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PHYSICS FORM THREE SUBJECT NOTES

CHAPTER : 1 APPLICATION OF VECTORS

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APPLICATION OF VECTOR
At the end of this Topic you should be able to:
a) Distinguish between scalar and vector quantities
b) Add vectors using graphical methods
c) State the triangular and parallelogram law of forces
d)Explain the concept of relative motion
e) Calculate relative motion of bodies
f) Apply the concept of relative motion in daily life
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS.
Scalar quantity- this is quantity that that has only
magnitude
Vector quantity – is a quantity with both magnitude and
direction
Resultant vector- this is the vector obtained when two
vectors are connected by a third line.
Triangle law of addition- It states that; "If three forces are
in equilibrium and that two of the forces are represented
in magnitude and direction by two sides of a triangle,
then the third side of the triangle represents the resultant
of the two forces"
Parallelogram law of addition states; "If two
forces/vectors are represented by the two sides given and
they include angle
between them, then resultant of the two forces/vectors
will be represented by the diagonal from their common
point of a parallelogram formed by the two
forces/vectors"
Relative velocity- This is the velocity of a body in
relation to another
Scalar quantity.
Is a physical quantity with both magnitude only.
Examples are time, speed,distance,temperature,
energy,mass, area, volume, density, volume, electric
current etc.
Vector Quantities
Vector quantity is the any physical q u a n t i t y t h a t h a s
b o t h m a gnitude and direction.
Example, force, displacement, velocity, momentum,
acceleration, etc
Vector Arithmetic
Scalar quantity can be added, multiplied, divided or
subtracted.
Example, if you have two liquid in different
measuring cylinder let say fist one contain 10 cm3 and
second contain 20cm3 if you asked to find total volume
you must add to obtain total volume
Vector quantity can be represented on a d i a g r a m b y
a d i r e c t e d l i n e s e g m e n t , consider the diagram
below.
a
The length of line segment represents the magnitude and
the arrow represents the direction
NB:
The direction can be represented by using compass
direction
Two vector are equal if the magnitude and direction
the same.
When adding two or more vectors, by mathematical
formula is used to sum up vectors. For example,
pythogoras theorem, and trigonometric ratios.
The triangle method and parallelogram m e t h o d a r e
u s e d t o a d d i n g t w o vectors.
The vector we get after the adding of two or more
vectors is called resultant vector
R e s u l t a n t v e c t o r c a n b e a d d e d b y mathematical
or graphical/drawing
Resultant vector is measured as an anticlockwise
angle of rotation from due east
Adding By graphical Method
The following are steps followed when adding two or more
vectors by graphical method
Choose a suitable scale and write it down on a
graph paper
Pick starting and draw the first vector to scale
direction stated (indicate the magnitude and
direction)
Starting from the head of the first vector, draw the
second vector to scale in the started direction until
all given vectors finished
Draw the line to connect tail of the first drawn
vector and the head of the last vector. This is called
resultant vector
Measure the length of the resultant vector and
convert to actual unit
Determine the direction of vector
Example,
Suppose a man walks starting from point A, a
distance of 20m due north and then walks 15m due
east. Find his new position from A
Solution
Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 5 m
Draw a vector AB 4cm due north.
From B draw BD 3cm due east.
Join A and D point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as shown below

v. Measure the length of AD

AD = 5 cm
Change to actual unit
lcm = 5 m
5 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 25 m
vi. Determine the direction of vector

Tanθ = = 0.75

θ= 36051
Therefore position of D is represented by vector AD
of magnitude 25 m at an angle of 36051 east of north
The Triangle Method/Triangle Law
T h e t r i a n g l e l a w i s a p p r o p r i a t e w h e n adding
two vector quantities. The law state that
"If three forces are in equilibrium and that two of the forces
are represented in
magnitude and direction by two sides of a triangle, then the
third side of the triangle represents the resultant of the two
forces"
Example,
A brick is pulled by a force of 4N acting northward
and another force of 3N acting north-east. Find the
resultant of these two forces.
Solution
Data
Initial force, F1=4N northward
Final force, F2=3N north-east
Steps
i/ Using a scale of lcm to represent 1 N
ii/ Draw a vector AB 4cm due north.
iii/ From B draw BD 3cm at 450
iv/Join A and D point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as shown below
v/
Measure
the
length
of AD
AD = 6.5
cm
Change
to
actual
unit
lcm = 1 N
6.5 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 6.5 N
Therefore the resultant of these two
forces= 6.5 N
Example,
Two forces, one 8 N and the other 6 N,
are a c t i n g o n a b o d y. G i v e n t h a t
the two
forces are acting perpendicularly to eachother, find
the magnitude of the third force which would just counter
the two forces.
Solution
Data
Force, F=8N
1

