All physical quantities (measurable quantities) can

be divided into 2 groups:

Scalars & Vectors
A vector quantity can be represented by an arrow,
drawn to scale with the arrow head indicating
the direction of the vector.
10 m due East can thus be represented as follows:

10 m East
Scale 1 cm = 1 m.
(Magnitude unit direction)
(Magnitude = size)
1
Scalar
A physical quantity that has only a
magnitude and a unit (no direction).
Vector
A physical quantity with a magnitude,
unit and direction.
Resultant
The single vector that will have the
same effect as the original vectors
taken together.
Resultant force
2
Examples of Scalars and vectors:
Scalars: Vectors:
Distance Displacement
Mass Weight
Speed Velocity
Time Acceleration
Work Momentum
Scalars & vectors
3
There are 3 different ways to represent
the direction of a vector quantity.
1. Compass



N
S
E
W
30
0
North of East
30
0
East of South
v
1
v
2
4
2 Bearings.
This is used in the navigation of planes
and ships. North is given the value of a
bearing of 0
0
, East is 90
0
, South 180
0
and
West is 270
0.
N 0
0
90
0
180
0
270
0
Bearing of 210
0
v
1
v
2
Bearing of 60
0
Finding a bearing
5
3 Direction of a vector relative to another vector:
A
B
A
B
B
A
In each of the above cases, vector A
is at 30
0
to vector B.
N.B. The direction of a vector is always
measured at the tail of the vector.
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Definitions
Distance (or path length):
The actual distance or path length
covered by an object.
Displacement:
The magnitude and direction of a
straight line drawn from the starting
point to the end-point of motion.
Distance vs displacement
7
A
B
Straight line AB = Displacement, say 20 m due East.
Dotted line AB = Distance or path length actually
taken to get from A to B, say
30 m. (no specific direction).
8
Speed is the rate at which distance is
covered.
Speed = distance v = s/t unit: m.s
-1

time
Velocity is the rate at which displacement is
covered.
Velocity = displacement v = s/t unit: m.s
-1

time
Distance, displacement, speed & velocity 9
A man walks 10 m East and then a further
15 m East. Find his resultant displacement.
V
1
= 10 m East V
2
= 15 m East
Resultant R = 25 m East
A dog walks 15 m West and then 5 m East.
Find its displacement.
15 m West
5 m East
R = 10 m West
Vector addition
10
Triangle method (2 vectors only)
Also called the tail to head
method. The magnitude and
direction of the resultant is
obtained by drawing a straight
line from the tail of the first vector
to the head of the second vector.
When vectors are not linear (in a straight line), we
need to use other methods for vector addition.
11
Triangle method: (vectors drawn head to tail)
Resultant
V
2
V
1
Resultant is the effective value of the two
vectors taken together from the tail of the
first to the head of the second vector.
Vectors
12
Polygon method
Vectors are added, as in the
triangle method, head to tail.

This method is only used if there
are more than 2 vectors.
13
Polygon method: Head to tail
Resultant
V
1
V
2
V
3
V
4
V
5
v
1
v
2
v
3 v
4
v
5
Polygon method of vector addition
14
Parallelogram method
Taking their magnitude and direction into
account, two vectors are drawn from the
same point. (Tail to tail method)

The parallelogram is completed by drawing
dotted construction lines. The resultant is
then the diagonal which is also drawn from
the same point the tail of the two vectors.


Adding vectors
15
Parallelogram Method: (vectors drawn tail to tail)
Resultant
V
1
V
2
Construction lines
Vectors & scalars
Vector addition & subtraction
16
F
1
F
2
R

To find the length of a side by
calculation, use Pythagoras:

R
2
= (F
1
)
2
+ (F
2
)
2

To find the length of a side or the size of an
angle, use simple trigonometric ratios of
Sin cos or tan

Sin = opposite side i.e. sin = F
2
/F
1
etc
adjacent side
Now do some sample problems.
Vector components
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