Module 1

INTRODUCTION TO VECTORS

General Objectives: Understand the concept of vectors.

Specific Objectives:

1. Differentiate vectors and scalar quantities. (Cognitive)

2. Determine the resultant vectors using polygon method, parallelogram method
and component method (Psychomotor)
3. Appreciate the importance of vectors in daily life situations. (Affective)

Materials: graphing paper, ruler, protractor, colored pens, calculator

References:

Bueche, F. & Hecht, E. (1997). Theory and Problems of College Physics. 9 th Ed.
Schaum’s Outlines. McGraw-Hill. pp. 1-12

Bauer, W. & Westfall, Gary. (2014). University Physics with Modern Physics 2nd Ed. The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York.

Griffith, W.T & Brosing, J. (2009). The Physics of Everyday Phenomena: A Conceptual
Introduction to Physics 6th Ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York.

Hecht, E. (2018). College Physics 12th Ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York. 4.

Serway, R. & Jewett, J. (2013). Principles of Physics. A Calculus-Based Text. 5 th Ed.

Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

Young, H. & Freedman, R. (2014). Sears and Semansky’s University Physics with Modern
Physics Technology Update 13th Ed. Pearson Education Limited. England.

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 1

 Science Concepts in Focus

1. Scalar quantity- a quantity that has magnitude but no direction.

Examples: length, time, temperature, mass, density, volume
2. Vector quantity- a quantity with both magnitude and direction
Examples: displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum
3. Resultant Vector- a single vector that would have same effect as all the
original vectors are added together
4. Ways of Determining Resultant Vector
4.1 Polygon Method- a method of determining the resultant vector in which
the tail end of each arrow is position at the tip end of the preceding one.

Figure 1. Polygon Method

4.2 Parallelogram Method- used in adding two vectors acting at any angle where the
resultant is its diagonal.

Figure 2. Parallelogram Method

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 2

 4.3 Component Method- it is a method effective in giving
direction for the resultant vector. It is used to resolve two or three dimensions along
any of the two or three mutually perpendicular directions. It made use of
trigonometric functions

Figure 3. Component
Method

5.
D

isplacement- is a vector from initial location to the final position that is

independent of the actual distance traveled.

Mathink!

1. Subtraction of Vectors – is addition of an inverse which graphically shown

as a vector drawn in a reverse direction.

Figure 4. Subtraction of Vectors

2. Trigonometric Functions

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 3

 Figure 5. Trigonometric Functions
3. Unit Vectors- have a magnitude of one and are represented by a boldface
symbol topped with a caret. The special unit vectors i^ , ^j and k^ are assigned to
x−¿, y−¿ and z -axes respectively.

Figure 6. Unit Vector

Apply it!

Activity #1
Resultant Vector

Objectives: Determine resultant vector using the polygon method, parallelogram

method and component method.

Materials: graphing paper, ruler, protractor, colored pens

Procedures
A. Polygon Method
Given the following displacement with a scale of 5mm= 1km, determine the resultant
vector using the polygon method by connecting the tail of the second displacement
to the tip of the first displacement. Do the same to the next vectors. Use the
protractor to plot the direction of the given displacement. Measure the resultant
displacement by connecting the tail of the first displacement to the head of the last
displacement for the magnitude. Measure the direction of the resultant displacement
from the +x axis counterclockwise until it reached the resultant displacement. Find

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 4

 the equivalent acute angle of the obtained angle and write the
direction.

Given: d 1=3 km , 72° N of E; d 2=5 km , 34 ° S of W ; d 3=8 km, 20 ° S of E

Graph: The resultant displacement is _____________________________________.

B. Parallelogram Method
Draw a parallelogram given the pair of displacements and find its diagonal. The
diagonal is the magnitude of the resultant. Measure the separation angle between
the pair of displacements using a protractor.

