Chapter 1(b)

Vector and scalar

Scalar and vectors
Definitions
Addition n subtraction rules
Scalar and dot product

Learning Outcomes
Define scalar and vector quantities, unit vector in
Cartesian coordinates.
Explain vector addition and subtraction n their
rules.
Define and use dot and cross product (multiplying
vector)

Trigonometry

Trigonometry
To find the length

ho
sin
h

ha
cos
h
ho
tan
ha

Trigonometry
To find the angle

ho
sin
h
1

ha
cos
h
1

ho
tan
ha
1

Characteristics of a Scalar
Quantity
Only has magnitude
Requires 2 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
Ex. Mass: 5kg
Temp: 21 C
Speed: 65 m/s

Characteristics of a Vector
Quantity
Has magnitude & direction
Requires 3 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
3. A direction!
Ex. Acceleration: 9.8 m/s2 down
Velocity:
25 m/s West

Scalars and Vectors

Arrows are used to represent vectors. The

direction of the arrow gives the direction of
the vector.
By convention, the length of a vector
arrow is proportional to the magnitude
of the vector.

8N

4N

Scalar and Vector Quantities

The car moved a distance of 2 km in a

direction 30o north of east

3-2 The Components of a Vector

x and y are called the x vector component

and the y vector component of r.

The Components of a Vector

The vector components of A are two perpendicular

vectors A x and A y that are parallel to the x and y axes,

and add together vectorially so that A A x A y .

The Components of a Vector

It is often easier to work with the scalar components

rather than the vector components.

Ax and Ay are the scalar components

of A.
x and y are unit vectors with magnitude 1.

A Ax x Ay y

The Components of a Vector

Example
A displacement vector has a magnitude of 175 m and points at
an angle of 50.0 degrees relative to the x axis. Find the x and y
components of this vector.

x
cos
r
x r cos 175 m cos 50.0 112 m
y
sin
r
y r sin 175 m sin 50.0 134 m

r 112 mx 134 my

The components of a vector

Signs of vector components:

EXERCISE
1)The vector A has a magnitude of 7.25 m.
Find its components for direction of
angles of
(a)=5.0o
(b)=125o
(c) = 245o
(d) = 335o

Answer

(a)Ax=7.22m, Ay=0.632m
(b) Ax=-4.16m, Ay=5.94m
(c) Ax=-3.06m, Ay=-6.57m
(d) Ax=6.57m, Ay=-3.06m

IMPORTANT FOR VECTOR

COMPONENTS

Ay A sin

Ax A cos

Given the components of a vector, find its

magnitude and direction:
A

Ax

tan

Ay
Ay
Ax

EXAMPLE:
Given vector component x is 6.00m and vector
component y is 2.00m, find the magnitude and
direction of vector A.
Length, angle, and components can
be calculated from each other using
trigonometry:

Ax = 6.00 m

Ay= 2.00 m

R 2.00 m 6.00 m
2

2.00 m 6.00 m
2

6.32m

2.00 m
6.00 m

00
tan 62..00

tan 2.00 6.00 18.4

1

2.00 m

6.00 m

Question 3.4

Vector Components I
1) it doubles

If each component of a
vector is doubled, what

happens to the angle of

that vector?

2) it increases, but by less than double

3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half

Question 3.4

Vector Components I
1) it doubles

If each component of a
vector is doubled, what

happens to the angle of

that vector?

2) it increases, but by less than double

3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half

The magnitude of the vector clearly doubles if each of its

components is doubled. But the angle of the vector is given by tan
= 2y/2x, which is the same as tan = y/x (the original angle).

Vector Addition and Subtraction

Often it is necessary to add one vector to another.

Vector Addition and Subtraction

3m

5m

8m

Vector Addition and Subtraction

AB

A

AB

Component Method of Vector Addition

Treat each vector separately:

1. To find the X component, you must:
Ax = Acos
2. To find the Y component, you must:
Ay = Asin
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 for all vectors

Component Method (cont.)

4. Add all the X components (Rx)
5. Add all the Y components (Ry)
6. The magnitude of the Resultant Vector is
found by using Rx, Ry & the Pythagorean
Theorem:
R2 = Rx2 + Ry2
7. To find direction: Tan = Ry / Rx

Vector Addition and Subtraction

Adding vectors graphically: Place the tail of the second at the head of
the first. The sum points from the tail of the first to the head of the last.

Addition Rule for Two Vectors

1. Find the components of each vector to be added.

C AB

B Bx x By y

A Ax x Ay y

Addition Rule for Two Vectors

2. Add the x- and y-components separately.

C y Ay By

Cx Ax Bx
3. Find the resultant vector.

C Ax x Ay y Bx x By y
Ax Bx x Ay By y

Subtracting Vectors
Subtracting Vectors: The negative of a vector is a vector of the same
magnitude pointing in the opposite direction. Here,

D= A B

Lets try

i )( A B ) ( 2 x y 3 z ) (3 x 2 y 2 z )
( 2 x y 3 z 3 x 2 y 2 z )
(5 x 3 y z )

ii )( A B ) ( 2 x y 3 z ) (3 x 2 y 2 z )
( 2 x y 3 z 3 x 2 y 2 z )
( x y 5 z )

Component Method (cont.)

Lets try!
A = 2 m/s 30 N of E
B = 3 m/s 40 N of W
(this is easy!)
Find: Magnitude & Direction
Magnitude = 2.98 m/s
Direction = 79.02 N of W@
180-79.02 =100.98

Component Method (cont.)

Lets try!
F1 = 37N 54 N of E
F2 = 50N 18 N of W
F3 = 67 N 86 S of W
(this is not so easy!)
Find: Magnitude & Direction
Magnitude =37.3 N
Direction = 35.1 S of W @
180+35.1=215.1

3-4 Unit Vectors

Unit vector is dimensionless vectors of unit length (magnitude
of 1) with a function to indicate direction.
- indicates the x-direction
Unit vector x
- indicates the y-direction
Unit vector y
Unit vector z
- indicates the z-direction

EXERCISE
To find a magnitude of a vector

A 2 x y 3 z

B 3x 2 y 2 z
1) Find magnitude vector A and vector B respectively

2) Find magnitude of vector A +B

To find a magnitude of a vector

A 2 x y 3 z

B 3x 2 y 2 z

1) Find magnitude vector A and vector B respectively

units
units
2) Find magnitude of vector A +B

( A B) 2 x y 3z 3x 2 y 2 z
5x 3 y z

A B

52 32 12

35 5.9units

Vector Multiplication
There are two distinct ways to multiply vectors, referred
to as the dot product and the cross product.
The dot product yields a scalar (a number) as the result.
The cross product yields a vector as the result.

Dot Product
Definition of the scalar, or dot, product:

A B Ax x Ay y Az z Bx x By y Bz z

Ax Bx Ay B y Az Bz

Application example:
Work is the dot product of force and displacement

Exercise
8y

a 6x
5y

b 2x
1) Find a.b
2) Find angle between a and b

Cross Product
The vector cross product is defined as:

The direction of the cross product is defined by a

right-hand rule:

Cross Product
The cross product can also be written in determinant
form:

A B
y

Az By x Ax Bz Az Bx y Ax By Ay Bx z

Application example: The relation

of the magnetic force

on a charge q with a velocity v in a magnetic field B is

F qv B qvB sin

Exercise
6y
5 z
a 2x
4y
8 z
b 3x
1) Find axb
2) Find the angle between a and b