PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS

2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

VECTORS AND SCALARS

Quantities in Physics may be divided into 2 types:

Vector Scalar
Definition A physical quantity with both the A physical quantity with
magnitude and direction. only magnitude.
Representation A number (magnitude), direction using A number (magnitude)
unit cap or arrow at the top and unit. and Unit
Symbol Quantity symbol in bold and an arrow Quantity symbol
sign above
Direction Yes No
Example Velocity and Acceleration Mass and Temperature

Vector quantities have two characteristics, a magnitude and a direction. Scalar quantities
have only a magnitude. When comparing two vector quantities of the same type, you
have to compare both the magnitude and the direction. For scalars, you only have
to compare the magnitude. When doing any mathematical operation on a vector quantity
(like adding, subtracting, multiplying ..) you have to consider both the magnitude and the
direction. This makes dealing with vector quantities a little more complicated than scalars.

VECTOR QUANTITIES
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF A VECTOR:
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

DIRECTION : Given in terms of NAVIGATIONAL (COMPASS) BEARINGS :

EXAMPLE:
With Angles measured or starting from the horizontal (East or West) as reference
θ, North of East θ, North of West
θ, South of East θ, South of West
1. 50˚, South of East
2. 30˚, North of West
3. 40˚, South of West
4. 80˚, North of East

-
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

VECTOR RESOLUTION
A process of combining two or more vectors acting at the same point on an object
to determine a single equivalent vector known as the “Resultant” vector. The resultant
has the same effect as the multiple vectors that originally acts on the object. The resultant
vector is also known as the “Net” vector.
Resultant Can be determined in two ways :
1. Graphical Methods
These involve plotting and drawing the vectors (using a convenient scale)
and directly measuring the resultant from these vectors.

a. Polygon Method - The resultant is determined by laying the vectors tail to head
in series. Once the last vector is in placed, the resultant is drawn from the tail
of the origin vector up to the tip of the last vector.

b. Parallelogram Method - Start with a pair of vectors drawn from the same origin.
Make a parallelogram by projection. The diagonal will be the resultant of the
two vectors. If you have more than two given vectors, pair the earlier resultant
with the next given vector, and so on. The very last diagonal will be the final
resultant.
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

2. Analytical Methods
These involve no scaled drawings. These are purely computation that
mostly involves trigonometry. Provides the most accurate value for the resultant.

a. Sine & Cosine Laws - Useful when given two vectors

b. Component Method - Useful for two or more vectors. Components of a Vector

can be thought of as the horizontal & vertical projections of a vector.

TRIGONOMETRIC FUNTIONS:
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

Component Method : Sign Convention

The usual vector sign convention follows the Cartesian coordinate system.

x – component values :
to the right (or East) are positive
to the left ( or West) are negative
y – component values :
going up (or North) are positive
going down (or South) are negative.

APPLICATION OF VECTOR RESOLUTION : NAVIGATION via Displacement

Displacement (s) : A vector quantity that is the change in position of an object.
Distance is the scalar counter part of displacement. It may vary because there is a
multiple (if not infinite) number of ways to get from one point to another.
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
The magnitude of the displacement is considered as a distance, in fact it is the
shortest possible value for distance.

EXAMPLE1: Determine the resultant displacement: D1 = 5m, 35˚ S of W ; D2 = 7m, 30˚

to the right of –y.

Using a ruler and a protractor, the length and angle of direction of the resultant
displacement is determined.
LDr = 8.7cm
DR = 8.7m
θ = 87.5˚, S of W
The resultant displacement is then, DR = 8.7m, 87.5˚ S of W
Note: The order in which vectors are added does not matter; we will arrive at the same
answer no matter the order used.

Do not forget to declare what scale you are using whenever you use the Graphical
Method.

APPLICATION OF VECTOR RESOLUTION :RELATIVE VELOCITY

Velocity : A vector quantity that is the rate of change in position (displacement) over a
time interval
Speed is the scalar part or the magnitude of velocity
PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera
Relative Velocity : The observed velocity of an object with respect or relative to where the
observer is (frame of reference of the observer) .

EXAMPLE1: An airplane heading due south with an airspeed of 200kph is in a crosswind

of 10kph due west. How far does the airplane go in 2 hours and in what direction?

ANS : S = 400.5 km, θ = 87.138° S of W

UNIT VECTORS
Unit vectors are “unitless” vectors with a magnitude of 1.
• Direction is the only information that a unit vector contains.
• In terms of the Cartesian coordinate system, there are 3 unit vectors:

3D Vector is written in rectangular coordinate system as :

PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

Components are :

Magnitude of the 3D Vector :

Note : 3D vector becomes a 2D vector , when ONE of ANY of the components

becomes zero.

EXAMPLE1: Plot: Vector A :

PHY11/L – PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS
2ND SEMESTER
SY 2021-2022
Prepared by: Engr. Imma Concepcion C. Llanera

Addition/Subtraction: Simply get the sum or difference between the same components.