1st Displacement 2nd Displacement Magnitude of Separation

Resultant (km) Angle (° ¿
d 1=3 km , 72° N of E d 2=5 km , 34 ° S of W
d 2=5 km , 34 ° S of W d 3=8 km, 20 ° S of E
d 1=3 km , 72° N of E d 3=8 km, 20 ° S of E

Graph:

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 5

C. Component Method
Determine the x and y components of each displacements and solve for the resultant
displacement and its direction. Complete the table below.

Displacements x-components y-components

d 1=3 km , 72° N of E
d 2=5 km , 34 ° S of W
d 3=8 km, 20 ° S of E
Resultant Component R x =¿ km R y =¿ km

R=√ R 2x + R2y =¿ ¿

θ=arctan
( )
Ry
Rx
=¿ ¿

Guide Questions:
1. Compare your answers to your answers in Part A. What do you observe?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

2. What conclusion can you draw from your observation in question 1?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 6

 Try it out!

Direction: Given the following displacements, solve for their resultant using either
polygon method or parallelogram method. Verify your answer using the component
method.
1. d 1=2.7 km, 37 ° W of N and d 2=4.5 km ,15 ° S of E
2. d 1=4.7 km ,28 ° N of S ; d 2=5.4 km ,87 ° S of W and d 3=7.2 km , 56 ° S of W

Hammer and Nailed it!

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 7
Direction: Read the following statements carefully. Write the letter of your answer in
the space provided before each number.
_____1. Which of the following statements is TRUE about vectors?
A. Mass and force are both vector quantities.
B. Displacement is a distance with direction.
C. Speed, acceleration and weight are all vector quantities.
D. Ten kilometers, 25 degrees counterclockwise is a vector quantity.
_____2. Which of the following statements is TRUE scalars?
A. Scalars are vectors without directions.
B. Scalars is not affected by directions.
C. Adding a direction to a scalar makes it a vector.
D. Temperature, displacement and speed are all scalar quantities.
_____3. Which of the following method in determining a resultant vector that
connecting the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector?
A. Arrow Method C. Component Method
B. Polygon Method D. Parallelogram Method
_____4. Reign walked around a square block with 1m distance between electrical
posts. What is the resultant displacement that he walked?
A. 4 m, North B. 2 m, East C. 2 √ 2 , Northeast D. zero
_____5. What is the x -component of d 1=1.5 m , NorthEast ?
A. 0.75m B. 1.06 m C. 1.5 m D. 3.0 m
_____6. Which of the following is the correct way of expressing 1.5 m , NorthEast in its
unit vector notation form?
A. 1.50 ^j B. 1. 50 i^ C. ^
1.06 i+1.06 ^j D. 1.06 i−1.06
^ ^j

_____7. What is the resultant of d 1=1.5 m , NorthEast ; d 2=2.25 m , South ;

d 3=3.75 m , West ?

A. 2.94 m , 23.86 ° S of W C. 1.96 m ,23.86 ° N of E

B. 2.37 m ,18.43 ° S of W D. 1.73 , 18.43° N of E
^
_____8. What is the resultant vector formed by v 1=2 i−4 ^j+5 k^ and v 2=i−2
^ ^j−3 k^ in
vector notation form?
^
A. R=3 i−6 ^j+2 k^ ^
C. R=i−2 ^j+8 k^

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 8

 ^
B. R=9 i+36 ^j+ 4 k^ ^
D. R=i−4 ^j+64 k^
^
_____9. Given the following vectors: d 1=3 i−2 ^j ;d 2=−i+
^ 4 ^j ; d 3=4 i+
^ ^j in meters, what
is the magnitude of the resultant vectors?
A. 6.71 meters B. 5.20 meters C. 3.00 meters D. 1.73 meters
_____10. What is the direction of the resultant vector in number 9?
A. 26.57 ° N of E B. 63.43 ° N of E C. 26.57 ° S of W D. 63.43 ° S of E

Answer Keys:

1. D 2. B. 3. B 4. D 5. B 6. C 7. A 8. A 9. A 10. A

PHYSICS FOR MATHEMATICS TEACHERS (MATH 117) SY 2023 - 2024 9