MODULE OF INSTRUCTION______________________________NSCI-6100 PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS 1

VECTORS
Course Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the module, students are able to:
1. Study the composition and resolution of concurrent forces as
examples of vector quantities;
2. Identify the relationship between scalar quantities and vector
quantities; and
3. Solve for the resultant base on the direction of vector and using the
different methods.
Method:

• Concurrent forces acting on a body are used as examples of vector

quantities. These forces are represented by vectors. The resultant and
equilibrant of several sets of such known forces are determined by
both graphical and analytical methods. These results are tested on a
force table as a check on the first condition for the equilibrium of a
rigid body.
Introduction
Theory:
Measurable quantities may be classified as either (1) scalar quantities or (2)
vector quantities. A scalar quantity has magnitude only, but a vector quantity
has both magnitude and direction. For example, since to specify completely
the velocity of a body it is necessary to state not only how fast it is traveling
but in what direction it is going, velocity is a vector quantity. Since the weight
of a body is the force with which it is attracted by the earth, weight has a
downward direction and thus is a vector quantity. Since weight and mass are
different physical concepts, they should not be measured in the same units.
The gram is a unit of mass. The force with which the earth attracts a one-gram mass
at a standard location sometimes is called a “gram-weight” of force. * *Since
weight is proportional to mass in any given locality, this experiment is not
affected by the slight variations’ consequent to laboratory conditions. In order
to add scalar quantities, one has merely to make the algebraic addition. When one
wishes to add two vector quantities, the process is more difficult because their

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directions must be considered. The vector sum of two vector quantities is the single
vector quantity that would produce the same result as the original pair. The addition
of vector quantities is greatly simplified by representing the vector quantity
graphically. A vector is the line segment whose length represents the magnitude of
a vector quantity and whose direction is that of the vector quantity. The sense along
the line is indicated by an arrow. For example, a force of 100lb. acting at an angle of
30˚ above the horizontal may be represented by the line OA. Figure1 which is 5 units
long and has the correct direction. Each unit of length thus represents 20lb.

Figure1.Representation of a vector by a vector

When vectors do not have the same line of action, their vector sum is not their
algebraic sum but a geometric sum.

This geometric sum may be determined by either graphical or analytical methods.

Graphical methods are simply and direct but are limited in precision to that
obtainable by drawing instruments.

Analytical methods have no such inherent limitations.

The vector sum, or resultant, of a set of forces is the single force that will have the
same effect, insofar as motion is concerned, as the joint action of the several forces.

Vector quantities are often represented by scaled vector diagrams.

Vector diagrams must include:

✓ a scale

✓ an arrow drawn in a specified direction; thus, the vector has a head and a
tail.

TAIL HEAD

✓ the magnitude and direction of the vector is clearly labeled.

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Two Ways of Identifying the Direction of a Vector

Observe the second example that the vector is said to have a direction of 240
degrees. This means that the tail of the vector was pinned down, and the
vector was rotated an angle of 240 degrees in the counter clockwise direction
beginning from due east.

Scale Vector Diagram

The magnitude of a vector in a scaled vector diagram is depicted by the length
of the arrow. The arrow is drawn a precise length in accordance with a chosen
scale.
For example:
A vector with a magnitude of 20 miles using the scale 1cm = 5 miles, has a
vector arrow with a length of 4cm. That is, 4cm x 20miles.

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(5 miles/1cm) =

Resultants

Vector Addition
Observe the following summations of two vectors:

Note: You can have a

negative vector. Think of these like integers, if you travel backwards the way you
came and pass your origin can have a negative displacement. Likewise you can have
negative magnitudes for distance due to their direction.

The forwards direction is positive and the backwards direction is always

negative.

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In some other way, assume that north and east are the positive values and
south and west are the negative ones.
There are variety of methods for determining the magnitude and direction of
the result of adding two or more vectors.
• The Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometric Methods
• The Head-to-Tail Method using a scaled vector diagram
Head-to-Tail Method
Here are the following step-by-step methods for applying the head-
to-tail method to determine the sum of two or more vectors:
1. Choose a scale.
2. Pick a starting location and draw the first vector to scale in the
indicated direction. Label the magnitude and direction of the scale on
the diagram.

