course_planning:course_notes:vectors

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course_planning:course_notes:vectors [2014/06/18 15:57] – [Adding & Subtracting Vectors] caballerocourse_planning:course_notes:vectors [2014/06/18 17:01] (current) – [Definitions] caballero
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 **Scalars:** Quantities that can be represented by a single number. Typical examples include mass, volume, density, and speed. **Scalars:** Quantities that can be represented by a single number. Typical examples include mass, volume, density, and speed.
  
-{{ course_planning:course_notes:basic_vector.jpg?200|Basic Vector Diagram}}+{{ course_planning:course_notes:basic_vector.png?200|Basic Vector Diagram}}
 **Vectors** Quantities than have both a magnitude and direction. Typical examples include displacement, velocity, momentum, and force.  **Vectors** Quantities than have both a magnitude and direction. Typical examples include displacement, velocity, momentum, and force. 
  
-Vectors are often represented with arrows. The end with the triangle is the "tip" or "head". The other end is called the "tail". The tail of a vector can be located anywhere; it is the difference between the tip and the tail that defines the vector itself. +Vectors are often represented with arrows. The end with the triangle is the "tip" or "head". The other end is called the "tail". The tail of a vector can be located anywhere; it is the difference between the tip and the tail that defines the vector itself. To the right is an example of a typical representation of a vector with the tip and tail labeled.
  
 ==== Defining Vectors Mathematically ==== ==== Defining Vectors Mathematically ====
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 We define vectors in three dimensional space relative to some origin (where the tail of the vector is located). For example, a position vector $\vec{r}$ might defined relative to the origin of coordinates. The measures of the vector along the coordinate axes are called the vector's "components", which can be positive or negative. Mathematically, a vector is often written with bracket notation: We define vectors in three dimensional space relative to some origin (where the tail of the vector is located). For example, a position vector $\vec{r}$ might defined relative to the origin of coordinates. The measures of the vector along the coordinate axes are called the vector's "components", which can be positive or negative. Mathematically, a vector is often written with bracket notation:
  
-$$ \vec{r} = \langle r_x, r_y, r_z \rangle $$+$$ \mathbf{r} = \vec{r} = \langle r_x, r_y, r_z \rangle $$
  
-where $r_x$, $r_y$, and $r_z$ are the vector components in the $x$, $y$, and $z$ direction respectively. They tell you "how much" of the vector $\vec{r}$ is aligned with each coordinate direction. +where $r_x$, $r_y$, and $r_z$ are the vector components in the $x$, $y$, and $z$ direction respectively. They tell you "how much" of the vector $\vec{r}$ is aligned with each coordinate direction. The vector itself is denoted either in bold face or with an arrow above it.
  
 In physics, we often use $\vec{r}$ to represent the position vector, that is, the location of an object with respect to another point (origin). In physics, we often use $\vec{r}$ to represent the position vector, that is, the location of an object with respect to another point (origin).
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 While in physics we often represent vectors using brace notation ($ \vec{r} = \langle r_x, r_y, r_z \rangle $), other forms you might see include coordinate unit vectors: $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{x}+r_y+\hat{y}+r_z\hat{z}$, $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{i}+r_y+\hat{j}+r_z\hat{k}$, and $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{e}_1+r_y+\hat{e}_2+r_z\hat{e}_3$. These unit vectors point along coordinate directions. While in physics we often represent vectors using brace notation ($ \vec{r} = \langle r_x, r_y, r_z \rangle $), other forms you might see include coordinate unit vectors: $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{x}+r_y+\hat{y}+r_z\hat{z}$, $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{i}+r_y+\hat{j}+r_z\hat{k}$, and $\vec{r} = r_x\hat{e}_1+r_y+\hat{e}_2+r_z\hat{e}_3$. These unit vectors point along coordinate directions.
-==== 2D Vectors ====+==== Vector Components in Two Dimensions ====
  
 {{ course_planning:course_notes:2d_vector.png?250|2D vector}} {{ course_planning:course_notes:2d_vector.png?250|2D vector}}
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 $$ r_y = |\vec{r}| \sin \theta $$ $$ r_y = |\vec{r}| \sin \theta $$
  
 +The above equations only work when the vectors are decomposed with along the x and y axis as defined in the figure to the right. Oftentimes, an angle that is given or derived cannot make use of the simple decomposition formulae above. The geometric properties of the problem will dictate which trig functions are used.
 ==== Adding & Subtracting Vectors ===== ==== Adding & Subtracting Vectors =====
  
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 For subtraction, draw the vector that points directly opposite of the second vector. Place the tail of this reversed second vector at the tip of the first vector. The vector that points from the tail of the first to the tip of the reversed second is the difference vector. The image to the right demonstrates this for two vectors, $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$. For subtraction, draw the vector that points directly opposite of the second vector. Place the tail of this reversed second vector at the tip of the first vector. The vector that points from the tail of the first to the tip of the reversed second is the difference vector. The image to the right demonstrates this for two vectors, $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$.
 ==== Vector Simulation ==== ==== Vector Simulation ====
-Here's simulation that let's you play with vectors in 2D. If the embedded simulation doesn't work, you can find it {{http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-addition_en.html|on the PhET website}}.+Here's simulation that let's you play with vectors in 2D.((Credit the {{http://phet.colorado.edu|PhET Team}} at the University of Colorado for the simulation.)) If the embedded simulation doesn't work, you can find it {{http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-addition_en.html|on the PhET website}}.
  
 {{url>http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-addition_en.html 800px,600px | PhET Vector Simulation}} {{url>http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-addition_en.html 800px,600px | PhET Vector Simulation}}
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