Chapter 1(b)
Vector and scalar
Scalar and vectors
Definitions
Addition n subtraction rules
Scalar and dot product
Learning Outcomes
Define scalar and vector quantities, unit vector in
Cartesian coordinates.
Explain vector addition and subtraction n their
rules.
Define and use dot and cross product (multiplying
vector)
Trigonometry
Trigonometry
To find the length
ho
sin
h
ha
cos
h
ho
tan
ha
Trigonometry
To find the angle
ho
sin
h
1
ha
cos
h
1
ho
tan
ha
1
Characteristics of a Scalar
Quantity
Only has magnitude
Requires 2 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
Ex. Mass: 5kg
Temp: 21 C
Speed: 65 m/s
Characteristics of a Vector
Quantity
Has magnitude & direction
Requires 3 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
3. A direction!
Ex. Acceleration: 9.8 m/s2 down
Velocity:
25 m/s West
Scalars and Vectors
Arrows are used to represent vectors. The
direction of the arrow gives the direction of
the vector.
By convention, the length of a vector
arrow is proportional to the magnitude
of the vector.
8N
4N
Scalar and Vector Quantities
The car moved a distance of 2 km in a
direction 30o north of east
3-2 The Components of a Vector
x and y are called the x vector component
and the y vector component of r.
The Components of a Vector
The vector components of A are two perpendicular
vectors A x and A y that are parallel to the x and y axes,
and add together vectorially so that A A x A y .
The Components of a Vector
It is often easier to work with the scalar components
rather than the vector components.
Ax and Ay are the scalar components
of A.
x and y are unit vectors with magnitude 1.
A Ax x Ay y
The Components of a Vector
Example
A displacement vector has a magnitude of 175 m and points at
an angle of 50.0 degrees relative to the x axis. Find the x and y
components of this vector.
x
cos
r
x r cos 175 m cos 50.0 112 m
y
sin
r
y r sin 175 m sin 50.0 134 m
r 112 mx 134 my
The components of a vector
Signs of vector components:
EXERCISE
1)The vector A has a magnitude of 7.25 m.
Find its components for direction of
angles of
(a)=5.0o
(b)=125o
(c) = 245o
(d) = 335o
Answer
(a)Ax=7.22m, Ay=0.632m
(b) Ax=-4.16m, Ay=5.94m
(c) Ax=-3.06m, Ay=-6.57m
(d) Ax=6.57m, Ay=-3.06m
IMPORTANT FOR VECTOR
COMPONENTS
Ay A sin
Ax A cos
Given the components of a vector, find its
magnitude and direction:
A
Ax
tan
Ay
Ay
Ax
EXAMPLE:
Given vector component x is 6.00m and vector
component y is 2.00m, find the magnitude and
direction of vector A.
Length, angle, and components can
be calculated from each other using
trigonometry:
Ax = 6.00 m
Ay= 2.00 m
R 2.00 m 6.00 m
2
2.00 m 6.00 m
2
6.32m
2.00 m
6.00 m
00
tan 62..00
tan 2.00 6.00 18.4
1
2.00 m
6.00 m
Question 3.4
Vector Components I
1) it doubles
If each component of a
vector is doubled, what
happens to the angle of
that vector?
2) it increases, but by less than double
3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half
Question 3.4
Vector Components I
1) it doubles
If each component of a
vector is doubled, what
happens to the angle of
that vector?
2) it increases, but by less than double
3) it does not change
4) it is reduced by half
5) it decreases, but not as much as half
The magnitude of the vector clearly doubles if each of its
components is doubled. But the angle of the vector is given by tan
= 2y/2x, which is the same as tan = y/x (the original angle).
Vector Addition and Subtraction
Often it is necessary to add one vector to another.
Vector Addition and Subtraction
3m
5m
8m
Vector Addition and Subtraction
AB
A
AB
Component Method of Vector Addition
Treat each vector separately:
1. To find the X component, you must:
Ax = Acos
2. To find the Y component, you must:
Ay = Asin
3. Repeat steps 1 & 2 for all vectors
Component Method (cont.)
4. Add all the X components (Rx)
5. Add all the Y components (Ry)
6. The magnitude of the Resultant Vector is
found by using Rx, Ry & the Pythagorean
Theorem:
R2 = Rx2 + Ry2
7. To find direction: Tan = Ry / Rx
Vector Addition and Subtraction
Adding vectors graphically: Place the tail of the second at the head of
the first. The sum points from the tail of the first to the head of the last.
Addition Rule for Two Vectors
1. Find the components of each vector to be added.
C AB
B Bx x By y
A Ax x Ay y
Addition Rule for Two Vectors
2. Add the x- and y-components separately.
C y Ay By
Cx Ax Bx
3. Find the resultant vector.
C Ax x Ay y Bx x By y
Ax Bx x Ay By y
Subtracting Vectors
Subtracting Vectors: The negative of a vector is a vector of the same
magnitude pointing in the opposite direction. Here,
D= A B
Lets try
i )( A B ) ( 2 x y 3 z ) (3 x 2 y 2 z )
( 2 x y 3 z 3 x 2 y 2 z )
(5 x 3 y z )
ii )( A B ) ( 2 x y 3 z ) (3 x 2 y 2 z )
( 2 x y 3 z 3 x 2 y 2 z )
( x y 5 z )
Component Method (cont.)
Lets try!
A = 2 m/s 30 N of E
B = 3 m/s 40 N of W
(this is easy!)
Find: Magnitude & Direction
Magnitude = 2.98 m/s
Direction = 79.02 N of W@
180-79.02 =100.98
Component Method (cont.)
Lets try!
F1 = 37N 54 N of E
F2 = 50N 18 N of W
F3 = 67 N 86 S of W
(this is not so easy!)
Find: Magnitude & Direction
Magnitude =37.3 N
Direction = 35.1 S of W @
180+35.1=215.1
3-4 Unit Vectors
Unit vector is dimensionless vectors of unit length (magnitude
of 1) with a function to indicate direction.
- indicates the x-direction
Unit vector x
- indicates the y-direction
Unit vector y
Unit vector z
- indicates the z-direction
EXERCISE
To find a magnitude of a vector
A 2 x y 3 z
B 3x 2 y 2 z
1) Find magnitude vector A and vector B respectively
2) Find magnitude of vector A +B
To find a magnitude of a vector
A 2 x y 3 z
B 3x 2 y 2 z
1) Find magnitude vector A and vector B respectively
units
units
2) Find magnitude of vector A +B
( A B) 2 x y 3z 3x 2 y 2 z
5x 3 y z
A B
52 32 12
35 5.9units
Vector Multiplication
There are two distinct ways to multiply vectors, referred
to as the dot product and the cross product.
The dot product yields a scalar (a number) as the result.
The cross product yields a vector as the result.
Dot Product
Definition of the scalar, or dot, product:
A B Ax x Ay y Az z Bx x By y Bz z
Ax Bx Ay B y Az Bz
Application example:
Work is the dot product of force and displacement
Exercise
8y
a 6x
5y
b 2x
1) Find a.b
2) Find angle between a and b
Cross Product
The vector cross product is defined as:
The direction of the cross product is defined by a
right-hand rule:
Cross Product
The cross product can also be written in determinant
form:
A B
y
Az By x Ax Bz Az Bx y Ax By Ay Bx z
Application example: The relation
of the magnetic force
on a charge q with a velocity v in a magnetic field B is
F qv B qvB sin
Exercise
6y
5 z
a 2x
4y
8 z
b 3x
1) Find axb
2) Find the angle between a and b
