SCALAR AND VECTOR

QUANTITIES
RAPHAEL V. PEREZ, CpE

SCALAR AND VECTOR

QUANTITIES
Define Scalar and Vector

SCALAR QUANTITY
has only magnitude. (Only the
measure / quantity)
VECTOR QUANTITY
has both magnitude and direction.

SCALAR

distance
volume
speed
displacement
acceleration
mass
work
power
resistance
force
velocity
weight
pressure

VECTOR

SCALAR AND VECTOR

QUANTITIES
WHAT IS RESULTANT
VECTOR?

RESULTANT VECTOR is the is the

vector that 'results' from adding two or
more vectors together.
y

2
1.5
1

R
ES
U
LT
AN
T

2.5

0.5

-1

-0.5

Vect
or 2=
B

V
EC
TO
R

3.5

0.5

t
c
e
V
1

=
1
or

1.5

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

The goal of this topic is to

find the MAGNITUDE OF
THE RESULTANT VECTOR
(R), and the VECTOR
ANGLE ()

THERE ARE THREE TECHNIQUES TO

FIND THE RESULTANT VECTOR AND
THE VECTOR ANGLE:
1. GRAPHICAL METHOD you need the
technical tools like sharp pencil, ruler,
protractor and the paper (graphing or
bond) to show the vectors graphically.
The output is the connection of vectors
is like a polygon.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. A man walks at40 meters East
and 30 meters North. Find the
magnitude
of
resultant
displacement and its vector
angle. Use Graphical Method.

Solution: Write the given

facts
Given:
A = 40 meters East
B = 30 meters North
R=?
=?

VECTOR

tail

head
(arrowhead)

E
D
TU
I
N
G
MA

graph the vectors from the origin

(head to tail)

USE RULER TO
MEASURE AND
TO DRAW A
S
LINE
ER

M
0

T
E

= 37 N of E

B = 30 METERS,
NORTH

NOTE: 1 GRID = 10 METERS

graph the vectors from the origin

to EAST
tail)
A = 40(head
METERS,

SAMPLE PROBLEM
2. Given:
A = 5 km ,East
B = 6 km, NE
C = 7 km, 30 N of W
R=?
=?

2. Given:
A = 5 km ,East
B = 6 km, NE
C = 7 km, 30 N of W

= ?

R=
?

R = ?

NOTE: 1 GRID = 10 km
POSSIBLE GRAPH

graph the vectors from the origin

(head to tail)

ASSIGNMENT

Use graphical Method to find the magnitude of the

resultant displacement and the vector angle

1. Given:
A= 13cm, 30 N of E
B= 20 cm, North
R=?
=?

2. Given:
M= 5.7 cm, NW
N= 2.5 cm, SE
O= 1.3 cm, NE
R=?
=?

2. The Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean theorem is a useful method
for determining the result of adding two (and
only two) vectorsthat make a right angleto
each other. The method is not applicable for
adding more than two vectors or for adding
vectors that arenotat 90-degrees to each
other. The Pythagorean theorem is a
mathematical equation that relates the length
of the sides of a right triangle to the length of
the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

 Formula:
Resultant vector
Where A and B are vectors can form a
right angle and are also primary
directions.
Vector Angle
the answer is :
(the R); () (opposite) of (adjacent)

SAMPLE PROBLEM
1. A man walks at 40 meters East
and 30 meters North. Find the
magnitude
of
resultant
displacement and its vector
angle.
Use
Pythagorean
Theorem.

=
=
use calculator

sketch
your
problem

M
0

A = 40 METERS, EAST

S
R
E
T

B = 30 METERS, NORTH

= 50 m

 1. ____ is an example of a scalar quantity

a) velocity
b) force
c) volume
d) acceleration
2.___ is an example of a vector quantity
a) mass
b) force
c) volume
d) density

 3.A scalar quantity:

a) always has mass
b) is a quantity that is completely specified by
its magnitude
c) shows direction
d) does not have units
4. A vector quantity
a) can be a dimensionless quantity
b) specifies only magnitude
c) specifies only direction
d) specifies both a magnitude and a direction

