Review

Physics AS Chapter 7
 Vectors & Scalars
• Scalar
– A physical quantity that has magnitude but not
direction

• Vector
– A physical quantity having magnitude & direction
– can be in cartesian co-ordinates: (Ax,Ay)
– or polar co-ordinates: A θ
 Adding 2 Vectors @ Right Angles

• A = √Ax2 + Ay2
Ay
A
Θ
• Θ = arctan (Ax / Ay)

Ax
A Θ = (Ax , Ay)
Resolving a vector into vectors @
right angles

• Ax = A sin(Θ) Ay
A
• Ay = A cos(Θ) Θ

Ax
A Θ = (Ax , Ay)
 The Sine Rule
A = B = C
sin(ΘA) sin(ΘB) sin(ΘC)

The
ΘA
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 Moment
• The moment of a force about any point is
defined as:

Force x Perpendicular distance from

the line of action of the force
to the point
P
F
moment = F x d

on
cti
fA
eo
Lin
 Principle Of Moments

• Considering the moments of forces acting on

a body about any point, for equilibrium:

ΣMclockwise = ΣManticlockwise
 Centre of Mass
• The centre of mass of a body is the point
through which a single force on the body has
no turning effect.

• It is the mean location of all the mass in a body.

• In a uniform gravitational field, it is coincident

with the mean location of the gravitational force
acting on a body.
 Equilibrium Conditions
• Sum of Forces = 0: F1 + F2 + … + Fn = 0 ΣFn = 0

• Sum of Moments = 0: M1 + M2 + … + Mn = 0 ΣMn = 0

• Principle of Moments: ΣMclockwise = ΣManticlockwise

• For forces resolved into x & y co-ordinates, the sum

of the forces the x and y directions must be zero.
• This is written as ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0.
A special case of moments adding to 0 is that the lines
of action of all the forces all pass through a single point.
 Couples
• A couple is a pair of forces acting on a
body that are equal in magnitude but
opposite in direction.

• Moment (torque) of a couple =

Force x perpendicular distance

between lines of action
of the forces
 Equilibrium of Point Objects
• A system which is in equilibrium does not accelerate.
• A static system must be in equilibrium.
• Where there is an overall resultant force, then a system cannot
be in equilibrium.

• The equilibrium of a system can be determined by placing the vectors in a

head-to-tail arrangement, taking care over displaying the size
and direction of the vectors.
• If a closed triangle or polygon results (i.e. the resultant vector is zero)
then the system of forces is in equilibrium.
• For a system with three forces in equilibrium, the sine rule can be used to
calculate any unknown forces.