# Homework Help: Direction of Vectors

1. Aug 29, 2004

### Whatupdoc

Vector A has components Ax=1.50cm, Ay =2.05cm
Vector B has components Bx=4.40cm, By=-3.65cm

Find the Direction of Vector A + B. (Let the direction be the angle that the vector makes with the +x-axis, measured counterclockwise from the axis)

Hi, can someone help me with this problem. i know that it's easy, but i dont remeber how to do it. thanks

2. Aug 29, 2004

### ExtravagantDreams

Vectors add just like integers. Add the x components and the y components. Draw yourself a picture for it to make more sense.

Once you have your Cx and Cy, you can use your choise of arctan, arcsin with corresponding sides to find the angle.

Last edited: Aug 29, 2004
3. Aug 29, 2004

### Whatupdoc

yea i know how to add vectors, but i dont know what the question is asking me to do. "Find the Direction of Vector A + B. (Let the direction be the angle that the vector makes with the +x-axis, measured counterclockwise from the axis)" i'm very confused, what is the question asking me to do extactly? sorry, i really suck when it comes to physics.

4. Aug 29, 2004

### ehild

You need to find the angle the vector C=A+B encloses with the x axis. Remember that
$$tan(\gamma ) = c_y/c_x$$
From this, you get gamma back, but decide if the angle is in the first, second, third or fourth quadrant.
If both components are positive
$$0 < \gamma < \pi/2$$
if the x component is negative and the y component is positive
$$\pi/2 < \gamma < \pi$$
If both components are negative
$$\pi <\gamma <3 \pi /2$$
if the x component is positive and the y component is negative
$$3\pi /2 < \gamma < 2 \pi$$

So calculate:
$$c_x = a_x + b_x$$ and $$c_y = a_y + b_y$$
$$tan(\gamma ) = c_y/c_x$$
find gamma, you get an angle between 0 and $$\pi$$ (or between 0 and $$180^o$$). Check if $$c_y$$ is positive or negative. If it is negative add $$\pi (180^o )$$ to the value of the angle you got.

ehild

Last edited: Jun 29, 2010
5. Aug 29, 2004

### ExtravagantDreams

Not sure what class this is for but I remember for my first physics class we would write a vector as C [$\theta$ deg. above positive x-axis]

6. Aug 29, 2004

### robphy

This is actually a problem in mathematics. Don't blame Physics! :tongue2:

After doing the addition of vectors, as described in the other posts here, you are essentially converting from rectangular coordinates to polar coordinates.
This is probably in your trig or pre-calc text.

In physics, one merely uses that mathematical idea.

7. Aug 29, 2004

### Whatupdoc

ok here's what i got:
$$c_x = 5.9cm$$
$$c_y = -1.6cm$$

so...
$$(\gamma ) = -15.17291$$

the angle is negative, so i added 180 to it, which equals .... 164.827 <-- is that the answer?

8. Aug 29, 2004

### faust9

Add 360, not 180. Remember, the A+B vector is in the 4th quad so to get the CCW angle from the x-axis you have go through the first three quads which is 270 degrees. And then you need to go an additional 75'ish degrees to find the angle from the x-axis to the vector. Or the easier route of 360+$\gamma$

9. Aug 29, 2004

### ehild

Ooops...Sorry, I was wrong, faust9 is right.
The calculator returns an angle between $$-90^o$$ and $$+90^o$$. Add 180 degrees if $$c_x <0$$ but 360 degrees if $$c_x>0 \mbox{ and } c_y<0$$.
So your angle is $$344.8^o$$ Remember, you have to check the sign of both components, it is not enough to check if the angle is negative or positive.

Try the vectors {1,1); (-1,1); (-1,-1); (1,-1). They make the angles with the positive x axis counter-clockvise $$45^o, 135^o, 225^o, 315^0$$. The tangents are: 1, -1, 1, -1. The function arctan returns 45, -45, 45 -45. You have to add 0, 180, 180, 360, respectively, to get back the original angles.

ehild