Force, F=6N
2

Stapes
i/ Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 2 N
ii/ Draw a vector AB 4cm due north.
iii/ From B draw BC 3cm at 900
iv/Join A and C point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as shown below

v/ Measure the length of AC

AD = 5 cm
Change to actual unit
lcm = 2 N
5 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 10 N
Therefore magnitude of third force is 10 N
Parallelogram Method
The parallelogram law of vector is
a p p l i c a b l e w h e n a d d i n g t w o v e c t o r quantities.
The law state that
"If two forces/vectors are represented by the two sides given
and they include angle
between them, then resultant of the two forces/vectors will
be represented by the diagonal from their common point of
a parallelogram formed by the two forces/vectors"
Example1;
Two forces AB and AD of magnitude 40 N and 60 N
respective are pulling a body on horizontal table. If the two
forces makes an angle 30 0 between them, find the resultant
force on the, body.
Solution
Data
Force AB, FAB=40N
Force AD, FAD=60N
Angle between, θ=300
i/ Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 10 N
ii/ Draw a vector AD 6 cm horizontal from point A
iii/ From point A draw AB 3 cm at 300 from vector AD
iii/Complete the parallelogram ABCD
iv/ Join A and c point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as shown below

v/Measure the length of Ac

Ac = 9.7 cm
Change to actual unit
1 cm = 10 N
9.7 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 97 N
Therefore the resultant of these two forces 6.5 N
Example 2;
Two ropes of 3 m and 6 m long are tied to a ceiling
and their free ends are pulled by a force of 100 N as
shown in the figure below. Find the tensions in
each rope if they make angle 30° between them.
Diagram:

Data
Legth, l1=3m
Length, l2=6m
Force, F=100N
Angle between, θ=300
Solution
Steps
i/ Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 1 m
iii/ Draw a vector AD 6 cm horizontal from point A
iii/ From point A draw AB 3 cm at 300 from vector AD
iv/Complete the parallelogram ABCD
v/ Join A and c point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as
shown below

A 6 cm
vi/Measure the length of Ac
AC = 8.7 cm
AC is the equal to 100 N because action is equal to
opposite reaction,
AC = 8.7cm =100 N
Now:
Tension at 3 cm calculated by:
8.7 cm = 100 N
3 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 34.5 N
Therefore the Tension at 3 cm is 34.50N
Then:
Tension at 6 cm calculated by:
8.7 cm = 100 N
6 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 69 N
Therefore the Tension at 6 cm is 69 N
Example,
Find the resultant force when two forces act as
shown in the figure below.
6N

8N
Solution
Joining to line to get resultant force
8N

D
i/ Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 1 N
ii/ Draw a vector AD 8 cm horizontal from point A
iii/ From point A draw AB 6 cm at 900 from vector AD
iv/Complete the parallelogram ABCD V/ Measure the
length of Ac
Ac = 10 cm
Change to actual unit
1cm = 1N
10cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 10N
Therefore the resultant of these two forces 10N
Example,
F i n d t h e r e s u l t a n t f o r c e , F, w h e n t w o forces,
9N and 15N, act on an object with an angle of 60 0
between them.
Solution
i/Using a scale of 1cm to represent 3N
ii/Draw a vector AD 5cm horizontal from point A
iii/ From point A draw AB 3cm at 600 from vector AD
iv/Complete the parallelogram ABCD
v/ Join A and c point
The resultant diagram is a triangle as
shown below

