There are 3 different ways to represent

the direction of a vector quantity.

1. Compass



N
S
E
W
30
0
North of East
30
0
East of South
v
1
v
2
Directions relative to N, S, E & W
1
2 Bearings.
This is used in the navigation of planes
and ships. North is given the value of a
bearing of 0
0
, East is 90
0
, South 180
0
and
West is 270
0.
N 0
0
090
0
180
0
270
0
Bearing of 210
0
v
1
v
2
Bearing of 060
0
Bearings
2
3 Direction of a vector relative to another vector:
A
B
A
B
B
A
In each of the above cases, vector A
is at 30
0
to vector B.
N.B. The direction of a vector is always
measured at the tail of the vector.
3
A man walks 10 m East and then a further
15 m East. Find his resultant displacement.
V
1
= 10 m East V
2
= 15 m East
Resultant R = 25 m East
A dog walks 15 m West and then 5 m East.
Find its displacement.
15 m West
5 m East
R = 10 m West
Vector addition
4
Triangle method (2 vectors only)
Also called the tail to head
method. The magnitude and
direction of the resultant is
obtained by drawing a straight
line from the tail of the first vector
to the head of the second vector.
When vectors are not linear (in a straight line), we
need to use other methods for vector addition.
5
Triangle method (2 vectors only)
Also called the tail to head method.
V
1
V
2
R

Resultant is the effective value of the two
vectors taken together from the tail of the
first to the head of the second vector.
6
Triangle method: (vectors drawn head to tail)
Resultant
V
2
V
1
Resultant is the effective value of the two
vectors taken together from the tail of the
first to the head of the second vector.
Vectors
7
Polygon method
Vectors are added, as in the
triangle method, head to tail.

This method is only used if there
are more than 2 vectors.
8
Polygon method: Head to tail
Resultant
V
1
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
5
v
1
v
2
v
3 v
4
v
5
Polygon method: head to tail
for 3 or more vectors
9
Parallelogram method
Taking their magnitude and direction into
account, two vectors are drawn from the
same point. (Tail to tail method)

The parallelogram is completed by drawing
dotted construction lines. The resultant is
then the diagonal which is also drawn from
the same point the tail of the two vectors.


Adding vectors
10
Parallelogram Method: (vectors drawn tail to tail)
Resultant
V
1
V
2
Construction lines
Vectors & scalars
Vector addition & subtraction
Parallelogram of forces experiment
11
F
1
F
2
R

To find the length of a side by
calculation, use Pythagoras:

R
2
= (F
1
)
2
+ (F
2
)
2

To find the length of a side or the size of an
angle, use simple trigonometric ratios of
Sin cos or tan

Sin = opposite side i.e. sin = F
2
/F
1
etc
adjacent side
Now do some sample problems.
Vector components
12