VECTORS

VECTORS
Many quantities in mechanics can be described, not only by
their amount, but by their directions as well. Examples of such
are gravity, velocity, and force, among others.

This variety of quantities that describes motion concepts can

be divided into two categories: scalars and vectors.
1. What is a vector?

2. What is the difference between

vectors and scalars?

 SCALARS
Scalars are quantities that do not need to be defined by a direction
and sufficiently by magnitude.
The data they provide answer only the question “how much”.
For example, when you measure how far, how fast, how long, or
how big an object or a situation is, you are looking for a scalar
quantity.
Distance, speed, time and energy are samples of scalar quantities.
 VECTORS
Vectors, on the other hand, are quantities that are described by
magnitude and direction.
When you search for a place in a map, the quantity that you are
looking for is a vector; calculating the place from your point of
origin and the direction(s) that you are going to take results in
displacement, a vector quantity that deals with both distance
(magnitude) and direction.
 VECTORS

In describing vector quantities, it is very important

that a reference frame is well defined.
Defining the reference frame involves determining
the origin and the axes to describe the quantities.
To indicate quantities as vectors, we use half arrows
on top of the quantity’s symbol.
 This table shows some examples of vector
and scalar quantities
Vectors Scalars
Distance (d) – measure of length from a
Displacement () – measure of length from a
reference point to the last point reference point to a desired point

Velocity () – the rate of change of the Speed () – the rate of change of the
displacement per time: displacement per time:

Acceleration () – the rate of change of the Time

Time (t)
(t) –– the
the duration
duration of
of an
an event
event or
or the
the
velocity per time: measure of intervals between them
measure of intervals between them

Force () - a push or pull that maintains or

Energy
Energy (E)
(E) –– the
the ability
ability to
to do
do work
work
alters an objects motion
 VECTORS

To understand vectors better, you

must review some trigonometric
concepts, as well as the concept
of Pythagorean theorem, which
states that the square of the
hypotenuse is equal to the sum of
the squares of the legs or the
other two sides of a right triangle.
 VECTORS
In equation form, Pythagorean
relation states that: c2 = a2 + b2 or
where:
c – hypotenuse; the longest side of
the  right triangle
a and b – legs; sides of the triangle
– angles less than 90°
 VECTORS

The different trigonometric quantities can be

memorized by using the relation SOHCAHTOA. The
following are the different trigonometric relations
based
 
on the triangle for angle .
GRAPHIN
G 01.
VECTORS
 REPRESENTATION of a
VECTOR
A vector is represented by an arrow with
three important parts, namely:

1. Arrowhead- indicates the direction

of the vector.

2. Length of the arrow- represents the

magnitude of the vector.

3. Tail- shows the vector origin.

 REPRESENTATION of a
West, South and North. VECTOR
The direction of a vector can be East,

Some vectors are directed 45° between

two cardinal directions but there are also
other vectors directed less than or more
than 45°.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1WPpSxE0nA&t=4s
 GRAPHING VECTORS

In graphing vectors, we shall first define the

characteristics of the reference frame first.
One important characteristic is that of the origin; the
second is that of the axes involved.
 GRAPHING VECTORS

Consider the following examples.

= 2 m, north
=  3 m, south
= 5 m, east
= 2 m, 40° north of west
= 2 m, north GRAPHING VECTORS
= 3 m, south
  SOLUTION:
 
= 5 m, east
= 2 m, 40° north of west
1.Define the origin and the axes on a Cartesian
plane.
2.Plot the first vector () and label it. The length
of the segment represents the vector’s
magnitude, while the arrowhead shows its
direction.
3.Plot the vectors and
4.Use a protractor to plot vector
 GRAPHING VECTORS

Assignment:
Graph the following vectors.
= 6 m, west
 

= 2 m, east
= 3 m, north
= 4 m, 20° east of south