LECTURE in GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Vector and Scalar Quantities How to calculate vectors?

Addition of vectors
Vectors are quantities that are described with both magnitude
and direction while Scalars quantities are describe with Since vectors have both magnitude and direction, addition of it
magnitude alone. is not as simple as addition of scalar. Direction of magnitude
also holds an important role. To easily execute the addition of
Some examples are the following: vector, finding its components will be the first step.
Vector Scalar
Lift Time Direction of vectors can be written with the help of the 4
Displacement Distance primary directions (North, East, West, and South) but it can also
Weight Mass be represented by an angle. This angle is the angle between the
Drag Volume vector and the positive x-axis rotating counterclockwise. To
Force Area understand this better, here is an example for different way of
Momentum Density computation.
Acceleration Work
Velocity Temperature
Speed
Energy
Power
The aircraft cockpit is where the pilot controls the velocity of
the aircraft- how fast it is traveling and in what direction it
will travel- allowing it to fly and land safely. Velocity and
other quantities defined by their magnitude and direction are
called vector quantities.

Note: however, that if the angle opens from the y-axis

(North/South), the vector components are calculated
differently.

Vectors are written in terms of their magnitude and direction. If only the components of the vector are given, how do we
Example: calculate for the magnitude and direction of the vector?

Graphical Representation
Depending in the coordinate system used, vectors are Using these formulas, we can calculate vectors.
graphically represented as follows:

Vector Components

How to know the direction from the tan/Arctan function?

• X-component (Ax)- the parallel projection of the Take note of the signs of Ax and Ay (the components)
vector in the x-axis (East/West)
• Y-component (Ay)- the parallel projection of the
vector in the y-axis (North/South)

Unit Vectors
Unit Vector- are vectors with a magnitude of 1. The purpose
of unit vector is to point or describe the direction.

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 LECTURE in GENERAL PHYSICS 1
- To distinguish unit vectors from ordinary vector, a
caret (^) or “hat” symbol is used in place of the
arrow.
Addition of vectors using Parallelogram Method

Vectors should be connected tail-

to-tail. From this, identical but
imaginary vectors are drawn on
the opposite sides of each vectors
(from the head of the other
vector). The distance and
direction from the tail-to-tail
connection of the two original
vectors to the head-to-head
A paraglider started his flight heading south and took 5 km
connection of the imaginary vectors are the magnitude and
distance. He then turned west (assumed that the glider didn’t
direction of the resultant vector.
take any distance while turning) and took another 5 km distance
before landing. Find its displacement (shortest distance Addition of vectors using Polygon Method
between starting point and end point).
Vectors should be connected
head-to-tail (order does not
matter). The distance and
direction from the tail of the first
vector to the head of the last
vector are the magnitude and
direction of the resultant vector.

x-component y-component
Vector Angle (ɵ)
𝒗 ∙ 𝐜𝐨𝐬⁡(𝜽) 𝒗 ∙ 𝒔𝒊𝒏⁡(𝜽)
5 km 270 0 km -5 km
5 km 180 -5 km 0
Total: -5 km -5 km

This indicates that the displacement of the paraglider is 𝑹 =

−𝟓𝒌𝒎⁡𝒊̂ − 𝟓𝒌𝒎⁡𝒋̂̂. This answer already shows the magnitude
and direction of the resultant and called rectangular form. The
value of 𝒊̂ indicates the magnitude in horizontal direction
(positive value of 𝒊̂ means Eastward or towards the direction of
the positive x-axis) and the value of 𝒋̂̂ indicates the magnitude
in vertical direction (positive value of 𝒋̂̂ means upward or
towards the direction of the positive y-axis).

Vector in Polar form

Let 𝑥𝑇 and 𝑦𝑇 be total of x and y components respectively,

𝑀 = √𝑥𝑇 2 + 𝑦𝑇 2 = √(−5𝑘𝑚)2 + (−5𝑘𝑚)2 = 𝟕. 𝟎𝟕𝟏⁡𝒌𝒎

𝒙𝑻 𝒚𝑻 Additional angle
+ + 0°
- + 180°
- - 180°
+ - 360°
𝑦𝑇 −5𝑘𝑚
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = 45° + 𝟏𝟖𝟎° = 𝟐𝟐𝟓°
𝑥𝑇 −5𝑘𝑚

𝑹 = 𝑴∠𝜽 = 𝟕. 𝟎𝟕𝟏∠𝟐𝟐𝟓°⁡𝒌𝒎

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