WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-PHILIPPINES

Cushman Campus
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City
Philippines 3100

VECTORS ANALYSIS
Adding Vectors using Analytical Method
Quantities can be divided into two categories: scalars and Analytical method - adding the components, and
vectors. determining the resultant, using Pythagorean theorem and
the tangent of the angle.
Scalars In solving vectors, the magnitude, as well as the direction
- quantities that are defined by magnitude only. must be considered.
- provide answer only the question “how much.”
- measure how far, how fast, how long, or how big an Resultant
object/ a situation is, you are looking only for scalar - The value obtained from solving vectors
quantity. Distance, speed, time, and energy are samples - It represents the resulting magnitude and
of scalar quantities. direction of the combined vector quantities
- The components of the vector are its
Vectors “projections” along the axes of interest. When
- quantities that are defined by both magnitude and combined, these components form the resultant.
direction.
- when searching for a place in a map, the quantity that Example 1:
you are looking for is a vector; calculating the place from Daniel travelled 300 meters east before he rests. After he
your point of origin and the direction(s) that you are rested, he travelled another 400 meters north. Calculate
going to take results in displacement. the (a) magnitude and (b) direction of his resultant
displacement?
Pythagorean theorem states that the square of the
hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs Given:
or other two sides of a right triangle. a = 300 meters, east
c² = a2 + b2 b = 400 meters, north
For the trigonometric concept, the use of the relation
SOHCAHTOA must be understood. Note: Draw a graph to
opposite understand the problem
sin 𝜃 = better.
hypotenuse
adjacent The Pythagorean Theorem can be used to solve the
cos 𝜃 = magnitude.
hypotenuse
opposite Solution:
tan 𝜃 = Pythagorean Theorem (c² = a2 + b2)
adjacent c² = 3002 + 4002
opposite c² = 90,000 + 160,000
csc 𝜃 = c² = 250,000
hypotenus c = √250,000
hypotenus c = 500 meters
sec 𝜃 =
adjacent The tangent formula
adjacent can be used to solve for
cot 𝜃 = the direction.
opposite
opposite
tan 𝜃 =
adjacent
Vector Components
When you break a vector into its parts, those parts are
called its components. The components are the x- opposite – the one across from the given angle
component (horizontal line), and the y-component adjacent – next to a given angle
(vertical line) of the cartesian plane.

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 WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY-PHILIPPINES
Cushman Campus
Mabini Extension, Cabanatuan City
Philippines 3100

Tangent Formula: - In equation, angular velocity is the change in

opposite angular displacement per time
tan 𝜃 = - The two common unit of measurement for angular
adjacent
400 rad
velocity is radian per second ( ) and revolution
tan 𝜃 =
300 s
400 rev
per minute ( or rpm).
𝜃 = tan-1 ( ) m
300
- 1 revolution = 2 𝜋 rad
𝜃 = tan-1 (1.33)
𝜃 = 53.06 ° Angular Acceleration
- if we consider the changes
Formulae: in the angular velocity, we
To solve for the x-component, we use the formula: can account for angular
Fx = Fcos 𝜃 acceleration.
- denoted by the Greek
letter alpha (𝛼)
To solve for the y-component, we use the formula: - angular acceleration is the change in angular
Fy = Fsin 𝜃 velocity per time.

ROTATIONAL MOTION Other Formulae:

- circular motion or angular motion
- motion of objects in a circular path
- involves an object rotating about an axis.
- Examples of rotational motion are ceiling fan, wheel,
merry-go-round, the earth, etc.

Angular Displacement
- When a point on a circle, called an angular
position moves to another point on the circle,
the difference of those two points is called an
angular displacement.
- The standard unit of measurement for angular
displacement is radian.

Angular Velocity
- represented by the
lowercase omega
symbol (𝜔)
- tells us how fast an
object is spinning on
a circle
- can be defined if the
time element is involved

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