2. Quantities
Scalar quantities Vector quantities
Vectors in mechanics 2
mass m (kg)
energy E (J)
power P (W)
displacement 푠 (푚)
velocity 푣 (푚푠−1)
acceleration 푎 (푚푠−2)
force 퐹 (푁)
momentum 푝 (푘푔푚푠−1) torque 푇 (푁푚)
• Magnitude • Magnitude
• Direction
• Point of application
3. Vectors in mechanics 3
Vector notation
퐹 arrow above or
F bold face
6.0 푐푚
30 푁
6.0푐푚 ≜ 30푁
1.0푐푚 ≜ 5.0푁 Scale
Head
Tail
5. but…is often compromised…
퐹 푔
…to make life easier
Vectors in mechanics 5
퐹 푔
퐹 푎푖푟
퐹 푟표푎푑
퐹 푛
퐹 푔
퐹 푟표푎푑
퐹 푛
퐹 푎푖푟
퐹 푟표푎푑
퐹 푛
퐹 푎푖푟
6. Basic operations with vectors
Adding vectors 퐹 푛푒푤 = 퐹 표푙푑1 + 퐹 표푙푑2
Subtracting vectors 퐹 푛푒푤 = 퐹 표푙푑1 − 퐹 표푙푑2
Multiplying a vector with a scalar 퐹 푛푒푤 = 푎 ∙ 퐹 표푙푑
Resolving a vector into components 퐹 푛푒푤1 + 퐹 푛푒푤2 = 퐹 표푙푑
a = 2
퐹 ∙ 푆푖푛 휑 퐹
휑
퐹 ∙ 퐶표푠 휑
Vectors in mechanics 6
7. Resolve a vector along 2 working lines
퐹 푛푒푤1
퐹 표푙푑
퐹 표푙푑 = 퐹 푛푒푤1+퐹 푛푒푤2
퐹 푛푒푤2
copy
copy
Vectors in mechanics 7
퐹 푛푒푤1 =?
퐹 표푙푑
퐹 푛푒푤2 =?
2 given working lines
8. vector scalar
Displacement vs. Distance
Δ푠 = 푠 2 − 푠 1
Type equation here.
푠 1
Vectors in mechanics 8
푠 2 = 푠 1 + Δ푠
Do not interpret ‘s’
as the distance,
because it
represents the
magnitude of the
displacement
vector 푠
9. Velocity vs. Speed
Vectors in mechanics 9
푣푒푙표푐푖푡푦 =
푑푖푠푝푙푎푐푒푚푒푛푡
푡푖푚푒
푠푝푒푒푑 =
푑푖푠푡푎푛푐푒
푡푖푚푒
vector scalar
10. Average vs. Instantaneous
푣 5푠 = lim
푑푡→0
푠 5 + 푑푡 − 푠(5)
5 + 푑푡 − 5
Vectors in mechanics 10
t(s)
s(m)
Δ푠
Δ푡
푣푎푣푔 5푠 → 10푠 =
푠 10 − 푠 5
10 − 5
=
Δ푠
Δ푡
= gradient of the secant line
= difference quotient
= gradient of the tangent
= differential quotient
=
푑푠
푑푡
= 푠′
11. Acceleration – notation issues
Vectors in mechanics 11
푎 =
Δ푣
Δ푡
=
푣 − 푢
Δ푡
Initial velocity = 푢
푎 =
Δ푣
Δ푡
=
푣2 − 푣1
Δ푡
Initial velocity = 푣0
Movement along a
straight line:
• 푠 → 푠 표푟 푥
• 푣 → 푣
• 푎 → 푎
• Choose an origin
• Choose a + direction!
푣
푠 +
me
20. Velocity diagrams
푡1 푡2
Vectors in mechanics 20
Determine 푡 read 푡-axis
Determine 푠 area under the graph
Determine 푣 read 푣-axis
Determine 푎 gradient of the graph
푡
푣1
푡
푣
푡1 푡2
푣2
Δ푣
Δ푡
21. Acceleration diagrams
푎
푎
Vectors in mechanics 21
Determine 푡 read 푡-axis
Determine 푠
Determine 푣 area under the graph
Determine 푎 read 푎-axis
푡1 푡2
푡1 푡2
22. Relative velocity - I
푣퐴 = 15 푚푠−1 푣퐵 = 10 푚푠−1
B
Vectors in mechanics 22
How much time does it take A to catch up on B?
