Scalars and vectors

Why we need to define two different types

of physical quantities?

Consider the following scenario:

F =45 N You are standing in front of a table

that has a box on it.
45
N Your friend instructs you to push this
box with a force of 45 N. (Let us
consider for now that you have a
way to measure the strength of the
push. )
The logical contra question is “ In what direction should I push?”.

There are several ways in which you may chose to push

on that box:
-Vertically downwards
-Horizontally to the left
-Downwards under an angle, and so on..
Why we need to define two different types
of physical quantities?

The effects of your action on the box depends on the direction in which
you push. That is, in this situation it is important to indicate the
direction as well as strenght.

? Direction!!!

To give a clear information about the force - indication of its

strength and its direction are essential!
Why we need to define two different types
of physical quantities?

N
45

When your friend instructs you to push with force of 45 N horizontally

to the left , it is clear what she/he means by that – there is only one
way to push that box.

We really need an indication of the direction of the force in order to

have it properly defined.
Scalars and Vectors

 Vector – a quantity with both magnitude and

direction.
 Examples:
displacement (e.g., 10 km north), force, magnetic field,
velocity , etc.
 Scalar is a quantity that can be completely
described by its magnitude (size)
 a numerical value.
 may be positive or negative.
mass, temperature, time, speed, height
 Examples:
It is important to know what type of
physical quantity you are dealing
with!
Example 1
 If you have two bags of apples…. You just
add.
 1 kg + 2 kg = 3 kg

 mass is a scalar quantity – it is defined only by

its magnitude!
Example 2
 Let say, two students are pulling on a box, one with 10 N
and the other with 20 N force.
what is the net effect of the two forces?
FORCE 1 = 10 N
FORCE 2 = 20 N
FORCE 1 + FORCE 2 = ?

The combined effect of the two forces , also called the resultant force,
is not necessarily equivalent to one force of 30 N.

In fact the net effect of the two forces could be anywhere between 10 N
and 30 N, depending of the direction of the two.

Therefore the vector sum of a 10 N and 20 N is not automatically

30 N.
We need to take into account
the direction of each of the forces involv
Working with vectors
In diagrams vectors are presented by an arrow. The arrow indicates the
direction of the vector and its length is proportional to the magnitude.

Graphical
representati
on

In writings we distinguish a vector by its symbol and an arrow above

the letter for that quantity).
A

If we want to indicate the magnitude of a vector, we can use the symbol

of absolute value.
Magnitude (size) of a
vector is denoted as: A

In the previous slide, force was given as an example of vector quantity. Let us
see another example- displacement.
Displacement is a vector that points from a body’s
Displacement initial position towards its final position.
Or, in other words, displacement is represented by
an arrow, drawn from the initial to the final
position.

 In general, displacement refers to a moving object that

changes its position

The magnitude of the displacement is the

length of the shortest line between the final
Do not confuse displacement with the distance traveled!

Distance is simply the length of the actual path followed by the object.

Distance is a scalar quantity!

The magnitude of the displacement is always less

than or equal
to the distance traveled!

: In which case the displacement is equal to the distance traveled

Vector quantity that not only has a value, but direction as well.

Any quantity that does not specify a direction is a scalar.

Notice that the units are the
Examples:
same, regardless of whether
Vector Scalar Unit they are vectors or scalars!

Displacement Distance Metres (m)

Velocity Speed Metres per second (m/s)
Acceleration Metres per second2 (m/s2)
Momentum Newton seconds (Ns)
Force Newtons (N)
Work , Energy Joules (J)
Voltage Volts (V)
Temperature Degrees Celsius (oC)
Frequency Hertz (Hz)
Velocity is a speed with associated direction

You can see on the table that there

are vectors that can be used as scalar
quantities (e.g., velocity- speed)
There are some scalar quantities that
have no vector equivalent (e.g.,
reminder
Adding Vectors –> The outcome of adding two vectors is
another vector!
If the force vectors of 3N and 4N
are in the same direction, they
simply add together.

(The black arrow indicates the

resultant force.)

If the vectors are in opposite

directions, we subtract.

You can see that the resultant is now just 1

If the two vectors are at 90o use
Pythagoras’ Theorem.

Resultant2 = 32 + 42 = 9 + 16 = 25.

Resultant = (25) = 5 N

To work out the angle we use the tan function:

tan  = ¾ = 0.75
Question 1:
What are the resultants of these vectors?

Answer 1:

Left hand diagram

Resultant velocity: v2 = 62 + 122 = 36 + 144 = 180 m2/s2
=> v = 13.4 m/s
Right hand diagram:
Resultant momentum: p2 = 122 + 242 = 144 + 576 = 720 kg2
m2/s2
p = 26.8 kg m/s
Introduction to Vector techniques
You will learn more on vector techniques in your
math classes.

Here, you learn the basic skills you will need in

physics class.
What is a Vector?

AB and CD have
the same
distance
However, B
they have
different
directions
From A to B, AB
From C to D, CD
A Vector is a quantity A
C D
that has both size and
direction.

Therefore AB and CD are different vectors

despite having the same size
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. It is
represented by an arrow. The length of the vector represents the
magnitude and the arrow indicates the direction of the vector.

Blue and orange Blue and purple Blue and green

vectors have same vectors have same vectors have same
magnitude but magnitude and direction but different
different direction. direction so they are magnitude.
equal.

Two vectors are equal if they have the same direction and magnitude
(length).
How can we find the magnitude if we have
Q
the initial point and the terminal point?
x2 , y2 
The distance formula
Terminal
Point
t h
n g
le
e
th
is
d e
it u
g n n is
m
a c t io
e le
Initial Point dir ang
s
t hi

x1 , y1 
P
How can we find the direction? (Is this all looking familiar for each
application? You can make a right triangle and use trigonometry to
get the angle!)
To
Toadd
addvectors,
vectors,weweput
putthe
theinitial
initialpoint
pointofofthe
thesecond
secondvector
vectoron
on
the
theterminal
terminalpoint
pointof
ofthe
thefirst
firstvector.
vector. TheTheresultant
resultantvector
vectorhas
hasan
an
initial
initialpoint
pointat
atthe
theinitial
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pointofofthe
thefirst
firstvector
vectorand
andaaterminal
terminal
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pointatatthe
theterminal
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pointof ofthe
thesecond
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vector(see
(seebelow--better
below--better
shown
shownthanthanput
putin
inwords).
words).

Terminal point
of w

vw w
w

Initial point of v
v Move w over keeping the
magnitude and direction
the same.
The negative of a vector is just a vector going the opposite way.

v

v
A number multiplied in front of a vector is called a scalar. It means to
take the vector and add together that many times.

3v v
v
v
Using the vectors shown, find
v the following:
u w u
uv
v
 3w
w u v
w
w u
 v

2u  3w  v v
u w
u w
w
Adding Vectors

Add vectors A and B

A
B
x
Adding Vectors

On a graph, add vectors using the “head-to-tail”

rule:

A
B
x
Move B so that the head of A touches the tail of B
Note: “moving” B does not change it. A vector is only defined by
its magnitude and direction, not starting location.
Adding Vectors

The vector starting at the tail of A and ending at the

head of B is C, the sum (or resultant) of A and B.

y
B
C A  B
A
C
x
Components of vectors. Resolving vectors
 https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-ad
dition/latest/vector-addition_all.html