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General Physics L2

GENERAL PHYSICS L2

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Ronan Canavan
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19 views

General Physics L2

GENERAL PHYSICS L2

Uploaded by

Ronan Canavan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Lesson 2: Scalar and Vector Quantities


Physical quantities can be specified completely by giving a single number and the appropriate unit.
For example, “a TV program lasts 40 min” or “the water tumbler holds 500 mL” or “the distance between
two posts is 50 m.” A physical quantity that can be specified completely in this manner is called a scalar
quantity. A scalar is a quantity that is completely specified by its magnitude and has no direction.
Scalar quantities are the quantities that only have a magnitude or size associated with them.
Examples of scalars are mass, volume, distance, temperature, energy, and time.

When giving someone directions to your house, you must include both the distance and the direction. The
information “two kilometers north” is an example of a vector.
A vector is a quantity that includes both a magnitude and a direction.
Examples of vectors are velocity, acceleration, and force.

Vectors Addition
We draw a vector from the initial point or origin (called the “tail” of a vector) to the end or
terminal point (called the “head” of a vector), marked by an arrowhead.
To sum it up, a vector quantity has a direction and a magnitude, while a scalar has only a
magnitude. You can tell if a quantity is a vector by whether it has a direction associated
with it.
Vector Addition: Component Method and Using Pythagorean Theorem

When vectors to be added are not perpendicular, the method of


addition by components described below can be used. To add two or more
vectors A, B, C, … by the component method, follow this procedure:
1. Draw each vector.
2. Find the x- and y- components of each vector.
3. Find the sum of the x- components.

4. Find the sum of the y- components.

5. Use the sum of the x- components and the sum of the y- components
to find the resultant (magnitude) and its angle (direction).

Consider the following examples below.


Example 1:
Blog walks 35 m East, rests for 20 s and then walks 25 m East. What is Blog’s overall displacement? Solve
graphically by drawing a scale diagram.

R= 35 m East + 25 m East = 60 m East

Example 2:
Blog walks 35 m [E], rests for 20 s and then walks 25 m [W]. What is Blog’s overall displacement?

If the vectors occur such that they are perpendicular to one another, the Pythagorean theorem may be
used to determine the resultant.
Example 3:
Eric leaves the base camp and hikes 11 km, north and then hikes 11 km east. Determine Eric's resulting
displacement.

Example 4:
An ant crawls on a tabletop. It moves 2 cm East, turns 3 cm 40 degrees North of East and finally moves 2.5
cm North. What is the ant’s total displacement?

Activity 2
I. Distinguishing between Vector and Scalar Quantities Directions:
Classify each quantity as either a vector or a scalar quantity. Put a check mark in the appropriate box.

II. Solve the given problem.


Problem: Vicky walks 8 km East, then 5 km South and finally 6 km West. Find her final displacement.

The table below shows the components of the vectors.

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