Vectors and Scalars

A vector has magnitude as

well as direction.
Some vector quantities:
displacement, velocity, force,
momentum
A scalar has only a magnitude.
Some scalar quantities: mass,
time, temperature
 Distance: A Scalar Quantity
Distance
Distance is
is the
the length
length of
of the
the actual
actual
path
path taken
taken byby an
an object.
object.

A scalar quantity:
s = 20 B Contains magnitude
m only and consists of
A a number and a unit.
(20 m, 40 mi/h, 10
gal)
DisplacementA Vector Quantity
Displacement
Displacement is is the
the straight-line
straight-line
separation
separation of
of two
two points
points in
in aa
specified
specified direction.
direction.
A vector quantity:
D = 12 m, 20o B Contains magnitude
AND direction, a
A
number, unit &
angle.
(12 m, 300; 8 km/h,
N)
 More about Vectors
A vector is represented on paper by an
arrow
1. the length represents magnitude
2. the arrow faces the direction of
motion
3-2 Addition of VectorsGraphical Methods

For vectors in one

dimension, simple
addition and subtraction
are all that is needed.
You do need to be careful
about the signs, as the
figure indicates.
 Applications of Vectors
VECTOR ADDITION If 2 similar vectors point in the SAME
direction, add them.

Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then another 30

meters east. Calculate his displacement relative to where he
started?
54.5 m, E + 30 m, E Notice that the
SIZE of the arrow
conveys
84.5 m, E
MAGNITUDE and
the way it was
drawn conveys
DIRECTION.
 Applications of Vectors
VECTOR SUBTRACTION - If 2 vectors are going in
opposite directions, you SUBTRACT.

Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then walks

30 meters west. Calculate his displacement relative
to where he started?
54.5 m, E
+
30 m, W
24.5 m, E
Easy Adding
All these planes have the same reading on
their speedometer. (plane speed not speed
with respect to the ground (actual speed)

What
factor is
affecting
their
velocity?
A B C
 Addition of VectorsGraphical Methods
If the motion is in two dimensions, the situation is
somewhat more complicated.
Here, the actual travel paths are at right angles to
one another; we can find the displacement by
using the Pythagorean Theorem.
Perpendicular Vectors
When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you may use the
Pythagorean theorem.
A man walks 95 km, East
then 55 km, north.
Calculate his
RESULTANT
DISPLACEMENT.
55 km, N
c2 a 2 b2 c a 2 b2
c Resultant 952 552
95 km,E
c 12050 109.8 km
Example
A bear, searching for food wanders 35 meters east then 20 meters north.
Frustrated, he wanders another 12 meters west then 6 meters south. Calculate
the bear's displacement.
23 m, E
- =

12 m, W - =
14 m, N
6 m, S R 14 2 232 26.93m
20 m, N 14
Tan .6087
23
Tan 1 (0.6087) 31.3
35 m, E R 14 m, N

26.93m31.3
23 m, E
26.93m,31.3
The Final Answer:
Addition of VectorsGraphical Methods
Even if the vectors are not at right
angles, they can be added graphically by
using the tail-to-tip method.
 vw
ww v
To add vectors, we put the initial point of the second
vector on the terminal point of the first vector. The
resultant vector has an initial point at the initial point
of the first vector and a terminal point at the terminal
point of the second vector (see below--better shown
than put in words).

Initial point of v
Terminal
point of w

Move w over keeping

the magnitude and
direction the same.
times.

v
v
v
3
v

v
A number multiplied in front of a vector is called a scalar.
It means to take the vector and add together that many

The negative of a vector is just a vector going the opposite

way.
 v Using the vectors shown,
find the following:
u w
uv u
v
3w
w
w
w
uv
2u 3w v v u
v
u w
u w
w
 3-3 Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

In order to subtract vectors, we

define the negative of a vector, which
has the same magnitude but points
in the opposite direction.

Then we add the negative vector.

 3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Any vector can be expressed as the sum

of two other vectors, which are called its
components. Usually the other vectors are
chosen so that they are perpendicular to
each other.
3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Remember:
soh
cah
toa

If the components are

perpendicular, they can be
found using trigonometric
functions.
 3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Adding vectors:
1. Draw a diagram; add the vectors graphically.
2. Choose x and y axes.
3. Resolve each vector into x and y components.
4. Calculate each component using sines and cosines.
5. Add the components in each direction.
6. To find the length and direction of the vector, use:

and .
 Analytical Method
Polar Form of Vectors

Example
 Caution
Addition of vectors in polar form cannot be done
algebraically
Ex. A = 5 km, 45 deg
B = 4 km, 135 deg
C = 3 km, 270 deg
R = 12 km, 450 deg

Vectors can only be added algebraically if they are

parallel or antiparallel
 Component Form

and




R = -2.93 km x + 24.39 km y
 Graphical Representation of the
Analytical Method
= 12 km, 30 deg
= 6 km, 60 deg

+ =
 3-4 Adding Vectors by
Components

Example 3-3: Three short trips.

An airplane trip involves three legs,
with two stopovers. The first leg is
due east for 620 km; the second leg
is 45 south of east (315) for 440 km;
and the third leg is at 53 south of
west (233), for 550 km, as shown.
What is the planes total
displacement?
 ++

Component Method
x y
D1 620km, 0 deg 620km (cos 0) 620km (sin 0)
D2 440km, 315 deg 440km (cos 315) 440km (sin 315)
D3 550 km, 233 deg 550km (cos 233) 550km (sin 233)

x y
D1 620km, 0 deg 620km 0km
D2 440km, 315 deg 311km -311 km
D3 550 km, 233 deg -331 km -439 km

R 600 km -750 km
 Adding vectors:

1. Draw a diagram; add the vectors graphically.

2. Choose x and y axes.
3. Resolve each vector into x and y components.
4. Calculate each component using sines and
cosines.
5. Add the components in each direction.
6. To find the magnitude of the vector, use:
 x +x
+y Q1 +y
Q2
Direction:

x Q3 Q4
+x
y
y
1. Resolve what quadrant
is the vector pointing at?
2. Get the Reference Angle
3. if Quadrant 1
Quadrant 2
Quadrant 3
Quadrant 4
 From Component to Polar
Magnitude of R =
Angle of R = 51 deg at Q4
360-51 = 309 degrees
 Scaling Vectors

D1 620km, 0 deg 3*D1 = 1860 km, 0 deg

D2 440km, 315 deg *D2 = 880 km, 315 deg
D3 550 km, 233 deg +4*D3 = 2200 km, 233 deg

x y
3*D1 = 1860 km, 0 deg
*D2 = 880 km, 315 deg
4*D3 = 2200 km, 233 deg