Learning Competencies

1. Differentiate vector and scalar quantities

2. Perform addition of vectors
3. Rewrite a vector in component form

Lesson 2.1: Scalar and Vector Quantities

Definition:
Scalar Quantity - a physical quantity is described by a single number
*combination of scalar quantities uses operations of ordinary arithmetic.
Example: mass in kilograms, time in seconds

vector quantity - has both a magnitude (the “how much” or “how big” part) and a
direction in space.
Example: displacement

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Symbol for vector quantity: letter with arrow written on top/above

Ex. 𝐴⃗ 𝑜𝑟 𝐴⃑
Note for vector quantities:
a. always draw a vector as a line with an arrowhead at its tip.
b. If two vectors have the same direction, they are parallel.
c. If they have the same magnitude and the same direction, they are equal, no matter
where they are located in space
d. negative of a vector as a vector having the same magnitude as the original vector
but the opposite direction.
e. When two vectors 𝐴⃗and 𝐵 ⃗⃗ have opposite directions, whether their magnitudes are
the same or not, we say that they are antiparallel.
f. 𝑀𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐴⃗ = 𝐴 = |𝐴⃗|

NOTE for both Scalar and Vector Quantities

A vector can never be equal to a scalar because they are different kinds of quantities.
Ex. 𝐴⃗ = 10 𝑚 is a wrong statement, 𝐴⃗ = 10 𝑚, 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑟 𝐴⃗ = 10 𝑚, 45° 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ is
the correct statement. There should always be a direction included for a vector
quantity

Activity: Provide 5 Examples of Scalar quantities and vector quantities. Give an example of
how each of the quantities are written.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Lesson 2.2: Addition and Subtraction of Vectors

Suppose a particle undergoes a displacement 𝐴⃑ followed by a second displacement 𝐵 ⃗⃑ . The

result is the same as if the particle had started at the same initial point and undergone a
single displacement 𝐶⃑. The displacement 𝐶⃑ is referred as the vector sum, or resultant, of
displacements 𝐴⃑ and 𝐵
⃗⃑ .

𝐶⃑ = 𝐴⃑ + 𝐵
⃗⃑ or 𝐶⃑ = 𝐵
⃗⃑ + 𝐴⃑
So,
𝐴⃑ + 𝐵
⃗⃑ = 𝐵
⃗⃑ + 𝐴⃑

Way to represent vector sum:

Note: Vector addition obeys the commutative law.

Caution: Magnitude of 𝐶⃑ (C) is NOT ALWAYS equal to magnitude of 𝐴⃑ (A) plus magnitude
⃗⃑ (B)
of 𝐵
• 𝐶 <𝐴+𝐵

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Magnitude of 𝐶⃑ (|𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗ |) is dependent upon the magnitudes of 𝐴⃑ and 𝐵
⃗⃑ and the angle
between them

Special Cases:
a. 𝐶 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 if 𝐴⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵
⃗⃗ are parallel
b. 𝐶 = 𝐴 − 𝐵 if 𝐴⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵
⃗⃗ are antiparallel

For cases with multiple vectors, 𝐴⃑, 𝐵

⃗⃑ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶⃑ (a), we can find the resultant vector 𝑅⃗⃑ by:

𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1: 𝑅⃗⃑ = (𝐴⃑ + 𝐵

⃗⃑) + 𝐶⃑ = 𝐷
⃗⃑ + 𝐶⃑ where 𝐷
⃗⃑ = 𝐴⃑ +𝐵
⃗⃑

Or

𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2: 𝑅⃗⃑ = 𝐴⃑ +(𝐵

⃗⃑ + 𝐶⃑) = 𝐴⃑ + 𝐸⃗⃑ where 𝐸⃗⃑ = 𝐵
⃗⃑ + 𝐶⃑

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Option 3. Add all the vectors directly, in order or not in order.

For subtraction of Vectors:

𝐴⃗ − 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴⃗ + (−𝐵
⃗⃗)

• Difference of 𝐴⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵
⃗⃗ is the same as the sum of 𝐴⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 𝐵
⃗⃗

Activity: Answer the following.

A) What happens to the vector quantity if a positive number is multiplied
into it? Provide an example and illustrate.
B) What is the consequence to the vector quantity if a negative number is
multiplied into it? Provide an example and illustrate.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Example 2.1. Addition of two vectors at right angles

A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km, north and then 2.00 km, east on a horizontal
snowfield. How far and in what direction is she from the starting point?

Given:
Let 𝐴⃗ = 1.00 km, north
⃗⃗ = 2.00 km, east
𝐵

Solution:

For the magnitude, find |𝐶⃗|

|𝐶⃗| = |𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗| = √𝐴2 + 𝐵2
= √(1.00 𝑘𝑚)2 + (2.00 𝑘𝑚)2
= √1.00 𝑘𝑚2 + 4.00 𝑘𝑚2
= √5.00 𝑘𝑚2
= 2.24 km
For the direction, find ∅

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 2.00 𝑘𝑚

tan ∅ = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 1.00 𝑘𝑚
∅ = tan−1 2.00 = 63.4° or 63.4°, 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ
Therefore, the skier reached 2.24 km, 63.4°, 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ
• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Note for example:
▪ Pythagorean Theorem is used to find the magnitude
▪ Trigonometric law is used to find the angle.
▪ The magnitude of the skier is the hypotenuse of the triangle
▪ Angle is based the starting point of A to the end point of B.

