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General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

Outline:
1. Vectors
2. Vector Addition
a. Graphical Method
b. Analytical Method
c. Component Method

Learning Objectives:
After completing the module, the students should be able to:
 perform addition of vectors
 calculate directions and magnitudes of vectors

VECTORS
 A v ector quantity is usually represented by a straight line w ith an arrow head at one end
to show the direction of the quantity. The length of the line is proportional to the
magnitude of the quantity.

5 units 3 units
 Vectors are usually denoted with capital letters written boldface or w ith special
markings.
⃗ ⃗⃗

VECTOR ADDITION
 Like ordinary numbers, tw o v ectors may be added. Also, a v ector may be subtracted
from another v ector.
 The combination is called ‘resultant’ of the v ectors

A. GRAPHICAL METHOD
1. Polygon (head to tail) or triangle method
- Polygon method joins v ectors such that the tail of the second v ector coincides w ith the
tip of the prev ious one.

Sample Problem 1: A cat walks 400m East, stops to rest and then continues 600m East. What is the
resultant displacement of the cat? Scale: 1cm = 100 m
“What are the given in the problem?” d1 = 400m East
d2 = 600 m East
“What is the unknown?” Resultant displacement (dR)

d1 d2
Measurement for the resultant
displacement dR = 10cm
dR = 1000m East

Sample Problem 2: Ca Bau walks home from school 300m East and remembers that he has to bring
home her Science book which a classmate borrowed. He walks back 900m West to his classmate’s
house. What is the resultant displacement? Scale: 1cm = 100m
“What do we know from the problem?” d1 = 300m East
d2 = 900m West
“What is the unknown?” Resultant displacement (dR)

Measurement for the electrostatic force

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General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

2. Parallelogram Method
- The v ectors are laid off such that they originate from a common point. This giv es tw o
adjacent sides of a parallelogram. The figure is then completed by draw ing parallel lines to
the tw o adjacent angles. The diagonal of the parallelogram (draw n from the starting point
of the tw o giv en v ectors tow ards the opposite corner), R, is the resultant of A and B, or
A+B=R.

Sample Problem 1: A = 4 units due East and B = 3 units NE (where α = 45º). Find the magnitude and
direction of their resultant R.
“What are the given in the problem?” A = 4 units
B = 3 units NE
“What is the unknown?” Resultant (R)

Measurement for the resultant

R =7 units, 20º N of E
Sample Problem 2: A car moves 10 km North, then turns 20 km West. What is the total displacement
of the car?
“What are the given in the problem?” A = 10 km N
B = 20 km W
“What is the unknown?” Total displacement (dR)

Measurement for the resultant

dR =22.4 km, 63.4º W of N

B. ANALYTICAL METHOD
1. Algebraic Method
- This method is used for co-linear vectors. Co-linear v ectors are v ectors w hich lie along
the same line of axis.
Sample Problem 1: For the vectors shown in the diagram, determine (a) the resultant, (b) C-D (c) D-A-B

C B D A

“What are the given in the problem?” C=30 units; B= 20 units; D= 25 units; A= 50 units
a) their resultant R is the vector
sum of all, therefore:

b) C-D is subtracting vector D

from vector C

c) D-A-B
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General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

2. Trigonometric Method
- When the figure is a right triangle:
o Magnitude of the resultant, R

o Direction of the resultant, θ

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Sample Problem 1: If A = 4 units East and B = 3 units North, find the resultant and direction using
trigonometric method.
“What are the given in the problem?” A = 4 units E
B = 3 units N
“What is the unknown?” Resultant (R)
Direction (θ)
Solution for resultant

√ √

Solution for direction | |

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Therefore, R = 5 units, 36.87º N of E

- When the figure is not a right triangle:
o Magnitude of the resultant, R
(Cosine Law )

o Direction of the resultant, θ

(Sine Law )

*where θ is the angle that R makes with respect to the x -axis

Sample Problem 1: If A = 4 units East and B = 3 units NE (where α = 45º), find the resultant and
direction using trigonometric method.
“What are the given in the problem?” A = 4 units E
B = 3 units NE
“What is the unknown?” Resultant (R)
Direction (θ)
Solution for resultant

√ )

Solution for direction

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General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

Therefore R = 6.48 units, 19.1º N of E

3. Component Method
- Appropriate for adding tw o or more v ectors that do not coincide w ith the x- and y-
axes.
- Resolv e a v ector is breaking up the v ector into its components. These are the
components along the horizontal or x-axis and along the v ertical or y-axis.

