📘 General Physics Notes: Scalars and Vectors
⚖️IV. Scalar vs Vector: Comparison Table
🧭 I. Introduction to Physical Quantities Property Scalar Vector
Physical quantities are classified into two main Magnitude Yes Yes
types: Direction No Yes
Scalars Arrow (with length &
Representation Plain number
direction)
Vectors
Regular
Operation Follows vector laws
arithmetic
🔢 II. Scalars
📌 Definition: ✏️V. Representation of Vectors
A scalar is a physical quantity that has Arrow Diagram: Length = magnitude,
magnitude only (no direction). arrowhead = direction
🧪 Examples of Scalars: Notation:
Mass (e.g., 5 kg) o Bold letters (e.g., F)
Time (e.g., 10 s) o Or with an arrow (e.g., F⃗\
Temperature (e.g., 37°C) vec{F}F)
Distance (e.g., 100 m)
Speed (e.g., 60 km/h) ➗ VI. Vector Operations
Energy (e.g., 200 J) 1. Addition of Vectors
a. Graphical Method
➡️III. Vectors Tip-to-Tail Method: Place the tail of
the second vector at the tip of the
📌 Definition: first.
A vector is a physical quantity that has both Parallelogram Method: Place vectors
magnitude and direction. tail to tail, complete the
🧭 Examples of Vectors: parallelogram.
Displacement (e.g., 50 m North) b. Resultant Vector
Velocity (e.g., 30 m/s East) The single vector that has the same
effect as two or more vectors added
Acceleration (e.g., 9.8 m/s² together.
downward)
Force (e.g., 10 N right)
Momentum
c. Triangle Rule:
Electric field
If two vectors are represented by two sides of o Rx=Ax+BxR_x = A_x + B_xRx
a triangle taken in order, their resultant is the =Ax+Bx
third side in reverse order.
o Ry=Ay+ByR_y = A_y + B_yRy
=Ay+By
2. Subtraction of Vectors 3. Find magnitude of resultant:
A⃗−B⃗=A⃗+(−B⃗)\vec{A} - \vec{B} = \vec{A} + (-\ R=Rx2+Ry2R = \sqrt{R_x^2 + R_y^2}R=Rx2
vec{B})A−B=A+(−B) +Ry2
Where −B⃗-\vec{B}−B is the vector with the 4. Find direction:
same magnitude as B⃗\vec{B}B but in the
θ=tan−1(RyRx)\theta = \tan^{-1} \left( \
opposite direction.
frac{R_y}{R_x} \right)θ=tan−1(RxRy)
3. Multiplication by a Scalar
🧠 IX. Applications of Vectors in Physics
Changes the magnitude of the vector.
Calculating net force
May also reverse direction if the
Analyzing motion in two dimensions
scalar is negative.
Determining projectile paths
Evaluating work done in a specific
🔄 VII. Components of a Vector
direction
A vector in 2D can be broken into horizontal
Navigating with displacement and
(x) and vertical (y) components:
velocity
Ax=Acos(θ),Ay=Asin(θ)A_x = A \cos(\theta), \
quad A_y = A \sin(\theta)Ax=Acos(θ),Ay
=Asin(θ) 📚 Summary
Where: Scalars = magnitude only; use regular
math
AAA is the magnitude of the vector
Vectors = magnitude + direction;
θ\thetaθ is the angle with respect to
follow vector laws
the x-axis
Vectors are represented graphically
and can be added, subtracted, or
🧮 VIII. Resultant of Two Vectors Using multiplied.
Components
Components simplify calculations of
To add vectors AAA and BBB: vectors in 2D/3D space.
1. Break into components: Vectors are essential in analyzing real-
world motion and forces.
o Ax,AyA_x, A_yAx,Ay
o Bx,ByB_x, B_yBx,By
2. Add components: