Vectors GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Scalars and Vectors -Addition of co-planar vectors can be done graphically or

analytically.
Scalar quantity – physical quantity that has magnitude A. Graphical Method
only. 1. Tail-Tip Method (Triangle Method)
a. Identify an appropriate scale.
Vector quantity – physical quantity that has both b. Draw the first vector on a coordinate
magnitude and direction. system.
c. Draw the second vector starting from the
• The directions are represented by positive (+) tip of the first vector drawn.
and negative (-) signs. d. Connect (using arrow) the first vector's
tail and the second vector's tip. This
• By convention: connecting arrow is the resultant vector.
e. Determine the length of the arrow with a
Positive sign means “the direction is to the right ruler and express the determined length
or to the east, sometimes upward or to the north” to the corresponding or original unit of the
vector.
Negative direction means “the direction is to the f. Determine the angle between the x-axis
left or to the west, sometimes downward or to the and the resultant vector. This represents
south” the direction of the resultant vector.
g. Express the resultant vector as C = C
• Graphically, vectors are represented using (magnitude), θ (direction)
arrows in which the length of the arrows
represents the magnitude of the vector while the
arrow head represents the direction as it is drawn
on an xy-plane.

For example, a force of 500 N directed 30o N of

E can be illustrated as shown below:

N
500 θ
F=
θ = 300
*If the first vector and second vector are
perpendicular to each other, then, by
Pythagorean Theorem, we have:
𝐴! + 𝐵! = 𝐶 !
for the magnitude of the resultant vector.
Vector Addition 2. Parallelogram Method
-Vectors of the same direction or opposite direction are a. Identify an appropriate scale.
added algebraically. b. Draw the first vector on a coordinate
system.
Example
c. Draw the second vector starting from the
If a force of 300 N, North is added vectorially to a force of tail of the first vector drawn.
200 N, South. Then the force directed North is expressed d. Draw two dashed lines parallel to the 1st
as +300 N while the force directed south is expressed as and 2nd vectors until they intersect.
-200 N. To determine the resultant vector, the two vectors e. Connect (using an arrow) starting from
are added algebraically: the intersection of the tails of the two
vectors to the intersection of the dashed
(+300 N) + (-200 N) lines. This connecting arrow is the
Thus, the resultant vector is resultant vector.
+100 N or 100 N, North. f. Determine the length of the arrow with a
ruler and express the determined length

Lesson 4 WEEK 2
JOA
Vectors GENERAL PHYSICS 1

to the corresponding or original unit of the Component Method

vector.
g. Determine the angle between the x-axis a. Determine the angle between x-axis and the
and the resultant vector. This represents given vectors.
the direction of the resultant vector. b. Determine the x- and y-components of all the
h. Express the resultant vector as given vectors.
C = C (magnitude), θ (direction)
c. Fill in the table below.
Vectors x-comp y-comp
A
B
C Sx = ___ Sy = ___
d. Determine the sum of all the x-components. This
is the x-component of the resultant vector.
e. Determine the sum of all the y-components. This
is the y-component of the resultant vector.
θ f. Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to determine
the magnitude of the resultant vector,
𝑪 = '(𝚺𝒙)𝟐 + (𝚺𝒚)𝟐

B. Analytical Method g. Use the tangent function to determine the

• Analytical method of adding vectors are done direction,
using the concept of components or parts of a
q = 𝒕𝒂𝒏#𝟏 0𝚺𝒚1𝚺𝒙2
given vector.
• A vector, expressed in polar coordinates, e.g. 500
N, 300 N of E has usually 2 components (x- and The component method can be used when
y-components) in a rectangular coordinate determining the resultant of several vectors.
system or 3 components (x-, y-, z-components) in
*Vectors can also undergo multiplication process.
a 3-dimensional space.
There are two kinds of products that involve physical
• As illustrated below, the given force of F= 500 N,
quantities: vector product and scalar product.
300 N of E has components Fx and Fy.
• Fx can be determined using the cosine function:
• Scalar product (Dot product)
Fx = F cos θ provided on the rectangular -is a special product of a scalar and a scalar or a
coordinate system. vector and a vector that result to a scalar quantity.
• Fy can be determined using the sine function Some derived quantities that have undergone
where Fy= F sin θ. such process include kinetic energy, power and
work.
Example:

Split the vector, F = 500 N, 300 N of E to its • Vector product (Cross product) is a special
x and y components. product of a scalar and vector or a vector and
vector that result to a vector quantity such as
Fx = F cos θ momentum, acceleration, and magnetic field.
= (500 N) (cos 300)
Fx = 433.2 N

Fy = F sin θ
= (500 N) (sin 300)
Fy = 250 N

• The concept of components of vectors can be

used in adding vectors. Below is a simple guide
to vector addition using component method.

Lesson 4 WEEK 2
JOA