Scalar & Vector Quantities
Scalars
• 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
Vectors
• A vector quantity is a quantity that has both
magnitude and a direction in space
Examples of Vector Quantities:
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Force
Momentum
DETERMINING DIRECTION
B A
N of E
N of W
C S of E
S of W D
Vector Diagram
• Vector diagrams are
shown using an
arrow
• The length of the
arrow represents its
magnitude
• The direction of the
arrow shows its
direction
The Parallelogram Method:
When two vectors are joined
tail to tail
Complete the parallelogram
The resultant is found by
drawing the diagonal
The Triangle Law Red line is the resultant of
the vector.
When two vectors are joined
head to tail
Draw the resultant vector by
completing the triangle
Red line is the resultant of
the vector.
Polygon Method
Two vectors A and B are added by drawing the arrows which represent
the vectors in such a way that the initial point of B is on the terminal
point of A. The resultant C = A + B, is the vector from the initial point
of A to the terminal point of B. Many vectors can be added together in
this way by drawing the successive vectors in a head-to-tail fashion, as
shown here on the left.
If the polygon is closed, the resultant is a vector of zero magnitude and
has no direction. This is called the NULL VECTOR, or 0 (see above on the
right).
Pythagorean Theorem
• C2 = a 2 + b2
• C = hypotenuse
• a & b are the sides
20 km,
North
10 km, East
10 km, East
20 km or 20 km, North
North
10 km, East
R2 = (10 km)2 + (20 km)2
R = 22 km = 20 km
Determine angle makes with the X-axis.
Use the correct number of significant figures.
Tan = Y
X
= 20 km
10km
=2
= 63o = 60o
Right Triangle
hypotenuse
Opposite side
Adjacent side
SOH
Sin Ө = opposite side
hypotenuse
CAH
Cos Ө = adjacent side
hypotenuse
TOA
• Tan Ө = opposite side
adjacent side
Law of Cosine and Law of Sine
• If the angle formed from the
horizontal is not a right triangle,
then the Cosine Law and the Sine
Law methods are used:
Law of Cosine and Sine
• C
• b
•
• A B
• c
Law of Cosine
• = + - 2bc Cos A
• = + - 2ac Cos B
• = + - 2ab Cos C
Law of Sine
• = =
Solved Problem 1:
( Parallelogram Method )
• Given : F1 = 100 N due East and
• F2 = 60 N at North of East
• Required: Resultant force
• ( Magnitude and Direction )
Diagram 1:
Solution:
• Using the Law of Cosine to determine the
magnitude of the Resultant Force.
• = + - 2bc Cos A
• = + - 2F1F2 Cos Ɵ
Magnitude
• = + - 2F1F2 Cos Ɵ
• = + - 2(100N)(60N)
• x Cos
• = 10,000 + 3600 - 12000 (-0.5)
• = 13,600 + 6000
• = 19,600
• R = ( 19,600
• R = 140 N
Direction:
• To determine the direction of the resultant
force, use Law of Sine.
• =
• =
• F2 x Sin
• Sin Ɵ = --------------------
• R
• 60 N ( 0.886 )
• Sin Ɵ = --------------------- = 0.37114
140 N
• Sin = 0.37114
• Ɵ = 0.37114
• Ɵ = North of East
COMPONENT METHOD
To add two or more vectors A, B, C,… by the component
method, follow this procedure:
1. Resolve the initial vectors into components x and y.
2. Add the components in the x direction to give Σx and
add the components in the y direction to give Σy .
That is, the magnitudes of Σx and Σy are given by,
respectively:
Σx = Ax + Bx + Cx + …..
Σy = Ay + By + Cy + ….
3. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the
resultant R from its components by using the
Pythagorean theorem:
2 2
R x y
and
1
y
tan
x
SOLVE PROBLEM 2. ( Component Method )
. Three ropes are tied to a stake and the following forces are
exerted. Find the resultant force.
A (20 N, 0º)
B (30 N, 150º)
C (40 N, 232º)
To determine the x- and y-
component
• FX = F Cos ƟX
• FY = F Sin ƟX
For Forces A and B:
• Ax = A Cos Ɵx Bx = B Cos Ɵx
• = 20 N Cos = 30 N Cos 3
• Ax = + 20 N Bx = - 25.9807 N
• Ay = A Sin ƟX By = B Sin Ɵx
• = 20 N Sin = 30 N Sin
• Ay = 0 By = 15 N
For Force C:
• Cx = C Cos Ɵx
• = 40 N Cos
• Cx = - 24.6265 N
• Cy = C Sin Ɵx
• = 40 N Sin
• Cy = - 31.52 N
Component Method:
• ƩFx = Ax + Bx + Cx
• = 20 N – 25.9807 N – 24.6265 N
• ƩFx = - 30.6072 N
• ƩFy = Ay + By + Cy
• = 0 + 15 N - 31.52 N
• ƩFy = - 16.52 N
Magnitude of the Resultant Force
• = +
• = +
• = 936.8 + 272.9104
• = 1209.711
• R = 34.78 Newtons
Direction of the Resultant Force
• Ɵ = ( ƩFx )
•
• - 16. 52
• Ɵ = --------------
• - 30.6072
• Ɵ = 0.53974 =
• Ɵ = South of West
Diagram of the Resultant Force:
SOLVED PROBLEM 3. ( Component Method )
Four coplanar forces act on a body at point O as shown in the
figure. Find their resultant force with the component method.
A (80 N, 0)
B (100 N, 45)
C (110 N, 150)
D (160 N, 200)
Forces A and B
• Ax = A Cos Ɵx Bx = B Cos Ɵx
• = 80 N Cos = 100N Cos
• Ax = 80 N Bx = 70.71 N
• Ay = A Sin Ɵx By = B Sin Ɵx
• = 80 N Sin = 100N Sin
• Ay = 0 By = 70.71 N
Forces C and D
• Cx = C Cos Ɵx Dx = D Cos Ɵx
• = 110 N Cos = 160 N Cos
• Cx = - 95.2628 N Dx = - 150.3508 N
• Cy = C Sin Ɵx Dy = D Sin Ɵx
• = 110 N Sin = 160 N Sin
• Cy = 55 N Dy = - 54.7232 N
Component Method:
• ƩFx = Ax + Bx + Cx + Dx
• = ( 80 + 70.71 – 95.2628 + 150.3508 )
N
• ƩFx = - 94.9036 N
• ƩFy = Ay + By + Cy + Dy
• = 0 + 70.71 N + 55 N – 54.7232 N
• ƩFy = 70.9868 N
•
Magnitude of the Resultant Force
• = +
• = +
• = +
• = 14,045.819
• R = 118.515 Newtons
Direction of the Resultant Force
• Ɵ = ( ƩFx )
•
• 70.9868
• Ɵ = --------------
• - 94.9036
• Ɵ = - 0.747988 = -
• Ɵ = North of West
Assignment 1:
Parallelogram Method
• To be submitted on September 17,2020
• Determine the resultant force of the given
two forces:
• F1 = 150 N due East
• F2 = 100 N at North of West
Assignment 2:
Component Method
• A ring fastened to a wall as shown in the
figure, anchoring four forces A, B, C and
D, with 100 N, 200 N, 150 N and 50 N,
• respectively. Calculate the magnitude and
direction of the resultant pull on the ring.
Assignment 2 figure
Frequently Used Units of
Measurements
MKS: meters (m), Kilogram (kg), second (s)
kilometer (km), hour (h)
CGS: centimeter (cm), gram (g), second (s)
FPS: foot (ft.), pound (lb.), second (s)
miles (mi.), hour (h)
