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Scalars & Vectors

The document defines scalars as physical quantities with only magnitude and vectors as quantities with both magnitude and direction, providing examples for each. It explains acceleration, including positive, negative, and deceleration, and discusses properties of vectors, such as equality and direction. Additionally, it outlines the head-to-tail method for vector addition and how to calculate the resultant vector.

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6 views10 pages

Scalars & Vectors

The document defines scalars as physical quantities with only magnitude and vectors as quantities with both magnitude and direction, providing examples for each. It explains acceleration, including positive, negative, and deceleration, and discusses properties of vectors, such as equality and direction. Additionally, it outlines the head-to-tail method for vector addition and how to calculate the resultant vector.

Uploaded by

keakamo61
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Scalars & Vectors

25 & 26 May
Definitions

 Scalar
 A physical quantity that has magnitude only. GIVE AN EXAMPLE
 Vector
 A physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction. GIVE AN
EXAMPLE
 Resultant
 The single vector having the same effect as The original vectors acting
together.
Scalar examples

 Mass (6kg)  Power (1200 W)


 Time (5s)  Temperature (273K or 0C)
 Distance (2m)  Current (2A)
 Speed (60 km/h )  Potential difference (12V)
 Volume (20l)
 Wavelength

 Work (240 J)
Vector examples

 Force (6N upwards)


 Weight (340 N downwards)
 Displacement (40m east)
 Velocity (5m·s-1 east)
 Acceleration (4m/s forwards)
 Note… negatives will be explained in class, leave space)
 Momentum (5 kg·m·s-1 east)
 Impulse (6 N·s west)
Acceleration

 Positive acceleration:
 An object moving in the positive direction is experiencing an increase in
speed or an object moving in the negative direction is experiencing a
decrease in speed.
 Negative acceleration:
 An object moving in the positive direction is experiencing a decrease in
speed or an object moving in the negative direction is experiencing an
increase in speed
 Deceleration:
 An object is experiencing a decrease in speed.
Vectors

 represents the force vector


 F represents the magnitude of the force vector
 Is determined by the length of the line
 Arrow shows origin, direction & magnitude
Vectors cont.

direction

de
u
gnit
ma

origin
Properties of vectors

 Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude & the same
direction
 A negative vector is a vector that has the opposite direction to the
reference positive direction
 The direction they give you in the question
Head to tail method of vector
addition
1. Draw a rough sketch of the situation.
2. Choose a scale and include a reference direction.
3. Choose any of the vectors and draw it as an arrow in the correct direction and
of the correct length – remember to put an arrowhead on the end to denote
its direction.
4. Take the next vector and draw it as an arrow starting from the arrowhead of
the first vector in the correct direction and of the correct length.
5. Continue until you have drawn each vector – each time starting from the
head of the previous vector. In this way, the vectors to be added are drawn
one after the other head-to-tail.
6. The resultant is then the vector drawn from the tail of the first vector to the
head of the last. Its magnitude can be determined from the length of its arrow
using the scale. Its direction too can be determined from the scale diagram.
Calculation of resultant vector

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