VECTORS

GENERAL PHYSICS 1

MR. LEXTER C. SUPNET

TEACHER II, ISNHS-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Think About It!
• If I walk one meter forward what is my total distance
travelled?
• What is my displacement?

• If and move one meter backward, what is my total

distance travelled?
• What is my displacement?
Distance vs Displacement
• Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to "how much
ground an object has covered" during its motion.

• Displacement is a vector quantity that refers to "how

far out of place an object is"; it is the object's overall
change in position.
Test your understanding!
• A physics teacher walks 4 meters East, 2 meters South, 4
meters West, and finally 2 meters North.

• Ans: total distance of 12 meters, her displacement is 0

meters
Quick Quiz
• The diagram below shows the position of a cross-country
skier at various times. At each of the indicated times, the
skier turns around and reverses the direction of travel. In
other words, the skier moves from A to B to C to D.

• Answer: The skier covers a distance of

• (180 m + 140 m + 100 m) = 420 mand has a
displacement of 140 m, rightward.
Vectors and Scalars
• Scalars are quantities that are fully described by a
magnitude (or numerical value) alone.
• Vectors are quantities that are fully described by both a
magnitude and a direction.
Vector VS Scalar
• a. 5 mSee Answer
• b. 30 m/sec, EastSee Answer
• c. 5 mi., NorthSee Answer
• d. 20 degrees CelsiusSee Answer
• e. 256 bytesSee Answer
• f. 4000 Calories
Vector Diagrams
• Vector diagrams are diagrams that depict the direction
and relative magnitude of a vector quantity by a vector
arrow.

• In a vector diagram, the magnitude of a vector quantity is

represented by the size of the vector arrow.
Vector Component
Resolution of Vectors: Sample Problem
• A person walks 5.0 m in the direction 37° N
of E. How far north and how far east had
he walked?

Solution:
Dx = 5.0 m cos 37 ° = 4.0 m
Dy = 5.0 m sin 37 ° = 3.0 m

He walked 4.0m east and 3.0 m north.

Sample Problem 2:
• A box weighing 98 N rest on a plane
inclined 40° with the horizontal. Find the
components of its weight parallel and
perpendicular to the plane.

40° 98N
Try This!
Activity 1: The Treasure Hunt
• Materials:
• Meter stick
• Compass
• Protractor
• Twine/rope
• Treasures (sweets)

• Challenge 1: Make a treasure map by measuring 5 vectors.

• Challenge 2: Find the treasures of the other groups.
• Individually: find the resultant vector (R) of the vectors using the
analytical and graphical method.