 5.A boy pushes against the wall with 50 pounds

of force. The wall does not move. The resultant
force is:
a) -50 pounds
b) 100 pounds
c) 0 pounds
d) -75 pounds
6. A man walks 3 miles north then turns right and
walks 4 miles east. The resultant displacement is:
a) 1 mile SW
b) 7 miles NE
c) 5 miles NE
d) 5 miles E

 7. A man walks at 10 m East, but he returns back

at 10 m at west. The resultant displacement is:
a) 0 km
b) 20 km
c) 10 km
d) -10 km
8. The difference between speed and velocity is:
a) speed has no units
b) speed shows only magnitude, while velocity
represents both magnitude (strength) and direction
c) they use different units to represent their magnitude
d) velocity has a higher magnitude

 7. A plane flying 500 MI/hr due north has a tail

wind of 45 MI/hr the resultant velocity is:
a) 545 miles/hour due south.
b) 455 miles/hour north.
c) 545 miles/hr due north.
d) 455 MI/hr due south
8. The difference between speed and velocity is:
a) speed has no units
b) speed shows only magnitude, while velocity
represents both magnitude (strength) and direction
c) they use different units to represent their magnitude
d) velocity has a higher magnitude

 9. The resultant magnitude of two vectors

a) Is always positive
b) Can never be zero
c) Can never be negative
d) Is usually zero
10. Which of the following is not true.
a) velocity can be negative
b) velocity is a vector
b) speed is a scalar
d) speed can be negative

3. ANALYTICAL (COMPONENT) METHOD

Each vector has two components :
the x-component and the y-component
If the vectors are in secondary directions :
(NW, NE, SW or SE directions)
Ax = A cos x
Ay = A sin x
where:
A = the given vector value
x = the given angle from x -axis
Ax = the x component of vector A
Ay = y component of vector A

Component formula for x and y:

Ax = A cos x
Ay = A sin x
Sum of x and y Components:

FINAL
ANSWER IS:
Magnitude of the Resultant Vector:

The vector Angle:

Consider the sign conventions for the Sum of x and y

Components

+
+
-

+
+
+

+
-

+
0
0

Quadrant of Magnitude
Quadrant of Magnitude
I

I
II
II
III
III
IV

IV
Y-axis (North or South)

0
0

Y-axis (North or South)

X- axis (West or East)
X- axis (West or East)

About the vector angle:

Recall it from Trigonometry:
if x is positive: rotation of magnitude is
counterclockwise from x-axis
if x is negative: rotation of magnitude is
clockwise from x-axis

Recall the SAMPLE PROBLEM

Given:
A = 5 km ,East
B = 6 km, NE
C = 7 km, 30 N of W
R=?
=?

Solution: Draw a sketch

A = 5 km ,East

B = 6 km, NE

C = 7 km, 30 N of W

Solution: Draw a table

Vector and
measure

X-component

Y-component

A
B
C

+5
+6 cos 45
-7 cos 30

0
+6 sin 45
+7 sin 30

Total

= 3.18046

= 7.74264

(use scientific calculator

in degrees mode)

Note: for the sum of components: round

off the answers into 5 decimal places.

Therefore, the direction of

the magnitude of resultant
vector is in QUADRANT I

Solution: Compute for the magnitude and

vector angle

The magnitude

The vector Angle:

N of E
= 8.37 km

because of the sign convention

of the components and the
angle which is (+,+) at +
(positive angle)

WHICH IS NEAR IN OUR PREVIOUS DRAWING IN GRAPHICAL METHOD

A = 5 km ,East
B = 6 km, NE
C = 7 km, 30 N of W

R = ?

NOTE: 1 GRID = 10 km
POSSIBLE GRAPH

= ?

Actual happen on vectors

(not needed to graph)

graph the vectors from the origin

(head to tail)

R =
8. 37
km.
=
67.6
7

(Rx, Ry) = (3.18046, 7.74264)

Quadrant I

FINAL ANSWER

Vectors

Xcompon
ent

Ycompone
nt

B=

A
B
C

C= 4N

Total

A=

B=

C=

A=

Vect
ors

A
B
C
D
Total

Xcomponent

Ycomponent

D=7N