v/Measure the length of AC

AC = 7 cm
Change to actual unit
lcm = 3 N 7 cm = ?
Cross multiplication you get 21 N
Therefore the resultant force, F is 21 N
Relative Velocity
Relative velocity is the velocity of a body which
observed by another moving or stationary body.
Or
Relative velocity is the velocity of a body with relative
to the moving observer.
Nb:
Ve l o c i t y o f o n e o b j e c t l e t s a y V A respect
another object let say V B is denoted by symbol VAB.
if all object moving to the same direction,
i t s e e m s t o o b s e r v e l o w speed, therefore we
minus two velocity of moving body, ( _ V B )
VAB = VA + (_VB)
VAB = VA – VB
if all object moving to the opposite d i r e c t i o n , i t
s e e m s t o o b s e r v e h i g h speed, therefore we plus
two velocity of moving body, (+VB)
VAB = VA + (+VB)
VAB = VA + VB
Relative v e l o c i t y a l s o c a n b e calculated by triangle
method and by parallelogram methods.
Example,
A plane travelling at a velocity of 100 km/h t o t h e
S o u t h e n c o u n t e r s a s i d e w i n d blowing at 25 km/h
to the West. What is its velocity relative to an
observer on the ground?
Data
Velocity of plane, Vp= 100km/h south
Velocity of plane, Vw= 25km/h west
Solution:

By using Pythagoras theorem,

R2= 252 + 1002
R2 = 625 + 10000
R2= 10625
R=
R = 103.1 km/h
Direction of resultant

Cos θ =

Cos θ =

Cos θ = 0.9699
θ= 14 0 - clockwise to the east with the southward
direction.
Since: Resultant vector is measured as an anticlockwise
angle of rotation from due east
θ = 270° - 140- anticlockwise to the east θ = 256°
Example,
Car A is moving with a velocity of 20 m/s while car B
is moving with a velocity of 30 m/s.
Calculate the velocity of car B relative to car A if:
{ a } t h e y a r e m o v i n g i n t h e s a m e direction
{ b } They are moving in the opposite directions.
Data given

Velocity of Car A, VA = 20 m/s

Velocity of Car B, VB = 30 m/s
Relative velocity, VBA = ?
Solution:
{ a } t h e y a r e m o v i n g i n t h e s a m e direction
From: VBA = VB -VA
V BA =30 - 20
VBA = 10 m/s
{ b } They are moving in the opposite directions.
From: VBA = VB + VA
VBA = 30 + 20
VBA = 50 m/s
Resolution of the Vector
As we study at trigonometrically ratio when we
have values of hypotenuse and a n g l e f o r m e d w i t h
horizontal we can calculate vertical
c o m p o n e n t a n d horizontal component.
Consider the diagram below where the t o y c a r
pulls at a certain angle but it s e e m s t o m o v e
h o r i z o n t a l l y d u e t o horizontal force/vector, not
only that but vertical force/vector are formed

From the diagram:

Horizontal force/vector = x
Vertical force/vector = y
E x t r a c t t h e t r i a n g l e f r o m t h e a b o v e diagram

Horizontal force/vector is given by the formula

From:

cos θ = multiply by F both sides you get

x = Fcos θ
Ve r t i c a l f o r c e / v e c t o r i s g i v e n b y t h e formula
From:

Sin θ = multiply for F both sides you get

y= Fsin 8
Example,
A nail is being pulled using a string from a wall. The
string forms an angle of 30° with the normal. If the
force being used is 10 N, part of the force will tend to
bend the nail while the other part will try to pull it out.
Figure:
{ a } Ten d to b en d th e n a ils ?
{ b } Tend to pull the nails out?
Data
Force applied, F=10N
Angle made, θ=300
Solution:
Change the information above into vector form

F2
{a} Force tends to bend the nails, F1 = ?
F1 = 10 x cos 300
= 10 x 0.866
F1 = 8.66 N
{b} Force tends to pull the nails out, F2= ?
F2 = 10 x sin 300
F2= 10x0.5
F2 = 5.0 N
Example,
A body is being acted on by two forces: F 1 = 18N
acting at an angle of 25° and F 2 = 30 N acting at 140°
from due East. Find the r e s u l t a n t o f t h e t w o
f o r c e s , F, b y s e p a r a t i n g t h e f o r c e s i n t o x -
a n d y - components.
Solution:
Draw the diagram first

First find F1x and F2x

Where: F 1 = 18N F2 = 30 N From: X = F. Cos 0
F1x = F1 Cos 25
F1x = 18 x Cos 25
F1x = 18 x 0.9063
F1x = 16.31N - toward east
F2x = 22.98 N - toward west θ=76.06° - to the west or
θ=103.94°- to the east
Assume the wanted direction is east so the an direction
of force to west will be negative.
Find their net force, Fx = ?
Fx = F1x + F2X
Fx = 16.31 + (-22.98)
Fx = 16.31 - 22.98
Fx = - 6.67N - toward west
Second find Fly and F2y
Where:
F1= 1=18 N F2 = 30 N
From: y= F. Sinθ
Fly .= F1. Sin 25
Fly = 18 x Sin 25
Fly = 18 x 0.4226
Fly = 7.6N - toward north
Then:
F2y = F1. Sin 40
F2y = 30 x Sin 40
F2y = 30 x 0.6428
F2y = 19.28 N - toward north
Assume the wanted direction is north.
Find their net force, Fy = ?
F y = F ly +F 2y
Fy = 7.6 + 19.28
Fy=26.88N toward north
Modify the vector diagram

