Vectors and

Scalars
Assume that a gold bar is hidden in a room where you
are standing. The following information are also given:

a. It is underneath the sofa two meters away from

you.
b. It is 2 meters away from where you are standing.
c. It is 2 meters north from where you are standing

Which of the given in formation would be most

useful?
What is a scalar?
Scalar quantities are measured with numbers and units.

length temperature time

(e.g. 16 cm) (e.g. 102 °C) (e.g. 7 s)

What is a vector?
Vector quantities are measured with numbers and units, but also have a
specific direction.

acceleration displacement force

(e.g. 30 m/s2 upwards) (e.g. 200 miles northwest) (e.g. 2 N downwards)
Vector and Scalar

Displacement is a vector quantity that changes

in position, which has both magnitude and
direction

where d 1 is the initial point,

d 2 is the final point and
∆d is the displacement
Assume that you are walking toward North on a
straight line, where markers can be seen and
are spaced 1.0 m apart which point a specific
position. Note that you are at number -6 and at
a later time you have reached number 7.
What is your displacement?
13 m North
Given:
d 1 = -6 m
d2 = 7 m
∆d = ?
∆d = 7m – (-6)m

∆d = +13 m or 13 m N
Drill: Obtain the displacement of the following
change in position using the number line

-1 m to -6 m ∆d = -5 m

-5 m to +6 m ∆d = +11 m
Vector and Scalar

Distance is a scalar quantity that has

magnitude but the direction is not specified.

where d 1 is the initial point,

d = d1+ d2 d 2 is the final point point and
d is the distance covered
If the displacement from -6 m to +7 meters is
+13 meters, what is the distance covered?
Given:
d 1 = -6 m
d2 = 7 m
d = d1+ d2
d = ?
Note: the distance covered consist
d = l-6ml + 7m
of the total distance of the path
taken and not the change in initial d = 13 m
and final point.
13 m
Drill: Determine the distance travelled using
the number line.

-2 m to +8 m ∆d = 10 m

-8 m to +9 m ∆d = 17 m
Applications of Vectors
VECTOR ADDITION – If 2 similar vectors point in the SAME
direction, add them.

 Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then another 30 meters

east. Calculate his displacement relative to where he started?

+
54.5 m, E 30 m, E

Notice that the SIZE of the

arrow conveys MAGNITUDE
84.5 m, E and the way it was drawn
conveys DIRECTION.
Applications of Vectors
VECTOR SUBTRACTION - If 2 vectors are going in opposite
directions, you SUBTRACT.

 Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then 30 meters

west. Calculate his displacement relative to where he
started?

54.5 m, E
-

30 m, W
24.5 m, E
Non-Collinear Vectors
When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you must use the
Pythagorean theorem.
The hypotenuse in Physics is
called the RESULTANT.
Horizontal Component
A man walks 95 km, East then 55 km,
north. Calculate his RESULTANT
DISPLACEMENT.
Finish
c2  a 2  b2  c  a 2  b2
55 km, N c  Resultant  952  552
Vertical
Component
c  12050  109.8 km

95 km,E

Start
The LEGS of the triangle are called the COMPONENTS
BUT……what about the direction?
In the previous example, DISPLACEMENT was asked for and
since it is a VECTOR we should include a DIRECTION on our
final answer.
N

W of N E of N
N of E
N of W
W E
N of E
S of W S of E

NOTE: When drawing a right triangle that

conveys some type of motion, you MUST draw yourW of S E of S
components HEAD TO TOE.
S
BUT…..what about the VALUE of the angle???
Just putting North of East on the answer is NOT specific enough for the
direction. We MUST find the VALUE of the angle.

To find the value of the angle we

use a Trig function called
TANGENT.

109.8 km
55 km, N
opposite side 55
Tan     0.5789
q N of E
adjacent side 95
95 km,E   Tan 1 (0.5789)  30

So the COMPLETE final answer is : 109.8 km, 30 degrees North of East

What if you are missing a component?
Suppose a person walked 65 m, 25 degrees East of North. What
were his horizontal and vertical components?

The goal: ALWAYS MAKE A RIGHT TRIANGLE!

H.C. = ?

To solve for components, we often use the trig functions sine

V.C = ? and cosine.
25 65 m
adjacent side opposite side
cosine   sine  
hypotenuse hypotenuse
adj  hyp cos  opp  hyp sin 

adj  V .C.  65 cos 25  58.91m, N

opp  H .C.  65 sin 25  27.47 m, E
Example A bear, searching for food wanders 35 meters east then 20
meters north. Frustrated, he wanders another 12 meters
west then 6 meters south. Calculate the bear's displacement.

23 m, E
- =

12 m, W
- =
14 m, N
6 m, S
20 m, N
R  14 2  232  26.93m
14
Tan    .6087
35 m, E R 14 m, N 23
q
  Tan 1 (0.6087)  31.3
23 m, E

The Final Answer: 26.93 m, 31.3 degrees NORTH of EAST

Example A boat moves with a velocity of 15 m/s, N in a river
which flows with a velocity of 8.0 m/s, west.
Calculate the boat's resultant velocity with respect
to due north.

8.0 m/s, W

15 m/s, N
Rv  82  152  17 m / s
Rv 8
q
Tan    0.5333
15
  Tan 1 (0.5333)  28.1

The Final Answer : 17 m/s, @ 28.1 degrees West of North

Example A plane moves with a velocity of 63.5 m/s at 32
degrees South of East. Calculate the plane's
horizontal and vertical velocity components.

 
H.C. =?

32
V.C. = ?
63.5 m/s
Example A storm system moves 5000 km due east, then shifts
course at 40 degrees North of East for 1500 km.
Calculate the storm's resultant displacement.
adjacent side opposite side
cosine   sine  
hypotenuse hypotenuse
1500 km
adj  hyp cos  opp  hyp sin 
V.C.
40
5000 km, E H.C. adj  H .C .  1500 cos 40  1149 .1 km, E
opp  V .C.  1500 sin 40  964.2 km, N

5000 km + 1149.1 km = 6149.1 km  

R
964.2 km

q
6149.1 km

The Final Answer: 6224.14 km @ 8.91 degrees, North of East

Thank you very Much!

Mrs. Diana Dinglasa-Tobias