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Scalars and Vector

Scalar quantities: These are the quantities which have magnitude only.
For example, distance speed, area volume density
pressure power emf electric current etc

Vector quantities: The physical quantities which possess both magnitude and direction are
called vectors.
Examples
Displacement, Velocity,
Acceleration Force
Weight Momentum
Moment of force (torque)
Gravitational field strength.
Representation of vectors:
 Vectors are represented by an arrow.
 The length of the arrow according to the selected scale gives the
magnitude and
 the arrow head tells about the direction.

Addition of vectors: To add two or more vectors, a scale diagram (graphical method) is
used. It commonly known as Head to tail rule
Head to tail rule: It requires the following procedure
 Select a suitable scale.
 Draw the arrows, according to the selected scale, for all the vectors to be
added.
 Join the vectors in such a way that head of the first vector joins the tail of the
second vector. The head of second vector joins the tail of third vector and so
on.
 The resultant vector is the vector that joins the tail of first vector to the head
of the last vector.
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 The length of the resultant vector according to the scale gives the magnitude
of the resultant vector.
 The angle with x- axis gives the direction of the resultant vector.
For example :
 To add three vectors A, B and C as shown below

 First join the three vectors by head to tail rule, as shown

 To find the resultant R of three vectors, Join the tail of A with the head of C
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Subtraction of vectors: To subtract a vector B from vector A, first draw a negative

vector of B i.e (- B). Then add –B to A to get A – B .
A – B = A + (–B )
For example:
 To find the value of (A – B) for two given vectors A and B

 Find the negative of B as shown above

 Now add A and –B by head to tail rule as shown below

ie

Negative Vector: For a vector A, its negative vector is a vector that has same
magnitude but in opposite direction.
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Resolving a vector into two components perpendicular to each other.

If the direction of a vector is neither along X-axis nor along Y-axis but makes an
angle θ with X-axis, we resolve the vector into two components. One component is along
x-axis and the other along y-axis. This make the calculations easy.
Consider a force F making an angle θ with X-axis as shown

Draw perpendiculars from the head of the vector F on both axis

Draw arrows to consider two vectors on both axis, Fx is along horizontal axis and
Fy is along vertical axis. Fx and Fy are the rectangular components of F.
The magnitudes of Fx and Fy can be determined using trigonometric ratios for the
triangle of three vectors F, Fx and Fy .

𝐹𝑥 𝐹𝑦
= cos θ similarly = sin θ
𝐹 𝐹
Fx = F cos θ Fy = F sin θ
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Hence two components of F are

Fcosθ (adjacent to angle θ)
and Fsinθ ( opposite to angle θ)

Fig. components of force F

Resolving of more vectors is shown below

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Addition of Vectors (forces) by resolving method.

To add different Forces acting at a point. We apply the method of resolving forces
as follows.
1. Identify the forces to be resolved, and resolve them
2. Find the sum of all forces acting along x-axis, Fx .
3. Find the sum of all forces acting along y-axis , Fy.
4. Calculate the magnitude of resultant force F using the formula
F = √𝐹𝑥 2 + 𝐹𝑦 2
5. Calculate the angle of the resultant force with x-axis using the formula
𝐹𝑦
θ = Tan -1( )
𝐹𝑥

Combining velocities

Resolving a force acting on an inclined plane.

When different forces act at a point on inclined plane. Following rule if followed to
make the calculations easy.
1. The forces acting in directions along (parallel to) the plane or perpendicular to the
plane are NOT resolved.

2. The forces acting in other directions are resolved into two components. One
component acts along the plane and the other acts perpendicular to the plane.
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Example: Resolving weight of an object.

Consider an object of weight W placed on an inclined plane making an angle θ
with horizontal. Weight W is acting vertically downward. To resolve the weight into
components, first draw a dotted line normal to the plane.
Then resolve the weight into two components.

Example : Resolving Horizontal force acting on inclined plane.

A horizontal force acting F acting on an inclined plane is resolved iot components
as shown below.
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Equilibrium
An object is in equilibrium if the sum of all the forces acting on it is zero and sum of
all the torques is also zero. As a result object has zero acceleration.
Triangle of Forces
“ If three forces acting at a point are in equilibrium, then the three forces can be shown as
three sides of a triangle taken in order.”
OR
“If three forces acting at a point can be drawn as three sides of a triangle taken in order
then the forces are in equilibrium.”

Example: Two forces T1, T2 and weight of 150N are acting on a pendulum as shown in
figure below. The pendulum is at rest. Calculate the magnitudes of T1 and T2.

 As the pendulum is in equilibrium, so the forces can be shown as three sides of the
triangle as shown in figure.

 As two forces T1 and T2 are unknown, we can adjust the lengths of the sides of the
triangle, without changing the directions of the forces, to complete the triangle.

 The Magnitudes of T1 and T2 can be calculated by using the trigonometric

ratios.
𝑇2 150
sin 30° = and cos 60° =
150 𝑇1
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Example 2: Figure shows a picture of weight 10.0N hanging by two strings. The
tension in the strings are T1 and T2. Calculate the magnitude of T1 and
T2.
 As the picture in equilibrium, so the forces can be shown as three sides of the triangle as
shown in figure.

 As two forces T1 and T2 are unknown, we can adjust the lengths of the sides of the
triangle, without changing the directions of the forces, to complete the triangle.

 The Magnitudes of T1 and T2 can be calculated by using the trigonometric

ratios as given below.
From the symmetry of the diagram, magnitudes of T1 and T2 are same. The force
of 10N is equally divided into 5N each in ΔOAC and ΔOBC.
5
From ΔOAC sin 60° =
𝑇2

5
T2 =
sin 60°
= 5.77N
Hence T1 = T2 = 5.77 N

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