SCALAR & VECTOR

QUANTITIES
General Physics 1
Lesson Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students will be

able to:
• differentiate vector and scalar quantities,
• perform addition of vectors; and

2
Scalar vs. Vector

SCALAR VECTOR
- a quantity characterized by - a quantity characterized by
magnitude only. both magnitude and direction.

Examples: Examples:
time, mass, temperature, velocity, acceleration,
speed, energy force, momentum

magnitude – numerical value

consisting a number and a unit.
3
Scalar vs. Vector

SCALAR VECTOR
Examples: Examples:
time velocity
mass acceleration
temperature force
speed momentum
energy

4
Vector

tail head

head – indicates the direction of the vector.

tail – represents the origin.
length of the arrow – represents the magnitude of
the vector.

5
Vector Addition
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM

90⁰

180⁰ 0⁰

270⁰

6
Vector Addition
CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEM

• Consider a vector N Possible Names:

plotted in a Cartesian • 16 m, 35⁰

plane m
• 16 m, -325⁰
16
35 ⁰
W E • 16 m, 35⁰ north of east

• 16 m, 55⁰ east of north

7
Vector Addition

N
Possible Names:
20
km • 20 km, 135⁰
45 ⁰
• 20 km, -225⁰
W E

• 20 km, northwest

8
Vector Addition

W E

9
Vector Addition
• When vectors point in the same direction,
simply add them .

• When vectors point in the opposite direction,

simply subtract them.

• When vectors are added, the result is called as vector

s sum or resultant vector.

10
Vector Addition

Example: Fatima
walks 40 m east, then
another 15 m east.
Calculate her
displacement relative
to where she started.

11
Vector Addition

Example: Lester walks

40 m east, then
another 50 m west.
Calculate his
displacement relative
to where he started.

12
Vector Addition

13
Vector Addition

Ways in Adding Vectors

• Graphical Method
- Parallelogram Method
- Polygon Method

• Analytical Method

14
Vector Addition Using the Graphical Method

• Parallelogram Method • Polygon Method

- adding two vectors - adding more than two
- also known as the tail- vectors
to-tail method - also known as the head-
to-tail method

tail head

15
Vector Addition Using the Graphical Method

• Use ruler in plotting the given

vectors in the Cartesian plane.
• Use protractor for the angle or
direction of the given vectors.

16
Parallelogram Method

Example: Force is a vector quantity that use Newton (N) as the

unit. Suppose a force of F = 8 N is applied horizontally to a block
going right. Also, a second force F = 5 N is applied at an angle of
35⁰ above the horizontal. Determine the resultant force that acts
on the block.

17
Polygon Method

Example: Julius walk from his house with the following

displacements. First, he walk 7 m to the east, 3 m to the north
and 5 m, 15⁰ west of north. Find Julius’ resultant displacement.

18