Matric Physical Sciences 2019

Kinematics 1 : Vectors
 Definitions

• Scalar : a physical quantity that has magnitude only.

• Vector : a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
• Resultant Vector : a single vector which has the same effect as the original
vectors acting together. ( the sum of the vectors )
• Distance : length of the path traveled. (Scalar)
• Displacement : a change in position. (Vector)
• Speed : the rate of change of distance. (Scalar)
• Velocity : the rate of change of displacement. (Vector)
• Acceleration : the rate of change of velocity. (Vector)
 Definitions

If you cannot remember a definition in an exam then try and use the
mathematical definition(from the formula sheet) to derive the definition. For
example:

*&+,#-%"."/'
!"#$%&'( =
'&."

From this equation we can derive that velocity is the rate of change of
displacement OR the (change in) displacement of an object per unit time.
Scalar Quantities Examples
Vector Quantities Examples
Scalar vs Vector Summary
Vector Quantities Examples
 Representing directions
When working with vector it is important to set up a reference from which all other directions can relate. There are several
ways in which this can be done. Each question will need to be analyzed and the appropriate references/coordinate system can
then be applied:

• When working on a horizontal plane

Forward

Left Right

Backwards
 Representing directions
• When objects move vertically (such as a ball bouncing)

Up

Down

• When objects move horizontally (such as a car driving)

Backwards Forward
 Representing directions
• When objects move relative to a plane (such as a ball being thrown at 30 degrees to the ground)

30

• When objects move relative to compass directions (such as a ship or plane)

North

The direction of this plane can be defined

in 2 ways :
West East 1. The plane is 30° North of East
2. The plane is 60° East of North

South
 Representing directions
• When objects move relative to bearings (bearings make use of degrees and are always take
clockwise relative to North ( 0°))

North (0°)

The direction of this plane can be defined

270° 90° as 135°
45°

180°
 Resultant Vectors

Resultant Vector : a single vector which has the same effect as the original vectors
acting together. ( the sum of the vectors )
Note :
• The first step is always determine the reference direction.
• When adding vectors both magnitude and direction must be taken into
consideration.
• Only vectors of the same type can be added. (For example it is possible to add 2
velocities but you cannot add a velocity and an acceleration)
Resultant Vectors Basic Example
Question : A boy walks 3km East then 5km west.
1. What is the total distance?
2. What is the total displacement?
 Resultant Vectors Basic Solution
Solution 1 :
Set up the problem.

Let East be the positive direction.

+

Note : distance is a scalar therefore we can just add scalar quantities.

Total distance = 3 + 5 = 8km

 Resultant Vectors Basic Solution
Solution 2 :
Set up the problem.

Let East be the positive direction.

+

Note : distance is a vector therefore we need to take direction into consideration.

3km east 5km west

+
3km east (positive) + 5km west (negative) = 3 + ( - 5 ) = - 2 km

This answer can now be interpreted. What does the negative sign mean ?
It means the total displacement = 2km WEST
 Vectors acting at 90°
When vectors act at 90° we have a special case where Pythagoras and trigonometry can be
used. We use vector diagrams by placing vectors head to tail. The resultant vector is then the
vector drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector. This closes the
vector triangle with a head to head vector.

In order to get the resultant we use:

or
ct
Resultant2 = vector12 + vector22

Ve
Vector 2

nt
ta
In order to get the direction we use:

l
su
Re
"#$%&'()* +, -*.'+/ 0
angle = tan (
-1 )
"#$%&'()* +, -*.'+/ 1 Angle

Vector 1
 Vectors acting at 90° Example
Question : A boy is trying to swim across a river. The boy swims at 6m.s-1 North in water.
The river has a current of 4m.s-1 West. What is the boy’s resultant velocity.

Solution :

First we set up our direction axis. We should use compass directions because that is
how the question is given.
North

West East

South
 Resultant Vectors Basic Solution
With the reference directions in place we can now draw our vector diagram.

4m.s-1 West Resultant2 = 62 + 42 = 52

∴ Resultant. = 7.21 m.s-1

In order to get the direction we use:

Re

6m.s-1 North #
su

angle = tan ( )
-1 = 33.69°
lta

$
nt
Ve

Θ Final solution: The resultant velocity is

cto
r

7.21 m.s-1 at an angle of 33.69° West of

North.
Vectors acting at random angles

For vectors acting at random angles we resolve each vector into horizontal
and vertical components using trigonometry. Once in horizontal and vertical
components, the vectors can be manipulated by adding and subtracting
vectors, etc.
Vectors acting at random angles Example
Question : resolve the following vector into horizontal and vertical components

Horizontal Component

35° 35°
Vertical
Component
=
600 N 600 N
Vectors acting at random angles Example

Horizontal Component
Solution :
35°
Horizontal Component = 600cos(35)
Vertical
= 491.49 N Left Component

Vertical Component = 600sin(35) 600 N

= 344.15 N down