CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

SCALARS & VECTORS

A physical quantity comprises of a numerical value and a unit.

Physical quantity

scalar: magnitude
only

vector: magnitude
and direction

A resultant vector is a single vector whose effort is equivalent to the algebraic sum of the multiple
individual vectors.
Recall: determine the resultant vector of:
1. 3N + 4N

2. 6N - 5N

3.
4N

3N
4. 4N and 7N at an angle of 450 to each other.
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

RESOLVING VECTORS

In situations in which vectors are directed at angles to the customary coordinate axes, a useful
mathematical trick will be employed to transform the vector into two parts with each part being directed
along the coordinate axes. For example, a vector that is directed northwest can be thought of as having
two parts - a northward part and a westward part. A vector that is directed upward and rightward can be
thought of as having two parts - an upward part and a rightward part.

Any vector directed in two dimensions can be thought of as having an influence in two different
directions. That is, it can be thought of as having two parts. Each part of a two-dimensional vector is
known as a component. The components of a vector depict the influence of that vector in a given
direction. The combined influence of the two components is equivalent to the influence of the single two-
dimensional vector. The single two-dimensional vector could be replaced by the two components.

consider a vector acting at a point making an angle q with positive X-axis. Vector is
represented by a line OA.From point A draw a perpendicular AB on X-axis.Suppose OB and BA
represents two vectors.Vector OA is parallel to X-axis and vector BA is parallel to Y-axis.Magnitude
of these vectors are Vx and Vy respectively.By the method of head to tail we notice that the sum of these

vectors is equal to vector .Thus Vx and Vy are the rectangular components of vector .
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

Vx = Horizontal component of .

Vy = Vertical component of .
For the horizontal component, consider triangle OAB above,:

Consider right angled triangle DOAB:

EXAMPLE

Two ropes are tied to a box on a frictionless surface. One rope pulls due east with a
force of 2.0N. The second rope pulls with a force of 4.0N at an angle 30º west of
north, as shown in the diagram. What is the total force acting on the box?
To solve this problem, we need to resolve the force on the second rope into its northward and westward
components.
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

Because the force is directed 30º west of north, its northward component is

and its westward component is

Since the eastward component is also 2.0N, the eastward and westward components cancel one another
out. The resultant force is directed due north, with a force of approximately 3.4N.

EXAMPLE 2:
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

EXAMPLE 3:

Summary:
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
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CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS

CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS
CAPE PHYSICS UNIT 1 A DOW PHYSICS