7. Position Vectors

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Revision as of 10:19, 24 August 2009

7. Position Vectors

Key Points

Velocities can be expressed as vectors, for example

\displaystyle \mathbf{v}=V\cos \alpha \mathbf{i}+V\sin \alpha \mathbf{j}

When moving with a constant velocity

\displaystyle \mathbf{r}=\mathbf{u}t+{{\mathbf{r}}_{0}}

Example 7.1 Two children, A and B, start at the origin and run so that their position vectors in metres at time t seconds are given by:

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=2t\mathbf{i}+t\mathbf{j} and \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6t-{{t}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+t\mathbf{j}

Plot the paths of the two children for \displaystyle 0\le t\le 4 . What happens when \displaystyle t=4 ?

Solution The tables below show the positions of the children at 1 second intervals for \displaystyle 0\le t\le 4 .

Time Position of A (rA) Position of B (rB) 0 \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=0\mathbf{i}+0\mathbf{j}

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6\times 0-{{0}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+0\mathbf{j}=0\mathbf{i}+0\mathbf{j}

1 \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=2\mathbf{i}+1\mathbf{j}

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6\times 1-{{1}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+1\mathbf{j}=5\mathbf{i}+1\mathbf{j}

2 \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=4\mathbf{i}+2\mathbf{j}

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6\times 2-{{2}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+2\mathbf{j}=8\mathbf{i}+2\mathbf{j}

3 \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=6\mathbf{i}+3\mathbf{j}

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6\times 3-{{3}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+3\mathbf{j}=9\mathbf{i}+3\mathbf{j}

4 \displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{A}}=8\mathbf{i}+4\mathbf{j}

\displaystyle {{\mathbf{r}}_{B}}=(6\times 4-{{4}^{2}})\mathbf{i}+4\mathbf{j}=8\mathbf{i}+4\mathbf{j}

From the values that we have obtained it is clear that the two children will have the same position when \displaystyle t=4 and unless they take evasive action will collide. The paths are shown in the diagram below.

Example 7.2 A boat moves so that at time t its position vector is r, where

\displaystyle \mathbf{r}=(9t-180)\mathbf{i}+(5t-450)\mathbf{j}

and i and j are unit vectors directed due east and north respectively.

(a) Find the time when the boat is due east of the origin. (b) Find the time when it is due south of the origin. (c) Find the position of the boat when it is south east of the origin.

Solution (a) When the boat is due east of the origin the position vector will contain only \displaystyle \mathbf{i} terms and no \displaystyle \mathbf{j} terms.

\displaystyle \begin{align} & 5t-450=0 \\ & t=\frac{450}{5}=90\text{ s} \\ \end{align}

(b) When the boat is due south of the origin the position vector will contain only \displaystyle \mathbf{j} terms and no \displaystyle \mathbf{i} terms.

\displaystyle \begin{align} & 9t-180=0 \\ & t=\frac{180}{9}=20\text{ s} \\ \end{align}

(c) When the boat is south east of the origin, its position vector will be of the form \displaystyle k\mathbf{i}-k\mathbf{j} .

\displaystyle \begin{align} & -(9t-180)=5t-450 \\ & -9t+180=5t-450 \\ & 630=14t \\ & t=\frac{630}{14}=45\text{ s} \\ \end{align}