VECTOR QUANTITIES

1.Definition
2. Vector Notation
3.Component of a vector
4. Properties of Vectors
5. Resultant Vector
6. Addition of Vectors
Differentiate scalar quantity from vector
quantity.

Define the components of a vector and

use them in calculations.

Solve vector related problems graphically

and analytically
 Quantity completely described by
magnitude only

Quantity having both magnitude and

direction
In general

Vector
Magnitude
Direction
 Boldface Letter
Letter with arrow above
(graphical) Straight line with arrowhead

VECTOR magnitude representation:

an italic letter will be used: A or A , A
 There are 3 ways of writing vectors:

1. AXIAL NOTATIONS
2. NEWS NOTATION
3. UNIT VECTORS
 write the magnitude and the angle it creates with
the + x-axis
 write the magnitude and
the appropriate direction
based on the NEWS
configuration
Equality of Two Vectors
Negative Vectors
Resultant Vector
is the vector sum of two or
more vectors. It is the
result of adding two or
more vectors together. If
displacement vectors A, B,
and C are added together,
the result will be vector R.

Note: vector R ,in this case, was determined by

using an accurately drawn, scaled , vector addition
diagram
When adding vectors, their directions must
be taken into account

Units must be the same

Graphical

Analytical

Experimental
A. Graphical Method
1. Parallelogram Method
most applicable for two vectors
2. Polygon Method
applicable for three or more vectors

Note: Scaling is important

Parallelogram Method
1. Draw the two vectors.
2. Construct a parallelogram.
3. Construct a line from the origin that will bisect the
parallelogram.
*The line here represents the resultant vector.
1. Draw the two vectors.

B R
3. Construct a line.

A
2. Construct a parallelogram.
Polygon Method
1.Draw the vectors (head-to-tail).
2.Connect the tail of the first
vector to the head of the last
vector.
The line that connect the tail of the
first vector to the head of last
vector represents the resultant
vector.
 2. Connect the tail of the first vector
to the head of the last vector.

B
R

A
1. Draw the two vectors. (head-to-tail)
 B
D
R A C
C
D
B
A
R=A+B+C +D R =D +A+C +B
B. Analytical Method
(utilizes Mathematical concepts in analyzing vectors)

Component Method
Dividing the vector into its components and
dealing with it individually
The x-component of a vector is the y
projection along the x-axis
Ax Acos Ay
The y-component of a vector is the
projection along the y-axis = 60

Ay Asin
x

Then, Ax
A Ax Ay
The components can be positive or negative and will
have the same units as the original vector
The components are the legs of the right triangle
whose hypotenuse is A

Mastill ha e to find ith respect to the positi e

-axis

A
A A A 2 2
and tan 1 y
x y
Ax
Choose a coordinate system and sketch the vectors
Find the x- and y-components of all the vectors
Add all the x-components
This gives Rx:

Rx v x
Add all the y-components
This gives Ry:

Ry v y
Use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the magnitude of
the Resultant:
R R R
2
x
2
y
Use the inverse tangent function to find the direction of
R:
Ry
tan 1

Rx
simplifies the mathematics by
enabling us to add vectors in the
same directions
1.Express the vectors in terms of their component.
2. Add the components along the x direction to form the x
component of the resultant vector
3. Similarly, add the y components to get the y component
of the resultant vector
4.Obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultant
vector by using the equations
In the diagram, A has magnitude 12 units and B has
magnitude 8.0 units. The x component of A + B is
about:
y
60
A
B

45
x
Solution
Ax = A cos 45 = 12 x 0.707 = 8.4
Bx = B cos 45 = 8 x 0.707 = 5.6
Rx = 14.0 units
 B
A= 3.0 units east
30 A
B= 4.0 units 30 N of W
C= 2.0 units 70 W of S
C 70

Get the vector sum:

 A= 3 units east
A
B= 4 units 40 S of W
C= 2 units 55 E of S 40
55
B C

Get the vector sum: