Scalar and Vector Quantities

for ADVANCED PHYSICS

Special Science High School Grade 10
Quarter 1/ Week 3

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 FOREWORD

Have you ever experienced looking for a friend’s house in

an unfamiliar place? Is it easier to find the place by using only
the address of the address together with the sketch of the
place? What do you think will you do if you were lost in a
place?

Objectives:
1. Define scalar and vector quantities.
2. Differentiate between scalar and vector
quantities.
3. Represent vector quantities by using graph.
4. Define a resultant vector.
5. Determine the resultant vector using graphical
and analytical methods.
6. Find the components of a resultant vector.

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 I. WHAT HAPPENED
PRE-ACTIVITIES/PRE-TEST:

Multiple Choices: Write only the letter of your best answer on

your notebook.

_____ 1. A change in position specified by magnitude and

direction is ______.
a. density c. speed
b. force d. displacement

_____ 2. Vector quantities measure __________.

a. magnitude c. both a and b
b. direction d. distance

_____ 3. Temperature is __________.

a. scalar quantity c. both a and b
b. vector quantity d. resultant quantity

_____ 4. The single vector that produces the same effect as

two or more vectors is the ____________.
a. vector displacement c. resultant vector
b. vector force d. vector arrow

_____ 5. Which of the following arrows represents a vector

displacement to the East of North?
a. b. c. d.

_____ 6. Which of the following is a vector quantity?

a. 5000 kg b. 120 km/h, SE c. 120 m2 d. 45 hours

_____ 7. At what angle between two vectors will the magnitude

of the resultant of the two vectors be minimum?
a. 0O b. 45O c. 90O d. 180O

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_____ 8. Which of the following pairs of displacements will give
a resultant of magnitude 2 m?
a. 4m E and 2m E c. 4m E and 2m N
b. 4m E and 2m W d. 4m E and 4m W

_____ 9. What is the component along the y-axis of a 5-N force

exerted towards East?
a. – 5N b. 0 c. 5N d. 10N

_____ 10. A car travels 50km to the north and then 30km to the
east. At what angle East of North should the car head in
order to reach its origin in a straight path?
a. 31O b. 36O c. 53O d. 59O

II. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW (Discussion)

Scalar Quantity

Scalar quantity is a quantity that is described by a

magnitude.

Examples:

40 kg, which describes mass

30 min, which tells time
5 km, which shows distance
27OC, which gives the temperature

One characteristic of scalar quantities is that they add up

or subtract like ordinary numbers.

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Vector Quantity

A vector quantity is a quantity that is completely

described by both magnitude and direction.

Examples:

1. 80 km/h E, which tells the speed (80km/h) and direction

(East)

2. 20 N upward, which describes a force (20N) and direction

(upward)

3. 1m/s2 to the right, which expresses the acceleration

(1m/s2) and direction (to the right)

Vector quantities are important in the study of Physics. If

scalar quantities follow ordinary arithmetic rules, vector
quantities do not. This is one important characteristic of vectors.

Vector Representation

A vector quantity is represented by an arrow. The length

of the arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the vector. The
tail indicates the starting point of the vector. The orientation of
the arrowhead shows the direction.

The diagram shows a movement of 3 units to the right and continues 4 units to the right.

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 To be more specific in representing vectors, they are
drawn in the Cartesian coordinate plane starting from the
origin. On the x-axis are the East and West directions, ( + x-axis
for East and – x-axis for West ) and on the y-axis are North and
South directions, (+ y-axis for North and – y-axis for South).
Here are some examples of vectors
drawn in the Cartesian coordinate
plane.
1. A force of 90 dynes North 40O East
2. An acceleration of 60 m/s2 30O West
of North
3. A linear momentum of 50 kg ●m/s
South
4. A displacement of 80 km 45O South
of West

Practice Task 1:

Directions: Draw the following vectors using your ruler and

protractor. Write your answers on your notebook.
1. 40 newtons SE Graph is Neat
2. 15 m/s2 25O SW Lines are straight 5
3. 120 km E 35O S Labels are clear
Graph is Complete
4. 12 km E Whole graph is labeled
5
5. 20 m 30O NE Horizontal Axis
Axis is labeled
5
Units are marked correctly
Intervals are equal
Vertical Axis
Axis is labeled
5
Units are marked correctly
Intervals are equal

Adapted from: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/231583605812033995/

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Adding Vectors

The process of combining or adding two or more vectors to

give a single vector is called composition of vectors or vector
addition. The single vector which represents the sum is called
resultant.

There are two general ways by which vectors may be

added: the Graphical Method and the Analytical Method. The
graphical method is divided into polygon method and
parallelogram method. The analytical method is divided into
sine law and cosine law and the component method.

Example 1: Chacha walks 300 m East, stops to rest and then

continues 400 m East. Determine the resultant of the two
vectors.

Given: d1 = 300 m E
d2 = 400 m E
Find: dR
Solution: One of the important steps in solving resultant is to
illustrate the quantities through graphs. So,
Scale: 1 unit = 100 m dR = 700 m, E
d1 = 300 m E d2 = 400 m E

W E
0

dR = d1 + d2
dR = 300 m E + 400 m E
dR = 700 m E

Example 2: Mimi walks home from school 300 m East and

remembers that she has to bring home her Science book which
a classmate borrowed. She walks back 500 m West to her
classmate’s house. Determine Mimi’s resultant.

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Scale: 1 unit = 100 m d2 = 500 m W

d1 = 300 m E
W E
0
dR = 200 m W d1 = 300 m E

W E
0
d2 = 500 m W

dR = d1 + d2
dR = 300 m E + 500 m W
dR = 300 m E + (- 500 m E) West is the opposite of East
dR = 300 m E – 500 m E
dR = - 200 m E dR = 200 m W

Example 3: Kate walks 500 m East and then turns North and
walks 300 m. Determine the resultant.

Given: d1 = 500 m E
d2 = 300 m N
Find: dR

If you measure the resultant displacement, it is about 5.8

units. Converting this into meters, the resultant displacement
is about 580 meters. The direction can be determined by
measuring the angle represented by θ with a protractor. The
angle is approximately 31O.

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Example 4: Gino walks 600 m East, then turns 400 m North and
finally walks 300 m West.

Given: d1 = 600 m E
d2 = 400 m N
d3 = 300 m W
Find: dR

The resultant displacement is the vector drawn from the

origin to the tip of the last vector d3. Notice a polygon has
been formed when the resultant dR has been drawn, where
the resultant displacement is approximately 500 m, 54O NE.

Vector Resolution

The process of finding the magnitudes of the components

in certain directions is called vector resolution. Trigonometry
can be used to find the magnitudes of these vector
components.
Pythagorean Theorem

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to

the sum of the squares of the two legs.

c2 = a2 + b2 𝒄 = √𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐
a2 = c2 – b2 or 𝒂 = √𝒄𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐
b2 = c2 – a2 𝒃 = √𝒄𝟐 − 𝒂𝟐

Trigonometric Functions

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Example 1: A man exerts a force of 60 newtons along the
handle of a lawn mower to push it across the lawn. If the
handle is held at an angle of 30O with the lawn, what are the
horizontal and vertical components of the force exerted by the
man?

