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
Difference between vectors and scalars
The fundamental distinction between
scalars and vectors is the characteristic of
direction. Vectors have it, and scalars do
not.

Negative value of a scalar means how much
it below zero; negative component of a
vector means the direction of the vector
points to a negative direction.
Vector Diagrams
Vector diagrams are
shown using an arrow
The length of the
arrow represents its
magnitude
The direction of the
arrow shows its
direction
Calculating the Magnitude of the
Perpendicular Components
If a vector of magnitude v and makes an angle with the
horizontal then the magnitude of the components are:
x = v Cos
y = v Sin
y=v Sin
x=v Cos

y
Proof:
v
x
Cos = u
u vCos x =
v
y
Sin = u
u vSin y =
x
Vectors in opposite directions:

6 m s
-1
10 m s
-1
= 4 m s
-1


6 N 10 N = 4 N
Resultant of Two Vectors
Vectors in the same direction:

6 N 4 N = 10 N


6 m
= 10 m
4 m
The resultant is the sum or the combined effect of
two vector quantities
ADDITIONAL VECTOR
PROPERTIES
A vector can be moved (in a diagram) so
long as the magnitude and direction is
unchanged
Vectors may be expressed as ordered
numbers, polar form or in unit vector form
Vector subtraction may be accomplished by
multiplying the subtracted vector by 1 and
using the technique for adding
The Parallelogram Law
When two vectors are joined
tail to tail
Complete the parallelogram
The resultant is found by
drawing the diagonal
When two vectors are joined
head to tail
Draw the resultant vector by
completing the triangle
Solution:
Problem: Resultant of 2 Vectors
Two forces are applied to a body, as shown. What is the magnitude and direction
of the resultant force acting on the body?
Complete the parallelogram (rectangle)

The diagonal of the parallelogram ac
represents the resultant force
5

N

12 N
5
12
a
b c
d
The magnitude of the resultant is found using
Pythagoras Theorem on the triangle abc
N 13
5 12 Magnitude
2 2
=
+ = =
ac
ac
= =
=

67
5
12
tan
5
12
tan : of Direction
1
u
u ac
Resultant displacement is 13 N 67
with the 5 N force
45
5 N
90

Problem: Resultant of 3 Vectors
Find the magnitude (correct to two decimal places) and direction of the
resultant of the three forces shown below.
5

N

5
5
Solution:
Find the resultant of the two 5 N forces first (do right angles first)
a
b
c d
N 07 . 7 50 5 5
2 2
= = + = ac
= = = 45 1
5
5
tan u u
135
Now find the resultant of the 10 N and
7.07 N forces
The 2 forces are in a straight line (45 +
135 = 180) and in opposite directions
So, Resultant = 10 N 7.07 N = 2.93 N
in the direction of the 10 N force
Practical Applications
Here we see a table being
pulled by a force of 50 N at
a 30 angle to the horizontal
When resolved we see that
this is the same as pulling
the table up with a force of
25 N and pulling it
horizontally with a force of
43.3 N
y=25 N
x=43.3 N
30
We can see that it
would be more
efficient to pull the
table with a
horizontal force of
50 N
VECTOR NOTATION
Components for a vector may be expressed in unit
vector notation
is a unit vector in the x direction
is a unit vector in the y direction
is a unit vector in the z direction
Bold type or an arrow above the symbol denotes a
vector; e.g., A or
The magnitude of the above vector is designated A

k
A
Vector Multiplication
Scalar multiplication

Vectors can be multiplied in two ways
A dot product of two vectors results in a
scalar
A cross product of a vector results in
another vector
Vectors are NEVER divided!

b a c

=
b a c


=
a b

= 2
The Scalar or Dot Product
Multiplication of two vectors resulting in a
scalar
force constant for , d F W

=
Example
u cos AB B A =

Some Properties of the Dot
Product
Dot products commute
The square of a vector
Unit vector products
A B B A

=
0

1


= = =
= = =
k i k j j i
k k j j i i
The VECTOR PRODUCT or
CROSS PRODUCT
Vector multiplication
yielding another vector
Yields a vector which has a
direction determined by the
right hand rule
Yields a vector perpendicular
to the plane containing the
other two vectors
The cross product DOES
NOT commute
C = A B
- C = B A
torque F r


t
MAGNITUDE OF THE
CROSS PRODUCT
sin C AB u =
DIRECTION OF THE CROSS
PRODUCT
The right hand rule determines the direction
of the cross product
Unit Vector Cross Products
Using the definition of cross product and
righthand rule:


0 i i j j k k = = =

i

j =

k = -

k =

i = -

i =

j = -