TOPIC 1: Units,

Trigonometry, and Vectors

Madam Nur Asyikin Binti Ahmad Nazri
+60 0135853632
asyikin2750@uitm.edu.my
1.0 Physical Quantities and units
1.2 Scalars and vectors
1.2.1 Define scalar and vector quantities
1.2.2 Addition rule for two or more vectors
1.2.3 Multiplication of vectors: *Scalar or Dot Product
Vector or Cross Product
Subtopic
1.1 Standard of Length, Mass, and Time
1.2 The building Blocks of Matter
1.3 Dimensional Analysis
1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement and Significant Figures
1.5 Unit Conversions for Physical Quantities
1.6 Estimates and Order-of-Magnitude Calculations
1.7 Coordinate Systems
1.8 Trigonometry Review
1.9 Vectors
1.10 Components of a vector
1.11 Problem Solving Strategy
 Learning outcomes

01 02 03
Define scalar and vector Explain vector addition
quantities, and unit vector and subtraction operation Resolve a vector into its components
in Cartesian coordinates and their rules

04 05 06
Discuss the various forms Define and use dot(scalar) States their usage in
of writing unit vector such product and cross product subsequent topics (eg work,
as or torque, EM etc)
 1.7
Coordinate Systems
 Cartesian (rectangular) Plane polar coordinate
system

❑ Origin and reference line are noted

❑ Point is distance r from the origin in the
x- and y- axes
direction of angle
Points are labeled (x,y)
❑ Positive angles are measured ccw from
Positive x is usually selected to be to
reference line
the right of the origin
❑ Points are labeled (r, )
Positive y is usually selected to be to
❑ The standard reference line is usually
upward from the origin
selected to be the positive x axis
D.I.Y
 1.8
Trigonometry Review
Pythagorean Theorem

2 2 2
r =x +y
Trigonometry Review
 Trigonometry Review

● To find an angle, you need the inverse

trig function
○ For example, θ = sin-1 0.707 = 45°
 Trigonometry Review
❖ Be sure your calculator is set for the appropriate
angular units for the problem
❖ For example:
○ tan -1 0.5774 = 30.0°

○ tan -1 0.5774 = 0.5236 rad

 1.9
Vectors
1.2 Scalars and vectors
1.2.1 Define scalar and vector quantities
 Scalar Quantity
defined as a quantity with magnitude only.
e.g. mass, time, temperature, pressure,
electric current, work, energy and etc.
Mathematics operational : ordinary
algebra
 Vector Quantity
defined as a quantity with both magnitude
& direction.

e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration,

force, momentum, electric field,
magnetic field and etc.
Mathematics operational : vector
algebra
20

Vectors
Vector A
Length of an arrow– magnitude of vector A

Direction of arrow – direction of vector A

● Table 1.6 shows written form (notation) of vectors.

displacement velocity acceleration

Table 1.6 x (bold) v (bold) a (bold)

● Notation of magnitude of vectors.

21

Direction of Vectors

Can be represented by using:

a) Direction of compass, i.e east, west, north, south,

north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west

b) Angle with a reference line

e.g. A boy throws a stone at a velocity of 20 m s-1, 50° above

horizontal. y

50°

0 x
 Vectors can be represented by using

Angle with a
Direction of compass
reference line
i.e. east, west, north, south,
e.g. A boy throws a stone at a north-east, north-west,
velocity of 20 m s-1, 50° south-east and south-west
above horizontal.

Polar coordinates
Cartesian coordinates
2-Dimension (2-D)
23

c) Cartesian coordinates

■ 2-Dimension (2-D)
y/m

0
x/m
1
24

■ 3-Dimension (3-D)
y/m

x/m
0 4

z/m
25

d) Polar coordinates

150°

- +

e) Denotes with + or – signs.

-
26

1.9.1 Equality of Two Vectors

Two vectors equal if both magnitude and direction are

the same.
1.9.2 Adding Vectors
There are two methods involved in addition of vectors graphically i.e.

○ Parallelogram

○ Triangle
 Parallelogram Triangle

O O
29

Triangle of vectors method:

Use a suitable scale to draw vector A :

a) From the head of vector A draw a line to represent the vector B.

Commutative Rule

b) Complete the triangle. Draw a line from the tail of vector A to the head
of vector B to represent the vector A + B.

O
30

Triangle of vectors method:

● If there are more than
2 vectors, therefore

○ Use vector polygon and associative rule.