Given: FR = 60N, 30O (resultant force)

Find: Fx = horizontal component
Fy = vertical component

Solution: Find the horizontal component

𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑥
cos 30𝑂 = = Fx = 60 N cos 30O (use
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐹𝑅
𝐹𝑥 calculator) To check, use
cos 30𝑂 = Pythagorean Theorem.
60𝑁
Fx = 52.2 N

a = Fy
b = Fx
c = FR

Find the vertical component:

(FR)2 = (FX)2 + (FY)2
𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹𝑦
sin 30𝑂 = = FR = √(𝐹𝑥)2 + (𝐹𝑦)2
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐹𝑅
FR = √(52.2𝑁)2 + (30.0𝑁)2
𝐹𝑦 FR = √2724.84 + 900
sin 30𝑂 =
60𝑁 FR = √3604.84 𝑁 2
Fy = 60 N sin 30O (use calculator) FR = 60.04 N or 60 N
Fy = 30.0 N

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Example 2:

Given: F1 = 6 newtons East

F2 = 5 newtons North

Find: a. FR
b. direction

Solution:
a. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the
magnitude

b. Use Trigonometric Function to find

(FR)2= (F1)2+ (F2)2 the direction
FR = √(𝐹1)2 + (𝐹2)2 𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹1
FR = √(6𝑁)2 + (5𝑁)2 tan 𝜃 = =
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐹2
FR = √36𝑁 + 25𝑁 5𝑁
FR = √61 𝑁 2 tan 𝜃 =
6𝑁
FR = 7.81the
Therefore, N resultant force (FR)
tan θ = 0.833333
is FR = 7.81 N, 39.69O NE θ = 39.69O
Retrieved from: Practical and Explorational Physics by Padua, Crisostomo, Ramos, Rabago, 2003

Practice Task 2:

A. Directions: Illustrate the following using the Graphical

Representation. Write your answers in your notebook.
1. A boy walks 200 meters East.
2. Dan walks 500 m East and then turns North and walks 300 m.
3. Allyssa walks 600 m East, then turns 400 m North and finally
walks 300 m West.
4. A cat moves 3 m East and then turns 4 m West.
5. A motorcycle is driven 50 km West, then 30 km South, and
then 25 km 30O West of South.
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B. Directions: Solve for the following problems. Interpret the
problem through drawing and show the process.

1. A car moves 10 km North, then turns 20 km West. What is

the total displacement of the car?
2. A cabinet is pulled across a cemented floor with a rope
that makes an angle of 35O with the floor. What is the
component of the force parallel to the floor if a 90 – N
force is exerted?
Retrieved from: Practical and Explorational Physics by Padua, Crisostomo, Ramos, Rabago, 2003

III. WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

EVALUATION/POST TEST:

A. Multiple Choices: Write only the letter of your best answer on

your notebook.

_____ 1. A change in position specified by magnitude and

direction is ______.
a. density c. speed
b. force d. displacement

_____ 2. Vector quantities measure __________.

a. magnitude c. both a and b
b. direction d. distance
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_____ 3. Temperature is __________.
a. scalar quantity c. both a and b
b. vector quantity d. resultant quantity

_____ 4. The single vector that produces the same effect as

two or more vectors is the ____________.
a. vector displacement c. resultant vector
b. vector force d. vector arrow

_____ 5. Which of the following is a vector quantity?

a. 5000 kg c. 120 m2
b. 120 km/h, SE d. 45 hours

_____ 6. Which of the following pairs of displacements will give

a resultant of magnitude 2 m?
a. 4m E and 2m E c. 4m E and 2m N
b. 4m E and 2m W d. 4m E and 4m W

_____ 7. At what angle between two vectors will the magnitude

of the resultant of the two vectors be minimum?
a. 0O b. 45O c. 90O d. 180O

_____ 8. What is the component along the y-axis of a 5-N force

exerted towards East?
a. – 5N b. 0 c. 5N d. 10N

_____ 9. A boy walks 7 km west, then 4 km north, and finally 4

km east. How far is he from the starting point?
a. 37 km b. 0 km c. 3 km d. 5 km

_____10. The boy in No. 7 has traveled a total distance of _____.

a. 5 km b. 7 km c. 15 km d. 112 km

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B. Directions: Answer the following questions. Write your
answers on your notebook.

