PHY201 Query 18

#$&*

course PHY 201

018. Vectors 

 

*********************************************

Question:  `q001.  Note that this assignment contains 8 questions.

 

.  The Pythagorean Theorem: the hypotenuse of a right triangle has a length  c such that c^2 = a^2 + b^2, where a and b are the lengths of the legs of the triangle.  Sketch a right triangle on a set of coordinate axes by first locating the  point (7, 13).  Then sketch a straight line from the origin of the coordinate system to this point to form the hypotenuse of  the triangle.  Continue by sketching a line straight down from (7, 13) to the x axis to form one leg of the triangle, then form the other leg by continuing straight along the x axis back to the origin.  How long are these two legs?  How long therefore is the  hypotenuse?

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

 The adjacent leg is 7 units wide, and the opposite leg is 13 units.

The hypotenuse is c = sqrt(7^2 + 13^2) = 14.8 units.

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:#8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

The leg from (7, 13) to the x axis drops from the point (7, 13) to the point (7,0) and so has length 13.  The  second leg runs from (7,0) to the origin, a distance of 7 units.

 

The legs therefore have lengths a = 13 and b = 7, so that the hypotenuse  c satisfies c^2 = a^2 + b^2 and we have

 

c = `sqrt(a^2 + b^2) = `sqrt( 13^2 + 7^2 ) = `sqrt( 216)  = 14.7, approximately.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q002.  Sketch a right triangle on a set of coordinate axes whose leg along the x axis has length 12 and whose hypotenuse has length 15.  What must be the  length of the second leg of the triangle?

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

 adjacent leg = 12 units

hypotenuse length = 15 units

opposite leg, b = sqrt(a^2 - c^2) = sqrt(12^2 - 15^2) = 9 units

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

Let c stand for the length of the hypotenuse and a for the length of the known side, with b standing for the  length of the unknown side.  Then since c^2 = a^2 + b^2, b^2 = c^2 - a^2 and

 

b = `sqrt(c^2 - a^2) = `sqrt( 15^2 - 12^2) = `sqrt(225 -  144) = `sqrt(81) = 9.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q003.  If a line of length L is directed from the origin of an x-y coordinate system at an angle `theta with the positive x axis, then the x and y coordinates  of the point where the line ends will be y = L * sin(`theta) and x = L * cos(`theta).

 

Sketch a line of length 10, directed from the origin at an angle of 37 degrees with the positive x axis.  Without doing any  calculations estimate the x and y coordinates of this point.  Give your results and explain how you obtained your estimates.

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

I estimate the x component will be 8 and the y component 6.

I drew the line up from the origin with an angle of 37 degrees. I estimated that the line was about 10 units.

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:#8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

The line will run closer to the x axis then to the y axis, since the line is directed at an angle below 45 degrees.   It won't run a whole lot closer but it will run significantly closer, which will make the x coordinate greater than the y coordinate.  Since the line itself has length 10, it will run less than 10 units along either the x or the y axis.  It turns out that the x  coordinate is very close to 8 and the y coordinate is very close to 6.  Your estimates should have been reasonably close to these values.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

WOW, I took a guess and was dead on to your estimate. Pure luck.

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q004.  Using your calculator you can calculate sin(37 deg) and cos(37 deg).  First be sure your calculator is in degree mode (this is the default mode for most  calculators so if you don't know what mode your calculator is in, it is probably in degree mode).  Then using the sin and cos buttons on your calculator you can find sin(37 deg) and cos(37 deg).  What are these  values and what should therefore be the x and y coordinates of the line directed from the origin at 37 degrees from the x axis?

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

 sin (37 deg) = 0.6

cos (37 deg) = 0.79

y-component = 10 * 0.6 = 6

x-component = 10 * 0.79 = 7.9 = 8

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

sin(37 deg) should give you a result very close but not exactly equal to .6.

 

cos(37 deg)  should give you a result very close but not exactly equal to .8.

