Name: ________________________________________ Date: _____________________________

AP Physics 1 Per. ________ Vector Addition Practice

1. F1 and F2 are vectors shown below (N is a unit of force, it stands for Newton, not north)

F1 = 500N y
F2 = 300N

40o 50o
a) Add the vectors F1 and F2: F1+F2 = R1. Add graphically and numerically x
Numerical Addition (by components)

x y R 2  Rx2  Ry2  1902  5512

F1 -383 321 R  583N
F2 193 230 Ry=551 R1 Ry 551
tan  
Rx 190
R1 -190 551
  71o
 R1 = 583N @71o above –x axis
Rx=-190

Graphical Addition (tail to tip)

y If you measure the length of R1 on the graph

scale and measure  with a protractor, you will

F1 = 500N
40o
get the same result as above:
R1
R = 583N @71o above –x axis
F2 = 300N
 50o
x
 b) Subtract the vector F2 from F1: F1 – F2 = R2
Numerical Subtraction (by components)
R 2  Rx2  Ry2  912  5762
x y
R2 R  583N
F1 -383 321 Ry=91
-F2 -193 -230 
Ry 551
Rx=-576 tan  
Rx 190
R2 -576 91
  9.0o
R2 = 583N @ 9o above –x axis
Graphical Subtraction (F1 and F2 tail to tail OR F1 and –F2 tail to tip)

y
y
R2
50o
-F2 F1
F1 = 500N F2 = 300N
40o 50o 40o

x R2 x

2. Alex walks 0.40 km in a direction 60˚ west of north, then goes 0.50 km due west. Find the
displacement by adding the vectors mathematically.

x y N
Dx1 -0.346 0.2 Dx1 = 0.4km

Dx2 -0.5 0 60o

R -0.85 0.2 W Dx2 = 0.5km E

S
R 2  Rx2  Ry2  0.852  0.22
R R  0.87km
Ry=0.2 Ry
 tan  
0 .2
Rx 0.85
Rx=-0.85
  13o
R = 0.87 km, 13o N of W
3. A hiker’s trip consists of three segments. Path A is 8.0 km long heading 60˚ north of east. Path B is
7.0 km long in a direction 30˚ north of west. Path C is 4.0 km long heading 70˚ east of south. Find the
displacement of the hiker.

x y N  = 8km
 4 6.93
 = 7km
 -6.06 3.5
C 3.76 -1.37 30o 60o

R 1.7 9.06
W 70o
E
C = 4km
S
R 2  Rx2  Ry2  1.7 2  9.062
R
Ry=9.06 R  85km
Ry 9.06
tan   
Rx 1,7
   79.4 o
Rx= 1.7
R = 85 km, 79.4o N of E
4. A car drives 60.0 miles directly north in one hour and then turns and drives 80.0 miles directly west in
one hour and 15 minutes.
Dx2 = 80mi N
a) What is the total distance the car drove? 140 mi

b) What is the car’s total displacement for the trip?

(magnitude and direction) (pythagoream’s Thm) Dx1 = 60mi
Dx = 100 mi, 53 E of N
o Dx 
c) What was the car’s average velocity for the trip?
W E
 Dx 100mi
vav    44.4mph, 53o E of N
t 2.25hr S
(magnitude and direction)

d) What was the car’s average speed for trip? d 140mi

s   62.2mph
t 2.25hr
5. Add together the following vectors graphically and numerically (by component), giving the magnitude
and direction of the resultant and the equilibrant.
– Vector A: 300 m @ 60o (from +x axis) Graphical method:
o
– Vector B: 450 m @ 100 (from +x axis)

– Vector C: 120 m @ -120o (from +x axis) C

Component method:
B
R
Bx=Bsin10
By=Bcos10 A
10o A
B
Ay=Asin60
Cx=Ccos60 60o
o
Cy=Csin60 60 Ax=Acos60
C
x y
A 150 260
B -78 443
C -60 -104
R 12 599

Ry 599
R 2  Rx2  Ry2  122  5992 tan  
Rx 12
R  599.1m   89 o

6. A car drives 250. m in a direction 35.0o South of east.

N
a) How far South did they drive?
component of displacement south is 143 m
W E
(250sin35) 35o
b) How far east did they drive?
component of displacement east is 205 m
(250cos35)

S
 The car then turns and drives for 400. m in a direction 65.0o north
of east.

c) What is the total displacement in the north/south direction for

the two parts of the trip?

DxNS  Dx1NS  Dx 2 NS  143  363  220 m N

65o
W E
d) What is the total displacement in the east/west direction for the
35o
two parts of the trip?

DxEW  Dx1EW  Dx 2 EW  205  169  374 m

e) S
What is the magnitude and direction of the total displacement of
the car for the entire trip?

R 2  REW
2
 RNS
2
 3742  2202
Dx
D xNS= 220m R  434m

RNS 220
tan   
REW 374
   30o
D xEW= 374m

R = 434 km, 30o N of E

7. A plane aims north and moves with a velocity of 200 m/s (relative to the air) (vPA). The wind blows
to the east at 30 m/s (relative to the ground) (vAG). The plane’s velocity relative to the ground (vPG) is
equal to the sum of these two velocities (VPG = vPA + vAG). Calculate the plane’s total velocity.

vPG
vPA 2
vPG  vPA
2
 v AG
2
 2002  302
vPG  202m / s
vAG 
v PA 200
tan   
v AG 30
  81.5o NofW
8. A river flows north at 4.00 m/s (relative to the ground) (vWG). A boat aims east with a velocity of 6.00
m/s (relative to the water) (vBW) trying to cross the river.
a) What is the boat’s total velocity (vBG)?

N
2
vBG  vBW
2
 vWG
2
 62  42
vWG vPG  7.2m / s
= 4 m/s
 tan 
vWG 4

E v BW 6
vBW = 6m/s
  33.7 o NofE
b) if the river is 100. m wide, how long does it take the boat to get across the river?

The velocity of the boat relative to the ground has 2 perpendicular

components and these are independent of each other. The boat
moves directly across the river (east) because of its motor and
bcause it is aimed east. Boat simultaneously moves downstream v BG y
because of the current. These two perpendicular parts of the boats = 4 m/s
motion are independent of each other. An alteration in one of the 
components will not affect the other component. For instance, if the
water current increased, then the boat would still be covering ground v
BG x = 6m/s
in the easterly direction at the same rate. It is true that the increase of
the water velocity would cause the boat to travel more northward; however, the boat still travels
eastward at the same speed. Perpendicular components of motion do not affect each

Dx  v x t  vBGxt
Dx 100
t   16.7 s
vBGx 6
c) how far downstream does the boat end up

Dy  v y t  vBGyt  4(16 .7)  66 .8m