# Tikz lines being cut off from origin

I'm trying to use tikz for the first time. I have successfully created the diagram I wanted apart from there being two lines that don't start from their origin. Here is my code:

\begin{tikzpicture}[baseline = (current bounding box.north)]
\node (v1) at (0,0) {};
\node (v2) at (2,0) {};
\node (v3) at (4,0) {};
\node (at1) at (3.2,0.2) {$\alpha$};
\draw[dashed]  (v1) edge (v3);
\draw[->,rotate=20] (v2) -- ++(2,0) node[right] {$\vec{i}$};
\draw[->,rotate=20] (v2) -- ++(0,2) node[top] {$\vec{j}$};
\draw[rotate=20] (v2) ++(0.3,0) -- ++(0,0.3);
\draw[rotate=20] (v2) ++(0,0.3) -- ++(0.3,0);
\draw ([shift=(0:1)]2,0) arc (0:20:1);
\end{tikzpicture}


Also, how do I align the j vector to be above the arrow?

Use above instead of top. Furthermore, I would suggest to use \coordinates instead of empty \nodes.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[baseline = (current bounding box.north)]
\coordinate (v1) at (0,0);
\coordinate (v2) at (2,0);
\coordinate (v3) at (4,0);
\node (at1) at (3.2,0.2) {$\alpha$};
\draw[dashed]  (v1) edge (v3);
\draw[->,rotate=20] (v2) -- ++(2,0) node[right] {$\vec{i}$};
\draw[->,rotate=20] (v2) -- ++(0,2) node[above] {$\vec{j}$};
\draw[rotate=20] (v2) ++(0.3,0) -- ++(0,0.3);
\draw[rotate=20] (v2) ++(0,0.3) -- ++(0.3,0);
\draw ([shift=(0:1)]2,0) arc (0:20:1);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

• I see, I have it all working now. Thanks. I'll make sure to use coordinates instead of nodes when needed. – whitelined Oct 27 '18 at 15:35