Name: using vectors to describe motion
Uploaded: 2023-09-22T11:49:39.000Z
Duration: 1 min
Channel: JoVE

Consider a fly in motion. To locate its position in a three-dimensional space, a Cartesian coordinate system is used, and the unit vectors along the axis provide its direction.
The vector arrow which extends from the origin to the object&#39;s location is the position vector. It can be represented in terms of the unit vectors.
The position vector is the sum of the vector components on each axis and their magnitudes provide the position along each axis.
If the fly continues its motion, its position vector changes, and the vector difference between the position vectors is called the displacement vector, &#916;r, which represents the change in position.
For example, if the fly is at point A, and after time t, it reaches point B, then using the position vectors of A and B, the displacement vector of the fly for time t can be obtained.

position and displacement vectors

To describe the motion of an object, one should first be able to describe its position (where it is at any particular time). More precisely, the position needs to be specified relative to a convenient frame of reference. A frame of reference is an arbitrary set of axes from which the position and motion of an object are described. Earth is often used as a frame of reference to describe the position of an object in relation to stationary objects on Earth.
Further, several important kinds of motion take place in two dimensions&#160;only&#8212;that is, in a plane. These motions can be described with two components of position, velocity, and acceleration. If an object moves relative to a frame of reference, then the object&#39;s position changes; this change in position is called displacement. The word displacement implies that an object has moved or has been displaced. Since displacement indicates direction, it is a vector and can be either positive or negative, depending on the choice of direction. Also, an analysis of motion can have many displacements embedded in it, and many applications in physics can have a series of displacements. Thus, the total displacement is the sum of the individual displacements, which should be evaluated carefully using vector addition.
This text is adapted from <a href="https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/4-1-displacement-and-velocity-vectors">Openstax, University Physics Volume 1, Section 4:1 Displacement and Velocity Vectors.</a>

Position and Displacement Vectors

To describe the motion of an object, one should first be able to describe its position (where it is at any particular time). More precisely, the position ...

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using vectors to describe motion

Position and displacement vectors describe motion in physics. A position vector shows where an object is located relative to a chosen origin. A displacement vector shows how far and in what direction the object moves from one point to another.

These vectors are useful because they give a clear way to track movement in space. The video connects position and displacement to the idea of a reference point and shows how direction matters as much as distance. That makes them important for describing motion in one, two, or three dimensions.

The lesson also shows how to represent these vectors using arrows and coordinate systems. By comparing the starting point and ending point, students can see the difference between an object’s location and its change in position. This helps build the foundation for later topics in kinematics.

Using Vectors to Describe Motion

introduction to scalers

Scalar Quantities in Physics

Scalar quantities in physics have size only. They do not include direction. This makes them different from vector quantities. Common scalar examples include mass, temperature, time, and energy. Each one can be described with a number and a unit. Because direction is not part of the value, scalars are often easier to compare and measure.

vector or cross product

Cross Product of Two Vectors

The cross product of two vectors gives a new vector that is related to both original vectors. It is also called the vector product. In many physics problems, this operation helps describe quantities that depend on direction as well as size. The result of a cross product has a direction set by the two input vectors. It is not the same as ordinary multiplication. The transcript focuses on the vector or cross product as a core vector operation students use when working with vectors in science.

introduction to vectors

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Vectors describe quantities that have both size and direction. They are used in physics to show how motion, force, and other quantities act in space. A vector can be represented with an arrow. The length of the arrow shows the size, and the arrowhead shows the direction. This makes vectors useful for comparing how one quantity points relative to another. Scalars are different because they have size only and no direction. Understanding the difference between vectors and scalars is an important...

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position and displacement

Tracking Motion with Position and Displacement

Position and displacement are key ideas in straight-line motion. Position tells where an object is located compared with a chosen starting point, called the origin. Displacement describes how far and in what direction the object has moved from its starting position. These ideas help describe motion clearly. Position can change as an object moves. Displacement focuses on the change in position, not just the path taken. That makes it useful for comparing motion in a simple and precise way.

Position and displacement vectors describe motion in physics. A position vector shows where an object is located relative to a chosen origin. A displacement vector shows how far and in what direction the object moves from one point to another. These vectors are useful because they give a clear way to track movement in space. The video connects position and displacement to the idea of a reference point and shows how direction matters as much as distance. That makes them important for describing...

mass and weight

How Mass Differs from Weight

Mass and weight are related, but they are not the same. Mass is the amount of matter in an object. Weight is the force of gravity acting on that object. This difference matters because mass stays the same even when gravity changes. Weight can change if the gravitational pull changes. A person or object therefore has the same mass, but not always the same weight. The terms are often used in everyday speech as if they mean the same thing. In physics, they describe two different ideas.

acceleration due to gravity on earth

Free-Fall Acceleration on Earth

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gravitational force

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Gravity is a force that pulls objects toward one another. On Earth, this force gives objects weight and keeps people, water, and other materials from drifting away. It also helps explain why planets and moons stay in motion around larger bodies. The strength of gravitational force depends on the masses of the objects involved. Larger masses create a stronger pull, while smaller masses create a weaker one. The distance between objects also matters, because gravity becomes weaker as objects move...

key terms and concepts

Learn how position vectors and displacement vectors describe an object’s location and movement in 1D, 2D, and 3D using arrows and coordinates.

Using Vectors to Describe Motion | JoVE K12

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Using Vectors to Describe Motion

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