SCALARS &

VECTORS
 Scalars
• Scalars -quantities which are
described by its magnitude alone.
• Examples include distance, mass,
charge, kinetic energy,
temperature, time, pressure and
density.
 VECTORS
• Vectors are quantities which are
described by both magnitude and
direction.
• Graphically, a vector is represented by an
arrow.
• The length of the arrow describes the
vector's magnitude while its head/tip
points to the direction.
 Draw the following vectors:
1. 100 N east
2. 50 N 30° north of east
3. 20 m west
4. 9.8 m/s2 downward
5. 80 m/s along the negative y-axis
 50 m east School

40 m north 40 m south

Starting point
and end point
50 m west
The teacher traveled 40 m going north, 50 m
going eats, 40 m going south, and 50 m going west.
The total distance traveled is 180 m. Distance is the
length of the actual paths traveled while Displacement is
the length and direction of the change in position
measured from the starting point.
 VECTOR ADDITION
The sum of two
vectors A and B
(also known as
the resultant), is
a vector C.

The operation of vector addition as

described here can be written as C = A + B
 Methods of Adding Vectors
• Graphical Method - adding vectors
using graphing devices such as ruler,
pencil and protractor.
• Analytical Method – adding vectors
using mathematical equations.
 Kinds of Graphical Method
• Parallelogram Method – method used in
adding 2 vectors by constructing a
parallelogram.
• The 2 vectors are drawn from a common point
and parallel lines of equal lengths opposite the
vectors are drawn.
• The diagonal line is the resultant and the angle
 of the resultant is the angle it makes with
one of the vectors.
• Head-to-Tail Method – used in
adding 2 or more vectors.
• The tail of the next vector is drawn
from the head of the first vector.
• The resultant is drawn from the tail
of the first vector to the head of the
last vector.
 Steps on Using the Graphical
Method
1. Make a scale between the vectors and your
drawings/representations.
2. Convert the vectors based on your scale.
3. Draw the vector representations using a ruler to
measure the length and the protractor for the angle
measurement.
4. After the resultant is drawn, measure its length and
convert back to the actual vector using again the
scale. Use the protractor to measure the angle.
 EXAMPLES
Determine the resultant of the following vectors:
1. d1 = 300 m, E
d2 = 400 m, N

2. F1 = 800 N, S
F2 = 500 N, 300 N of E
F3 = 600 N, W
 Kinds of Analytical Method
• Trigonometric Method – used in adding
2 vectors (drawn at a common point)
using trigonometric functions.
• Component Method – used in adding 2
or more vectors by resolving vectors
into their components.
 Examples
• Determine the resultant of the same vectors
using the trigonometric method:
d1 = 300 m, E d2 = 400 m, N
d1 = 300m

d2 = 400m dR d2 = 400m


d1 = 300m
• Since dR is the hypotenuse of the triangle and d1 and d2 are
the sides, thus, applying the Pythagorean Theorem
c2 = a2 + b2
= (300 m)2 + (400 m)2
dR = c = 250,000 m2
dR = 500 m
Since d1 is the opposite side and d2 is the adjacent side to
angle , then
tan  = opp = d2 = 400 m = 4
adj d1 300 m 3
 = tan-1 (4/3) = 53.130
The resultant is therefore, 500 m, 53.130 N of E
 Vector Component
• The vector A can be represented
algebraically by A = Ax + Ay.
• Where Ax and Ay are vectors in
the x and y directions.
• Ax and Ay are the vector
components of A in the x and y
directions respectively.
 Vector Resolution
• The breaking up of a vector into it's component parts is
known as resolving a vector .
• Vector resolution makes the determination of the length of
the vector quite simple and straight forward.
• Since A = Ax + Ay , then using Pythagorean Theorem.

For example

The resolution of a vector into its components can be used

in the addition and subtraction of vectors.
 Finding the Components of a Vector

The components of a
vector means the
parts of a vector.
The important parts of
a vector are it's x-
part and its y-part,
or its x-component
and its y-
component.
Relationship to Trigonometric
Functions
Solving for the x-Component
Solving for the y-Component
 Directions of the Components
• So, the x-component of the original vector is equal in
size to 259 N and its y-component is 181 N.
• Notice that the x-component is pointing to the right.
This makes it a positive x-component. (It would be
negative if it pointed to the left.)
• The y-component is pointing up, so it is positive. (It
would be negative if it pointed down.)
• So, we would finally conclude that the x-component
(Fx) has a magnitude of positive 259 N and the y-
component (Fy) has a magnitude of positive 181 N.
 Vector Addition Using the
Component Method
• Determine the resultant of the 2 vectors
shown by the illustrations below.
 Steps Using the Component
Method
Step 1. Resolve the vectors into their x and y
components. Refer to a diagram of each
vector to correctly reason the sign, (+ or -),
for each component.
Vx = V cos  Vy = V sin 
Step 2. Add up all x-components and y-
components to get the total x-component
and total y-component.
Rx = V1x + V2x + V3x …
Ry = V1y + V2y + V3y …
Step 3. Get the resultant of the total x-
component and the total y-component using
the Pythagorean Theorem.
_______
R = Rx2 + Ry2
Step 4. Solve for the angle of the resultant using
the trigonometric equation
 = tan-1 (Ry /Rx)
Step 5. Determine the direction of the resultant
based on the signs of Rx and Ry.
 Example
The diagrams show the x-components in red and
the y-components in green:
Step 1.
Step 2
Step 3

Step 4
Step 5. Since Rx and Ry are both
positive then:
Therefore, the resultant has the
magnitude and direction equal to:

Here's a diagram that shows this result:

 Exercises
Determine the resultant of the following vectors using both
graphical and analytical methods:
1. d1 = 700 km, N
d2 = 1000 km, W

2. F1 = 5000 N, S
F2 = 4000 N, 600 N of E
F3 = 8000 N, NW
 ASSIGNMENT
1. A driver becomes lost and travels 12 km
west, 5 km south, and 8 km east. Find the
magnitude and direction of the car’s
displacement from the starting place.
2. 3 forces with magnitude F1 = 40 N, E F2 =
60 N, 600 N of W and F3 = 45 N, S are
acting on an object. What is the net force
on the object?