Physics for Engineers Engr.

‰”Ǥ Lara Jane D. Mendoza

‘ŠŠ‹Ž‹’Ǥƒ†ƒŽ ǡ
Instructor
•–”— –‘”
ƒƒ”‹‡•—”‘Ž›–‡
Camarines Š‹ Colleges
Sur Polytechnic ‘ŽŽ‡‰‡•

Module 1.1 - Vectors

Quantities
A considerable number or amount of something.

Examples:

Time Mass Distance Acceleration Force

Quantities may either be scalar or vector.

Scalar Quantities
A scalar quantity is one that only indicates “how much” (the magnitude) of
the quantity.

Examples:

Distance Speed Volume Mass Density Temperature

Vector Quantities
A vector quantity is one that indicates “how much” (the magnitude) and the
direction of the quantity.

Examples:

Acceleration Force Displacement Gravity

 Scalars vs. Vectors

Distance vs. Displacement

𝟏𝟎 𝒎

𝟕𝒎

𝜽 = 𝟑𝟎°

Distance (Path ACDB) = 10m

Displacement (AB) = 7m, 30° N of E
 Scalars vs. Vectors
Mass vs. Weight
𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 = 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐱 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲
vector = scalar x vector 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 = 𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬 = 𝟓𝟎 𝐤𝐠
Weight = 𝟒𝟗𝟏 𝐍 ↓ Weight = 𝟏𝟖𝟓. 𝟓𝟓 𝐍 ↓

Gravity - the force that attracts a

body toward the center of the Earth’s gravity Mars’ gravity
earth, or toward any other = 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝒎/𝒔𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟏𝟏 𝒎/𝒔𝟐
physical body having mass.
Vector Representation

An arrow represents a vector quantity. Magnitude Head

• The length of the arrow is scaled to be
proportional to the magnitude of the
vector quantity it represents;
• The direction of the arrow indicates
the direction of the vector quantity. 𝑽
Tail
 Direction of a Vector
There are several ways to specify direction. The direction of a vector is the acute
angle it makes with the horizontal (East or West) or vertical (North or South).
𝜽 = 𝟔𝟎° 𝑮
𝑨 𝑫 𝜽 = −𝟏𝟏𝟎°
𝟔𝟎°
𝟑𝟎° 𝟔𝟎°

𝟒𝟓°
𝑭
𝟏𝟏𝟎°
𝟒𝟓°
𝑯 𝟐𝟎°
𝑩 𝑬
𝑪
𝑨 𝒊𝒔 𝟑𝟎° 𝑵 𝒐𝒇 𝑬 𝑫𝒊𝒔 𝟔𝟎° 𝑾 𝒐𝒇 𝑵 𝑮 𝒊𝒔 𝟔𝟎° 𝑵 𝒐𝒇 𝑬 𝒐𝒓
𝑩 𝒊𝒔 𝟒𝟓° 𝑺 𝒐𝒇 𝑾 Or 𝑩 𝒊𝒔 𝑺𝑾 𝑬𝒊𝒔 𝟒𝟓° 𝑬 𝒐𝒇 𝑺 Or 𝑬 𝒊𝒔 𝑬𝑺 𝑮 𝒊𝒔 𝟑𝟎° 𝑬 𝒐𝒇 𝑵
𝑭 𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝑯 𝒊𝒔 𝟐𝟎° 𝑾 𝒐𝒇 𝑺 𝒐𝒓
𝑪𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉
𝑯 𝒊𝒔 𝟕𝟎° 𝑺 𝒐𝒇 𝑾
Operations on Vectors
Scalar quantities obey the ordinary rules of algebra on addition, subtraction,
multiplication and division. On the other hand, vector quantities are treated in a
different way. The directions must be taken into consideration when adding,
subtracting and multiplying vectors.

