WEEK 4

Vector and Scalar Quantities

SCIE 506
MECHANICS AND HEAT

Assoc. Prof. SHERRYL M. MONTALBO

 Distinguish between vector and scalar quantities
 Represent vectors graphically
 Draw and show the x-and y- components of a vector
 Use the trigonometric functions to determine the

resultant x- and y-components of the given vector and

tangent
 Use the Pythagorean theorem and component method

to find the resultant vector

 Use reverse method to solve the unknown vector
 A scalar quantity is a quantity that has
magnitude only and has no direction in space

Examples of Scalar Quantities:

 Length
 Area
 Volume
 Time
 Mass
 A vector quantity is a quantity that has both
magnitude and a direction in space

Examples of Vector Quantities:

 Displacement
 Velocity
 Acceleration
 Force
 Vector diagrams are
shown using an
arrow
 The length of the

arrow represents its

magnitude
 The direction of the

arrow shows its

direction
  The resultant is the sum or the combined effect of
two vector quantities

Vectors in the same direction:

6N 4N = 10 N

6m
= 10 m
4m

Vectors in opposite directions:

6 m s-1 10 m s-1 = 4 m s-1

6N 10 N = 4N
 When two vectors are joined
tail to tail
 Complete the parallelogram
 The resultant is found by
drawing the diagonal

 When two vectors are joined

head to tail
 Draw the resultant vector by
completing the triangle
Two forces are applied to a body, as shown. What is the magnitude
and direction of the resultant force acting on the body?

Solution:
 Complete the parallelogram (rectangle)
 The diagonal of the parallelogram ac

represents the resultant force

 The magnitude of the resultant is found using

Pythagoras’ Theorem on the triangle abc a

12 N d
Magnitude  ac  12  52 2
θ 13

5N
N 5
ac  13 N
12 b
12
c
Direction of ac : tan  
5
12
   tan 1  67  Resultant displacement is 13 N 67º
5
with the 5 N force
Find the magnitude (correct to two decimal places) and direction of the
resultant of the three forces shown below.
Solution:
 Find the resultant of the two 5 N forces first (do right angles first)

ac  52  52  50  7.07 N
5 d 5 c
tan    1    45
5

N
Now find the resultant of the 10 N and 5

5N

07


7.
7.07 N forces
 The 2 forces are in a straight line (45º + 90º
θ
45º
a

N
b
135º = 180º) and in opposite directions 5N

93
135º

2.
So, Resultant = 10 N – 7.07 N = 2.93 N

N


10
in the direction of the 10 N force
 What is a scalar quantity?
 Give 2 examples
 What is a vector quantity?
 Give 2 examples
 How are vectors represented?
 What is the resultant of 2 vector quantities?
 What is the triangle law?
 What is the parallelogram law?
 When resolving a vector into
components we are doing the
opposite to finding the resultant
 We usually resolve a vector into

components that are

perpendicular to each other

 Here a vector v is resolved into

an x component and a y

v
y
component
x
 Here we see a table N
y=25 N 50
being pulled by a force
30º
of 50 N at a 30º angle x=43.3 N
to the horizontal
 When resolved we see
that this is the same as
 We can see that it
pulling the table up would be more
efficient to pull the
with a force of 25 N table with a
and pulling it horizontal force of
horizontally with a 50 N
force of 43.3 N
 If a vector of magnitude v and makes an angle θ
with the horizontal then the magnitude of the
components are:
v
 x = v Cos θ y=v Sin θ y
 y = v Sin θ θ
x=v
x Cos θ
 Proof:
x y
Cos  Sin 
v v
x  vCos y  vSin
 2002 HL Sample Paper Section B Q5 (a)
A force of 15 N acts on a box as shown. What is the horizontal
component of the force?

Solution:

Horizontal Component  x  15Cos 60  7.5 N

Component
12.99 N

N
Vertical

15
Vertical Component  y  15Sin60  12.99 N
60º
7.5 N
Horizontal
Component
 A person in a wheelchair is moving up a ramp at constant speed. Their total weight is
900 N. The ramp makes an angle of 10º with the horizontal. Calculate the force required
to keep the wheelchair moving at constant speed up the ramp. (You may ignore the
effects of friction).

Solution:
If the wheelchair is moving at constant speed (no acceleration), then the force that moves it up
the ramp must be the same as the component of it’s weight parallel to the ramp.

Complete the parallelogram.

Component of weight 28 N
1 56 . 10º
parallel to ramp:
 900Sin10  156.28 N 80º 10º

Component of weight
perpendicular to ramp: 886.33 N
900 N
 900Cos10  886.33 N
 If a vector of magnitude v has two perpendicular components
x and y, and v makes and angle θ with the x component then
the magnitude of the components are:
 x= v Cos θ
 y= v Sin θ

v
y=v Sin θ y
θ
x=v Cosθ