푣퐴퐵 = 푣퐴 − 푣퐵 = 15 − 10 = 5푚푠−1 ⇒ Δ푡 = Δ푠퐴퐵 푣퐴퐵
= 100
5 = 20 푠
100 푚
How much time does it take A to ‘meet’ B?
푣퐴퐵 = 푣퐴 − 푣퐵 = 15 − −10 = 25푚푠−1 ⇒ Δ푡 = Δ푠퐴퐵 푣퐴퐵
= 150
25 = 6.0 푠
푣퐴 = 15 푚푠−1 푣퐵 = 10 푚푠−1
150 푚
A
A
B
23. Relative velocity - II
푣 퐵 = 10 푚푠−1
Vectors in mechanics 23
B
How fast does A approach B? 푣 퐴 = 15 푚푠−1
30°
30°
푣 퐵
푣 퐴
푣 퐴퐵
푣퐴퐵푥
푣퐴퐵푦
푣퐴퐵푥 = 15퐶표푠 30° − 10 = 3.0 m푠−1
푣퐴퐵푦 = 15푆푖푛 30° = 7.5 m푠−1
푣퐴퐵 = 3.02 + 7.52 = 8.1 푚푠−1
24. Forces
Name Symbol Value Direction Point of application
Weight 퐹 푊 퐹푊 = m ∙ 푔 To the centre of the Earth Center of mass
Friction 퐹 퐹 퐹퐹 = 푓 ∙ 퐹푁 ∥ to surface Contact surface
Vectors in mechanics 24
Air resistance 퐹 퐴푖푟 퐹퐴 = 1
2 휌퐶퐷퐴푣2 −푣 Front of moving object
Rolling resistance 퐹 푅 퐹푅 = 퐶푅 ∙ 퐹푁 −푣 Contact surface
Buoyancy, Upthrust 퐹 푈 퐹푈 = 휌 ∙ 푉 ∙ 푔 Along pressure gradient 훻푝 Lowest point of object
Tension 퐹푇 Reaction force ∥ the cord End of the cord
Contact force 퐹푃푢푠ℎ 퐹 푁 Reaction force ⊥ surface Contact surface
28. Newton’s laws
1 If the resultant force on an object is zero, the object is in “translational equilibrium”
Vectors in mechanics 28
For each separate object:
Between objects:
Σ퐹 =
Δ푝
Δ푡
Σ퐹 = 푚
Δ푣
Δ푡
⇒ Σ퐹 = 푚푎
2 Constant mass
3 Δ푝 퐴 = −Δ푝 퐵 ⇒
Δ푝 퐴
Δ푡
=
Δ푝 퐵
Δ푡
⇒ 퐹 퐴퐵 = −퐹 퐵퐴
퐹 퐵퐴
퐹 퐴퐵
A B
“Force by A on B”
Wikimedia.org
29. Newton’s laws – Example (1/5)
Vectors in mechanics 29
Neglect air resistance in this problem.
A caravan (820 kg) is pulled by a car. The combination accelerates with 푎 = 0.60 푚푠−2.
The caravan is subject to a rolling resistance of 퐹푟표푙푙 = 1.2 ∙ 102푁
Question 1: Calculated the pulling force by the car on the caravan.
The car with passengers (total 1580 kg) is subject to a rolling resistance of 1.6 ∙ 102푁 during the acceleration.
Question 2: Calculate the forward force by the road on the car.
30. Newton’s laws – Example (2/5)
A
Vectors in mechanics 30
B
푚퐴 = 1580 푘푔
푚퐵 = 820 푘푔
푎 = 0.60푚푠−2
+
Preparation: Make sketch of the connected car & caravan. Designate them ‘A’ & ‘B’.
List the information given in the text: mass, acceleration and define a PLUS direction!
