BS-103

Engineering Physics
 Contents
 Vectors & Scalars
 Types of Vectors
 Vector Notations
 Vectors Addition
 Vectors Subtraction
 Graphical Solution
 Trigonometric Solution
 Problems
Review & Summary
Questions
Exercises & Problems
 Vectors & Scalars
A scalar quantity only has a magnitude.
e.g.: temperature, speed, mass, . . .

A vector quantity has magnitude and direction.

e.g.: displacement, velocity, acceleration, . . .

All 3 paths represent the same

All 3 represent the same displacement vector.
displacement vector.
 Types of Vectors
Zero Vector:  
A vector whose initial and terminal points coincide, is called a zero vector (or null
vector) . Zero vector cannot be assigned a definite direction as it has zero magnitude.
Or, alternatively otherwise, it may be regarded as having any direction.
Unit Vector:  
A vector whose magnitude is unity (i.e., 1 unit) is called a unit vector. 
Co-initial Vectors: 
Two or more vectors having the same initial point are called co-initial vectors.
Collinear Vectors: 
Two or more vectors are said to be collinear if they are parallel to the same line,
irrespective of their magnitudes and directions.
Equal Vectors: 
Two vectors and are said to be equal, if they have the same magnitude and direction
regardless of the positions of their initial points .
Negative of a Vector: 
A vector whose magnitude is the same as that of a given vector , but direction is opposite
to that of it, is called negative of the given vector.
 Vector Notations
Vectors can be represented either in component notation or in magnitude-
angle notation.

Component Notation Magnitude-Angle Notation

(Cartesian Coordinates) (polar Coordinates)

( ax , a y ) For 2D ( a , )

( ax , a y , az ) For 3D ( a , ,  )
Vectors Addition

“head – to – tail”
  
s  ab
 Vectors Addition
Add vectors in either order:

Commutative Law:
   
b a  ab

Associative Law:

 
     
ab c  a b c 
Vectors Subtraction

b
a vector with the same magnitude but the
opposite direction is called Negative vector.

 
b  (b )  0

 
    
d  a b  a   b
 Graphical Solution

A= 5.0 m
B=15.0m
C=18.0 m
R= ? (A + B + C), q = ?
 Trigonometric solution

• Trapezoid rule for vector addition

• Triangle rule for vector addition

• Law of cosines,
C
R 2  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos B B
  
R  PQ
C

• Law of sines,
sin A sin B sin C
 
Q R A
B
 Trigonometric solution - Apply the triangle rule.
Example: From the Law of Cosines,
R 2  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos B
  40N  2   60N  2  2 40N  60N  cos155

R  97.73N

From the Law of Sines,

The two forces act on a bolt at A. sin A sin B
Determine their resultant using 
Q R
trigonometric solution:
Q
sin A  sin B
SOLUTION: R
60N
 sin155
97.73N
A  15.04
  20  A
  35.04
Example: SOLUTION:

a)

A barge is pulled by two boats. If

the resultant of the forces exerted Trigonometric solution - Triangle Rule with
by the boats is 5000 lbf directed Law of Sines
along the axis of the barge, by using
trigonometric solution determine T1 T2 5000 lbf
 
a) the tension in each of the ropes for sin 45 sin 30 sin105
a = 45o,
T1  3660 lbf T2  2590 lbf
b) the value of a for which the
tension in rope 2 is a minimum.
b)

The angle for minimum tension in rope 2 is

determined by applying the Triangle Rule and
observing the effect of variations in a.

The minimum tension in rope 2 (minimum

value of T2) occurs when T1 and T2 are
perpendicular.

T2   5000 lbf  sin 30 T2  2500 lbf

T1   5000 lbf  cos 30 T1  4330 lbf

  90  30   60

Multiplying Vectors
Multiplying vector by a scalar
 If we multiply a vector d by a scalar ,s, we get a new vector. Its
magnitude is the product of the magnitude of vector and the absolute
value of s.
Multiplying vector by a vector
Scalar product
Vector Product
Scalar Product
Vector Product

Right Hand Rule