6.67 N (F)x
Lastly find the resultant of the two forces, F =2
By using Pythagoras theorem,
R2= 26.882 + (-6.672)
R = 27.70 N
Get the direction tanθ = Fy/Fx
tanθ=26.88/6.67
tan θ = 4.03
θ= 76.060- to te west or θ= 103.94 to east
Therefore the resultant force is 27.70N at an angle of 103.94
to west.
SUMMARY
1. Quantities can be represented as a vector or scalars.
Vectors have both magnitude and direction while scalars
have magnitude only.
2. A vector quantity is represented quantity is represented
graphically using a vector diagram. In a vector diagram,
an arrow drawn to scale in a specific direction is to
represent the vector.
3. A resultant vector that is net effect of two or more vectors.
4. The triangle law of vector addition states that if two
vectors addition states that if two vectors are vectors are
represented by two sides of a triangle in sequence, that if
two sides of a triangle in sequence, then the third closing
side of the triangle drawn from the tail of the first vector
to the head of the two vector, represents the resultant of
the two vectors in both magnitude and direction.
5. The parallelogram law of vector addition states that: if
two vectors are represented by two adjacent sides of a
parallelogram, then the diagonal of the parallelogram
through the common point represents the sum of the two
vectors in both magnitude and direction.
6. A two dimensional vector can be separated into two
perpendicular vectors which are its components.
7. Relative velocity of a body with respect to another
moving body.
8. We use the Pythagoras theorem , c2 ═ a2 ┼ b2, to find the
result vector of two perpendicular vectors of two
perpendicular vectors.
9. A vector F has a component F cos o in a direction at angle
o to itself and a component F Sin o in the perpendicular
direct direction.
SAMPLE NECTA QUESTIONS
(a) State the parallelogram law of forces.
(b)(i) Distinguish between absolute velocity and relative
velocity.
(ii) Wind is blowing 30° west of north at 20
km/hour. A bird is flying in the wind and its velocity relative
to the ground is 90 km/hour at 75° west of north. Calculate
the velocity and direction of the bird.
(c) (i) Define the coefficient of dynamic friction.
(ii) A body of mass 40 kg is placed in a straight
track sloping at an angle of 45° to the horizontal. If the body
is held from slipping by friction, calculate the normal
reaction and the force of friction.
(a) State the parallelogram law of forces.
(b) (i) Distinguish between, Absolute velocity and relative
velocity.
(ii) Wind is blowing west of north at 20km/hour. A bird is
flying in the wind and its velocity relative to the ground is
90km/h at west of north. Calculate the velocity and direction
of the bird.
(c) (i) Define, coefficient of dynamic friction.
(ii) A body of mass 40kg is placed in a straight track sloping
at an angle to the horizontal . If the body is held from
slipping by friction, calculate the normal reaction and the
force of friction.
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PHYSICS FORM THREE: TOPICAL EXAM.

APPLICATION OF VECTORS:
SECTION A:
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS.
1. Choose the most correct answer.
(i) Identify the odd one out
A. Force
B. Displacement.
C. Speed
D. Velocity.
(ii) The vector we get after addition of two or more vectors
is called?
A. Head to tail vector
B. Resultant vector
C. Resultant force
D. Vector addition
(iii) Two forces 9N and 15N act on an object with an angle
of 60 between them; the resultant force will be?
A. 15 N
B. 20 N
C. 21 N
D. 10 N
(iv) Two forces one 8 N and the other 6N are acting on a
body. Given the two forces are acting perpendicular to
each other, find the magnitude of the third force which
would just counter the two forces. Download Learning
A. 16 N. " Hub App #
B. 8 N
C. 10 N
D. 2 N.
(v) Using the parallelogram law, find the resultant force
!
when two forces 20N and 40N, are acting on an object
with an angle of 45 between them.
A. 56N
B. 10.6N