L2: Displacement and Vector Addition using Component Method

Learning Competencies:

(1) Differentiate vector and scalar quantities

(2) Solving displacements using the number line
(3) Perform addition of vectors
(4) Rewrite a vector in component form

Duration: 1 Week

The arrow symbol plays

a significant role in
many aspects of our
lives. In road signs, it
indicates direction to
motorists and
commuters. In physics,
it signifies direction,
movement, force, flow,
and many others.

In 1983, Chuck Hull of 3D System Corporation, developed

a prototype system based on this process known as
stereolithography (popularly known as three-
dimensional (3-D) printing which is the process of making
3-D solid objects from a digital file. His creation is now the
name of the common form of file types used on most 3D
printers.

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 Self portrait of
Chuck Hull,
inventor of
stereolithography.

Image of the 3D Image of Chuck

printing machine Hull

A scalar is a number which expresses quantity. Scalars may or may

not have units associated with them.

Examples: mass, volume, energy, money

A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction. The

magnitude of a vector is a scalar.

Examples: Displacement, velocity, acceleration, electric field

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Vector Notation

(1)Vectors are denoted as a symbol with an arrow over the top:

𝑋⃗

(2)Vectors can be written as a magnitude and direction:

Vector Representation

(1)Vector quantity is represented by an arrow ( ).

Arrowhead indicates the direction of the vector.

(2)The length of the arrow represents the magnitude (size) of the vector
while the tail represents the origin of the vector.

tail arrowhead
Figure 1. A vector is
represented by an
arrow.

Length of the arrow

Two reference frames used in vectors:

A. Direction guide
B. Cartesian Coordinate Plane

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 (A) (B)
Figure 2. (A) represents the direction guide reference frames

(B) represents the cartesian coordinate plane reference

frames
For Example:

Represented by an arrow, the length of the arrow is proportional to

the magnitude of the vector. Head of the arrow represents the
direction. Indicated by the name with an arrow on top of it.

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 Sample Problem 1 Specify the directions of vectors A and B as
shown in figure 1 below.

30° Answers: A is 30° north of east

60° B is 60° south of west

B
Figure 1

Sample Problem 2 Specify the directions of vectors A, B, C, and D

as shown in figure 2 below.

Answers: A is 50° north of east

B is 45° northwest

C is 20° south of east

D is south

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 Examples of Vectors Quantities

(1) A boat sails 10km, east (E) before it stops to fish.

Note: 10km, E describes displacement

What is Displacement?

Displacement is a change in position, which has both

magnitude and direction. It is also the straight-line distance point
and the end point.

Formula: ∆𝑑 = 𝑑2 − 𝑑1 where 𝑑1 is the initial point

𝑑2 is the final point

∆𝑑 is the change in displacement

Problem 1 for Displacement

Now suppose that the ball rolls over to a new point, 3 meters
to the right, as you see in bottom half of the image. The ball
is at a new location, so there’s been displacement. What is
the displacement?

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Solution: ∆𝑑 = 𝑑2 − 𝑑1

=3–0

= 3 is the displacement of the ball

Problem 2

Obtain the displacement of a jogger who started at -5 m to +6 m.

Solution: ∆𝑑 = 𝑑2 − 𝑑1

= 6 – (-5)

=6+5

= 11 m is the displacement of the jogger

Directions: Obtain the displacements of the following change in position

using the number line.

1. +10m to -8m

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2. -9cm to +5cm

3. -7 inch to 12 inch

(2) A car is heading 90 km/h, northwest (NW)

Note: 90 km/h, NW describes velocity

The velocity of an object is the rate of change of its position with respect
to a frame of reference, and is a function of time. Velocity is equivalent to
a specification of an object's speed and direction of motion.

(3) A man exerts 590 N in lifting a sack of rice.

Note: 590 N, describes force (lifting an object indicates that the

direction is upward)

Force is any interaction that, when unopposed, will change the motion of
an object.

(4) A bus moves at the rate of 4 m/𝑠2 as it heads East.

Note: 4 m/𝑠2 , East describes acceleration

Acceleration is a vector quantity that is defined as the rate at which

an object changes its velocity.

