1. Vectors

2. SCALAR VECTOR A SCALAR quantity is any quantity in physics that has
MAGNITUDE ONLY
Scalar
Example
Magnitude
Speed
35 m/s
Distance
25 meters
Age
16 years
Number value
with units
VECTOR
A VECTOR quantity is any quantity in physics that has
BOTH MAGNITUDE and DIRECTION
Vector
Example
Magnitude and
Direction
Velocity
35 m/s, North
Acceleration
10 m/s2, South
Force
20 N, East
An arrow above the symbol illustrates a vector quantity.

3. VECTOR APPLICATION
ADDITION: When two (2) vectors point in the SAME direction, simply
add them together.
EXAMPLE: A man walks 46.5 m east, then another 20 m east.
Calculate his displacement relative to where he started.
46.5 m, E +
20 m, E
MAGNITUDE relates to the size of the arrow and DIRECTION relates to the
way the arrow is drawn
66.5 m, E
SUBTRACTION: When two (2) vectors point in the OPPOSITE direction,
simply subtract them.
46.5 m, E -
20 m, W
EXAMPLE: A man walks 46.5 m east, then another 20 m west. Calculate his displacement relative to where he started.
26.5 m, E

4. NON-COLLINEAR VECTORS (perpendicular vectors)
When two (2) vectors are PERPENDICULAR to each other, you must
use the PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM
Example: A man travels 120 km east
then 160 km north. Calculate his
resultant displacement.
120 km, E
160 km, N
the hypotenuse is
called the RESULTANT
HORIZONTAL COMPONENT
VERTICAL
COMPONENT
START
FINISH
c = resultant =
c = 200 km

5. WHAT ABOUT DIRECTION?
In the example, DISPLACEMENT asked for and since it is a VECTOR quantity,
we need to report its direction.
S of W N S E W
N of E
E of N
W of S
N of W
W of N
S of E
E of S
N of E
NOTE: When drawing a right triangle that conveys some type of motion, you MUST draw your components HEAD TO TOE.