1. Differentiate a scalar quantity from a vector quantity.

2. Which one is a scalar quantity? A vector quantity?
a. 100 m2
b. 120 km/h East of Negros
c. 3000 dynes downward
d. 1 g/cm3
e. 250 newtons
f. 15 mi/s
g. 410 kg ● m/s West

C. Directions: Draw the table below. Pick the given words and
place them either under column Scalar or Vector Quantity.
Write your answers in your notebook.

Mass Distance Length Power

Force Acceleration Friction Speed

Displacement Weight Volume Work

SCALAR VECTOR

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 References

Alicia L. Padua, Ricardo M. Crisostomo. 2003. Practical and

Explorational Physics. Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House, Inc.

Delia C. Navaza, Bienvenido J. Valdes. 2001. Physics. Quezon

City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Silverio, Angelina A. 2007. Exploring Life Through Science:

Physics. Quezon City: Phoenix Publishing House, Inc.

Links:

https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/231583605812033995/

http://appeal.physics.tamu.edu/images/Physics%20Homewor
k%20Rubric.pdf

https://mrbscigladstone.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/vectors-
scalars.pdf

http://grove.ea.dundeecity.sch.uk/our-
school/departments/sciences/physics/department-
documents/national-5/dynamics/homework/homework-1

Image References
https://www.mathsteacher.com.au/year8/ch15_graphs/01_c
artesian/plane.htm

https://www.studypug.com/basic-math-help/adding-integers

15
https://www.bartleby.com/solution-answer/chapter-131-
problem-21e-elementary-technical-mathematics-12th-
edition/9781337630580/use-right-triangle-abc-in-illustration-1-
and-the-pythagorean-theorem-to-find-each-unknown-
side/ee7309ad-4a2c-11e9-8385-02ee952b546e

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY, Ed.D.

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Acting CID Chief

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA, Ed.D.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS, Ed.D.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMDS)

ARNOLD R. JUNGCO
PSDS – Division Science Coordinator

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

ERICSON B. ELNAR
Writer

ERICSON B. ELNAR
Lay-out Artist
_________________________________

ALPHA/BETA QA TEAM
ARNOLD D. ACADEMIA
ZENAIDA A. ACADEMIA
ADELINE FE D. DIMAANO
RANJEL D. ESTIMAR
VICENTE B. MONGCOPA
FLORENTINA P. PASAJINGUE
DISCLAIMER

The information, activities and assessments used in this material are designed to provide
accessible learning modality to the teachers and learners of the Division of Negros Oriental. The
contents of this module are carefully researched, chosen, and evaluated to comply with the set
learning competencies. The writers and evaluator were clearly instructed to give credits to
information and illustrations used to substantiate this material. All content is subject to copyright and
may not be reproduced in any form without expressed written consent from the division.

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SYNOPSIS
This Self – Learning Kit differentiates scalar quantities from
vector quantities. It also discusses how vector quantities are
represented graphically. This Self – Learning Kit is also about adding
two or more vectors. It will show you that vectors do not really add
up like ordinary scalar numbers and that the way to deal with
vector quantities is through the use of vector algebra.

Answer Key:
Pre-Test
1. d 2. c 3. a 4. c 5. a 6. b 7. d 8. b 9. c 10. b

Post Test:

A.

1. d 2. c 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. b 7. d 8. c 9. b 10. c

B.

1. A scalar quantity is described by a magnitude while a vector is described completely by a magnitude

and a direction.
2. a. Scalar e. Scalar
b. Vector f. Scalar
c. Vector g. Vector
d. Scalar

C.
Scalar Vector
Mass Displacement
Distance Weight
Length Acceleration
Volume Friction
Speed Force
Work
Power

WRITER, LAY-OUT ARTIST

ERICSON B. ELNAR, Secondary School Teacher III
of Zamboanguita Science High School,
Zamboanguita Negros Oriental. A graduate of
Bachelor of Technician Education major in
Electronics Technology and Mathematics and
currently taking up Master of Arts in Mathematics
Teaching (CAR) at Negros Oriental State
University. He has been teaching for eleven
years in the said institution.

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