INTRODUCTION TO VECTORS

Lecture 2
General Physics 1
MF006/FAS1053
 INTRODUCTION TO
VECTORS
Vectors &
Scalar
Quantities
Adding
Vectors
Geometrically
Resolving
Vector into
Components

Unit Vector

Adding Vectors
by Components
 VECTORS & SCALAR QUANTITIES
 A scalar is a quantity that
can be completely
described by one value:
the magnitude.

 You can think of

magnitude as size or
amount, including units.

Example : Temperature, Work done, Energy (Potential energy ,

kinetic energy), Mass, Time, Electric current
 VECTORS & SCALAR QUANTITIES
 A vector is a quantity that
includes both magnitude
and direction.

 Vectors require more than

one number.
 The information “1 kilometer,
40 degrees north of east” is
an example of a vector.

Example : Displacement, velocity, and acceleration

 VECTORS & SCALAR QUANTITIES
 In drawing a vector as
an arrow you must
choose a scale.

 If you walk five meters

east, your displacement
can be represented by a
5 cm arrow pointing to
the east.
The length of the arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the vector quantity.
The direction of the arrow represents the direction of the vector quantity.
 VECTORS & SCALAR QUANTITIES
 Suppose you walk 5 meters
east, turn, go 8 meters north,
then turn and go 3 meters
west.

 Your position is now 8 meters

north and 2 meters east of
where you started.

 The diagonal vector that

connects the starting position
with the final position is
called the resultant.
 VECTORS & SCALAR QUANTITIES
 The resultant is the sum of
two or more vectors added
together.

 You could have walked a

shorter distance by going 2 m
east and 8 m north, and still
ended up in the same place.

 The resultant shows the most

direct line between the
starting position and the final
position.
 ADDING VECTORS GEOMETRICALLY
The sum of two scalars is simply the sum of their two magnitudes –
they add numerically.

i.e : Adding 1600cm3 of water to 200cm3 of water gives 1800cm3.

Vector quantities do not add this way.

Example: 30.0 km east plus 10.0 km north

C
We are interested in the total
10.0 km north displacement resulting
from these two displacements-
the displacement from A to C.
30.0 km east B
A
This displacement is called the Resultant displacement.
Note: its magnitude is ??
ADDING VECTORS GEOMETRICALLY
 ADDING VECTORS GEOMETRICALLY
Graphical Addition (Head-to-tail)
Example – Find the resultant of 10 km east, 16 km south, 14 km
east, 6 km north and 4 km west.
Solution:
We can solve this graphically by drawing each vector to scale and
successively adding them to find the resultant vector.
10 km The result of adding vectors does
not depend on the order in
which you add them.
Resultant , R
The resultant displacement
extends from the tail of the 4 km
First vector to the tip of the
last vector. 16 km 6 km

14 km
A symbol with an overhead arrow always implies both
properties of vector, magnitude and direction.
 ADDING VECTORS GEOMETRICALLY
Important properties of vectors addition
1. The order of addition does not matter.

𝒂+𝒃=𝒃+𝒂 (Commutative law)

2. When there is more than 2 vectors, we can group them in any order as we add
them.
𝒂 + 𝒃 + 𝒄 = 𝒂 + (𝒃 + 𝒄) (Associative law)

3. Adding a vector -𝒃 has the effect of subtracting vector 𝒃.

(vector subtraction)
𝒂 − 𝒃 = 𝒂 + (−𝒃)
4. We can only add vectors of the same kind. Eg: Adding 2 velocities, but cannot
add a displacement and a velocity.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
 Every displacement vector in two dimensions
can be represented by its two perpendicular
component vectors.

 Cartesian coordinates are also known as x-y

coordinates.
 The vector in the east-west direction is called the x-
component.
 The vector in the north-south direction is called the
y-component.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
 Finding components graphically makes use of
a protractor.

 Draw a displacement vector as an arrow of

appropriate length at the specified angle.

 Mark the angle and use a ruler to draw the

arrow.

 Finding components using trigonometry is quicker and more

accurate than the graphical method.

 The triangle is a right triangle since the sides are parallel to the
x- and y-axis.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
 The ratios of the sides of a right triangle are determined by the angle and are
called sine and cosine.

Finding the x-component and y-component

 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
Let us apply this in finding the components of a vector.

