Week 1- Vectors

• Objectives

• Define and classify vector and

scalar quantities

• Calculate the resultant when a

number of vectors are combined

• Determine the orthogonal

components of a vector
 Vectors Scalars
Vectors have magnitude Scalars have only
and direction. magnitude.
35 m (North) 35 m
magnitude unit direction magnitude unit
 DISTANCE AND DISPLACEMENT

Bill drives 90 km along a winding road.

DISTANCE TRAVELLED
=90 km
DISPLACEMENT = 50 km
Ben jogs once around the centre circle
of a football pitch.
DISTANCE = 25 m
DISPLACEMENT= 0
• Distance is the total path length. It is fully
described by magnitude (size) alone.

• Displacement is the direct length from a starting

point to a finishing point. To describe
displacement both magnitude and direction
must be given.
Speed and Velocity
 ADDING SCALAR QUANTITIES
• Two or more scalar quantities can be added
arithmetically if they have the same unit,
• e.g., 2 cm + 3 cm = 5 cm
2 cm + 3 minutes (cannot be added)
 Using Vectors
• It is very useful to use
diagrams (arrows) to
represent vectors.
• The length of the arrow
denotes the magnitude
of the vector
 The direction of the
arrow represents…the
direction of the vector!
 Adding Vector Quantities
• Two or more vector quantities can be added
together to produce a single vector if they have
the same unit - but their directions must be
taken into account.
• The single vector obtained is known as the
resultant vector.
 Combining Vectors
• Vectors must always
be added “head to
tail”.
 It does not matter
which order you add
them in.
 Question 1
• Eric leaves the base camp and hikes 11 km,
north and then hikes 11 km east. Determine
Eric's resulting displacement
Directions
 Example 2

• A helicopter tries to fly due North

at 60 m/s. It is affected by a very
strong wind blowing due East at 80
m/ s. Determine the resultant
velocity of the helicopter.
 80 m/s

60 m/s Resultant
100 m/s

Sin ɵ = 80/100 = 0.8

ɵ=Sin-1 (0.8) = 53.1
Addition of Vectors – triangle law

• Find the sum of

these two
vectors using the
head to tail A
method.
B
 Addition of Vectors – Graphical Methods
• First, vector B must be moved so it’s
tail (the one without the arrow point) B’
is at the head (the one with the
arrow point) of vector A.
• All you do is slide vector B to that A
position without changing either its
length (magnitude) or direction. B
• The new position of vector B is
labeled B’ in the diagram.
 Addition of Vectors – Graphical Methods

• The magnitude of the B’

resultant can then be
measured with a ruler and R
the direction can be
measured with a protractor. A
B
 Find the resultant of the following vectors using triangle law.
1) A A
2)

B B

3)
4)
A
B
A

B
RESOLVING A VECTOR
INTO COMPONENTS
• Any vector can be replaced by 2 vectors of the
correct magnitude (size) acting at right-angles (90
degree) to each other.
 B

Two forces A and B act

simultaneously on the block
 This vector is as
good as two vectors
A and B acting
perpendicular to
each other.

The block will move in a

direction shown by the
arrow.
 Resolution of vectors
• The process of splitting a vector into two
components perpendicular to each other is
called resolution of vectors.
 B R
B’

ɵ
A

Sin ɵ = B/R Cos ɵ= A/R

B= R Sin ѳ A= R Cos ѳ
Resolve the given vector into horizontal and vertical
components..(First draw the components)

A
B

C D
Resolve the given vector into horizontal and vertical
components..( Let us mark the angles)

A
B

C D
 F Cos Ɵ F Cos Ɵ

F SinƟ

F Sin Ɵ

F Sin Ɵ
F Cos Ɵ

F Sin Ɵ
F Cos Ɵ
 Remember!!!! .

F
F Sin Ɵ

Ɵ Which component
F Cos Ɵ is close to Ɵ?

The component close to the

angle is always the Cos
component.
 Example 1
Two ropes are attached to a car which is stuck in a muddy field. The same force F is
applied to both ropes, in order to pull the car in the direction shown by the dashed line
in the figure below
Both ropes make an angle of 20° with the dashed line. If the force F applied along each
rope is 310 N, calculate the resultant force in the direction shown by the dashed line.
 Example 2
A photograph is mounted on a wall using a thread as shown in the
diagram.
a) Draw a diagram showing the resolution of the forces and mark
the horizontal and vertical components of the force.
b) Calculate the force F in each thread. The mass of the
photograph is 2 kg.
 Example 3
The two forces A and B shown in the diagram below act on an object placed at the origin.
A has magnitude 18 N and acts at angle α = 32° to the x-axis. B has magnitude 3.7 N and acts at angle β = 75° to the
x-axis.

a) Calculate the component of the resultant force which acts in the y-direction.
b) Calculate the component of the resultant force which acts in the x-direction.
 Example 4
A river is 24 m wide. A boat is moving through the water perpendicular to the river’s current
at 3 m/s. The current is flowing at 2 m/s west.

(a) How long will the boat take to reach the far bank of the river?
(b) What is the boat’s velocity relative to the bank?
(c) What is the boat’s displacement from point B when it reaches the far bank?
 Example 5
Two forces of magnitude 6N and 10N are
inclined at an angle of 60° with each other.
Calculate the magnitude of resultant and the
angle made by resultant with 6N force.
Example 5

Two forces of magnitude

6N and 10N are inclined at
an angle of 60° with each
other. Calculate the
magnitude of resultant
and the angle made by
resultant with 6N force.