UNIVERSITY OF LIBERIA

PHYSICS DEPARTMENT
PHYSICS 105 COURSE Lecture Notes # 2
Vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. A vector has magnitude (the size or length of
the vector). and direction, it does not have position. The magnitude of a vector can be positive or zero,
but it cannot be negative. Vector is represented by an arrow over the letter that represents the
quantity. Thus, → 𝑎𝑛𝑑 → are vectors.
𝑟 𝐴

In contrast to vectors, ordinary quantities that have a magnitude, but not a direction are called scalars.
For example, displacement, velocity, and acceleration are vector quantities, while speed (the magnitude
of velocity), time, and mass are scalars.

Vector Addition

Observe the following summations of two force vectors:

The Pythagorean Theorem

The Pythagorean theorem is a useful method for determining the result of adding two (and only two)
vectors that make a right angle to each other. The method is not applicable for adding more than two
vectors or for adding vectors that are not at 90-degrees to each other. The Pythagorean theorem is a
mathematical equation that relates the length of the sides of a right triangle to the length of the
hypotenuse of a right triangle.

To see how the method works, consider the following problem: John leaves the base camp and hikes 11
km, north and then hikes 11 km east. Determine Eric's resulting displacement.
This problem asks to determine the result of adding two displacement vectors that are at right angles to
each other. The result (or resultant) of walking 11 km north and 11 km east is a vector directed
northeast as shown in the diagram to the right. Since the northward displacement and the eastward
displacement are at right angles to each other, the Pythagorean theorem can be used to determine the
resultant (i.e., the hypotenuse of the right triangle).

The result of adding 11 km, north plus 11 km, east is a vector with a magnitude of 15.6 km.

Using Trigonometry to Determine a Vector's Direction

The direction of a resultant vector can often be determined by use of trigonometric functions. Most
students recall the meaning of the useful mnemonic SOH CAH TOA from their course in trigonometry.
SOH CAH TOA is a mnemonic that helps one remember the meaning of the three common trigonometric
functions - sine, cosine, and tangent functions. These three functions relate an acute angle in a right
triangle to the ratio of the lengths of two of the sides of the right triangle. The sine function relates the
measure of an acute angle to the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the
hypotenuse. The cosine function relates the measure of an acute angle to the ratio of the length of the
side adjacent the angle to the length of the hypotenuse. The tangent function relates the measure of an
angle to the ratio of the length of the side opposite the angle to the length of the side adjacent to the
angle. The three equations below summarize these three functions in equation form.

The solution for the direction is shown below.

The Calculated Angle is Not Always the Direction

The measure of an angle as determined through use of SOH CAH TOA is not always the direction of the
vector. The following vector addition diagram is an example of such a situation. Observe that the angle
within the triangle is determined to be 26.6 degrees using SOH CAH TOA. This angle is the southward
angle of rotation that the vector R makes with respect to West. Yet the direction of the vector as
expressed with the CCW (counterclockwise from East) convention is 206.6 degrees.

Vector Resolution is splitting a vector into its components along different coordinate axes. When a
vector is expressed in terms of its components, it becomes easier to analyze its effects in different
directions. This process is particularly useful when dealing with vector quantities such as forces,
velocities etc.

Two basic methods for determining the magnitudes of the components of a vector directed in two
dimensions. The process of determining the magnitude of a vector is known as vector resolution. The
two methods of vector resolution that we will examine are:

 the parallelogram or graphical method

The parallelogram method of vector resolution involves using an accurately drawn, scaled vector
diagram to determine the components of the vector. Briefly put, the method involves drawing the
vector to scale in the indicated direction, sketching a parallelogram around the vector such that the
vector is the diagonal of the parallelogram, and determining the magnitude of the components (the
sides of the parallelogram) using the scale.

vector with a magnitude of 50 m/s and a direction of 60 degrees above the horizontal may be resolved
into two components. The diagram shows that the vector is first drawn to scale in the indicated
direction; a parallelogram is sketched about the vector; the components are labeled on the diagram;
and the result of measuring the length of the vector components and converting to m/s using the scale.

Trigonometric Method of Vector Resolution

The trigonometric method of vector resolution involves using trigonometric functions to determine the
components of the vector. The method of employing trigonometric functions to determine the
components of a vector are as follows:

Determine the components of the force acting upon the dog, Mike Langley. As the 60-Newton tension
force acts upward and rightward on Fido at an angle of 40 degrees, the components of this force can be
determined using trigonometric functions.
Practice Problems: Find the direction of these vectors

Practice A answer is 116.6° Practice B answer is 233.1°

Practice Problems: Find the magnitude of these vectors

Practice A answer is 11.2km Practice B answer is 50km