VECTORS

LESSON 3
Lesson Objectives:
1) Differentiate vector and scalar
quantities.
2) Differentiate distance and
displacement.
3) Perform addition of vectors.
4) Rewrite a vector in component form.
5) Calculate directions and magnitudes
of vectors.
Scalars vs Vectors
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES DESCRIPTION
Scalar quantity examples: Has magnitude only
Mass 15 kilograms
Time 30 seconds
Speed 100 meters/second
Energy 4,184 Joules
Vector quantity examples: Has magnitude and direction
Velocity 80 meters/second Westward
Displacement 20 meters going East
Acceleration 9.8 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠/𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 2 downward
Force 500 Newtons, 20°North of East
Scalars vs Vectors
 Scalarsare quantities that are specified by magnitude
only. Magnitude is the numerical value and unit of a
quantity.
 Vectors are quantities that are specified by both
magnitude and direction. A vector is represented by a
symbol – an arrow. The head of the arrow indicates the
direction of the vector; while the tail represents the
origin. The length of the arrow represents the
magnitude of the vector.
Length of the arrow
tail head
Try These!
Draw the following vectors:
1) 100 𝑁 east
2) 50 𝑁 30° north of east
3) 20 𝑚 west
4) 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 downward
2

5) 80 𝑚/𝑠 along the negative y-axis

Distance vs Displacement
Scenario: A teacher walked from his
house going to school. He walked 40 m
north, and 50 m east to reach his
destination. To go back to his house, he
walked 40 m south, and 50 m west.
Question: What is the distance that the
teacher travelled? What is his
displacement?
Distance vs Displacement
Distance - is the length of the actual path
travelled. It is a scalar quantity and
magnitudes can be simply added as long
as they have the same unit, regardless of
the direction.
Displacement – is the length and direction
of the change in position measured from
the starting point. It is a vector quantity.
Sample Problem 1
Three monkeys A, B, and C start from the
same point O. Monkey A went 3 km north,
and then 4 km west. Monkey B went 5 km
east, and monkey C went around the
circular path of diameter 2 km. Determine:
a) The distance travelled by each monkey.
b) The displacement of each monkey from
point O.
Resultant Vector
Two or more vectors can be
represented by a single vector
called the resultant vector. It is
determined using the graphical
method, and the component
method.
Graphical Method
A group of soldiers walked 15
km north from their camp, then
covered 10 km more due east.
What was the total distance
walked by the soldiers?
Determine their resultant
displacement.
Component Method
A group of soldiers walked 15
km north from their camp, then
covered 10 km more due east.
What was the total distance
walked by the soldiers?
Determine their resultant
displacement.