Lesson 2.3: Components of Vectors

Suppose you are given a vector 𝐴⃗, the components

is given with respect to the cartesian coordinate
system. Therefore, the ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑦 are called
component vectors as shown in the figure where,

𝐴⃗ = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑦

The starting point of the vector is referred as the

origin called point O. The angle from the x-axis to
the hypothenuse is referred as ϴ.

When ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 points in the positive x-direction, we define the number 𝐴𝑥 to be equal to the
magnitude of ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 . When ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴𝑥 points in the negative x-direction, we define the number to be
equal 𝐴𝑥 to the negative of that magnitude (the magnitude of a vector quantity is itself never
negative). We define the number 𝐴𝑦 in the same way. The two numbers 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 are called
the components of 𝐴⃗

|𝐴⃗𝑥 | = 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

|𝐴⃗𝑦 | = 𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃

Note: Components are NOT vectors. The

components 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 of a vector 𝐴⃗ are just
numbers; they are not vectors themselves.
There is no arrow above the symbol .

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Note: If the magnitude A and direction is given, you can calculate for the components of
any vector 𝐴⃗.

In Figure (b), the reference direction is the positive x-axis and the angle between vector 𝐴⃗
and the positive x-axis is given as ϴ. Take note of your reference axis and the vector, the angle
between them is the angle ϴ. Based from the figure and the definition of trigonometric functions, you can
find that

𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦
= cos 𝜃 and = sin 𝜃
𝐴 𝐴

Hence, 𝐴𝑥 = cos 𝜃 and 𝐴𝑦 = sin 𝜃

Caution: please beware of the reference axis and the angles involved in finding the
components of vectors

Activity: Review on your trigonometric functions and angles.

Example. Finding Components

⃗⃗ in Fig. 1.19a? The magnitude of the

(a) What are the x- and y-components of vector 𝐷
vector is D = 3.00 m , and the angle 𝛼 = 45 °
(b) What are the x- and y-components of vector 𝐸⃗⃗ in Fig. 1.19b? The magnitude of the
vector is E = 4.50 m, and the angle 𝛽 = 37°

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Answer:

(a) Given: D = 3.00 m and 𝛼 = 45 °

Solution: Since the angle between the reference axis (x-axis) and the vector is going
clockwise, therefore 𝜃 = −𝛼 = −45 °. (Refer to laws of angles in a trigonometry. If the
angle is going counter clockwise from the x-axis, angle is positive. If the angle is going
clockwise from the x-axis, the angle is negative.)

𝐷𝑥 𝐷𝑦
= cos 𝜃 = sin 𝜃
𝐷 𝐷

𝐷𝑥 = Dcos 𝜃 𝐷𝑦 = Dsin 𝜃
= (3.00 m)cos −45° = (3.00 m)sin −45°
= +2.1 𝑚 = −2.1 𝑚

(b) Given: E = 4.50 m and 𝛽 = 37.0°

Solution: Since the reference axis is the y-axis, there are changes in how the sine
and cosine laws are applied. (sine is opposite/hypotenuse and cosine is
adjacent/hypotenuse)
𝐸𝑦 𝐸𝑥
= cos 𝜃 = sin 𝜃
𝐸 𝐸

𝐸𝑦 = Ecos 𝜃 𝐸𝑥 = Esin 𝜃
= (4.50 m)cos 37.0° = (4.50 m)sin 37.0°
= +2.71 𝑚 = +3.59 𝑚

Practice Problem 2.1: Hearing rattles from a snake, you make two rapid
displacements of magnitude 1.8 m and 2.4 m. In sketches (roughly to scale), show
how your two displacements might add up to give a resultant of magnitude (a) 4.2
m; (b) 0.6 m; (c) 3.0 m.

Practice Problem 2.2: A postal employee drives a delivery truck along the route
shown in Fig. E1.27. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
displacement by drawing a scale diagram. (See also Exercise 1.34 for a different
approach to this same problem.)

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Doing Vector Calculations Using Components

1. Finding a vector’s magnitude and direction from its components.

If the components are given, use the pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of
vector 𝐴⃗

𝐴 = √𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦

To find the angle,

𝐴𝑦
tan 𝜃 =
𝐴𝑥

𝐴𝑦
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1
𝐴𝑥

2. Using components to calculate the vector sum (resultant) of two or

more vectors.

Activity: Make study notes with examples on Doing Vector Calculation using
Components. Try Practice Problems of your choice.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email [email protected].
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.