31. Newton’s laws – Example (3/5)
A
1: Draw the relevant force vectors on the caravan
Vectors in mechanics 31
B
푚퐴 = 1580 푘푔
푚퐵 = 820 푘푔
푎 = 0.60푚푠−2
+
퐹 퐴퐵
퐹 푟표푙푙,퐵 = −1.2 ∙ 102푁
Question 1
2: Apply 2nd law on B
Σ퐹 퐵 = 푚퐵푎 ⇒ 퐹 퐴퐵 + 퐹 푟표푙푙,퐵 = 푚퐵푎 ⇒ 퐹 퐴퐵 + −1.2 ∙ 102 = 820 ∙ +0.60 ⇒ 퐹 퐴퐵 = 612푁
Round result to 6.1 ∙ 102푁
32. Newton’s laws – Example (4/5)
A
Vectors in mechanics 32
1: Add the relevant force vectors on the car
B
푚퐴 = 1580 푘푔
푚퐵 = 820 푘푔
푎 = 0.60푚푠−2
+
퐹 퐴퐵 = 612푁
퐹 푟표푙푙,퐵 = −1.2 ∙ 102푁
Question 2
3: Apply 2nd law on A
Round result to 1.7 ∙ 103푁
퐹 퐵퐴
퐹 푟표푙푙,퐴 = −1.6 ∙ 102푁
퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴
2: Apply 3rd law on A: 퐹 퐵퐴 = −퐹 퐵퐴 = −612푁
Σ퐹 퐴 = 푚퐴푎 ⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 + 퐹 퐵퐴 + 퐹 푟표푙푙,퐴 = 푚퐵푎 ⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 − 612 − 1.6 ∙ 102 = 1580 ∙ 0.60 ⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 = 1720푁
33. Newton’s laws – Example (5/5)
Question 2: Alternative solution: treat A & B as combination AB
AB
A
Vectors in mechanics 33
1: Add the relevant force vectors on the car
B
푚퐴 = 1580 푘푔
푚퐵 = 820 푘푔
푎 = 0.60푚푠−2
+
퐹 퐴퐵
퐹 푟표푙푙,퐵 = −1.2 ∙ 102푁
3: Apply 2nd law on A and B together
Round result to 1.7 ∙ 103푁
퐹 퐵퐴
퐹 푟표푙푙,퐴 = −1.6 ∙ 102푁
퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴
2: Regard the combination as a whole. Now 퐹 퐴퐵 and 퐹 퐵퐴 are internal forces and cancel out !
Σ퐹 퐴퐵 = 푚퐴 + 푚퐵 푎 ⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 + 퐹 푟표푙푙,퐴 + 퐹 푟표푙푙,퐵 = 푚퐴 + 푚퐵 푎 ⇒
⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 − 1.2 ∙ 102 − 1.6 ∙ 102 = 1580 + 820 ∙ 0.60 ⇒ 퐹 푟표푎푑,퐴 = 1720푁
35. Impulse – Example (1/2)
A baseball (145 g) is thrown and flies with 155 m/s. The hitter’s club hits the ball frontally. Assume that the ball
Flies back in the opposite direction. The force by the club on the ball is drawn in the diagram below.
Vectors in mechanics 35
Question: Determine the speed after the hit.
퐹 푁
푡
1000
105푚푠
36. Impulse – Example (2/2)
Tock!
2: The impulse 퐹 ∙ Δ푡 equals the area under the graph.
It can be approximated by the dashed triangle
퐹 ∙ Δ푡 =
1
2
× 0.095 × −900 = −42.3푁푠
Vectors in mechanics 36
퐹 푁
푡
1000
95푚푠
3: Δ푝 = 퐹 ∙ Δ푡 ⇒ 푚 푣 2 − 푣 1 = −42.3
1: make sketch and choose PLUS direction
푣 1 = +155푚푠−1
푣 2
Δ푝 = 퐹 ∙ Δ푡
+
퐹
0.145 ∙ 푣 2 − 155 = −42.3
푣 2 = −140푚푠−1
4: Round to −1.4 ∙ 102푚푠−1
(graph area reading uncertainty)
37. END
Disclaimer
This document is meant to be apprehended through professional teacher mediation (‘live in class’)
together with a physics text book, preferably on IB level.
Vectors in mechanics 37