CHAPTER 5: VECTOR

AHMAD ZULHILMI BIN ARSHAD

DEPT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES, UTHM
DAS 12603 TECHNICAL SCIENCE I

INTRODUCTION

This chapter will discuss the basic concept of vector operation, which
includes:

Vector definition
Addition and subtraction of vector
The concept of vector component

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this chapter are to impart students with:

The basic knowledge in vectors

The concept of vectors in engineering course

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Differentiate between the vector and the scalar

quantities.
Apply a vector analysis in engineering problem
Enhance knowledge on a vector concept and its operation

2.1 DEFINITION OF VECTOR

QUANTITIES
Scalar quantities:

quantities that are measured require a description with only a number

(magnitude) and a unit.
Examples: mass, volume, temperature, time speed and distance.

Vector quantities:

Require description with a number (magnitude) and a direction

Examples: displacement, velocity, acceleration, force and weight.
The scalar part of the vector is called magnitude of the vector.

2.2 REPRESENTATION OF A
VECTOR: A BASIC CONCEPT
Some common denotation of vectors include:

Boldcase in typed writing: a.

In handwriting: a or a.

A
Point A: is called the initial point, tail, or base.
Point B: is called the head, tip, or endpoint.
The length of the arrow represents the magnitude.
The direction in which the arrow points represents the vectors direction.
Vector AB is represented by a with magnitude a and direction AB.

 Two vectors are equal if the length (magnitude) and the direction
of both are the same.

Vector A
Vector B

Combination of two or more vectors will produce new vector with

both magnitude and direction depending on the initial state of
the vectors.

The new magnitude/direction of the new vector is known as

resultant magnitude/direction.

If one of these vectors changes the magnitude/direction, it will

affect the magnitude/direction of the resultant vector.

 Same magnitude, different direction:

Vector A

Vector B

Zero magnitude, no direction

i.e. equilibrium state / steady
condition

Same direction, different magnitude:

Vector A

Vector B

Vector A

Vector B

Vector A + Vector B (to the right)

 Different on magnitude and direction:

Vector A

Vector B

Vector B

Vector A

Vector A Vector B (to the right)

or
Vector A

Vector A + Vector B
Vector A
Vector B

Vector B

a.

Naming and defining the vector magnitude and direction

We can name a vector by its length and direction

3 km, southeast
25 km/h, at 50east of north

Or we can name a vector by x- and y-coordinates of its endpoint, if

its tail at the origin

(3, 4)
(5, -2)

b.

Vector unit assignment and notation

For 2D or 3D coordination system (Cartesian coordinate), the

notation of vector is assigned as i, j, k.

i, j , k .

Sometimes also written as

The notation i, j, k are defined as x, y and z direction respectively in
the coordinate system.
In a general form of unit vector, a unit of magnitude in any direction
is defined.
Vector A has a magnitude of Ax in the x-direction
and a magnitude of Ay in the y-direction.
Therefore vector A can be written as:
A

Ay

A = Axi + Ayj
Similarly, in 3D system, vector unit can be written as:

Ax

A = Axi + Ayj + Azk

 Adding/subtracting a vector can be done by adding/subtracting

magnitude with the same direction respectively.

Example:
Given A = (3i + 2j)m, B = (-5i 4j)m and C = (-2i + 5j). Determine the
vector resultant of R = A + B + C.

Solution:
x-component:

Rx Ax Bx C x
3i (5i ) (2i )
4i

y-component :

Ry Ay By C y
2 j (4 j ) 5 j
3j

R Rx Ry
Therefore, the resultant force

4i 3 j m

2.3 VECTOR RESULTANT

Methods of finding a resultant vector:
Resultant Vector

Graphical method Analytical methodTrigonometry method

Parallelogram

Tail-to-tip

2.3.1 GRAPHICAL METHOD

a)

Adding vectors by using parallelogram method:

B

Construct a parallelogram
A

Diagonal line is the resultant vector

A

R
B

R =A + B

b)

Adding a vector by using tail-to-tip method:

B

Move the tail one vector to

the tip of the other vector
A
B

Resultant vector goes from the tail of

the first vector to the tip of the second.
R
A
B
R=A +B

Tail-to-tip method for the addition of more than two vectors:

Move the tail of B to the tip of A, then move the tail of C to the tip of B.

