Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Scribd
Upload
11 views

Module 1 Vectors

This document defines scalar and vector quantities, and describes methods for analyzing vectors including: 1. Vectors have both magnitude and direction, represented by arrows. Scalar quantities only have magnitude. 2. Graphical methods like the parallelogram and polygon methods can be used to find the resultant (sum) or equilibrant (difference) of vectors. 3. Analytical methods like the triangle method using sine/cosine laws and the component method breaking vectors into x and y components can also analyze vector quantities.

Uploaded by

Stephen Camsol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views

Module 1 Vectors

This document defines scalar and vector quantities, and describes methods for analyzing vectors including: 1. Vectors have both magnitude and direction, represented by arrows. Scalar quantities only have magnitude. 2. Graphical methods like the parallelogram and polygon methods can be used to find the resultant (sum) or equilibrant (difference) of vectors. 3. Analytical methods like the triangle method using sine/cosine laws and the component method breaking vectors into x and y components can also analyze vector quantities.

Uploaded by

Stephen Camsol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

PHYSE: VECTORS

Scalar Quantities
- are physical quantities described by a single number with a unit
ex. time, temperature, mass, density

Vector Quantities
- are physical quantities having both magnitude (the “how much” or “how big” part) and a direction in
space
- drawn as a line with an arrow head as its tip
- symbolized by a boldfaced capital letter with an arrow above it: ⃗
𝑨
- the magnitude is represented as: ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝑨|
(Magnitude of ⃗𝑨 ) = A = ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝑨|

ex. velocity, force

Parallel Vectors – vectors having the same direction


Equal Vectors – parallel vectors having the same magnitude and the same direction
Negative of a Vector – a vector having the same magnitude as the original vector but in the opposite
direction
Antiparallel Vectors – vectors with opposite directions, whether their magnitudes are the same or not

THREE GENERAL PLANES AND AXES


Axes: x- axis, y- axis, and the z- axis (all form 90° angles with each other)
Planes: x-y plane, y-z plane, x-z plane

Note: The combination of the three axes results in a 3 dimensional analysis of vectors

DIRECTION OF VECTOR
 N 30˚ E -- 30˚ measured from north to east  20˚ E of S -- 20˚ measured from south to east
-- 60˚ measured from east to north -- 70˚ measured from east to south
-- the same when expressed as E 60˚ -- same as 70˚ S of E
N

PREPARED BY: ENGR. RIZA CARMELA M. PINEDA 1


PHYSE: VECTORS

SIGN CONVENTIONS FOR DIRECTION


Sign X – axis (horizontal) Y – axis (vertical)

(+) EAST ( E ) NORTH ( N )

(-) WEST ( W ) SOUTH ( S )

VECTOR ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION


Displacement – simplest vector quantity
- a change in the position of an object
- is always a straight-line segment directed from the starting point to the ending point;
represented by an arrow pointing in the direction of the displacement
- depends only on the starting and ending positions – not on the path taken
Resultant – the sum or difference of two or more vectors
Equilibrant - quantity that is the same in magnitude but directly opposite in direction with the resultant

1. GRAPHICAL METHOD
- an approximate method which uses scales; no computations needed

1.a. Parallelogram Method


- a method used if there are only two given vectors
Procedure:
1. Draw the given vectors starting with the same point of origin (in Cartesian plane)
2. Form a parallelogram based from the 2 vectors
3. Draw a diagonal from the origin towards the intersection of the lines parallel the given vectors; this is
the resultant. (Note: When the line is towards the origin, this is the equilibrant.)
4. Measure the line and convert it to its true value with the scale used. Measure the angle with respect
to N, E, W, or S.

1.b. Polygon Method


- a method used if there are 2 or more given vectors
- also known as the “head-to-tail” method
Procedure:
1. Draw the first vector with its end as the head (arrowhead).
2. Start the second vector from the head of the first vector. (Note: If
there were other vectors, start form the arrowhead of the vector
preceding it.)
3. Close the polygon by connecting the origin (tail) of the first vector to the
HEAD
end (arrowhead) of the last vector drawn; this is the resultant. (Note: When
the line is towards the origin, this is the equilibrant.)
4. Measure the line and convert it to its true value with the scale used. Measure
TAIL
the angle with respect to N, E, W, or S.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. RIZA CARMELA M. PINEDA 2


PHYSE: VECTORS

2. ANALYTICAL METHOD
- a more accurate method compared to the graphical method
2.a. Triangle Method (Sine and Cosine Law)
- a method applicable only if there were 2 vectors given
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐛 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐜
 SINE LAW: = =
𝐀 𝐁 𝐂
 COSINE LAW: 𝐂 𝟐 = 𝐀𝟐 + 𝐁 𝟐 − 𝟐𝐀𝐁 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐜

Procedure:
1. Draw a triangle with the vectors and the resultant like in the polygon method
2. Get the angle opposite the resultant.
3. Solve for the resultant using cosine law.
4. Get the angle formed at the origin.
5. Compute for the angle and direction of the resultant.

2.b. Component Method


- applicable to 2 or more vectors
- vectors are made of horizontal (x) component and vertical (y) component
- vectors make an angle with both x and y axis, thus

Ay Ax = x-component or the horizontal component of A


A Ay = y-component or the vertical component of A
A = Ax + Ay

Ax

From trigonometry:
𝐀𝐲
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉 =  ∴ Ay = 𝐀 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉
𝐀
𝐀𝐱
A 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛉 =  ∴ Ax = 𝐀 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝛉
𝐀
Ay

Ax
Vector’s Magnitude:
𝐀 = √∑ 𝐀𝐱 𝟐 + ∑ 𝐀𝐲 𝟐

Vector’s Direction:
𝐀𝐲
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝛉 = 𝐀𝐱

PREPARED BY: ENGR. RIZA CARMELA M. PINEDA 3


PHYSE: VECTORS

SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
We define the difference A – B of two vectors A and B to be the vector sum of A and –B:

A – B = A + (-B)

To construct the vector difference A – B, you can either place the tail of –B at the head of A or place two
vectors A and B head to head.

Examples:
⃗ in Fig. 1, use a scale drawing to find the magnitude and direction of (a) ⃗𝑨 + ⃗𝑩
1. For the vectors ⃗𝑨 and ⃗𝑩 ⃗ and
⃗ -𝑫
(b) 𝑪 ⃗⃗

2. A postal employee drives a delivery truck along the route shown in Fig. 2. Determine the magnitude and
direction of the resultant displacement by drawing a scale diagram.

3. A spelunker is surveying a cave. She follows a passage 180 m straight west, then 210 m in a direction 45º
east of south, and then 280 m at 30° east of north. After a fourth unmeasured displacement, she finds herself
back where she started. Use a scale drawing to determine the magnitude and direction of the fourth
displacement.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2

PREPARED BY: ENGR. RIZA CARMELA M. PINEDA 4

You might also like