Scribd
Upload
134 views

VECTORS and SCALARS

This document provides information about vectors and scalars. It begins by defining scalars as quantities with only magnitude and vectors as quantities with both magnitude and direction. Examples of scalar and vector quantities are given. The document then discusses vector notation and how to add parallel and anti-parallel vectors by taking the sum or difference of their magnitudes. It provides examples of calculating the resultant force for parallel and anti-parallel vectors. Finally, it gives a practice problem calculating resultant forces and provides references for additional information.

Uploaded by

Carl Blake
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
134 views

VECTORS and SCALARS

This document provides information about vectors and scalars. It begins by defining scalars as quantities with only magnitude and vectors as quantities with both magnitude and direction. Examples of scalar and vector quantities are given. The document then discusses vector notation and how to add parallel and anti-parallel vectors by taking the sum or difference of their magnitudes. It provides examples of calculating the resultant force for parallel and anti-parallel vectors. Finally, it gives a practice problem calculating resultant forces and provides references for additional information.

Uploaded by

Carl Blake
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 34

VECTORS

VECTORS
AND
SCALARS
Wordwall Quiz

https://wordwall.net/play/19126/130/1
65
Vector Addition Simulation

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/late
st/vector-addition_en.html
Objectives:

At the end of this lesson students should be able to:


1. Distinguish between scalars and vectors
2. Calculate the resultant of vectors which are parallel and
anti-parallel.
3. List at least two examples of vector and scalar quantities.
To learn about Vector and scalar quantities click here:
Vector and scalar Quantities
Vectors and Scalars
Scalars are quantities that are fully described by a magnitude (or
numerical value) alone.
Vectors are quantities that are fully described by both a magnitude
and a direction.
Examples of Scalar and Vector Quantities
VECTOR NOTATION
Vectors can go in any direction and sometimes they are
parallel

A
B

C
PARALLEL VECTORS

Parallel vectors have the same direction.


ADDITION OF PARALLEL
VECTORS
● When adding parallel vectors we take the sum
of the two vectors.
● For force vectors, we add the magnitudes of
vectors in the same direction. In doing so, we
obtain the resultant vector, R.
● For parallel vectors, the resultant vector R acts
in the same direction of the original vectors.
ANTIPARALLEL VECTORS

Anti-parallel vectors have opposite directions.


ADDITION OF ANTIPARALLEL
VECTORS
● When adding anti-parallel vectors, we take
the difference of the two vectors.

● For anti-parallel vectors, the resultant vector


R acts in the same direction of the larger
vector.
Recall in our discussion that the net force experienced
by an object was determined by computing the vector
sum of all the individual forces acting upon that
object.
Example
Practice
F norm =
50 N

F app= F frict= F app =


100 N 200 N 600 N

F grav
= 50 N
Answer
F normal = 50N
F gravity = 50N
Therefore 50N-50N = 0N
F applied = 100N

F applied = 600N
F friction = 200N
Therefore 600N-200N = 400N
Question 1

Two forces act in opposite directions. How would


you find the magnitude of the resultant force?
Answer

To find the magnitude of the resultant for two forces


acting in opposite directions, the difference between
the two forces is calculated and the resultant force will
act in the direction of the greater force.
Question 2

Calculate the resultant force acting on each of the following objects.


(a)

b)
Answers
a)

The resultant force is 3N + 4N = 7N.


The resultant force acts in an eastwardly direction (or to the
right).
Answers

(3N + 4N) (5N + 6N)


7N 11N
Resultant force = 11N - 7N = 4N to the right (in the direction of the 11N force.
Question 3
1. Calculate the resultant vector, R.

F1 F2

10 N 5N
Answer

F1 + F2 = 10 N + 5 N = 15N
2. Find the resultant of the three forces acting on the ball:
6.1 N 4.8 N 5.2 N

3. Vector A has a magnitude of 5 in the leftward direction and B has


a magnitude of 2 in the rightward direction.
What is the value of 2 A –B?
REFERENCES

The Physics Classroom. Vectors. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors

http://www.phys.lsu.edu/~jdowling/PHYS21132-SP15/lectures/Vectors.pdf

You might also like