Steps in using the component method:

 Resolv e the v ector into their x- and y-components.
 Add the x-components to get the Rx; add the y-components to get Ry.
 Get the magnitude of the resultant, R using:

 Get the direction, θ using:

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Sample Problem 1: An ant crawls on a tabletop. It moves 2 cm East, turns 3 cm 40º North of East and
finally moves 2.5 cm North. What is the ant’s total displacement?
“What are the given in the problem?” d1 = 2 cm E
d2 = 3 cm 40º N of E
d3 = 2.5 cm N

“What is the unknown?” Total displacement (dR)

Solution
displacement dx (cm) dy (cm)
d1 2 cm E 2.00 0
d2 3 cm 40º N of E 2.30 1.93
d3 2.5 cm N 0 2.50
∑ 4.30 cm 4.43 cm

Resolved d2 using the d2x =3cm(cos40º)

SOHCAHTOA d2x =2.3cm

d2y =3cm(sin40º)
d2y =1.93cm
Solution for the total
displacement and direction
√

√
1
General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

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Therefore, the total displacement is 6.17 cm, 48.85º N of E

Sample Problem 2: The following forces act on an object resting on a level, frictionless surface: 10
dynes due North, 20 dynes due East, 10 dynes at 40º South of East, and 20 dynes at 50º West of South.
Find the resultant.
“What are the given in the problem?” F1 = 10 dynes, N
F2 = 20 dynes, E
F3 = 10 dynes, 40º S of E
F4 = 20 dynes, 50º W of S

“What is the unknown?” Resultant (R)

Solution
x-components (dynes) y-components (dynes)

F1 0 10
F2 20 0
F3 F3x =F3 cosθ F3y =F3 sinθ
F3x =10 cos(40) F3y =10 sin(40)
F3x =7.66 F3y = -6.43
F4 F4x = F4 sinθ F4y = F4 cosθ
F4x = -20 sin(50) F4y = -20 cos(50)
F4x = -15.32 F4y = -12.86
∑ Rx = 12.34 R y = -9.29
Solution for the resultant

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 1
General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

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Therefore, the total resultant is 15.44 dynes, 36.97º S of E

Sample Problem 3: Mary leaves the office, drives 26 km due North and turns onto a street and
continues in a direction 30° NE for 35 km and finally turns onto the highway due east for 40 km.
What is her total displacement from the office?
“What are the given in the problem?” d 1 = 26 km N
d2 = 35 km 30º N of E
d3 = 40 km E

“What is the unknown?” dR

Solution
x-components (paces) y-components (paces)

d1 0 26
d2 d2 = d2 cosθ d2 = d2 sinθ
d2 = 35 cos(30) d2 = 35 sin(30)
d2 = 30.31 d2 = 17.5
d3 40 0
∑ 70.31 43.5
Solution for the resultant
√

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Therefore, the total displacement is 82.68 km, 31.74º N of E

References:
 Bawang, E. G. et al. 2012. General Physics Lecture Manual. Benguet State University. La Trinidad, Benguet.
 Silva, D. D. ND. General Physics Manual. Saint Louis University. Baguio City.
 Arevalo, R. L. 2017. General Physics 1. DIWA Learning Systems Inc. Makati City, Philippines
 https://www.intmath.com/vectors/7-vectors-in-3d-space.php
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General Physics 1
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2A – Physics 1 Subject Teacher:

MODULE 2 ASSESSMENT
PROBLEM SOLVING. Answer the following in a clean sheet of paper. I dentify the giv en and show your
complete solution.
(50 points; 10 points each item)

1. Refer to the v ectors shown in the diagram. Using graphical and algebraic method determine the:
(2 point each)
(a) Resultant
(b) C – O – D
(c) V + O – I + D
(d) C – O – V – I – D
(e) (I + O) – (C+ V – D)

C O V I D
Where: C = 13 units
O = 4 units
V = 6 units
I = 9 units
D = 21 units

2. Marie Kieth w alks 19 cm W and 10 cm S. Find the magnitude and direction of their resultant
using graphical (polygon method) and analytical method. (5 points each for graphical and
analytical method)

3. To go from your house to a nearby hospital, you must w alk 6 m E and then turn 8 m 60º N of E.
What is your displacement? Use graphical (parallelogram method) and trigonometric method.
(5 points each for graphical and analytical method)

4. Cafal Mocca and Nifis Mocca went to a coffee shop to buy Mocaccino. Their path consists of
the follow ing:

A = 36 m, E
B = 102 m, S
C = 58 m, 30º S of W
D = 89, 60º N of W

Determine the magnitude and direction of Cafal and Nifis Mocca’s resultant displacement.
(3 points for the illustration, 5 points for solution, 2 points final answ er)

5. Using the component method, find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of a 50
Newton (N) force that acts at angle of 43º clockwise from the (+) Y axis, a 15 Newton (N) force
that acts at angle of 115º clockw ise from the (+) Y axis, and an 80 Newton (N) force
dow nw ard. (3 points for the illustration, 5 points for solution, 2 points final answ er)