Lesson 2

SCALAR AND VECTOR QUANTITIES

A scalar quantity is any quantity in physics that has magnitude, but not a direction associated
with it.
Magnitude – A numerical value with units.
▪ Examples: speed – 20 m/s
distance – 10 m
age – 15 years
heat – 1 000 calories
A vector is any quantity in physics that has both magnitude and direction.
Vectors are typically illustrated by drawing an ARROW above the symbol. The arrow is
used to convey direction and magnitude, 𝒗 ⃗ , ⃗𝒙, 𝒂 ⃗.
⃗ ,𝑭
▪ Examples: velocity – 20 m/s, North
acceleration – 10 m/s2, East
force – 5 Newtons, West

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?

Notice that the SIZE of the arrow conveys

MAGNITUDE and the way it was drawn conveys
DIRECTION.

VECTOR SUBTRACTION - If 2 vectors are going in opposite directions, you SUBTRACT.

Example: A man walks 54.5 meters east, then 30 meters west. Calculate his displacement
relative to where he started?

NON-COLLINEAR VECTORS - When 2 vectors are perpendicular, you must use the
Pythagorean theorem.

Example: A man walks 95 km, East then 55 km, north. Calculate his resultant displacement.
c2 = a 2 + b2 → c = a2 + b2
c = Resultant = 95 2 + 55 2
c = 12050 = 109 .8 km

❖ What about the direction of the resultant displacement?

In the previous example, displacement was asked for and since it is a vector, we should
include a direction on out final answer.

❖ What about the value of the angle?

Just putting North of East on the answer is NOT specific enough for the direction. We
must find the value of the angle.
To find the value of the angle we use a trigonometric function called TANGENT.

So, the complete final answer is: 109.8 km, 30 degrees North of East (30° N of E)

❖ What if you are missing a component?

Example:
Suppose a person walked 65 m, 25 degrees East of North. What were his horizontal and
vertical components? (Hint: Always make a right triangle)

To solve for components, we often use the trig functions sine and cosine.
 adjacent side opposite side
cosine = sine  =
hypotenuse hypotenuse
adj = hyp cos opp = hyp sin 

adj = V .C. = 65 cos 25 = 58.91m, N

opp = H .C. = 65 sin 25 = 27.47 m, E

Example:
A dog, searching for food wanders 35.0 meters, East then 20.0 meters, North. Frustrated,
he wanders another 12.0 meters, West then 6.0 meters, South. Calculate the dog's displacement.

Learning Tip: In solving problems with multiple vectors, you need to distinguish first the different
components with their corresponding axis in which the vectors are located. Always follow the Cartesian
plane.

North (+ y-axis)
Diagram:

West (- x-axis) East (+ x-axis)

South (- y-axis)
x-axis components y-axis components
35.0 m, E → + 35.0 m 20.0 m, N → + 20.0 m
+
12.0 m, W → – 12.0 m 6.0 m, S → - 6.0 m
TOTAL + 23.0 m + 14.0 m

We call this process of solving vectors as the COMPONENT METHOD.

Based on the calculation on the table of components using the component method:
• “Resultant” vector along x-axis (Rx) is + 23.0 m or 23.0 m, E
o Horizontal component
 • “Resultant” vector along y-axis (Ry) is + 14.0 m or 14.0 m, N
o Vertical component
Learning Tip:
STEPS IN PROBLEM SOLVING
So, using the Pythagorean theorem in the resultant displacement: 1. Read and analyze the word problem.
2. List down all the given quantities.
⃗⃗ 2 = Rx2 + Ry2 3. Identify the unknown value or the asked
𝐑 quantity in the problem.
⃗𝐑⃗ 2 = (23.0 m)2 + (14.0 m)2 4. Choose and use the correct formula for
the unknown or asked quantity.
⃗ = √(23.0 𝑚) 2 + (14.0 𝑚)2
⃗𝐑 5. Calculate.
= 26.93 m
Do not forget to box your final answer.

Then, use the trigonometric function tangent (tan) to get the direction of the resultant
displacement:

Given: Rx = + 23.0 m Ry = + 14.0 m

𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑅
tan θ = 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 = 𝑅𝑦
𝑥
+ 14.0 𝑚
= opposite side of the angle θ
+ 23.0 𝑚
tan θ = 0.6087

Using calculator, do the tangent inverse (tan-1) to

get the value of θ: adjacent side of the angle θ

θ = tan-1 (0.6087)
= 31.30° express your answer for θ in degrees to denote direction

so, the complete answer is: 𝐑

⃗⃗ = 26.93 m at 31.30° N of E

PRACTICE EXERCISES:
1. A boat moves with a velocity of 15.0 m/s, N in a river which flows with a velocity of 8.0 m/s,
W. Calculate the boat's resultant velocity respect to due north. (Answer: 17.0 m at 28.1°
West of North)
2. A plane moves with a velocity of 63.5 m/s at 32 degrees South of East. Calculate the
plane's horizontal and vertical velocity components. (Answer: Rx = 53.85 m/s, E; Ry = 33.64
m/s, S)