The sum of two or more vector quantities

is called the resultant. By definition, the
resultant is the single vector that, if
substituted in place of several vectors to
be added, would produce the same
combined effect of these vectors.
Methods of Adding Vectors

1. Graphical Method
a. Parallelogram Method
b. Polygon Method

2. Analytical Method
a. Sine Law and Cosine Law
b. Component Method –(most convenient)
1b. Parallelogram Method (Two Vectors)

1. Using a suitable scale (scale or ruler) and protractor, draw the

arrows representing the vectors from a common point.
2. Construct a parallelogram using the two vectors as sides.
3. Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from the common point.
This represents the resultant.
4. Measure the length of the arrow representing the resultant, and
from the scale used, determine its magnitude.
5. With your protractor, determine the direction of the resultant.
Example 1: Find the resultant of the two forces, Force A is 3.0 N directed north and
the other force B is 4.0 N 30° N of E. Find the resultant using parallelogram method.
Given: Req’d: R?
Force A = 3.0 N directed north
Force B = 4.0 N 30° N of E
Figure:
Using a scale 1 cm: 1 N, 1. Measure length of R using a scale,
𝑹≈𝟔𝑵
𝒚
𝑨 2. Measure angle 𝜽 that R makes with the
𝑹 horizontal using a protractor,
3.0 𝑁

𝑩 𝜽 ≈ 𝟓𝟓°
𝜽
30° 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝟔 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟓𝟓° 𝑵 𝒐𝒇 𝑬
𝒙
1b. Parallelogram Method (More than Two Vectors)

1. After drawing the resultant of the first two vectors, construct a

second parallelogram using this resultant and the third vector as
sides.
2. Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from the common point.
This is now the new resultant.
3. The process is continued until all vectors have been added.
4. The magnitude of the final resultant is determined from the scale
used. The direction is measured using a protractor.
1a. Polygon Method (Two Vectors)
1. Represent each vector quantity by an arrow draw to scale.
2. Draw the first arrow observing properly its direction.
3. Connect the tail of the second vector to the head of the first vector.
4. The resultant is the vector that will close the figure formed by
connecting the vectors. This resultant is drawn from the tail of the
first vector to the head of the last vector.
5. Measure the length of the arrow representing the resultant.
Determine the magnitude of the resultant from the scale used.
6. Use your protractor to determine the direction of the resultant.

Since the polygon that will be formed is a triangle, the polygon method
of two vector is otherwise known as the triangle method.
Example 2: Find the resultant of the two forces, Force A is 3.0 N directed north and
the other force B is 4.0 N 30° N of E. Find the resultant using polygon method.
Given: Req’d: R?
Force A = 3.0 N directed north
Force B = 4.0 N 30° N of E

Figure:
Using a scale 1 cm: 1 N, 1. Measure length of R using a scale,
𝒚 𝑹≈𝟔𝑵
𝑩 2. Measure angle 𝜽 that R makes with the
𝛼 = 30° horizontal using a protractor,
𝑨
3.0 𝑁

𝑹 𝜽 ≈ 𝟓𝟓°
𝜽 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝟔 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟓𝟓° 𝑵 𝒐𝒇 𝑬
𝒙
1a. Polygon Method (More than Two Vectors)
1. Represent each vector quantity by an arrow drawn to scale.
2. Draw the first arrow on the rectangular coordinate system, observing its
direction properly.
3. Connect the tail of the second vector to the head of the first vector.
Connect the tail of the third vector to the head of the second vector.
You may continue drawing the vectors head to tail until you draw the
last vector to be added.
4. The resultant is the vector that will close the figure formed by
connecting the vectors. This resultant is drawn from the tail of the first
vector to the head of the last vector.
5. Measure the length of the arrow representing the resultant. Determine
the magnitude of the resultant from the scale used.
6. Use your protractor to determine the direction of the resultant.
2a. Sine Law and Cosine Law
The steps are the same as in the polygon method except that instead
of determining the magnitude and direction of the resultant by actual
measurements, they are computed using the sine law and cosine law.

Sine Law Cosine Law

𝒂 𝒃 𝒄 𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒃𝒄 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑨
= =
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒂 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒃 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝒄 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒄 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑩
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑪
Example 3: Find the resultant of the two forces, Force A is 3.0 N directed north and
the other force B is 4.0 N 30° N of E. Find the resultant using sine or cosine law.
Given: Req’d: R?
Force A = 3.0 N directed north
Force B = 4.0 N 30° N of E
Figure: Solution:
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝑪
𝑩 𝑅 2 = 42 + 32 − 2(4)(3) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝜃,
30° 𝜃 = 90° + 30°
𝑨
𝜽 𝜃 = 120°
𝑹
3.0 𝑁

