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A Level Physics OCR 

2.3 Scalars & Vectors

CONTENTS
2.3.1 Scalars & Vectors
2.3.2 Combining Vectors
2.3.3 Resolving Vectors

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2.3.1 Scalars & Vectors YOUR NOTES


Scalars & Vectors
A scalar is a quantity which only has a magnitude (size)
A vector is a quantity which has both a magnitude and a direction
For example, if a person goes on a hike in the woods to a location which is a couple of miles
from their starting point
As the crow flies, their displacement will only be a few miles but the distance they
walked will be much longer

Displacement is a vector while distance is a scalar quantity

Distance is a scalar quantity because it describes how an object has travelled overall, but
not the direction it has travelled in
Displacement is a vector quantity because it describes how far an object is from where it
started and in what direction
Some common scalar and vector quantities are shown in the table below:
Scalars and Vectors Table

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

 Exam Tip
Do you have trouble figuring out if a quantity is a vector or a scalar? Just think - can
this quantity have a minus sign? For example - can you have negative energy? No.
Can you have negative displacement? Yes!

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2.3.2 Combining Vectors YOUR NOTES


Combining Vectors
Vectors are represented by an arrow
The arrowhead indicates the direction of the vector
The length of the arrow represents the magnitude
Vectors can be combined by adding or subtracting them to produce the resultant vector
The resultant vector is sometimes known as the ‘net’ vector (eg. the net force)
There are two methods that can be used to add vectors
Calculation – if the vectors are perpendicular
Scale drawing – if the vectors are not perpendicular
Vector Calculation
Vector calculations will be limited to two vectors at right angles
This means the combined vectors produce a right-angled triangle and the magnitude
(length) of the resultant vector is found using Pythagoras’ theorem

The magnitude of the resultant vector is found by using Pythagoras’ Theorem

The direction of the resultant vector is found from the angle it makes with the horizontal or
vertical

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The question should imply which angle it is referring to (ie. Calculate the angle from the YOUR NOTES
x-axis) 
Calculating the angle of this resultant vector from the horizontal or vertical can be done
using trigonometry
Either the sine, cosine or tangent formula can be used depending on which vector
magnitudes are calculated

The direction of vectors is found by using trigonometry

Scale Drawing
When two vectors are not at right angles, the resultant vector can be calculated using a
scale drawing
Step 1: Link the vectors head-to-tail if they aren’t already
Step 2: Draw the resultant vector using the triangle or parallelogram method
Step 3: Measure the length of the resultant vector using a ruler
Step 4: Measure the angle of the resultant vector (from North if it is a bearing) using a
protractor

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A scale drawing of two vector additions. The magnitude of resultant vector R is found using
a rule and its direction is found using a protractor
Note that with scale drawings, a scale may be given for the diagram such as 1 cm = 1 km
since only limited lengths can be measured using a ruler
The final answer is always converted back to the units needed in the diagram
Eg. For a scale of 1 cm = 2 km, a resultant vector with a length of 5 cm measured on your
ruler is actually 10 km in the scenario
There are two methods that can be used to combine vectors: the triangle method and the
parallelogram method
To combine vectors using the triangle method:
Step 1: link the vectors head-to-tail
Step 2: the resultant vector is formed by connecting the tail of the first vector to the
head of the second vector
To combine vectors using the parallelogram method:
Step 1: link the vectors tail-to-tail
Step 2: complete the resulting parallelogram
Step 3: the resultant vector is the diagonal of the parallelogram
Vector Addition

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Vector Subtraction
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

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 Worked Example 
A hiker walks a distance of 6 km due east and 10 km due north. Calculate the
magnitude of their displacement and its direction from the horizontal

 Exam Tip
Pythagoras' Theorem and trigonometry are consistently used in vector addition, so
make sure you're fully confident with the maths here!

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Combining Vectors with a Vector Triangle YOUR NOTES

Coplanar forces can be represented by the resultant of any two vector triangles 
Forces are in equilibrium if an object is either
At rest
Moving at constant velocity
In equilibrium, coplanar forces are represented by closed vector triangles
The vectors, when joined together, form a closed path
The most common forces on objects are
Weight
Normal reaction force
Tension (from cords and strings)
Friction
The forces on a body in equilibrium are demonstrated below:

Three forces on an object in equilibrium form a closed vector triangle

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 Worked Example

A weight hangs in equilibrium from a cable at point X. The tensions in the cables are
T1 and T2 as shown.

Which diagram correctly represents the forces acting at point X?

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Exam Tip YOUR NOTES

 The diagrams in exam questions about this topic tend to be drawn to scale, so make

sure you have a ruler handy!

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2.3.3 Resolving Vectors YOUR NOTES


Resolving Vectors
Two vectors can be represented by a single resultant vector
Resolving a vector is the opposite of adding vectors
A single resultant vector can be resolved
This means it can be represented by two vectors, which in combination have the same
effect as the original one
When a single resultant vector is broken down into its parts, those parts are called
components
For example, a force vector of magnitude F and an angle of θ to the horizontal is shown
below

The resultant force F at an angle θ to the horizontal

It is possible to resolve this vector into its horizontal and vertical components using
trigonometry

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

The resultant force F can be split into its horizontal and vertical components
For the horizontal component, Fx = F cos θ
For the vertical component, Fy = F sin θ
Example: Forces on an Inclined Plane
Objects on an inclined plane is a common scenario in which vectors need to be resolved
An inclined plane, or a slope, is a flat surface tilted at an angle, θ
Instead of thinking of the component of the forces as horizontal and vertical, it is easier to
think of them as parallel or perpendicular to the slope
The weight of the object is vertically downwards and the normal (or reaction) force, R is
always vertically up from the object
The weight W is a vector and can be split into the following components:
W cos (θ) perpendicular to the slope
W sin (θ) parallel to the slope
If there is no friction, the force W sin (θ) causes the object to move down the slope
The object is not moving perpendicular to the slope, therefore, the normal force R = W cos
( θ)

The weight vector of an object on an inclined plane can be split into its components parallel
and perpendicular to the slope
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 Worked Example

A helicopter provides a lift of 250 kN when the blades are tilted at 15º from the
vertical.

Calculate the horizontal and vertical components of the lift force.

Step 1: Draw a vector triangle of the resolved forces

Step 2: Calculate the vertical component of the lift force

Vertical = 250 × cos(15) = 242 kN
Step 3: Calculate the horizontal component of the lift force
Horizontal = 250 × sin(15) = 64.7 kN

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Exam Tip YOUR NOTES

 If you're unsure as to which component of the force is cos θ or sin θ, just remember

that the cos θ is always the adjacent side of the right-angled triangle AKA, making a
'cos sandwich'

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