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 A scalar quantity is a quantity that has

magnitude only and has no direction in space
Vectors and Scalars
Examples of Scalar Quantities:
 Length
 Area
 Volume
 Time
 Mass

 A vector quantity is a quantity that has both  Vector diagrams are

magnitude and a direction in space shown using an
arrow
Examples of Vector Quantities:  The length of the
 Displacement arrow represents its
 Velocity magnitude
 Acceleration  The direction of the
 Force arrow shows its
direction

 The resultant is the sum or the combined effect of  When two vectors are joined
two vector quantities tail to tail
 Complete the parallelogram
Vectors in the same direction:  The resultant is found by
6N 4N = 10 N
drawing the diagonal

6m

= 10 m When two vectors are joined
4m
head to tail
Vectors in opposite directions:
 Draw the resultant vector by
6 m/s 10 m/s = 4 m/s completing the triangle

6N 10 N = 4N

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Find the magnitude (correct to two decimal places) and direction of the
Two forces are applied to a body, as shown. What is the magnitude resultant of the three forces shown below.
and direction of the resultant force acting on the body? Solution:
Solution:  Find the resultant of the two 5 N forces first (do right angles first)

 Complete the parallelogram (rectangle)

ac  5 2  5 2  50  7.07 N
 The diagonal of the parallelogram ac

tan    1    45
5 d 5 c
represents the resultant force
 The magnitude of the resultant is found using 5
Pythagoras’ Theorem on the triangle abc 12 N
Magnitude  ac  12 2  52


5N
a d Now find the resultant of the 10 N and 5
θ 7.07 N forces
ac  13 N 5N  θ
5 The 2 forces are in a straight line (45º + 90º
a 45º b
135º = 180º) and in opposite directions 5N
Direction of ac : tan  
b c 135º
12 12  So, Resultant = 10 N – 7.07 N = 2.93 N
5 in the direction of the 10 N force

   tan 1 12
 67  Resultant displacement is 13 N 67º
5
with the 5 N force

 What is a scalar quantity?  When resolving a vector into

 Give 2 examples components we are doing the
 What is a vector quantity? opposite to finding the resultant
 Give 2 examples  We usually resolve a vector into
 How are vectors represented? components that are
perpendicular to each other
 What is the resultant of 2 vector quantities?
 What is the triangle law?
 Here a vector v is resolved into
 What is the parallelogram law?
an x component and a y

y
component
x

 Here we see a table  If a vector of magnitude v and makes an angle θ

y=25 N
being pulled by a force with the horizontal then the magnitude of the
of 50 N at a 30º angle 30º
x=43.3 N
components are:
to the horizontal  x = v Cos θ y=v Sin θ y
 When resolved we see  y = v Sin θ θ

that this is the same as  We can see that it x Cos θ

x=v
would be more  Proof:
pulling the table up
Cos  Sin 
efficient to pull the x y
with a force of 25 N
table with a
x  vCos  y  vSin
and pulling it v v
horizontal force of
horizontally with a 50 N
force of 43.3 N

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Problem
 A person in a wheelchair is moving up a ramp at constant speed. Their
total weight is 900 N. The ramp makes an angle of 10º with the
horizontal. Calculate the force required to keep the wheelchair moving
at constant speed up the ramp. ( You may ignore the effects of friction).
A force of 15 N acts on a box as shown. What is the horizontal
component of the force?
Solution:
Solution:
If the wheelchair is moving at constant speed (no acceleration), then
the force that moves it up the ramp must be the same as the
component of it’s weight parallel to the ramp.
Horizontal Component  x  15Cos 60   7 .5 N Complete the parallelogram.

Component
Component of weight

12.99 N
 900 Sin10   156 .28 N
Vertical
10º
parallel to ramp:
Vertical Component  y  15 Sin 60   12 .99 N
80º
10º

60º Component of weight

perpendicular to ramp:
 900 Cos 10   886 .33 N
Horizontal
7.5 N 900 N 886.33 N
Component

 If a vector of magnitude v has two

perpendicular components x and y, and v
makes and angle θ with the x component
then the magnitude of the components are:
 x= v Cos θ
 y= v Sin θ
y=v Sin θ y
θ
x=v Cosθ