Cartesian Coordinate System and Vectors

Coordinate System

Coordinate system: used to describe the position of a point in space and consists of
1. An origin as the reference point 2. A set of coordinate axes with scales and labels 3. Choice of positive direction for each axis 4. Choice of unit vectors at each point in space

Cartesian Coordinate System

Vectors

Vector

A vector is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. Let a vector be denoted by r the symbol A r The magnitude of A r is denoted by | A | ! A

Application of Vectors

(1) Vectors can exist at any point P in space. (2) Vectors have direction and magnitude. (3) Vector Equality: Any two vectors that have the same direction and magnitude are equal no matter where in space they are located.

Vector Addition
r r Let A and B rbe r tworvectors. Define a = A + B ,the vector new vector C r r addition of A and B by the geometric

construction shown in either figure

Summary: Vector Properties

Addition of Vectors 1. 2. 3. 4. Commutativity

r r r r A+B =B+A

r r r r r r ( A + B) + C = A + (B + C) Associativity r r r r r r Identity Element for Vector Addition 0 such that A + 0 = 0 + A = A r r r r Inverse Element for Vector Addition ! A such that A + ! A = 0

( )

Scalar Multiplication of Vectors

1. 2. 3. 4.

Associative Law for Scalar Multiplication

r r r r b (cA) = (bc) A = (cb A) = c (bA)

r r r r Distributive Law for Vector Addition c ( A + B) = c A + c B r r r Distributive Law for Scalar Addition (b + c) A = b A + c A r r Identity Element for Scalar Multiplication: number 1 such that 1A=A

Vector Decomposition
Choose a coordinate system with an origin and axes. We can decompose a vector into component vectors along each coordinate axis, for example along the x,y, and z-axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. A vector at P can be decomposed into the vector sum,

r r r r
A = A x + A y + A
z

Unit Vectors and Components

The idea of
multiplication by real
numbers allows us to
define a set of unit
vectors at each point
) in space ( i , j, k |= 1
with |i |= 1, | j |= 1, | k Components:
r
r r A x = Ax i , A y = Ay j,

A = ( Ax , Ay , Az )

r A z = Az k

r A = Ax i + Ay j + Az k

Vector Decomposition in Two Dimensions

Consider a vector
r A = ( Ax , Ay , 0)

x- and y components:
Ax = A cos(! ), Ay = A sin(! )

Magnitude: Direction:
Ay

A=

2 Ax2 + Ay

Asin(! ) = = tan(! ) Ax Acos(! )

! = tan "1 ( Ay / Ax )

Vector Addition

r A = A cos(! A ) i + A sin(! A ) j r B = B cos(! B ) i + B sin(! B ) j

r r r Vector Sum: C = A + B

Components
Cx = Ax + Bx , C y = Ay + By

C x = C cos(! C ) = A cos(! A ) + B cos(! B )

C y = C sin(! C ) = A sin(! A ) + B sin(! B )

r C = ( Ax + Bx ) i + ( Ay + By ) j = C cos(!C ) i + C sin(!C ) j

Checkpoint Problem: Vector Decomposition

Two horizontal ropes are attached to a post that is stuck in the ground. The ropes pull the post r producing the vector forces A = 70 N i + 20 N j r and as shown in the figure. B = !30 N i + 40 N j Find the direction and magnitude of the horizontal component of a third force on the post that will make the vector sum of forces on the post equal to zero.

Checkpoint Problem: Sinking

Sailboat
A Coast Guard ship is located 35 km away from a checkpoint in a direction 420 north of west. A distressed sailboat located in still water 20 km from the same checkpoint in a direction 360 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?

Preview: Vector Description of Motion

Position
r r (t ) = x(t ) i + y (t ) j
r !r (t ) = !x(t ) i + !y (t ) j

Displacement Velocity

dx(t ) dy (t ) r v (t ) = i+ j ! vx (t ) i + v y (t ) j dt dt
r dvx (t ) dv y (t ) a(t ) = i+ j ! ax (t ) i + a y (t ) j dt dt

Acceleration

Dot Product
A scalar quantity Magnitude:
r r r r A " B = A B cos !

The dot product can be positive, zero, or negative Two types of projections: the dot product is the parallel component of one vector with respect to the second vector times the magnitude of the second vector

r r r r r A " B = A (cos ! ) B = A B

r r r r r A " B = A (cos ! ) B = A B

Dot Product Properties

r r r r A!B = B!A r r r r cA ! B = c( A ! B) r r r r r r r ( A + B) ! C = A ! C + B ! C

Dot Product in Cartesian Coordinates

With unit vectors i, j and k

!k =1 i ! i = j! j=k = =0 i ! j= i !k j!k
Example:

i " i =| i || i | cos(0) = 1 i " j =| i || j |cos(! /2) = 0

r r j + B k , B= B A = Ax i + Ayj + Az k i + B x y z r r A ! B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz

Checkpoint Problem: Scalar

Product

In the methane molecule, CH4 , each hydrogen atom is at the corner of a tetrahedron with the carbon atom at the center. In a coordinate system centered on the carbon atom, if the direction of one of the C--H bonds is described by the vector r the direction rof an adjacent C--H is A= i+ j +and k what is the described by the vector , B= i! j! k angle between these two bonds.

Summary: Cross Product

Magnitude: equal to the area of the parallelogram defined by the two vectors
r r r r r r r r A # B = A B sin ! = A B sin ! = A sin ! B

)(

(0 $ ! $ " )

Direction: determined by the Right-Hand-Rule

Properties of Cross Products

r r r r A ! B = "B ! A r r r r r r c( A ! B) = A ! cB = cA ! B r r r r r r r ( A + B) ! C = A ! C + B ! C

Cross Product of Unit Vectors

Unit vectors in Cartesian coordinates
i" j =| i || j | sin (! 2 ) = 1 i" i =| i || j | sin(0) = 0
r i ! j = k i ! i=0 r j ! k = i j ! j = 0 r ! !k =0 k i = j k

Components of Cross Product

r r j + B k , B= B A = Ax i + Ayj + Az k i + B x y z
r r A ! B = ( Ay Bz " Az By ) i + ( Az Bx " Ax Bz ) j + ( Ax By " Ay Bx )k i = Ax Bx j Ay By k Az Bz

Checkpoint Problem: Vector Product

Find a unit vector perpendicular to

r A= i+ j! k
and

r B = !2 i! j + 3k

MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu

8.01SC Physics I: Classical Mechanics

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.