2
Vector Operations
Learning After finishing this lesson, you are expected to:
Objectives
1. Show how to add forces and resolve them into
components using the Parallelogram Law.
2. Express force and position in Cartesian Vector Form
and explain how to determine the vector’s magnitude
and direction
Topics 2.1. Scalars and Vectors
2.2. Vector Operations
2.3. Solving Vector Problems
2.1 Scalars and Vectors
Scalar – positive or negative number; possess magnitude only.
examples: mass, length, volume, temperature, area, speed, density
Vector – Quantity with both magnitude and direction; vector does not
follow elementary arithmetic/algebraic rules.
examples: force, displacement, velocity, moment, acceleration
2.2 Vector Operations
• Multiplication and Division of Vector (𝑨) by Scalar (a)
If a vector is multiplied by a positive scalar, its magnitude is increased by that
amount. Multiplying by a negative scalar will also change the directional sense of
the vector.
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• Addition and Subtraction of Vectors
➢ Vectors cannot be added/subtracted by the same methods as simple
scalar values.
➢ Methods to add/subtract vectors:
▪ Parallelogram Law- the resultant of two forces can be
obtained by joining the vector at their tails and constructing a
parallelogram. The resultant vector is the diagonal obtained by
the parallelogram.
▪ Triangle Rule (Tip-to-Tail Method)- the resultant of two
forces can be obtained by joining the vectors in tip-to-tail
fashion. The resultant vector extends from the tail of 𝐀 to the
head of 𝐁. From the figure below, it also proves that vector
addition is commutative, 𝐀 + 𝐁 = 𝐁 + 𝐀.
➢ The resultant of the difference between two vectors 𝐀 and 𝐁 of the
same type may be expressed as: 𝐑 = 𝐀 − 𝐁 = 𝐀 + (−𝐁). The vector
sum is shown on the graphically below. Subtractio is therefore defined
as a special case of addition, so the rules of vector addition also apply
to vector subtraction
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2.3 Solving Vector Problems
Because of the geometric nature of the parallelogram law and the triangle
law, vector addition can be accomplished graphically. A second technique is to
determine the relationships between the various magnitudes and angles analytically
by applying the laws of sines and cosines to a sketch of the parallelogram (or the
triangle).
Law of cosines:
Law of sines:
𝒂𝟐 = 𝒃𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜶
𝒂 𝒃 𝒄
= = 𝒃𝟐 = 𝒄𝟐 + 𝒂𝟐 − 𝟐𝒄𝒂 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜷
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜶 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜷 𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝜸
𝒄𝟐 = 𝒂𝟐 + 𝒃𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝜸
Illustrative Problems:
1. Figure below shows two position vectors of magnitudes 𝐴=60 ft and 𝐵=100
ft.(A position vector is a vector drawn between two points in space.)
Determine the resultant 𝐑 = 𝐀 + 𝐁 using the triangle law.
Solution:
Using the tip-to-tail method, approximately draw the sketch of the two
position vectors, then solve for the resultant vector using sine law and cosine law
whichever is applicable.
Applying the law of cosines:
R2 = A2 + 𝐵2 − 2𝐴𝐵 cos 140
R = √602 + 1002 − 2(60)(100) cos 140
𝐑 = 𝟏𝟓𝟏. 𝟎 𝒇𝒕.
The angle 𝛼 can now be found using law of sines:
𝐵 𝑅
sin 𝛼
= sin 140
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100 151
= sin 140
sin 𝛼
𝛼 = 25.2°
From the figure, we see that the angle that 𝐑 makes with the horizontal is
30° + 𝛼 = 30° + 25.2 = 55.2°. Therefore the resultant of 𝐀 and B is.
2. The vertical force P of magnitude 100 kN is applied to the frame shown in
the figure. Resolve P into components that are parallel to the members AB
and AC of the truss.
Solution:
Using force triangle on the figure, we have:
Applying law of sines,
100 𝑃 𝑃
= sin𝐴𝐶 = sin𝐴𝐵35
sin 35 110
Thus,
𝑷𝑨𝑩 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎. 𝟎 𝒌𝑵
𝑷𝑨𝑪 = 𝟏𝟔𝟑. 𝟖 𝒌𝑵
References:
➢ Beer, F. P., Johnston, E. R., Mazurek, D. F., Cornwell, P. J., Self, B. P. (2018).
Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics and Dynamics. United Kingdom:
McGraw-Hill Education
➢ Goodno, B. J., Gere, J. (2018). Statics and Mechanics of Materials. United
States: Cengage Learning
➢ Singer, F. L. (1975). Engineering Mechanics. United Kingdom: Harper & Row
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EXERCISE No. 2
Name: _____________________________________ Course/Year: ___________
Instructor: __________________________________ Rating: ________________
Instruction: Answer the following problems.
PROBLEMS:
𝑚 𝑚
1. The magnitudes of the two velocity vectors are 𝐯𝟏 = 3 and 𝐯𝟐 = 2 𝑠 .
𝑠
Determine their resultant 𝐯 = 𝐯𝟏 + 𝐯𝟐
2. From the same figure, determine the magnitudes of vectors 𝐯𝟏 and 𝐯𝟐 so that
their resultant is a horizontal vector of magnitude 4 m/s directed to the right.
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