Scalars & Vectors

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 Welcome!!
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 Scalar Quantities
• Quantities that can be completely described by
magnitude (size).
• Scalars can be added algebraically.
• They are expressed as positive or negative numbers
and a unit
 Characteristics of a Scalar Quantity
• Only has magnitude
• Requires 2 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
Example:
Mass: 5kg
Time = 20.0 s
Temperature = 20oC
Speed = 20 m/s
 Vector Quantities
• Quantities that need both a magnitude and a direction
to describe them (also a point of application)
• When expressing vectors as a symbol, you need to
adopt a recognized notation
• They need to be added, subtracted and multiplied in a
special way
 Characteristics of a Vector Quantity
• Has magnitude & direction
• Requires 3 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
3. A direction!
Example:
Acceleration: 9.8 m/s2 down
Velocity: 25 mph West
COMPRASION B/W SCALAR & VECTOR VALUES

• Speed (a scalar) versus Velocity (a vector)

• Speed is a scalar, (magnitude no direction) - such as 5 feet per second.
• Speed does not tell the direction the object is moving. All that we know
from the speed is the magnitude of the movement.
• Velocity, is a vector (both magnitude and direction) – such as 5 ft/s East
ward. It tells you the magnitude of the movement, 5 ft/s, as well as the
direction which is Eastward.

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• Distance (a scalar) versus Displacement (a vector)

• We want to get from point A to point B. If we follow the road around

the lake our direction is always changing. There is no specific direction.
The distance traveled on the road is a scalar quantity.
• A straight line between A and B is the displacement. It has a specific
direction and is therefore a vector.
 B

LAKE

A
 Representation of vectors
 Vectors can be represented in two form:
 Graphical Representation (Polar):
Polar form indicates a magnitude value and a directional value. the
direction value may be in degrees, radians or geographic terms.
Examples: 14.1 meters @ 315o, 14.1 meters @ (7/4) radians, 14.1 feet
at 45o south of east
 Mathematical Representation (Rectangular):
Rectangular form identifies the x-y coordinates of the vector. the vector itself
extends from origin to the x-y point.
Examples: 10, -10 (x = +10, y = -10) the magnitude of the vector can be found using the
Pythagorean theorem (10 + (-10 )) = 14.1
2 2 1/2

the direction can be found using an inverse tangent function tan-1

(10/10) = tan-1 (1.0) = 45o since x is positive and y is negative the angle is -45o and is
in quadrant iv or 315o
 Graphical Representation of a Vector
The goal is to draw a mini version of the vectors to give you
an accurate picture of the magnitude and direction. To do so,
you must:
1. Pick a scale to represent the vectors. Make it simple yet
appropriate.
2. Draw the tip of the vector as an arrow pointing in the
appropriate direction.
3. Use a ruler & protractor to draw arrows for accuracy. The
angle is always measured from the horizontal or vertical.
Graphical Representation of a Vector

30 METERS 30 METERS @ 45O

@ 90O

50 METERS @ 0O

VECTOR ARROWS MAY BE DRAWN

= 10 METERS ANYWHERE ON THE PAGE AS
LONG AS THE PROPER LENGTH AND
SCALE
DIRECTION ARE MAINTAINED
Up = + Down = - Right = + Left = -

Rectangular Coordinates
90 o North
y
Quadrant II + Quadrant I

- + 0 o East
West 180 o x
360 o
Quadrant III Quadrant IV
-
270 o South
 Understanding Vector Directions
To accurately draw a given vector, start at the second direction
and move the given degrees to the first direction.
N
30° N of E

W E

Start on the East origin and turn

30° to the North
S
 Example
•The direction of the vector is 55° North of East

•The magnitude of the vector is 2.3.

15
Now You Try

Direction: 47° North of West

Magnitude: 2

16
 Try Again

Direction: 43° East of South

3
Magnitude: 17
 Try Again

It is also possible to describe this vector's direction as 47 South of

East.

Why? 18
 Graphical Representation Practice
• 5.0 m/s East
(suggested scale: 1 cm = 1 m/s)

• 300 Newtons 60° South of East

(suggested scale: 1 cm = 100 N)

• 0.40 m 25° East of North

(suggested scale: 5 cm = 0.1 m)
 90O North
MEASURING THE +y
SAME DIRECTION
30O West of North
IN DIFFERENT WAYS
30O Left of +y

+x 0O East
West 180O
-x 360O

120O
60O North of West -y -240O
60O Above - x
270O South
 90O North
+y
VECTOR NOTATIONS -45O or
45O SOUTH OF EAST
315O or
(7/4)  RADIANS
+10 +x 0O East
West 180O
-x 360O

•RECTANGULAR COORDINATES
10, -10 (X = +10, Y = -10) -10
• POLAR COORDINATES
14.1 METERS @ 315O, -y
14.1 METERS @ (7/4) RADIANS, 270O South
14.1 FEET AT 45O SOUTH OF EAST
 Addition of Vectors
• Vectors can be added or subtracted however not in the usual
arithmetic manner. The directional components as well as the
magnitude components must each be considered.