○ E.g.

Associative Rule
31

Distributive Rule
Proof of case a: let α=2

O
32

Proof of case a: let α =2

✓
33

Proof of case b: let α = 2 and β = 1

✓
34

1.9.3 Negative of a Vector

● If vector A is multiplied by a scalar quantity k
Then, vector A is

■ if k = +ve, the vector is in the same direction as vector A.

■ if k = -ve, the vector is in the opposite direction of vector A.

35

1.9.4 Subtracting Vectors

Vectors subtraction can be used

○ to determine the velocity of one object relative to another object

i.e. to determine the relative velocity.

○ to determine the change in velocity of a moving object.

 Parallelogram Triangle

O O
39

Exercise 1
1. Vector A has a magnitude of 8.00 units and 45° above the positive x
axis. Vector B also has a magnitude of 8.00 units and is directed along
the negative x axis. Using graphical methods and suitable scale to
determine
a) b)

c) d)

(Hint : use 1 cm = 2.00 units)

 1.10
Components of
a Vector
1.2 Scalars and Vector
41

Resolving a Vector
1st method : ⚪ 2nd method :

y y

φ φ
θ
0
x 0
x
42

● The magnitude of vector R :

● Direction of vector R :
or

● Vector R in terms of unit vectors written as

43

Example 1.2 :
A car moves at a velocity of 50 m s-1 in a direction north 30° east. Calculate the
component of the velocity
a) due north. b) due east.
Solution :
N a) or

30°

60°
W E
b)

or

S
44

Example 1.3 :
150°

x
S
A particle S experienced a force of 100 N as shown in figure above.
Determine the x-component and the y-component of the force.
Solution : Vector x-component y-component
y

or or
30° 150°

S
x
45

Example 1.4 : y

x
30o O

30o

The figure above shows three forces F1, F2 and F3 acted on a

particle O. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant
force on particle O.
46

Solution :
y

30o

60o
x
30 o O
47
Solution :

Vector x-component y-component

Vector
sum
Solution :
The magnitude of the resultant force is
y

and 18°

O
x

Its direction is 162° from positive x-axis

OR 18° above negative x-axis.
49

Exercise 2 :
1. Vector has components Ax = 1.30 cm, Ay = 2.25 cm; vector has
components Bx = 4.10 cm, By = -3.75 cm. Determine
a) the components of the vector sum
b) the magnitude and direction of,
c) the components of the vector ,
d) the magnitude and direction of . (Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.42)
ANS. : 5.40 cm, -1.50 cm; 5.60 cm, 345°; 2.80 cm, -6.00 cm;
6.62 cm, 295°
ANS. : 11.1 m s-1, 77.6°; U think;
28.5 m s-1, 202°; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2° y

37.0°
x
0
Figure 1.2
 2. For the vectors and in Figure 1.2,
use the method of vector resolution to
determine the magnitude and direction of
y
a) the vector sum ,
b) the vector sum ,
c) the vector difference,
d) the vector difference .
(Young & freedman,pg.35,no.1.39) 37.0°
x
0

ANS. : 11.1 m s-1, 77.6°; U think; 28.5 m s-1, 202°; 28.5 m s-1, 22.2°
51

Exercise 2 :
3. Vector points in the negative x direction. Vector points at an
angle of 30° above the positive x axis. Vector has a magnitude of
15 m and points in a direction 40° below the positive x axis. Given
that , determine the magnitudes of and .
(Walker,pg.78,no. 65)
ANS. : 28 m; 19 m y
4. Given three vectors P, Q and R as
shown in Figure 1.3.
50°

x
Figure 1.3 0
52

1.9.5 Multiplying or Dividing a Vector by a Scalar Figure 1.4a

Scalar (dot) product

The physical meaning of the scalar product can be explained by
considering two vectors and as shown in Figure 1.4a.
○ Figure 1.4b shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .
○ Figure 1.4c shows the projection of vector onto the direction of
vector .

Figure 1.4b Figure 1.4c

 1.11
Problem
Solving
Strategy
 Summary

Units, Trigonometry, and

Vectors

DIMENSIONAL VECTOR UNITS

ANALYSIS

[L] Consists of magnitude and SI units

[M] direction Basic SI units :
[T] m, kg, s
The End
THANKS!
Do you have any questions?
asyikin2750@uitm.edu.my
+60 0135853632
Pusat Asasi Sains, UiTM, Dengkil
Topic 2 onwards
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