Physics Handout #4- Vectors

Scalar and Vector Quantities

All physical quantities have a magnitude but not all of them have a direction. A force of 10 N
pointing north has a magnitude of 10 N and a direction that points north. This force will have a
different effect from another force who is also 10 N but pointing east. Therefore, these two
forces are not equal.
Scalars
Physical quantities that have a magnitude but not a direction, are called scalars. Examples of
scalars include speed, distance, length, density, and time.
Vectors
A vector can be defined as a physical quantity that possesses both magnitude and direction.
Examples of vectors include velocity, acceleration, displacement, momentum, and force.
Representation of vectors
Vectors can be denoted using a capital letter with an arrowhead, 🡪, above it. Examples include:
→ → → →
𝐴 , 𝐵, 𝑋, or even 𝑌. Vectors can also be represented using common letters such as: a, b, c, p, or
q.
Equal vectors
Two vectors are said to be equal if they possess the same magnitude and point in the same
direction.
Combining Vectors
Two vectors can be combined together under vector addition. However, in doing so we must
consider both their magnitudes and directions. When two vectors are added, a single vector that
has the same effect as the two vectors acting together is formed. We call this single vector the
resultant vector.
Positive and Negative Directions of Vectors
Direction is utmost important when analyzing vectors. If we take one direction such as the left as
positive for a vector, then any vector in the opposite direction, right, would be considered
negative, and vice versa.

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Addition of Parallel and Anti- Parallel Vectors
When two vectors are added together, they create a resultant.

Figure 4.11 shows how to add parallel and anti-parallel vectors.

Orthogonal Vectors
Orthogonal vectors are vectors that are at right angles to each other.

Figure 4.13. shows orthogonal vectors.

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Pythagoras’ Theorem

Triangle Method and Parallelogram Method

Figure 4.14 highlights both the triangle method and the parallelogram method