• The addition and subtraction of vectors can be accomplished used

graphic methods (drawing) or component methods (mathematical).

• Graphical addition and subtraction requires that each vector be

represented as an arrow with a length proportional to the
magnitude value and pointed in the proper direction assigned to
the vector.
Graphical Method
 Graphical Addition of Vectors
Head-To-Tail Method
1. Pick appropriate scale, write it down.
2. Use a ruler & protractor, draw 1st vector to scale in appropriate
direction, label.
3. Start at tip of 1st vector, draw 2nd vector to scale, label.
4. Connect the vectors starting at the tail end of the 1st and ending
with the tip of the last vector. This = sum of the original vectors,
its called the resultant vector.
 Graphical Addition of Vectors (cont.)
Head-To-Tail Method
5. Measure the magnitude of R.V. with a ruler. Use your scale and
convert this length to its actual amt. and record with units.
6. Measure the direction of R.V. with a protractor and add this value
along with the direction after the magnitude.
Addition of Vectors ALL VECTORS MUST BE DRAWN TO SCALE &
POINTED INTHE PROPER DIRECTION

R D

B C
B

C A

D
A + B + C + D= R
 Addition of Vectors
Vector A
To add the vectors
30 METERS @ 45O C
Place them head to tail

Vector B
50 METERS @ 0O
B
A
Vector C
30 METERS
Angle is measured at 40o
@ 90O
Resultant = 9 x 10 = 90 meters
= 10 METERS
SCALE
Graphical Addition of Vectors (cont.)
5 Km
Scale: 1 Km = 1 cm
3 Km

Resultant Vector (red) = 6 cm,

therefore its 6 km.
 Vector Addition Example #1
• Use a graphical representation to solve the following: A hiker walks
1 km west, then 2 km south, then 3 km west. What is the sum of his
distance traveled using a graphical representation?
Vector Addition Example #1 (cont.)

Answer = ????????
 Vector Addition Example #2

• Use a graphical representation to solve the following: Another hiker

walks 2 km south and 4 km west. What is the sum of her distance
traveled using a graphical representation? How does it compare to
hiker #1?
Vector Addition Example #2 (cont.)

Answer = ????????
 GRAPHIC SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
• In algebra, a – b = a + (-b) or in other words, adding a negative value is actually s
ubtraction. This is also true in vector subtraction. If we add a negative vector b to vec
tor a this is really subtracting vector b from vector a.
• Vector values can be made negative by reversing the vector’s direction by 180 d
egrees. If vector a is 30 meters directed at 45 degrees (quadrant i), negative vec
tor a is 30 meters at 225 degrees (quadrant ii).

Vector A Vector - A
30 METERS @ 45O 30 METERS @ 225O
 SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
A

-C
-D B
B
R
A
C =
-C

D = -D A + B - C - D= R

A +B -
+( C )+( - D) = R
Component Method
 VECTOR COMPONENTS
A
Y COMPONENT

X COMPONENT
X COMPONENT

Y COMPONENT
C
X COMPONENT

Y COMPONENT
B
 VECTOR COMPONENTS
• As we have seen two or more vectors can be added together to give a
new vector. Therefore, any vector can considered to be the sum of two
or more other vectors.
• When a vector is resolved (made) into components two component
vectors are considered, one lying in the x axis plane and the other
lying in the y axis plane. The component vectors are thus at right angle
s to each other.
• The x-y axis components are chosen so that right triangle trigonometry
and the Pythagorean theorem can be used in their calculation.
 VECTOR COMPONENTS
• Vector components can be found mathematically using sine and
cosine functions. Recall sine of an angle for a right triangle is the
side opposite the angle divided by the hypotenuse of the triangle and
the cosine is the side adjacent to the angle divided by the
hypotenuse.
• Using these facts, the x component of the vector is calculated by
multiplying the cosine of the angle by the vector value and the y
component is calculated by multiplying the sine of the angle by the
vector value. Angular values are measured from 0 degrees (due east
or positive x) on the Cartesian coordinate system.
 Trigonometric Functions