The following figure shows a 20 cm displacement that makes an angle of 37

with the x-axis.

ay =
37 x-axis
ax =
This vector 𝒂 is equivalent to the vector sum of the two components ax and ay.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
The 20 cm displacement at an angle of 37 to the x-axis is equivalent to the
sum of two rectangular component vectors:

ax = 16 cm in the positive x-direction, and

ay = 12 cm in the positive y-direction

It is possible in this way to replace any vector by its rectangular components –

in this way it is a simple matter to add, or subtract, vectors of all types.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
In three dimensions, each vector can be resolved into its x-, y- and z-components, with
negative directed components taken as negative.

The x-component ax of the resultant vector 𝑎Ԧ is the algebraic sum of all the x-
components. The y- and z-components of the resultant are found in a similar way.

With the components known, the magnitude of the resultant is given by:
(3-D) (2-D)

a  a x2  a y2  a z2 or a  a x2  a y2

In two dimensions, the angle of the resultant with the x-axis is:

tan  = ay / ax
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS

 When you know the x- and y- components of a vector, and the vectors form
a right triangle, you can find the magnitude using the Pythagorean theorem.
 RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
• For vectors in the x-axis.
When the vector is directed to the right = + ve
When the vector is directed to the left = - ve

• For vectors in the y-axis.

When the vector is directed upwards = + ve
When vector is directed downwards = - ve
RESOLVING VECTOR INTO COMPONENTS
An airplane is moving at a velocity of 100 m/s in a
direction 30° northeast relative to the air.
The wind is blowing 40 m/s in a direction 45° southeast
relative to the ground.

Find the resultant velocity of the airplane relative to the

ground.
 UNIT VECTOR
• A unit vector is a vector that has magnitude of exactly 1 and points in a
particular direction.
• Its sole purpose is to specify a direction.
• Unit vectors in positive direction of x, y and z axes are labeled as 𝑖,Ƹ 𝑗Ƹ and 𝑘෠

• A vector can be express by its unit vector as its components.

𝑎Ԧ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘෠
𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘෠

• The units vector are called vector components of the vector

𝑎Ԧ = 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑦2 + 𝑎𝑧2
 UNIT VECTOR
Adding and Subtracting Vectors by Components
Vectors Addition
• We are give two vectors:
𝑎Ԧ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘෠ & 𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘෠

• Vector sum 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑟𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑟𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑟𝑧 𝑘෠

• Where, 𝑟𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 ;
𝑟𝑦 = 𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 ;
𝑟𝑧 = 𝑎𝑧 + 𝑏𝑧
 UNIT VECTOR
Vectors Subtraction
• We are give two vectors:
𝑎Ԧ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘෠ & 𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘෠

• Vector subtraction 𝑑Ԧ = 𝑑𝑥 𝑖Ƹ + 𝑑𝑦 𝑗Ƹ + 𝑑𝑧 𝑘෠

• Where, 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑏𝑥 ;
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑎𝑦 − 𝑏𝑦 ;
𝑑𝑧 = 𝑎𝑧 − 𝑏𝑧
ADDING VECTORS BY ITS COMPONENTS

Given the following 3 vectors:

𝑎Ԧ = 4.2 𝑖Ƹ − 1.5 𝑗Ƹ − (0.3)𝑘෠

𝑏 = −1.6 𝑖Ƹ + 2.9 𝑗Ƹ
𝑐Ԧ = (−3.7)𝑗Ƹ + (0.5)𝑘෠

What is their vector sum, 𝑟Ԧ = 𝑎Ԧ + 𝑏 + 𝑐Ԧ ?

 ADDING VECTORS BY ITS COMPONENTS
Example:
Given forces as below, find the x & y component. After that, find
the resultant force and direction:
y

48 N

35 N
73° 40°
x

58°
112 N
 ADDING VECTORS BY ITS COMPONENTS
Solution:
Vector x - component y - component

35 N 30.64 N 22.5 N

48 N -14.03 N 45.9 N

112 N -59.35 N 94.98 N

 ADDING VECTORS BY ITS COMPONENTS
Example:
Five coplanar forces act on an object as shown. Find
The x & y component. Then, find the resultant force and direction:

y
16 N
15 N

45 40
x
30 19 N

22 N 10 N
 ADDING VECTORS BY ITS COMPONENTS
Solution:
Vector x - component y - component

15 N

16 N

22 N

10 N

19 N