C
R

R=A +B+C

Example:
Two forces 3.0N and 4.0N act on a point.

a)

What are the maximum and the minimum of their

resultant force?

b)

If a force of 3.0N acts on y-axis, while 4.0N acts on the xaxis with the angle between them is 90, what is their
resultant?
Solution:
a) Maximum resultant occurs when both forces act in the same
direction:

R = 3.0N + 4.0N = 7.0N

Minimum resultant occurs when both forces act in the opposite
direction:

R =|3.0N + (-4.0N)| = 1.0N

b) By using paralellogram:

3.0 N

4.0 N

The vectors should be drawn according to scale.

By doing so, measuring the length of the resultant
vector will give its magnitude.
In this case, the magnitude of the resultant vector is
5.0 N.

2.3.2 ANALYTICAL METHOD

This method is more precise than graphical method.
Easier to perform operation on more than two vectors.
In this method, vectors are resolved into two components: xcomponent and y-component.

In some cases, we can find resultant force by using cosine rule.

Cosine rule:
c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos

Example:
An aircraft tracking station determines the distance from a
common point O to each aircraft and the angle between the
aircrafts. If angle O between the two aircrafts is equal to 49o and
the distances from point O to the two aircrafts are 50 km and 72
km, find distance d between the two aircrafts.
Solution:
Aircraft-1

d 2 72 2 50 2 2(72)(50) cos 49

54.4km
Aircraft-2

72km

49 50km

2.3.3 TRIGONOMETRY METHOD

a) Vector resolution using Pythagoras theorem
(Finding a resultant vector when component vectors are given)

The original vector is split into x- and y-component.

The original vector, A, can be written as the sum of its x- and y-component vectors: A = Ax + Ay

Ax

(y-component)

Ay (x-component)

The length of the original vector, A, can be accurately calculated by using Pythagoras theorem:

A2 Ax2 Ay2

A Ax2 Ay2

Example:
A plane flies at 241.5km/h due east. The wind blows due north at
64.4 km/h. What is the net speed of the plane?
Solution:
Use Pythagoras theorem to find R:
R Ax 2 Ay 2
64.4 km/h
(wind)

(241.5) 2 (64.4) 2
62 469.61

241.5 km/h
(plane)

249.94km / h

b) Vector resolution using Trigonometric Equation

(Resolving a single vector to component vectors)

Consider the following triangle:

y

Ax
cos A
A
Ay
sin A
A

Ay

A
A

Ax A cos A
Ay A sin A

Ax

The magnitude of A can be found using Pythagoras

theorem:
A

Ax2 Ay2

The direction of A is calculated using the following

equation:

tan A

Ay
Ax

Example:

A boy pulls his little brother in a wagon. The handle of the wagon makes a 30
angle upward relative to the ground. If the boy pulls with a force of 100N along
the handle, how much force is actually being used horizontally and vertically?
Example:
A coplanar forces acting at a point O as shown in the figure below.

a)
b)

Resolve the forces along the x- and y-axis.

Determine the resultant force, FR, and its direction, R.

y
A = 8N
B = 5N

30

C = 6N

45

30

SUMMARY
Vectors are fundamental in the physical sciences and
engineering. It can be used to represent any quantity that
has both magnitude and direction

Vectors are usually denoted in boldcase, as A, ora or a.

In vector unit system, the notation of i, j and k are defined
as x, y and z system.

The addition and subtraction operation of a vector can be

performed by either a graphical or analytical methods.

graphical method consists of

parallelogram and tip-to-tail method.

Analytical

two

methods:

methods produced more accurate vector

analysis operation product which is based on trigonometry
analysis.

QUIZ 1:
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.
6.

Two tugboats are towing a ship. Each exerts a force of 6 tons, and the
angle between the two ropes is 60. What is the resultant force on the
ship?
A boat moving at 5km/h is crossing a river. The current of the river is
flowing at 3km/h. In what direction should the boat head to reach a point
on the other bank of the river directly opposite its starting point?
Going from one city to another, a driver drives his car 30km north, 50km
west and 20km southeast. How far has he been travelling from his starting
point?
A boy rides his bicycle 5m east before turning left and rides for another
10m. How far has he travelled from where he starts?
A woman in a car on a level road sees an airplane travelling in the same
direction climbing at an angle of 30 above the horizontal. By driving at 110
km/h, she is able to stay directly below the airplane. Find the airplanes
velocity.
A car weighing 12kN is on a hill that makes an angle of 20 with the
horizontal. Find the components of the cars weight parallel and
perpendicular to the road.