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3.0 Scalar and Vector Quantities

The document provides an overview of scalar and vector quantities in physics, highlighting their definitions, properties, and methods of addition and subtraction. Scalars are quantities with magnitude only, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. It also discusses coordinate systems, graphical methods for vector addition, and examples of calculating resultant displacements.

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Dela Peña Jim Ryan T.
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19 views29 pages

3.0 Scalar and Vector Quantities

The document provides an overview of scalar and vector quantities in physics, highlighting their definitions, properties, and methods of addition and subtraction. Scalars are quantities with magnitude only, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. It also discusses coordinate systems, graphical methods for vector addition, and examples of calculating resultant displacements.

Uploaded by

Dela Peña Jim Ryan T.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PHYSICS I

Scalar and Vector


Scalar Quantity
• A scalar can be completely specified by its
magnitude with appropriate units; it has no
direction
• Scalar quantities can be manipulated with
the rules of ordinary arithmetic
Scalar
• Scalar - “Quantity with magnitude, but no
direction”
– Temperature
– Pressure
– Time
– Energy
– Mass
– Speed
– Distance
Vector
• a vector has both direction and magnitude
(size)
• Vectors can also be added and subtracted
from each other, and multiplied, but there
are a number of important differences
• represented with an arrow over the letter
(A) or A
Vector
• Vector: “Quantity with magnitude and
direction
– Velocity
– Force
– Acceleration
– Momentum
– Torque
– Displacement
Scalar or Vector?
Vector Properties
• Equality of Two Vectors
– Two vectors A and B are equal if they have
the same magnitude and the same direction
Vector Properties

• Negative of a Vector
– The negative of the vector A is defined as the
vector that gives zero when added to A
• Multiplying or Dividing a Vector by a Scalar
Coordinate Systems
• Cartesian coordinate system
(rectangular coordinate system)
Coordinate Systems
• plane polar coordinates (r, θ)
Trigonometry
Basic trigonometric functions

Pythagorean theorem
Conversion in Coordinates
system
• (a) The Cartesian coordinates of a point in
the xy-plane are (x, y) = (-3.50 m, -2.50
m), Find the polar coordinates of this point.
(b) Convert (r, θ) = (5.00 m, 37.0°) to
rectangular coordinates
Graphical Methods for Vectors
• Head to Tail Method
– A person walks 9 blocks east and 5 blocks
north
Graphical Methods for Vectors
Graphical Methods for Vectors
• Use the graphical technique for adding
vectors to find the total displacement of a
person who walks the following three
paths (displacements) on a flat field. First,
she walks 25.0 m in a direction 49.0º north
of east. Then, she walks 23.0 m heading
15.0º north of east. Finally, she turns and
walks 32.0 m in a direction 68.0º south of
east
Graphical Methods for Vectors
Graphical Methods for Vectors
• Vectors can be added in any order
Vector Addition and Subtraction:
Analytical Methods
• Adding of Vectors
– When two or more vectors are added, they
must all have the same units
• Subtracting Vectors
– Vector subtraction makes use of the definition
of the negative of a vector
Adding Parallel Vectors
• Vectors that point in the same direction &
vectors that point in the opposite direction
3
6
3 =

6
3
3 =

4
2 2 =
Adding Non-Parallel Vectors
• Triangle Method:
– Make the 1st vector line up with the end of the
2nd vector
– The final vector will start at the start of the 1st
vector and end at the end of the 2nd vector
Adding Non-Parallel Vectors
• Parallelogram Method
– Make sure the vectors start at the same point
– The final vector will be diagonal of the
parallelogram made by the two vectors
– It will start at the same point as the two
vectors
Subtracting Vectors
Resolving a Vector into
Perpendicular components
Example
• Coach Sweeney walks 26 yards to the
north along the sideline, pauses, and
walks 12 yards back to the south.
– Determine the distance which Coach moved
– Determine Coach's resultant displacement
Example
• Claire de Iles is shopping. She walks 16 m
to the end of an aisle. She then makes a
right hand turn and walks 21 m down the
end aisle. Determine the magnitude of
Claire's resultant displacement.
Example
• On her trip from home to school, Karla
drives along three streets after exiting the
driveway. She drives 1.85 miles south,
2.43 miles east and 0.35 miles north.
Determine the magnitude of Karla's
resultant displacement.
Example
• A woman sailing a boat at night is following
directions to a dock. The instructions read to first
sail 27.5 m in a direction 66.0º north of east from
her current location, and then travel 30.0 m in a
direction 112º north of east (or 22.0º west of
north). If the woman makes a mistake and
travels in the opposite direction for the second
leg of the trip, where will she end up? Compare
this location with the location of the dock.

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