Sin  = P / H
H
CC
A
P
A
Cos  = B / H
 Tan  = P / B
B
B

A RIGHT TRIANGLE
 VECTOR COMPONENTS

A
Ay
Y Bx

By  Ax
B

Bx = B COS 
Ax = A COS 
By =B SIN  Ay = A SIN 
 VECTOR COMPONENTS
• The signs of the x and y components depend on which quadrant the ve
ctor lies.
• Vectors in quadrant i (0 to 90 degrees) have positive x and positive y val
ues
• Vectors in quadrant ii (90 to 180 degrees) have negative x values and po
sitive y values.
• Vectors in quadrant iii (180 to 270 degrees) have negative x values and ne
gative y values.
• Vectors in quadrant iv (270 to 360 degrees) have positive x values and ne
gative y values.
 VECTOR COMPONENTS
Ax = A COS  Ay = A SIN 
• What are the x and y components of a vector 40 meters @ 60° ?
• Ax = 40 meters x Cos 60° = 20 meters
• Ay = 40 meters x Sin 60° = 34.6 meters
• What are the x and y components of a vector 60 meters per second
@ 245° ?
• Bx = 60 m/sec x Cos 245° = - 25.4 m/sec
• By = 60 m/sec x Sin 245° = - 54.4 m/sec
ADDING & SUBTRACTING VECTORS USING COMPONENTS

Add the following three vectors using Components

Vector A
30 METERS @ 45O
(1) Resolve each into X and Y components
Vector B
50 METERS @ 0O Vx = V COS 
Vector C
30 METERS
@ 90O
Vy = V SIN 
ADDING & SUBTRACTING VECTORS USING COMPONENTS

• AX = 30 METERS x COS 450 = 21.2 METERS

• AY = 30 METERS x SIN 450 = 21.2 METERS

• BX = 50 METERS x COS 00 = 50 METERS

• BY = 50 METERS x SIN 00 = 0 METERS

• CX = 30 METERS x COS 900 = 0 METERS

• CY = 30 METERS x SIN 900 = 30 METERS
(2) Add the x components of each vector
Add the y components of each vector
 X = Sum of the Xs = 21.2 + 50 + 0 = +71.2
 Y = Sum of the Ys = 21.2 + 0 + 30 = +51.2
(3) Construct a new right triangle using the
 X as the base and  y as the opposite side

 Y = +51.2

 X = +71.2
The hypotenuse is the resultant vector
(4) Use the Pythagorean theorem to the length
(Magnitude) of the resultant vector

ANGLE
 Y = +51.2
TAN-1 (51.2/71.2)
ANGLE = 35.7 O
 X = +71.2
QUADRANT I

(+71.2)2 + (+51.2)2 = 87.7

(5) find the angle (direction) using inverse Tangent of the opposite
side over the Adjacent side

RESULTANT = 87.7 METERS @ 35.7 O

SUBTRACTING VECTORS USING COMPONENTS

A - B + C = R

Vector A
30 METERS @ 45O
A + (- B ) + C = R

Vector A 30 METERS @ 45O

Vector B
50 METERS @ 0O
- Vector B 50 METERS @ 180 O

Vector C Vector C 30 METERS @ 90O

30 METERS
@ 90O
 (1) Resolve each into X and Y components

• AX = 30 METERS x COS 450 = 21.2 METERS

• AY = 30 METERS x SIN 450 = 21.2 METERS

-
• B = 50 METERS x COS 1800 = 50 METERS
X

• BY = 50 METERS x SIN 1800 = 0 METERS

• CX = 30 METERS x COS 900 = 0 METERS

• CY = 30 METERS x SIN 900 = 30 METERS
 (2) Add the x components of each vector
Add the y components of each vector
 X = SUM OF THE Xs = 21.2 + (-50) + 0 = -28.8
 Y =SUM OF THE Ys = 21.2 + 0 + 30 = +51.2
(3) Construct a new right triangle using the
 X as the base and  y as the opposite side

 Y = +51.2

 X = -28.8

The hypotenuse is the resultant vector

 (4) use the Pythagoras theorem to the length
(Magnitude) of the resultant vector
ANGLE
 Y = +51.2 TAN-1 (51.2/-28.8)
ANGLE = -60.6 0
(1800 –60.60 ) = 119.40
 X = -28.8 QUADRANT II

(-28.8)2 + (+51.2)2 = 58.7

(5) find the angle (direction) using inverse Tangent of the opposite
side over the Adjacent side
Resultant = 58.7 meters @ 119.4o
Thank you