A scalar quantity describes magnitude (size) only
(Mnemonic: s in scalar stands for "size")
A vector quantity describes both magnitude and direction
(Mnemonic: v in vector looks like the end of an arrow)
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What are some examples of scalar quantities?
2
What are some examples of vector quantities?
3
Arrows are used to represent vectors.
The direction of the arrow gives the direction of the vector.
By convention, the length of a vector arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the vector.
2 m 4 m
4
Two vectors are the same when they have the same size and direction
B
A C
D E
F
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Vector Addition
2 + 2 ≠ 4
(at least not always)
Depending on the directions of the two vectors, the answer to this question could be any number from
0 to 4.
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When adding vectors your final answer must include BOTH magnitude and direction of the resultant (final) vector.
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Adding Parallel Vectors
Case 1: Vectors point in the
SAME direction
A + B = C
Magnitude of C
A
+
A B
B
Direction of C
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Case 2: Vectors point in
OPPOSITE directions
A + B = C
A
+
Magnitude of C
BA
B
B A
Direction of C
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Adding NONParallel Vectors
Geometric Methods
A
+
B
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Method 1: Triangle Method
1. Move the 2 nd
vector
so it starts at the end
of the first vector.
A
+
2. The Resultant vector
will start at the start of
the 1 st
vector & end at
the end of the 2 nd
vector
A
B
B
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Method 2: Parallelogram Method
1. Move the vectors
so they start at the
same point.
A
+
2. The Resultant vector
will be the diagonal of
the parallelogram
formed by the two
vectors. It will start at
the same point as the
vectors themselves.
A
B
B
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Use one of the two geometric methods of vector addition to show that
A + B = B + A
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Vector Components
Any vector can be split into x and y components
θ
A
14
15
16
17
Use geometric method of vector additiont o show that A x
+ A y
= A
A y
A
θ
A x
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Do Now: For each vector pair, find the resultant:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
19
Which pair(s) of vectors can produce a resultant of 7.7? Note: only magnitudes are listed
(a) 10 and 6
(b) 5.5 and 2.1
(c) 11 and 2
(d) 7.7 and 7.7
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Which pair of vectors will produce the
(2) smallest resultant
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
21
Which pair of vectors will produce a resultant shown below?
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
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