Defining a displacement vector not touching the origin

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the representation of displacement vectors, specifically addressing the confusion between vectors and specific intervals. The vectors BC and OA are both defined with a magnitude of 'x', but BC cannot be represented as -x since that is the representation of OA. It is clarified that while the position of a vector can be shifted without altering its magnitude or direction, this principle does not apply to specific intervals such as "the last x meters of a tower." The distinction between a vector and a specific distance is crucial in understanding displacement.

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Hijaz Aslam
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In the diagram let the magnitude of the vector BC and OA are 'x'. I am confused with this part. Vectorially we don't say that the vector BC is ##-x##, because ##-x## is represented by OA. Then how do we represent BC?

It's said a the position of a vector doesn't matter, I mean one can shift it in any way unless their magnitude and direction are changed, is it applicable to a displacement vector? As in the case above we just can't shift the vector ##-x## to BC and call it ##-x##. For instance in the case of a ball thrown from a tower. If we take the origin as the top of the tower, we can always say the last ##x## meters of the tower. Am I confusing any concept?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, you are confusing "vector" with a specific interval, "the last x meters of a tower".
 

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