 

Since the x coordinate is L cos(`theta), then for L = 10 and `theta = 37  deg we have x coordinate 10 * cos(37 deg) = 10 * .8 = 8 (your result should be slightly different than this approximate value).

 

Since the y coordinate is L sin(`theta), then for L = 10 and `theta = 37 deg we have y coordinate 10 * sin(37 deg) = 10 * .6 = 6 (your result should be slightly different than this approximate value).

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q005.  Show that the x and y coordinates you obtained in the preceding problem in fact give the legs of a triangle whose hypotenuse is 10.

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

 

 c^2 = a^2 + b^2

c = sqrt(a^2 + b^2) = sqrt(6^2 + 8^2) = 10 units

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

If c stands for the hypotenuse of the triangle, then if a = 8 and b = 6 are its legs we have c = `sqrt(a^2 + b^2)  = `sqrt(8^2 + 6^2) = `sqrt(100) = 10.  The same will hold for the more precise values you obtained in the preceding problem.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q006.  A vector drawn on a coordinate system is generally depicted as a line segment of a specified length directed from the origin at a specified angle with  the positive x axis.  The vector is traditionally drawn with an arrow on the end away from the origin.  In the preceding series of problems the line segment has length 10 and was directed at 37 degrees from the  positive x axis.  That line segment could have been drawn with an arrow on its end, pointing away from the origin.

 

The components of  a vector consist of a vector called the x component drawn from the origin along the x axis from the origin to x  coordinate L cos(`theta), and a vector called the y component drawn from the origin along the y axis to y coordinate L sin(`theta).

 

What are the x and y components of a vector directed at an angle of 120 degrees, as measured counterclockwise from the  positive x axis, and having length 30 units?

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

 x-component = L cos 'theta = 30 cos 120 = -15 units

y-component = L sin 'theta = 30 sin 120 = 26 units

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

The x component of this vector is vector along the x axis, from the origin to x =  30 cos(120 degrees) =  -15.

 

The y component is a vector along the y axis, from the origin to y = 30 sin(120 degrees) = 26, approx..

 

Note that the x component is to the left and the y component upward.  This is appropriate since the 120 degree angle, has measured counterclockwise  from the positive x axis, takes the vector into the second quadrant, which directs it to the left and upward.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating: 

*********************************************

Question:  `q007.  The angle of a vector as measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis is easily determined if the components of the vector are known.  The  angle is simply arctan( y component / x component ) provided the x component is positive.  If the x component is negative the angle is arctan( y component / x component ) + 180 deg.  If the x component is positive  and the y component negative, arctan( y component / x component ) will be a negative angle, and in this case we generally add 360 degrees in order to obtain an angle between 0 and 360 degrees.

 

The arctan, or inverse tangent tan^-1, is  usually on a calculator button marked tan^-1.

 

Find the angle and length of each of the following vectors as measured counterclockwise  from the positive x axis:

 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5.

A vector with x  component -2.5 and y component 4.3.

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3.

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

L = sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10 units, theta = arctan^-1 (5 / 8.7) = 30 deg

L= sqrt(-2.5^2 + 4.3^2) = 3.4 units, theta = arctan^-1 (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = 120 deg

L = sqrt(10^2 + -17.3^2) = 20 units, theta = arctan^-1(-17.3 / 10) + 360 deg = 300 deg

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5 makes an angle of arctan (5/8.7) = 30 degrees with the x  axis.  Since the x component is positive, this angle need not be modified.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10.

 

A vector with x component -2.5 and y component 4.3 makes  an angle of arctan (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = -60 deg + 180 deg = 120 degrees with the x axis.  Since the x component is negative, we had to add the 180 degrees.   The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt((-2.5)^2 + 4.3^2) = 5.

