Scribd
Upload
4 views

Vectors

Uploaded by

denniswezaaraujo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views

Vectors

Uploaded by

denniswezaaraujo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Scalars and Vectors

CEPI-12A/B
Maths & Physics

To know the difference between scalars and vectors and be able to list some examples of each
Learning
To be able to add vectors by scale drawing
Outcomes
To be able to add negative vectors by scale drawing D.SIMUTOWE

What is a Vector?
A vector is a physical quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction.
Examples of Vectors: Displacement, velocity, force, acceleration and momentum.
What is a Scalar?
A scalar is a physical quantity that has magnitude only (it doesn’t act in a certain direction).
Examples of Scalars: Distance, speed, energy, power, pressure, temperature and mass.

Vector Diagrams
A vector can be represented by a vector diagram as well as numerically:
The length of the line represents the magnitude of the vector.
The direction of the line represents the direction of the vector.
We can see that vector a has a greater magnitude than vector b but acts in a different
direction.
A negative vector means a vector of equal magnitude but opposite direction.

Adding Vectors
We can add vectors together to find the affect that two or more would have if acting at the same time. This is
called the resultant vector. We can find the resultant vector in four ways: Scale drawing, Pythagoras, the Sine
and Cosine rules and Resolving vectors (next lesson).

Scale Drawing
To find the resultant vector of a + b we draw vector a then
draw vector b from the end of a. The resultant is the line
that connects the start and finish points.
The resultants of a + b, b – a, a – b, – a – b and would look
like this:

If the vectors were drawn to scale we can find the resultant


by measuring the length of the line and the angle.

Pythagoras
If two vectors are perpendicular to each other the resultant
can be found using Pythagoras:
Vector z is the resultant of vectors x and y.
Since x and y are perpendicular z 2  x2  y2  z x2  y2
We can also use this in reverse to find x or y:
z 2  x2  y2  z 2  y2  x2  z2  y2  x
z 2  x2  y2  z 2  x2  y2  z 2  x2  y

Sine and Cosine Rules


The sine rule relates the angles and lengths using this equation:
sin A sin B sinC
 
a b c
The Cosine rule relates them using these equations:
a2  b2  c2  2bccos A
b2  a2  c2  2accosB
c2  a2  b2  2abcosC
Resolving Vectors
CEPI-12A/B
Maths & Physics

To be able to resolve vectors into their vertical and horizontal components


Learning
To be able to add vectors and find the resultant by resolving them
Outcomes
To know what equilibrium is and how it is achieved D.SIMUTOWE

In the last lesson we looked at how we could add vectors together and find the resultant. In this lesson we will
first look at ‘breaking down’ the vectors and then finding the equilibrium.
Resolving Vectors
A vector can be ‘broken down’ or resolved into its vertical and horizontal components.

We can see that this vector can be resolved into two


perpendicular components, in this case two to the right and
three up.
This is obvious when it is drawn on graph paper but
becomes trickier when there isn’t a grid and still requires an
element of scale drawing.

We can calculate the vertical and horizontal components if we know the magnitude and direction of the vector.
In other words; we can work out the across and upwards bits of the vector if we know the length of the line and
the angle between it and the horizontal or vertical axis.

Adding Resolved Vectors


Now that we can resolve vectors into the vertical and horizontal components it is made from we can add them
together. Look at this example of multiple vectors acting (A).

A B C D E
If we resolve the vector c we get (B). We can now find the resultant of the horizontal components and the resultant
of the vertical components (C). We can then add these together to find the resultant vector (D) and the angle can
be found using trigonometry (E)

Equilibrium
When all the forces acting on a body cancel out equilibrium is reached and the
object does not move. As you sit and read this the downwards forces acting on
you are equally balanced by the upwards forces, the resultant it that you do
not move.
With scale drawing we can draw the vectors, one after the other. If we end up
in the same position we started at then equilibrium is achieved.
With resolving vectors we can resolve all vectors into their vertical and
horizontal components. If the components up and down are equal and the
components left and right are equal equilibrium has been reached.

You might also like