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Adding Vectors
In this lesson, we will focus more on the Components Method of vector addition
as this method will be used often in the upcoming lessons involving vector
quantities.

WARM - UP

If we want to add two vectors together, we just make the

second vector starts where the first vector ends which is called the
head-to-tail fashion then create a new resultant vector that goes
from the start of the first vector to the end of the second vector.

In lining two vectors, we have to make sure they retain their

direction, as that is important information.

SEE THE FOLLOWING FIGURE BELOW:

A B
A+B
A
Second This 3rd figure represents
First
vector the head to tail fashion,
vector
(B) where in the head (the
(A)
arrow head) of the 1 st
vector (A) is connected to
the tail of the second
vector (B). The (A+B), this is
NOTE: VECTORS SHOULD
our new resultant vector.
RETAIN THEIR DIRECTION
WHEN ADDED.

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Remember: If the vectors points to the same direction their sum will just be
a longer vector, and the magnitude of this resultant vector will simply be
the sum of the magnitude of the original vectors.

6 4

6 + 4 = 10

Remember: Sometimes there is an angle in between the two vectors.

If we have perpendicular vectors, for example

Solution in getting the value of the

6 resultant vector using the
Pythagorean Theorem, since it is a
right triangle.
4
? Pythagorean Theorem Formula

𝑐 2 = 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 Given: a = 4, b = 6

𝑐 2 = 42 + 62
This is our resultant vector
(hypotenuse of a right 𝑐 2 = 16 + 36
triangle). 𝑐 2 = 52

√𝑐 2 = √52

c = 7. 21 (at least two decimal

places). This is the value of the
resultant vector.

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 TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Sine 𝜽 = 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽 =
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
SOH/ CAH/ TOA
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
Cosine 𝜽 = 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 = 𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
Tangent 𝜽 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 = 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝜽
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
Cotangent 𝜽 = 𝒄𝒐𝒕 𝜽 = (INVERSE OF TANGENT)
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
Secant 𝜽 = 𝒔𝒆𝒄 𝜽 = (INVERSE OF COSINE)
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆
Cosecant 𝜽 = 𝒄𝒔𝒄 𝜽 = 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽
(INVERSE OF SINE)

Example: 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟒 𝟏

1. Sine 𝜽 = = =
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝟏𝟐 𝟑
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟖 𝟐
2. Cosine 𝜽 = = =
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝟏𝟐 𝟑
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟒 𝟏
12 3. Tangent 𝜽 = = =
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇𝜽 𝟖 𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟖
4 4. Cotangent 𝜽 = = =𝟐
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟒
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝟏𝟐 𝟑
5. Secant 𝜽 = = =
𝜃 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟖 𝟐
𝒉𝒚𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝟏𝟐
8 6. Cosecant 𝜽 = = =𝟑
𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝜽 𝟒

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Adding Vectors by Component Method

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.

Component Method

Component method is used when more than two vectors are to be added.
The steps are as follows:
1. Resolve the given vectors into its horizontal and vertical components.
2. Get the algebraic sum of all the horizontal components and also the
sum of all vertical components. These sums represent the horizontal
component and the vertical component of the resultant,
respectively.
3. Since the vertical and horizontal components are perpendicular to
each other, the magnitude of the resultant may be calculated using
the Pythagorean theorem.
4. Solve the angle that the horizontal makes with the horizontal.

Sample Illustration:

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Sample Problem:
James runs 5 m, 500 north of east; 3 m, east; 5.3 m, 400 south of west;
and 7.5 m, south before stopping for a water break. Find her resultant
displacement from where she started.
Solution:
(1)First, plot the given vectors in a Cartesian coordinate system.

Vectors Horizontal Component Vertical Component

A = 5 m, 500north of +y
east
𝐴𝑦
+x
𝐴𝑥
𝐴𝑥 𝐴
Cos 50° = 5
Sin 50° = 5𝑦
𝐴𝑥 = 5(cos 50°) 𝐴𝑦 = 5(Sin 50°)
𝑨𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟏 𝒎 (at least two 𝑨𝒚 = 𝟑. 𝟖𝟑 𝒎
decimal places)
B = 3 m east Bx = 3 m By = 0
;since the direction is ;there is no vertical
going east, it is already component because
a horizontal the vector’s direction
component. is east. It means that it
is a horizontal
component.