 

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3 makes an angle of arctan (-17.3 / 10) = -60 degrees with the x axis.  Since the angle is  negative, we add 360 deg to get 300 deg.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length =  `sqrt(10^2 + (-17.3)^2) = 20.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

*********************************************

Question:  `q007.  The angle of a vector as measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis is easily determined if the components of the vector are known.  The  angle is simply arctan( y component / x component ) provided the x component is positive.  If the x component is negative the angle is arctan( y component / x component ) + 180 deg.  If the x component is positive  and the y component negative, arctan( y component / x component ) will be a negative angle, and in this case we generally add 360 degrees in order to obtain an angle between 0 and 360 degrees.

 

The arctan, or inverse tangent tan^-1, is  usually on a calculator button marked tan^-1.

 

Find the angle and length of each of the following vectors as measured counterclockwise  from the positive x axis:

 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5.

A vector with x  component -2.5 and y component 4.3.

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3.

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

L = sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10 units, theta = arctan^-1 (5 / 8.7) = 30 deg

L= sqrt(-2.5^2 + 4.3^2) = 3.4 units, theta = arctan^-1 (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = 120 deg

L = sqrt(10^2 + -17.3^2) = 20 units, theta = arctan^-1(-17.3 / 10) + 360 deg = 300 deg

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5 makes an angle of arctan (5/8.7) = 30 degrees with the x  axis.  Since the x component is positive, this angle need not be modified.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10.

 

A vector with x component -2.5 and y component 4.3 makes  an angle of arctan (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = -60 deg + 180 deg = 120 degrees with the x axis.  Since the x component is negative, we had to add the 180 degrees.   The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt((-2.5)^2 + 4.3^2) = 5.

 

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3 makes an angle of arctan (-17.3 / 10) = -60 degrees with the x axis.  Since the angle is  negative, we add 360 deg to get 300 deg.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length =  `sqrt(10^2 + (-17.3)^2) = 20.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

#*&!

*********************************************

Question:  `q007.  The angle of a vector as measured counterclockwise from the positive x axis is easily determined if the components of the vector are known.  The  angle is simply arctan( y component / x component ) provided the x component is positive.  If the x component is negative the angle is arctan( y component / x component ) + 180 deg.  If the x component is positive  and the y component negative, arctan( y component / x component ) will be a negative angle, and in this case we generally add 360 degrees in order to obtain an angle between 0 and 360 degrees.

 

The arctan, or inverse tangent tan^-1, is  usually on a calculator button marked tan^-1.

 

Find the angle and length of each of the following vectors as measured counterclockwise  from the positive x axis:

 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5.

A vector with x  component -2.5 and y component 4.3.

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3.

 

 

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: 

 

L = sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10 units, theta = arctan^-1 (5 / 8.7) = 30 deg

L= sqrt(-2.5^2 + 4.3^2) = 3.4 units, theta = arctan^-1 (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = 120 deg

L = sqrt(10^2 + -17.3^2) = 20 units, theta = arctan^-1(-17.3 / 10) + 360 deg = 300 deg

 

 

confidence rating #$&*:8232; 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution: 

A vector with x component 8.7 and y component 5 makes an angle of arctan (5/8.7) = 30 degrees with the x  axis.  Since the x component is positive, this angle need not be modified.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt(8.7^2 + 5^2) = 10.

 

A vector with x component -2.5 and y component 4.3 makes  an angle of arctan (4.3 / -2.5) + 180 deg = -60 deg + 180 deg = 120 degrees with the x axis.  Since the x component is negative, we had to add the 180 degrees.   The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length = `sqrt((-2.5)^2 + 4.3^2) = 5.

 

A vector with x component 10 and y component -17.3 makes an angle of arctan (-17.3 / 10) = -60 degrees with the x axis.  Since the angle is  negative, we add 360 deg to get 300 deg.  The length of this vector is found by the Pythagorean Theorem to be length =  `sqrt(10^2 + (-17.3)^2) = 20.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary):

 

 

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique rating:

#*&!#*&!

&#Very good responses. Let me know if you have questions. &#