3. Starting from where the head of the first vector ends, draw the first
vector to scale in the indicated direction. Label the magnitude and
direction of the vector on the diagram.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all vectors which are to be added
5. Draw the resultant from the tail of the first vector to the head of the
last vector. Label this vector as “Resultant” or simply “R”.
6. Using a ruler, measure the length of the resultant and determine its
magnitude by converting to real units using the scale.
7. Measure the direction of the resultant.

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An example of the use of the head-to-tail method is illustrated below. The

problem involves the addition of three vectors:

The order in which three vectors are added is insignificant; the resultant will
still have the same magnitude and direction.
Example:

These are some three vectors still produce a resultant with the same
magnitude and direction as before (22m,310˚).

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Trigonometric Method
The Pythagorean Theorem is a useful method for determining the result of
adding two (and only two) vectors which make a right angle to each other. It
will only work for right-angled triangles.
Pythagorean Theorem

Example:
A hiker leaves a camp and hikes 11km north, and then hikes 11km east.
Determine the resulting displacement of the hiker.

Example:

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Answer A: Answer B:

R2 = (5)2 + (10)2 R2 = (30)2 + (40)2

R2 = 125 R2 = 2500
R = SQRT (125) R = SQRT (2500)
R = 11.2km R = 50km
Sine and Cosine Method

Note: this method is considered advanced, but it ultimately makes problem

solving easier.
Trigonometry assumes that all right-angled triangles have a common ratio of
sides vs. interior angles.
The three equations below summarize these three functions in equation
form.

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SIN = O/H COS = A/H TAN = O/A

Remember SOH CAH TOA
There is a SIN, COS and TAN button on your calculator. Press SIN then the
angle to find what B/C equals (it will be a decimal), press shift sign or sin
inverse to go from a decimal to the angle.

Remember: This only works for right angled triangle!

Try this on your calculator to make sure you get the right angle. Then go
backwards and make sure you get 45 degrees.
Vector summation by Graphical Methods:
Figure2. Two Concurrent Forces Figure3. Parallelogram of forces

As an example of vector addition let us consider the case of two forces acting
on a body in such a direction that the forces are concurrent, that is their lines
of action, if projected would intersect at a point. The vectors OA and OB
representing two such forces are shown in Figure2. Their vector sum or

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resultant R, is found by constructing a parallelogram having the two vectors

as sides and drawing the concurrent diagonal, as shown in Figure3.
This diagonal vector R represents in magnitude and direction the single force
that is equivalent to the original pair, that is their vector sum.
When the resultant of more than two vectors is to be obtained graphically a
polygon method is used.
This is illustrated in Figure4. The vector A is first constructed by the use of a
chosen scale and reference direction. Then, from the head of A, the vector B
is drawn. It is clear that the vector M is the resultant of vectors A and B, since
M would be the concurrent diagonal of a parallelogram if such a
parallelogram had been drawn, as was one in Figure3. similarly, it follows that
the vector R is the resultant of M and C or of A, B, and C.
When the resultant of several forces is required this method is simpler than
the parallelogram method. It should be noted that when the parallelogram
method is used, the arrows, with their tails together, all radiate from a
common point. But in the polygon method the tall of the second arrow
coincides with the head of the first, etc.
Parallelogram Method
In the parallelogram method for vector addition, the vectors are translated,
to a common origin and the parallelogram constructed as follows:
The resultant R is the diagonal of the parallelogram drawn from the common
origin.

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Polygon Method
Two vectors A and B are added by drawing the arrows which represents the
vector in such a way that the initial point of B is on the terminal point of A.
The resultant C = A + B, is the vector from the initial point of A to the terminal
point of B.

Many vectors can be added together in this way by drawing the successive
vectors in a head-to-tail fashion:

Reference:
A Committee on Physics (1962). College Physics. Published by Royal Publishing
House INC., Quezon City, Philippines.

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