Vectors and Scalars

A vector has magnitude as

well as direction.
Some vector quantities:
displacement, velocity, force,
momentum
A scalar has only a magnitude.
Some scalar quantities: mass,
time, temperature
 Distance: A Scalar Quantity
 Distance is the length of the actual path
taken by an object.

A scalar quantity:
s = 20 m B
Contains magnitude
only and consists of a
A
number and a unit.
(20 m, 40 mi/h, 10 gal)
Displacement—A Vector Quantity
• Displacement is the straight-line
separation of two points in a specified
direction.

A vector quantity:
D = 12 m, 20o B
Contains magnitude
A AND direction, a
q number, unit & angle.
(12 m, 300; 8 km/h, N)
 More about Vectors
• A vector is represented on paper by an
arrow
1. the length represents magnitude
2. the arrow faces the direction of
motion
3-2 Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods

For vectors in one

dimension, simple
addition and subtraction
are all that is needed.
You do need to be careful
about the signs, as the
figure indicates.
 Applications of Vectors
VECTOR ADDITION – If 2 similar vectors point in the SAME
direction, add them.

• Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then another 30

meters east. Calculate his displacement relative to where he
started?
54.5 m, E + 30 m, E Notice that the
SIZE of the arrow
conveys
84.5 m, E
MAGNITUDE and
the way it was
drawn conveys
DIRECTION.
 Applications of Vectors
VECTOR SUBTRACTION - If 2 vectors are going in
opposite directions, you SUBTRACT.

• Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then walks

30 meters west. Calculate his displacement relative
to where he started?
54.5 m, E
+
30 m, W
24.5 m, E
Easy Adding…
All these planes have the same reading on
their speedometer. (plane speed not speed
with respect to the ground (actual speed)

What
factor is
affecting
their
velocity?
A B C
 Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods
If the motion is in two dimensions, the situation is
somewhat more complicated.
Here, the actual travel paths are at right angles to
one another; we can find the displacement by
using the Pythagorean Theorem.
 Perpendicular Vectors
When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you may use the
Pythagorean theorem.
A man walks 95 km, East
then 55 km, north.
Calculate his
RESULTANT
DISPLACEMENT.
55 km, N
c2  a 2  b2  c  a 2  b2
c  Resultant  952  552
95 km,E
c  12050  109.8 km
 Example
A bear, searching for food wanders 35 meters east then 20 meters north.
Frustrated, he wanders another 12 meters west then 6 meters south. Calculate
the bear's displacement.
23 m, E
- =

12 m, W - =
14 m, N
6 m, S R  14 2  232  26.93m
20 m, N 14
Tanq   .6087
23
14 m, N q  Tan 1 (0.6087)  31.3
35 m, E R
q
26.93m31.3
23 m, E
26.93m,31.3
The Final Answer:
Addition of Vectors—Graphical Methods
Even if the vectors are not at right
angles, they can be added graphically by
using the tail-to-tip method.
To
Toadd
addvectors,
vectors,weweput
putthe
theinitial
initialpoint
pointofofthe
thesecond
second
vector
vector on
onthe
theterminal
terminalpoint
pointof ofthe
thefirst
firstvector.
vector. The
The
resultant
resultantvector
vector has
hasananinitial
initialpoint
pointatatthe
theinitial
initialpoint
point
of
ofthe
thefirst
firstvector
vector and
andaaterminal
terminalpoint
pointatatthe
theterminal
terminal
point
pointofofthe
thesecond
secondvector
vector(see
(seebelow--better
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shown
than
thanput
putininwords).
words).
Terminal
point of w

vw w
w

Initial point of v
v Move w over keeping
the magnitude and
direction the same.
 Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

A vector V can be multiplied by a scalar

c; the result is a vector c V that has the
same direction but a magnitude cV. If c is
negative, the resultant vector points in
the opposite direction.
The negative of a vector is just a vector going the opposite
way.

v

v
A number multiplied in front of a vector is called a scalar. It
means to take the vector and add together that many times.

3v v
v
v
 Using the vectors shown,
v find the following:
w
u uv u
v
 3w
w
w
w
uv
2u  3w  v v u
v
u w
w
u w
 Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

A vector V can be multiplied by a scalar

c; the result is a vector cV that has the
same direction but a magnitude cV. If c is
negative, the resultant vector points in
the opposite direction.
 Example.
1cm = 1km
 Example.
1cm = 1km
 Example.
1cm = 1km
Problem Set
 Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

A vector V can be multiplied by a scalar

c; the result is a vector cV that has the
same direction but a magnitude cV. If c is
negative, the resultant vector points in
the opposite direction.
 3-3 Subtraction of Vectors, and
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar

In order to subtract vectors, we

define the negative of a vector, which
has the same magnitude but points
in the opposite direction.

Then we add the negative vector.

 3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Any vector can be expressed as the sum

of two other vectors, which are called its
components. Usually the other vectors are
chosen so that they are perpendicular to
each other.
3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Remember:
soh
cah
toa

If the components are

perpendicular, they can be
found using trigonometric
functions.
 3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

The components are effectively one-dimensional,

so they can be added arithmetically.
 3-4 Adding Vectors by Components

Adding vectors:
1. Draw a diagram; add the vectors graphically.
2. Choose x and y axes.
3. Resolve each vector into x and y components.
4. Calculate each component using sines and cosines.
5. Add the components in each direction.
6. To find the length and direction of the vector, use:

and .
 3-4 Adding Vectors by
Components

Example 3-2: Mail carrier’s

displacement.
A rural mail carrier leaves the
post office and drives 22.0 km
in a northerly direction. She
then drives in a direction 60.0°
south of east for 47.0 km. What
is her displacement from the
post office?
 3-4 Adding Vectors by
Components

Example 3-3: Three short trips.

An airplane trip involves three legs,
with two stopovers. The first leg is
due east for 620 km; the second leg
is 45° south of east (315) for 440
km; and the third leg is at 53°
south of west (253°), for 550 km, as
shown. What is the plane’s total
displacement?
Analytical Method
 Caution
• Addition of vectors in polar form cannot be
done algebraically
Ex. A = 5 km, 45 deg
B = 4 km, 135 deg
C = 3 km, 270 deg
R = 12 km, 450 deg

Vectors can only be added algebraically if

they are parallel or antiparallel
 Component Form

Any vector can be expressed as the sum of two other

vectors, which are called its components. Usually the
other vectors are chosen so that they are
perpendicular to each other.
Graphical Representation of the
Analytical Method
 Component Method
x y

D1 620km, 0 deg 620km (cos 0)

620km (sin 0)
D2 440km, 315 deg 440km (cos 315)
440km (sin 315)
D3 550 km, 233 deg x 550km (cos 233)
y
D1 550km
620km,(sin 233)
0 deg 620km
0km
D2 440km, 315 deg 311km -
311 km
D3 550 km, 233 deg -331 km -
 Adding vectors:

1. Draw a diagram; add the vectors

graphically.
2. Choose x and y axes.
3. Resolve each vector into x and y
components.
4. Calculate each component using sines and
cosines.
5. Add the components in each direction.
6. To find the magnitude of the vector, use:
 – +
x x
Direction:
+
Q Q +
2
Q 1
Q y
y
3 4
– +x
x –
– y
y
From Component to Polar
Scaling Vectors