DISPLACEMENT VECTORS
Suppose we have three towns A, B and C.A trip from A to B followed by a trip from B to C is equivalent
to a trip from A to C.This can be expressed in a vector form as the sum
¡!
AB+¡!
BC=
¡!
AC where the+sign could mean ‘followed by’.VECTOR ADDITION
After considering displacements in diagrams like those above, we can now define vector addition
geometrically:To addaandb:
Step 1: Drawa.
Step 2: At the arrowhead end ofa, drawb.
Step 3: Join the beginning ofato the arrowhead end ofb. This is vector a+b.So, given we haveExample 3 Self Tutor
Find a single vector which is equal to:a¡!
AB+
¡!
BE
b¡!
DC+
¡!
CA+
¡!
AE
c¡!
CB+
¡!
BD+
¡!
DC
a¡!
AB+
¡!
BE=
¡!
AE fas showng
b¡!
DC+
¡!
CA+
¡!
AE=
¡!
DE
c¡!
CB+
¡!
BD+
¡!
DC=
¡!
CC= 0 fzero vectorgABCCOMPUTER
DEMO
ab abab+ABCDEABEDCVectors (Chapter 24) 487IGCSE01
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Y:\HAESE\IGCSE01\IG01_24\487IGCSE01_24.CDR Monday, 27 October 2008 2:26:40 PM PETER