𝑅 2 = 42 + 32 − 2(4)(3) 𝑐𝑜𝑠 120°

𝑅 2 = 37
Cont… 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝛽, 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐿𝑎𝑤:
Solution: 𝑅 4
=
𝑅 2 = 37 sin 𝜃 sin 𝛽
𝑅 = 37 6.08 4
=
sin 120° sin 𝛽
𝑹 = 𝟔. 𝟎𝟖 𝑵
6.08 sin 𝛽 = 4(sin 120°)
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑅:
4(sin 120°)
𝑩 sin 𝛽 =
6.08
𝜷 = 𝟑𝟒. 𝟕𝟑°
30°
𝑨
𝜽 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝟔. 𝟎𝟖 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟑𝟒. 𝟕𝟑° 𝑬 𝒐𝒇 𝑵
𝑹
3.0 𝑁

𝜷
𝒐𝒓
𝟔. 𝟎𝟖 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟓𝟓. 𝟐𝟕° 𝑵 𝒐𝒇 𝑬
Resolution of Vectors

A single vector is usually divided into two vectors that are

perpendicular to each other. These two vectors are called components
and the process of splitting the vector into its components is called
resolution.
𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡: 𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡:
𝑹𝒙 = 𝑹𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 𝑹𝒚 = 𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
𝑹
𝑹𝒚 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆:
𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕:
𝜽 𝑹𝒚
𝟐
𝑹 = (𝑹𝒙 ) +(𝑹𝒚 ) 𝟐
𝒕𝒂𝒏 𝜽 =
𝑹𝒙 𝑹𝒙
Component Method

The component method is the most convenient method to use when

more than two vectors are to be added.

𝐼𝐼 (−, +) 𝑰 (+, +)

𝐼𝐼𝐼 (−, −) 𝐼𝑉 (+, −)

Example 4: A jogger runs 6.30 m 45.0° N of E, 2.50 m west, 8.20 m 20.0° S of W, 5.90
m south then stops. Find the resultant displacement.

Given: Req’d:
𝑨 = 6.30 m 45.0° N of E 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝑹?
𝑩 = 2.50 m west
𝑪 = 8.20 m 20.0° S of W
𝑫 = 5.90 m south
 Given:
𝑨 = 6.30 m 45.0° N of E 𝑪 = 8.20 m 20.0° S of W
𝑩 = 2.50 m west 𝑫 = 5.90 m south

Solution:

𝑨 Vectors Horizontal Comp. Vertical Comp.

+6.30 (cos 45°) +6.30 (sin 45°)
𝑨=6.30 m 45° N of E = 4.455 = 4.455
45°
𝑩 2.50𝑚 𝑩=2.50 m west −2.50 0
20°
−8.20 (cos 20°) −8.20 (sin 20°)
5.90𝑚

𝑪=8.20 m 20° S of W = −7.705 = −2.805

𝑪
𝑫 𝑫=5.90 m south 0 −5.90
Total: −𝟓. 𝟕𝟓 −𝟒. 𝟐𝟓
Cont…

Solution:
𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕: 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆:

𝑨 𝑅𝑦
𝑅= (𝑅𝑥 )2 +(𝑅𝑦 )2 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
𝑅𝑥
𝑅= (−5.75)2 +(−4.25)2 −4.25
𝑩 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝜃 =
−5.75
𝑹𝒚 𝜽 𝑹 = 𝟕. 𝟏𝟓 𝒎
𝑪 𝜃 = tan−1 0.739
𝑹 𝑹𝒙 𝜽 = 𝟑𝟔. 𝟒𝟕°
𝑫

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝟕. 𝟏𝟓 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟑𝟔. 𝟒𝟕° 𝑺 𝒐𝒇 𝑾

𝒐𝒓
𝟕. 𝟏𝟓 𝑵 𝒂𝒕 𝟓𝟑. 𝟓𝟑° 𝑾 𝒐𝒇 𝑺
Example 5: Find the magnitude of Example 6: Find the magnitude of
B=<-3, 4> 𝐴 = 3𝑖 + 5𝑗 − 7𝑘
𝑥 𝑦

Solution:
𝐵= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
𝐵= (−3)2 +(4)2
𝑩=𝟓
Solution:
𝐴= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2

