Scalar and Vector Quantities

General Physics 1

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What to expect in this chapter?
The following questions are expected to be answered in this chapter:
• The difference between scalars and vectors, and how to add and
subtract vectors graphically.
• What the components of a vector are, and how to use them in
calculations.
• What unit vectors are, and how to use them with components to
describe vectors.

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Trigonometry
Trigonometry is one of the branch of mathematics that we will use in
problem solving. Throughout the text, three trigonometric functions
will be used: sine, cosine and tangent.

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Trigonometry
SOH-CAH-TOA
𝑜 PYTHAGOREAN
sin 𝜃 = THEOREM
ℎ
ℎ2 = ℎ𝑜 2 + (ℎ𝑎 )2
𝑎
cos 𝜃 =
ℎ
𝑜
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎

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Trigonometry
EXAMPLE
On a sunny day, a tall building casts a shadow that is 67.2 m long. The
angle between the sun’s rays and the ground is 𝜃 = 50.0°. Determine
the height of the building.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
Physical quantities are classified into two main categories:
• Scalar Quantities – is one that can be describes by a single number
(including any units) giving its size or magnitude.
• Vector quantities – is one the deals with both magnitude and
direction.
SCALAR: A
VECTOR:

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Scalar vs Vector

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
SCALAR QUANTITIES VECTOR QUANTITIES
• Length • Displacement
• Area • Velocity
• Volume • Acceleration
• Speed
• Force
• Density
• Weight
• Pressure
• Temperature

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
QUESTION
There are places where the temperature is + 20°C at one time of the
year and - 20°C at another time. Do the plus and minus sign that signify
temperatures imply that temperature is a vector quantity ?

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
Determine if Scalar or Vector:
(a) I walked 2 miles along the beach.
(b) I walked 2 miles due north along the beach.
(c) I jumped off a cliff and hit the water traveling straight down at a
speed of 17 miles per hour.
(d) My bank account shows a negative balance of −25 pesos.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
• Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude and same
direction.
• When adding two or more vectors, they must have the same units.
• Vectors can be added algebraically or geometrically.
• The sum or the combination of two or more vector is called Resultant
Vector.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
EXAMPLE:
A blue car that first travels with a displacement vector 𝑨 of 300 m, due
east, and then with a displacement vector 𝑩 of 450 m, due north. The
two vectors add to give a resultant displacement vector 𝑹. Find 𝑹.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
Vector Subtraction
The subtraction of one vector from another is carried out in a way that depends
on the following fact. When a vector is multiplied by -1.
EXAMPLE:
A woman climbs 1.2 m up a ladder, so that her displacement vector D is 1.2 m,
upward along the ladder.
A displacement of vector – D is (-1)D,
has the same magnitude but is
opposite in direction.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
In practice, vector subtraction is carried out exactly like vector addition.
These vectors add together to give a third vector 𝑪, according to 𝑪 = 𝑨 +
𝑩. Therefore, we can calculate vector 𝑨 as 𝑨 =𝑪 − 𝑩, which is an example of
vector subtraction. However, we can also write this result as 𝑨 =𝑪 +
(−𝑩) and treat it as vector addition.

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Scalar and Vector Quantity
Vector Components
• The components 𝒙 and 𝒚, when added vectorially, convey the same
meaning as does the original vector 𝑨 . 𝒙 and 𝒚 are not just any two
vectors that add together to give the original vector 𝑨 : they are
perpendicular vectors.

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Vector Addition
Examples. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
vector described in each item.
1. A person walks 50 meters north and then 30 meters east. Calculate
the magnitude and direction of the person's resultant
displacement.
2. A person walks 50 meters north and then 30 meters east. Calculate
the magnitude and direction of the person's resultant
displacement.
3. An object is subjected to two forces: 20 N to the north and 30 N to
the east. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
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 Vector Addition
More Examples. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
vector described in each item.
1. You start at a point and walk 300 meters north, then turn and walk 150
meters east. What is your total displacement from your starting point?
2. A boat is crossing a river with a velocity of 5 m/s northward. The river's
current has a velocity of 2 m/s eastward. What is the boat's resultant
velocity?
3. You move 100 meters north, then 200 meters at 60 degrees south of
east, and finally 150 meters at 30 degrees north of east. What is your
total displacement?
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 Scalar and Vector Quantity
EXAMPLE
A jogger runs 145 m in a direction 20.0° east of north (displacement vector 𝑨 ) and then 105
m in a direction 35.0° south of east (displacement vector 𝑩 ). Using components, determine
the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector 𝑪 for these two displacements.

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 Vector Addition (Analytic Method)
Let 𝐴Ԧ = 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝐵 = 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 be two vectors in standard
position, and let 𝜃 be the angle between the two vectors. Their sum,
𝐶Ԧ = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵, have the following components 𝐶Ԧ = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 . The
magnitude of 𝐶Ԧ is given by 𝐶Ԧ = 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 2 + 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 2 . The direction
of 𝐶Ԧ is given by:
➢ 𝜙 if 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 is in Q1
➢ 180∘ − 𝜙 if 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 is in Q2
➢ 180∘ + 𝜙 if 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 is in Q3
➢ 360∘ − 𝜙 if 𝑥1 + 𝑥2 , 𝑦1 + 𝑦2 is in Q2
𝑦1 +𝑦2
For 𝜙 = tan−1 .
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EXAMPLE. ANS: 𝑪 = 𝟏𝟓𝟓. 𝟒𝟔 𝒎 𝝓 = 𝟐𝟗. 𝟐𝟖∘
A jogger runs 145 m in a direction 20.0° east of north
(displacement vector 𝑨 ) and then 105 m in a direction 35.0°
south of east (displacement vector 𝑩 ). Using components,
determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant
vector 𝑪 for these two displacements.

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