Mr. Rogers AP Physics C Study Guide --
Vector Addition
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A = ( Ax2
+ Ay2) 0.5 |
A = xî + yĵ + zk |
Ax
= A cos q |
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Ay
= A sin q |
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q
= Tan-1(Ay/Ax) |
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- Displacement and velocity vectors
always go in the same direction.
- Acceleration and force vectors
always go in the same direction.
- Components are independent of
each other. In other words changing one component will have no effect
on the others. Each dimension can be treated as though it is a
separate problem.
- 3 step component method for adding
two or more vectors (polar coordinates):
- Break all vectors into components.
- Sum the components for each dimension
- Using the new components calculated in
the second step, calculate a resultant and an angle.
- Method for adding two or more vectors
(unit vector notation):
- Sum the components for each dimension
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air speed |
components |
ground speed |
resultant |
unit vector |
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