1. 4. Distance and displacement (displacement as an example of a vector)B
Example 1: The distance between points A and B
is equal to the distance between A and C.
In contrast, the displacement from point A to point B
is not equal to the displacement from A to C. A C
Example 2: For the motion around a closed loop (from A to A) the displacement is zero, but the distance is not equal to zero. A
Distance - fundamental physical quantity measured in units of length.
Displacement - physical quantity that should be described by both its magnitude (measured in units of length) and direction.
Distance is an example of a scalar quantity.
Displacement is an example of a vector quantity.
Scalars have numerical value only (one number).
Vectors have magnitude and direction (at least two numbers).

2. 5. Vectors A vector has magnitude as well as direction
Some vector quantities: displacement, velocity, force
A scalar has only magnitude and sign
Some scalar quantities: time, temperature, mass
Geometric presentation:
Notations: letter with arrow; a – bold font
Magnitude (length of the vector):
Some properties:

3. 5a. Vector addition (geometric)
Two vectors:
Several vectors
Subtraction

4. Question 1: Which of the following arrangements will produce the largest
resultant when the two vectors of the same magnitude are added? A C B
Question 2: A person walks 3.0 mi north and then 4.0 mi west. The length and direction of the net displacement of the person are:
1) 25 mi and 45˚ north of east
2) 5 mi and 37˚ north of west
3) 5 mi and 37˚ west of north
4) 7 mi and 77˚ south of west
β = 37˚<45˚
ϴ= 53˚> 45˚ β
Question 3: Consider the following three vectors:
What is the correct relationship between the three vectors?

5. 5b. Vectors and system of coordinatesx
3D: x y z

6. 6. Average speed and velocity
a) Average speed
(total distance over total time)
Definition:
b) Average velocity
(total displacement over total time)
Definition:
x-component of velocity:

7. 7. Instantaneous speed and velocity
(Speed and velocity at a given point)
a) Instantaneous speed
Definition:
b) Instantaneous velocity
Definition:
The magnitude of instantaneous velocity is equal to the instantaneous speed
In contrast, the magnitude of average velocity is not necessarily equal to the average speed

8. 6. Geometric interpretation
a) One dimensional motion with constant velocity t
Velocity is equal to the slope of the graph (rise over run): distance over time.
Question: The graph of position versus time for a car is given above. The velocity of the car is positive or negative?

9. x C B A t b) Motion with changing velocity
Instantaneous velocity is equal to the slope of the line tangent to the graph.
(When Δt becomes smaller and smaller, point B becomes closer and closer
to the point A, and, eventually, line AB coincides with tangent line AC.)
Question: The graph of position versus time for a car is given above. The velocity of the car is positive or negative? Is it increasing or decreasing?