𝐴= (3)2 +(5)2 +(−7)2

𝑨 = 𝟖𝟑 = 𝟗. 𝟏𝟏
Vector Subtraction

To be able to subtract, we have to first define the negative of a vector

𝑽. The negative vector –𝑽, is equal in magnitude to V but oppositely
directed.
𝑨 = 5 𝑁 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ
𝑨
−𝑩 −𝑨 = 5 𝑁 𝑑𝑢𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑡ℎ
𝟑𝟎°
𝑩 = 5 𝑁 𝑎𝑡 30° 𝑆 𝑜𝑓 𝑊
𝟑𝟎°
−𝑩 = 5 𝑁 𝑎𝑡 30° 𝑁 𝑜𝑓 𝐸
𝑩
−𝑨 𝑨 − 𝑩 = 𝑨 + −𝑩
Practice Problem: Find A-B for the following cases:

a. A = 6 units E and B = 4 units W

b. A = 7 m 60° N of E and B = 5.0 m east

Answers:
a. A-B = 10 units E
b. A-B = 6.24 m at 78° N of W
 Vector Multiplication

Three types:

1. Product of a Vector and a Scalar Quantity

The product of a scalar quantity, say 𝒂, and a vector quantity 𝑏, written as 𝒂𝒃,
is a vector.
𝒄 = 𝒂𝒃
𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 = (𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒓)(𝒗𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓)
Example 7: An unbalanced force F acting on a body of mass m will impart to it an
acceleration a according to the equation,
F=ma
What force is needed to give a 10 kg mass an acceleration of 3 𝑚/𝑠 2 directed to
the east?

Solution:
Recall that mass is scalar and acceleration is vector. Hence, this is a case of a vector
quantity multiplied by a scalar quantity.
𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆: 𝟏 𝑵 = 𝟏 𝒌𝒈 ∙ 𝒎/𝒔𝟐
𝐹 = (10 𝑘𝑔)(3 𝑚/𝑠 2 )
𝑭 = 𝟑𝟎 𝑵
Since force is positive, it follows that the direction of force is the same as that
of the acceleration. Thus, force F is 30 N east.
Vector Multiplication
Three types:

2. Dot Product of two Vector Quantities

The dot product of two vector quantities 𝑨 and 𝑩 is also called scalar product.
Although two vectors are being multiplied, the product is a scalar quantity.
Ex. Work is the dot product of force and displacement. Work is a scalar quantity.

𝐴 =< 𝑎1 , 𝑏1 , … > = 𝑎1 𝑖 + 𝑏1 𝑗 + ⋯
𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 = 𝑨𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽
𝐵 =< 𝑎2 , 𝑏2 , … >= 𝑎2 𝑖 + 𝑏2 𝑗 + ⋯
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝜃 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒
𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 =< 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 + ⋯ >
Example 8: Given 𝐴 = 35 𝑚, 𝐵 = 22 𝑚 Example 9: Find the dot product of
𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑖𝑠 28°. 𝐴 =< 2, 5, 3>
𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝐴 ∙ 𝐵.
𝐵 =< 6, 1, 5>

Solution: Solution:

𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 = 𝑨𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝜽 𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 =< 𝒂𝟏 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟏 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟏 𝒄𝟐 >

𝐴 ∙ 𝐵 = (35)(22) cos(28°) 𝐴 ∙ 𝐵 = 2 6 + 5 1 + (3)(5)

𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 = 𝟔𝟕𝟗. 𝟖𝟕 𝒎 𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 = 𝟑𝟐
Example 10: Find the 𝐴 ∙ (𝐵 + 𝐶)
of: 𝐴 = 4𝑖 + 5𝑗
𝐵 = 6𝑖 + 2𝑗
𝐶 = 7𝑖 + 𝑗

Solution:
𝐴 ∙ (𝐵 + 𝐶)
𝑏𝑢𝑡,
𝐵 + 𝐶 = 6𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 7𝑖 + 𝑗
𝐵 + 𝐶 = 13𝑖 + 3𝑗

𝐴 ∙ (𝐵 + 𝐶) = 4 13 + (5)(3)
𝑨 ∙ 𝑩 + 𝑪 = 𝟔𝟕
Vector Multiplication
Three types:

3. Cross Product of Two Vector Quantities

The cross product of two vectors 𝑨 and 𝑩 yields a vector for its product. It is for
this reason that the cross product is called a vector product.

𝑨 𝒙 𝑩 = −𝑩 𝒙 𝑨 = 𝑨𝑩 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽
where 𝛉 is the angle between 𝑨 and 𝑩.

Click the link below for additional reference regarding Dot and Cross Product of
Two Vectors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYF_QVdS3yY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0NJK4mEIJU