Scalars and

Vectors
Scalars and Vectors
 Scalars are quantities which are fully
described by a magnitude (or numerical
value) alone.

 Vectors are quantities which are fully

described by both a magnitude and a
direction.
Scalars Vectors
Distance, l Displacement, s
Speed, s Velocity, v
Volume, V Momentum, p
Density, ρ Force, F
Time, t Acceleration, a
Area, A Electric current, I
Mass, m Weight, W
Multiplication of scalars and
vectors quantities

1. (scalar) x (scalar) = (scalar)

2. (vector) x (scalar) = (vector)
3. (vector) x (vector) = (scalar)
 Components of a vector

R=E+F
R=A+B R=C+D

Vectors A, B, C, D, E and F are the components of vector

R
Resolving vectors
(b) (c)
(a)

Vector R in each case can be resolved into 2 components:

(a) X = R cos Ө and Y = R sin Ө
(b) X = R cos α and Y = R sin α
(c) X = R cos β and Y = R sin β
Resolving vectors

(a) R  X 2  Y 2 Y
tan  
 R 2 sin 2   R 2 cos 2  X

(b) R  X 2  Y 2 Y
tan  
 R 2 sin 2   R 2 cos 2  X

Y
( c) R  X  Y
2 2
tan  
X
 R 2 sin 2  R 2 cos 2 
Worked examples:
Exercise 1:
.
.
 Conclusion of Triangle of Forces:

P Q
P+Q+R=0

Conversely,
Relative velocity
VA = 5 m s-1
A

VB = 3 m s-1
B

(i) Velocity of car A relative to car B: - Car B is ‘stationary’, car A is seen to

move with velocity (VA – VB) = 2 m s-1

(ii) Velocity of car B relative to car A: - Car A is ‘stationary’, car B is seen to

move with velocity (VB – VA) = - 2 m s-1
Relative velocity
(a) VA = 5 m s-1

VB = 3 m s-1

VA
(b)
- VB
(VA – VB)

VB
(c)
- VA

(VB – VA)
Relative velocity

(a) (c)VAVrelative
B relative to
(b) to VB VA

VA V
- AVA

(V
(VAB –
–VVBA))
-VVB B

VB
Relative velocity
B

(1)What is the velocity of

the boat relative to the
ground to reach B?
8 m s-1 (2)At what angle should
the boat point so that
it can reach B?
15 m s-1

A
(1)You are required to find the velocity of boat relative to
ground

VRG VBR = velocity of boat relative to river

VRG = velocity of river relative to ground
VBG = velocity of boat relative to ground

VBR VBG
VBG = VBR + VRG

 Using Pythagoras theorem:

VRG = 8 m s-1 V V V
2
BR
2
RG
2
BG

V2
BG  V V
2
BR
2
RG

V2
BG  15  8
2 2

VBR VBG
 225  64
= 15 m s-1
  161
 VBG  161
 12.69 m s -1
(2) The angle the boat should point to reach B:

VRG
VRG = 8 m s-1 sin  
VBR
8

15
VBR VBG
 0.5333
= 15 m s-1
    32.23 0
 B

8 m s-1
VBG  12.69 m s-1


  32.23 0

A
Find the resultant R acting on the box and
calculate the direction of the resultant.

10 N

600
box

450

15 N
 y Fy  10 cos 600  15 cos 45 0
1 1
 10 x  15 x
2 2
10 N
 5 - 10.6  - 5.6 N

600
box Fx  10 sin 600  15 sin 45 0
x
3 1
45 0  10 x  15 x
2 2
 8.66  10.6  20.1 N

R 2  Fy2  Fx2
15 N