AP Physics C 2017

Exam tip from an AP Physics veteran:

Even    though  the vector  formulas    in  the box are not on  the equations   sheet,  they    are very    important   to

memorize.   You will    use them    in  countless   problems.   Chances are,    you will    use them    so  much    that    you’ll

have    memorized   them    way before  the AP  exam.

—Jamie, high    school  senior

Adding Vectors

Let’s take two vectors, Q and Z , as shown in Figure 9.3a .

Figure  9.3a            Two vectors.

Now, in Figure 9.3b , we place them on a coordinate plane. We will move them around so that they line
up head-to-tail.

Figure  9.3b            Vectors on  a   coordinate  plane.

If you place your finger at the origin and follow the arrows, you will end up at the head of vector Z . The
vector sum of Q and Z is the vector that starts at the origin and ends at the head of vector Z . This is
shown in Figure 9.3c .

Figure  9.3c            Adding  vectors.