 units) and B (length 120 units) are drawn y
at right.

A
x
Solution: 1. (a) Find Bx: Bx  120 units  cos 70  41 units 70°

2. Since the vector A points entirely in the x direction, we can see that Ax = 50 units and that

vector A has the greater x component. 
B
3. (b) Find By: Bx  120 units  sin 70  113 units
 
4. The vector A has no y component, so it is clear that vector B has the greater y component. However, if one takes

into account that the y-component of B is negative, then it follows that it smaller than zero, and hence A has the
greater y-component.

 
20. The two vectors A (length 40.0 m) and B (length 75.0 m) are drawn at right. y  
B A
(a) A sketch (not to scale) of the vectors and their sum is shown at right. 
50.0° C
x
20.0°

(b) Add the x components: C x  Ax  Bx   40.0 m  cos  20.0    75.0 m  cos  50.0    85.8 m

Add the y components: C y  Ay  B y   40.0 m  sin  20.0    75.0 m  sin  50.0    43.8 m


 85.8 m    43.8 m   96.3 m
2 2
Find the magnitude of C : C  Cx  C y 
2 2

  Cy  1  43.8 m 
Find the direction of C :  C  tan 1    tan    27.0
 Cx   85.8 m 

3–1
24. The vectors involved in the problem are depicted at right. y
 
Set the length of A  B equal 37  A2  B 2 30
2 2 2  
to 37 units: 37  A  B AB

B  37 2  A2  372   22   30 units B
2
Solve for B:

 x
−22 A O


29. The vector A has a length of 6.1 m and points in the negative x direction.
Note that in order to multiply a vector by a scalar, you need only multiply each component of the vector by the same
scalar.
 
(a) Multiply each component of A by −3.7: A    6.1 m  xˆ

3.7 A    3.7   6.1 m   xˆ   23 m  xˆ so Ax  23 m

(b) Since A has only one component, its magnitude is simply 23 m.

31. Picture the Problem: The vectors involved in the problem are depicted at right. y
  2.0 m 
(a) Find the direction of A from its  A  tan 1    –22  
components:  5.0 m  AB 
 B
 5.0 m    2.0 m   5.4 m
2 2
Find the magnitude of A : A  A  B
2.0 m 5.0 m x
O

2.0 m A

 5.0 m 
(b) Find the direction of B from its  B  tan 1    68  180  110
components:  –2.0 m 

 2.0 m    5.0 m   5.4 m
2 2
Find the magnitude of B : B
   
(c) Find the components of A  B : A  B   5.0  2.0 m  xˆ   2.0  5.0 m  yˆ   3.0 m  xˆ   3.0 m  yˆ
   3.0 m 
Find the direction of A  B from its  A  B  tan 1    45
components:  3.0 m 
   
Find the magnitude of A  B : AB   3.0 m 2   3.0 m 2  4.2 m

3–2