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 C = 5.3 m, 400 south of 𝐶𝑥
west -x
𝐶𝑦

-y
−𝐶𝑥 −𝐶𝑦
Cos 40° = Sin 40° =
5.3 5.3
−𝐶𝑥 = 5.3(cos 40°) −𝐶𝑦 = 5.3(sin 40°)
𝑪𝒙 = −𝟒. 𝟎𝟔 𝒎 𝑪𝒚 = -3.41 m
;negative sign for the ;negative sign for the
horizontal component vertical component
of vector C indicates of vector C indicated
that the direction is on the direction is on
negative x-axis. negative y-axis.
D = 7.5 m, south Dx = 0 Dy = -7.5 m
;there is no horizontal ;since the direction is
component because going south, it is
the vector’s direction is already the vertical
going south which component of the
means it is a vertical vector. The negative
component. sign indicates that
the direction is in the
negative y-axis.
Σdx = 2.15 m Σdy = -7.08 m
;this is the algebraic ;this is the algebraic
sum of all horizontal sum of all vertical
components components

(2)Solving the magnitude of the resultant using Pythagorean Theorem,

dR (resultant vector) = √(𝚺𝒅𝒙 )𝟐 + (𝚺𝒅𝒚 )𝟐 = √(𝟐. 𝟏𝟓 𝐦)2 + (−𝟕. 𝟎𝟖 𝐦)2 = 7.40m

this is the displacement from where she started.

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(3)Solving for the direction θ of the resultant,

𝚺𝑑𝑦 −𝟕.𝟎𝟖
𝜃 = tan−1 ( ) = tan−1 ( ) = 73° (round off your answer to whole
𝚺𝑑𝑥 𝟐.𝟏𝟓
number)

(4)Plot the resultant vector to determine the direction,

Since 𝚺𝑑𝑥 is positive and 𝚺𝑑𝑦 is negative, the resultant is

located in the fourth quadrant. Hence, the direction must
be 730 south of east. Therefore, dR is 7.40 m, 730 south of east.

PRACTICE EXERCISES

Directions: Solve the following problems. Round off your answers to at least
one decimal places.
1. A boat travels west at a speed of 24 m/s across a river that is flowing
south at 9 m/s. What is the resultant velocity of the boat?

2. A plane flies south at 650 mph with a cross wind towards the east at 130
mph. What is the resultant velocity of the plane?
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3. An airplane flying east at 310 m/s has a 45 m/s tailwind. What is the
resultant velocity of the plane?
4. Tarzan is swimming east at 2.4 m/s across a river that is 1660 meters wide
and flows north at 5.2 m/s.
5. Find the magnitude and direction of the vector whose components are
given by 𝐵𝑥 = -2.10 m and 𝐵𝑦 = -1.70 m.
6. Find the components of a vector which has a magnitude of 3.5 m, north
of west and makes an angle of 66° with respect to the x-axis.
7. 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.

Resources:
➢ Carreon, S. L., Romano, W. B., & Fiedalan, G. J. (2010). Physics IV. Quezon: Neo Asia .

➢ Gil Nonato C Santos, P. (2017). General Physics 1. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

➢ file:///C:/Users/mesiona/Desktop/PDF%20for%20math%20and%20gen%20physics/
Gen%20physics%20pdf%20files/Vector-Problems-Notes.pdf
file:///C:/Users/mesiona/Desktop/PDF%20for%20math%20and%20gen%20physics/
Gen%20physics%20pdf%20files/Vectors.pdf
➢ file:///C:/Users/mesiona/Desktop/PDF%20for%20math%20and%20gen%20physics/
Gen%20physics%20pdf%20files/sec_phys_vectorproblems.pdf
➢ file:///C:/Users/mesiona/Desktop/PDF%20for%20math%20and%20gen%20physics/
Gen%20physics%20pdf%20files/p250c03.pdf

Date Accomplished:

Parents’ Printed Name and Signature:

“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them
out of all their troubles.”

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