Physics 1

Lecture 4
Vectors

Eng. LOUAY KARAKER

 Vectors and Scalars

When a physical quantity is described by a single number,

we call it a scalar quantity. In contrast, a vector quantity
has both a magnitude and a direction in space.

Scalar quantities: Temperature, volume, mass …

Vector quantities: Displacement, velocity, force …
❖ Quick Quiz: Which of the following are vector quantities
and which are scalar quantities?

(a) your age (b) acceleration (c) velocity (d) speed (e) mass
 Coordinate Systems
1. Rectangular coordinates:

• Fixed reference point (0,0) ➔ Origin

• A set of axis
• The x- and y-coordinates may be either
positive or negative
2. Polar coordinates:

Sometimes it is more convenient to use the polar coordinate

system (r, Ɵ), where r is the distance from the origin to the
point of rectangular coordinate (x,y), and Ɵ is the angle
between r and the x axis.
𝑥 = 𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝑦 = 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑟= 𝑥2 + 𝑦2
Example 1:

The Cartesian coordinates of a point in the xy plane are (x, y) = (-3.50, -

2.50) m. Find the polar coordinates of this point.
Properties of Vectors

Equality of Two Vectors:

𝐴Ԧ = 𝐵
only if 𝐴 = 𝐵 and if 𝐴Ԧ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 point in the same direction along parallel lines
Properties of Vectors

Adding Vectors:

𝑅 = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 • 𝑅 = 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 + 𝐶Ԧ + 𝐷
• 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 = 𝐵 + 𝐴Ԧ
• 𝐴Ԧ + 𝐵 + 𝐶Ԧ = 𝐴Ԧ + (𝐵 + 𝐶)
Ԧ
• 𝐴Ԧ + −𝐴Ԧ = 0
𝐴Ԧ
• 𝐴Ԧ − 𝐵 = 𝐴Ԧ + (−𝐵)
Eng. LOUAY KARAKER