10 – Vectors -23

Vectors
Scalar vs. Vector
A scalar is a physical quantity that has magnitude A vector is a physical quantity that has both
only. magnitude and direction.

Classify the following as either a vector or scalar quantity:

length, time, weight, force, temperature, displacement, velocity, distance, acceleration, energy, pressure,
volume, mass

Describing the Motion of an Object

When describing the motion of an object we need to know the relative position of the object. The position of
the object must be given relative to a reference point.

Displacement vs. Distance

Distance is a scaler quantity defined as .................................................................................................................. .

..................................................................................................................................................................................

Units: ..............

Displacement is a vector quantity defined as .........................................................................................................

Displacement points from the initial position to final position.

Units: ............................... Symbol/s for displacement: ...........................................................................

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10 – Vectors -23
It is necessary to define a frame of reference when referring to the position of an object.

The diagram shows a path walked by a boy across

a field. The distance he walked is the length of the
path, 140 m. The displacement has a magnitude
of 100 m and the direction east.

Example:

A child walks 10 m due east from point A to point B. They then walk 5 m due south to point C and then 10 m
due west to point D. Represent this as a SCALE DIAGRAM. Use a suitable scale.

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Velocity vs. Speed
𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
Speed is a scalar quantity defined as ................................................................... 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅 =
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

...............................................................................................................................

Units: ..............

Velocity, v, is a vector quantity defined as ......................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................................

Units: ..............

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡

𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 = =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

∆𝒙 𝒔
𝒗= 𝒐𝒓 𝒗 =
∆𝒕 ∆𝒕

Instantaneous vs. velocity Average velocity

Objects, unless stationary, are generally not at the same velocity throughout their motion.
It is then necessary to distinguish between instantaneous velocity and average velocity.

If we are going on a road trip from Johannesburg to Drakensburg the magnitude (size) of
your velocity and the direction can change during the journey. Some moments you may
travel at 100 km.h-1 other places 120 km.h-1 and even 60 km.h-1 in other instances.

Average velocity, 𝑣𝑎𝑣𝑔 , is used to describe the overall motion.

𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 =
𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

Average velocity can also be calculated using the initial and final velocity during an object’s motion. We
will take a closer look at this in the kinematics section of the syllabus.

𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 + 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚

𝑨𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 =
𝟐

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10 – Vectors -23
Instantaneous velocity describes the motion at a particular instant in time, where a very small time interval
would be used.

𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 =
𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

NB: The magnitude of the average velocity and the average speed of a moving object is often different.
However, the magnitude and of the instantaneous velocity and instantaneous speed are the same.

Example:

1. An athlete takes 50 s to complete a lap of 400m.

Calculate their average speed Calculate their average velocity

2. An athlete runs 278,44m in 34 seconds on an inner

lane of an athletics track, from point A though C
and D to B as shown in the diagram below.
(AC = 80 m; DB = 80 m; AB = 75,4 m).

a. Calculate the average speed of the athlete.

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10 – Vectors -23

b. Calculate the average velocity of the athlete.

3. A cyclist starts at a point furthest south on a circular track with a radius of

200m. If the cyclist travels halfway around the track in 1 minute and 30
seconds, calculate:
a) The cyclist’s average speed

b) The cyclist’s average velocity

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10 – Vectors -23

Acceleration
Acceleration, a, is a vector quantity defined as ...............................................................................................

Units: ..............

𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦
𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 =
𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

∆𝒗
𝒂=
∆𝒕

If the acceleration and velocity are in the same direction, then your object is speeding up. This is mathematically
denoted with acceleration and velocity having the same sign i.e., both being positive (in the direction of motion)
or both being negative ( travelling in the opposite direction of motion).

If the acceleration and velocity are in opposites directions, then your object is slowing down. This is
mathematically denoted with acceleration and velocity having the opposite signs i.e. velocity being positive and
acceleration negative (object is slowing down in the direction of motion) or velocity being negative and
acceleration positive ( slowing down in the opposite direction of motion).

Representing Vectors

• Vectors must be drawn as arrows to indicate the direction.

• Length of the arrow is representative of its magnitude.
• Arrowheads of the vector must be included in the length of the
vector.
• Scale vector diagrams must have a suitable scale that is clearly
indicated on the diagram.

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10 – Vectors -23
Bearing method
This method uses angles measured clockwise from a given reference line to indicate the direction of the vector.
The reference line is taken as the north direction and taken as 0°.
The direction is written as a bearing of the angle measured.
Example:
Scale 1 cm : 10 km
Use your ruler to measure the length of each
vector, and your protractor to measure the angle
and write the magnitude and direction of each of
the vectors:

A: km on a bearing of °

B: km on a bearing of °

C: ______________________________________

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10 – Vectors -23
Compass method
This method compass points are used a reference from which the angle is measured.
The direction is written as the number of degrees from the reference compass point. E.g., if reading 30°
starting from north going towards west, the direction of the vector would be written as “30° West of North”.
The same vector could also be written as “60° North of West” if measured starting from the western compass
point.
Example:
Scale 1cm : 10km

Use your ruler to measure the length of each

vector, and your protractor to measure the angle
and write the magnitude and direction of each of
the vectors:

A: km ° W of N

Or km ° N of W

B: km ° of .

Or km ° of .

C: _____________________________________

Or _____________________________________

Exercise
1. Represent the following vectors graphically.
a) 20 km 40° south of west
b) 2,5 MN on a bearing of 200° (mega, M = × 106 )
c) 200 m.s-1 on a bearing of 60°

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10 – Vectors -23
a) b) c)

2. Represent the following vectors on the same axes:

20 m on a bearing of 60°

65 m due south

50 m on a bearing of 340°

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10 – Vectors -23
Addition of vectors
Linear vectors
A resultant vector defined as .................................................................................................................................. .

..................................................................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................................................................

Head-to-tail addition:
Using Force
If a 50 N force applied to an object is acting to the
right. And another force, 45 N, is also acting towards
the right. It is drawn with its tail starting at the
arrowhead of the 50 N vector.

Thus, the resultant vector (resultant force) is 90 N to

the right.

Mathematically you would determine a frame of reference i.e., right as positive and left as negative, then
calculate thus: 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = +50 + 45 = 90 𝑁 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

If a 50 N force applied to an object is acting to the right. And another force, 45

N, is acting towards the left. It is drawn with its tail starting at the arrowhead of
the 50 N vector.

Thus, the resultant vector (resultant force) is 5 N to the right.

Mathematically: 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 = −45 + 50 = 5 𝑁 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

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Using displacement
A person walks 80 m on a bearing of 90°, rests for 5
minutes then walks 100 m on a bearing of 270°. What
is their displacement?

Remember, displacement is a change in position.

Thus, we would look at the change in position from where the person started to where they end up.

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑠 = 20 𝑚 𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑓 270°

Exercise
Give the resultant displacement of the following:

1. Mickey mouse walks 5 m south, stops, and continues south for another 7 m.

...................................................................................................................................................

2. Mickey mouse walks 13 m north, then turns around and walks 5 m south.

............................................................................................................................................................................

3. 100 km due east and 15 km due west.

............................................................................................................................................................................

4. 75 m on bearing of 0° and 90 m on a bearing of 180°.

............................................................................................................................................................................

5. 600 m on a bearing of 270° and 2 km on a bearing of 270°.

............................................................................................................................................................................

6. 700 cm on a bearing of 90° and 100 m due east.

............................................................................................................................................................................

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