Scalars and Vectors

Mehrdad Negahban (1999)

 Scalar: A quantity like mass or temperature which only has a magnitude
 Vector: A quantity like heat flux or force which has both a magnitude and a direction
(denoted by a bold faced character, an underlined character, or a character with a arrow
on it)
 Vector Addition: Vector Addition follows the parallelogram law described be the figure

 Resolution of a Vector: A vector can be resolved along different directions using the
parallelogram rule. The figure shows how one resolves vector c into
components a and b which are along the given directions

 The math you need:

o For a right triangle:

a2+ b2 = c2

Source URL: http://emweb.unl.edu/negahban/em223/note2/note2.htm

Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/ME102

© Mehrdad Negahban Saylor.org

Used by permission. Page 1 of 3
 tan() = b/a

sin() = b/c

cos() = a/c

o For a general triangle:



Sine law:

Cosine law:

Source URL: http://emweb.unl.edu/negahban/em223/note2/note2.htm

Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/ME102

© Mehrdad Negahban Saylor.org

Used by permission. Page 2 of 3
 o A line intersecting parallel lines:

Source URL: http://emweb.unl.edu/negahban/em223/note2/note2.htm

Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/courses/ME102

© Mehrdad Negahban Saylor.org

Used by permission. Page 3 of 3