VECTORS Examples

I Graphical method
1) A car travels 200 km west, 100 km south & finally 150 km at an angle 60 S of E. What is the net
displacement of the car by graphical method? Ans. 280 km at 60 S of W

A = 200 km

B = 100km

60 R

C = 150 km

2) An automobile travels due E on a level road for 32 km. It then turns due N at an intersection& travels 47
km before stopping. Find the resultant displacement of the car. Ans. 57 km at 56 N of E

R B = 47 km

A = 32 km
3) The pilot of a private plane flies 20 km in a direction 60 N of E, then 30 km straight E, then 10 km straight
S. How far & in what direction is the plane from the starting point?

4) Determine the resultant of a 10-lb horizontal force & an 18-lb vertical force.
Ans. R = 20.6 lb;  = 6057’
5) A cross-country skier skis 1 km N & then 2 km E. How far & in what direction is she from the starting
point? Ans. R = 2.236 km ;  = 26 N of E

6)
II Analytical method
A] Triangle method

A.2] Oblique Triangle/Parallelogram

1) Two forces are acting on a point. One force acts east & the other 70 N of E. Find the resultant.

B Let A = B = 1 lb
R γ = 180 - 70 = 110
R2 = 12 + 12 – 2(1)(1) cos 110 = 2.68
R = 1.64 lb
γ
70 
sin  sin 
A 
B R

Sin  = 

B sin  1 sin 110 
= 0.57358
R 1.64
 = 35

2) The displacement from Bob’s apartment to Carli’s apartment is 3 km east. Bob tells Carli that he wants to
meet her at a picnic ground that is 5 km 70 S of E from his apartment. What is the displacement of the
picnic ground from Carli’s apartment?

3) Find the resultant of the 15-N forces applied at the same point when the angle between the forces is 30.

A = B = 15 N
R2 = (15)2 +(15)2 – 2(15)(15)cos (180 - 30) = 839.71
R = 28.98 N  29 N
sin  sin 

B R

Sin  =

15 sin150 
= 0.25882
29
 = 15

B] Components method
1)