Unit 2

VECTORS
Vectors and Types of Vectors
In physics, quantities are classified according to whether direction is needed to describe them
fully.
Difference between Vector and Scalar Quantities
Scalar Quantities:
 These have only magnitude (size) and no direction.
 They are fully described by a numerical value and unit.
Vector Quantities:
 These have both magnitude and direction, making them essential for complete
descriptions in physics.
 Without direction, quantities like displacement lose meaning.
Type Definition Example Quantities Representation
Scalar A quantity that has Mass (m), Time (t), Energy (E), Ordinary number (e.g.
magnitude only, no Distance (d), Speed (v) 50 kg)
direction.
Vector A quantity that has both Displacement ( ⃗), Velocity ( ⃗), Directed arrow ( ⃗) or
magnitude and ⃗
Force ( ), Acceleration ( ⃗), boldface letter A
direction. Momentum ( ⃗)
Example:
If a girl says, ―The truck moves 50 km/h,‖ she has given a speed (scalar).
If she adds, ―50 km/h toward the North,‖ that becomes a velocity (vector).
Activity 2.1 Identifying Scalars and Vectors
Complete the table below (from the textbook) by classifying each physical quantity.
Quantity Scalar/Vector Quantity Scalar/Vector
Area Scalar Density Scalar
Distance Scalar Weight Vector
Pressure Scalar Force Vector
Now add your own examples:
Scalar: time, energy, temperature.
Vector: displacement, acceleration, momentum.
2. Geometric Representation of Vectors
A vector is represented geometrically by a directed arrow drawn to scale.
Notation:
 Boldface (A) –read as vector A
 Arrow overhead ( ⃗) –read as vector A
 Magnitude is | ⃗| or A. –read as magnitude of vector A
Length of the arrow → magnitude.
Arrowhead direction → direction of the quantity.
Tail (initial point) → starting point.
Head (tip) → terminal point.
Example
If the vector A has a magnitude of 5 N acting East, it is represented by a line 5 cm long (using
scale 1 cm = 1 N) drawn eastward on a graph.
Tools Used:
 Ruler (to scale length)
 Protractor (to show direction)
 Graph paper (to plot accurately)

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Activity 2.2
Materials: Measuring tape, graph paper, ruler, protractor.
1. Stand at the center of a volleyball field (origin).
2. Walk any direction and stop after a certain distance.
3. Measure your straight-line distance from the origin to final point.
4. Draw this displacement vector to scale on graph paper.
5. Label axes:
 ( x )-axis → East
 ( y )-axis → North
3. Types of Vectors
(a) Zero or Null Vector (→0)
 Magnitude of zero
 Have no specific direction.
Example: object at rest has zero velocity vector.
⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂
(b) Unit Vector
 Magnitude of one (1)
 Is used to indicate direction only.
 Are represented by adding hat over the head.
Unit vector in the direction of given vector ⃗ is given as
⃗
̂
| ⃗|
Example: ( ̂ ̂ ̂ ) along x-, y-, and z-axes.
(c) Equal Vectors
 Vectors with the same magnitude and same direction, even if they start at different
points.
⃗ ⃗⃗ | ⃗| = | ⃗⃗|, and directions are identical.
(d) Negative (Opposite) Vectors
 Same magnitude, opposite direction.
⃗ ⃗⃗
Example: ( 5N North ) vs ( 5N South)
(e) Parallel and Antiparallel Vectors
 Parallel vectors: act along same or exactly opposite lines of action.
Examples: All gravitational force vectors near Earth’s surface are parallel.
 Antiparallel vectors: same line but opposite direction.
(f) Collinear Vectors
 Vectors acting along the same line, may be in same or opposite direction.

(g) Coplanar Vectors

 Vectors lying in the same plane (e.g. forces acting on a table).
(h) Position Vector
 Are vectors used to show the position or location of an object
 Vector drawn from origin to a point ( P(x, y, z) ):

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 ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂
(i) Displacement Vector
 Represents shortest distance between initial and final positions:
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
Where ⃗ is starting point (initial positions) vector and ⃗ final position vector.
(j) Co-initial Vectors
 Share the same starting point.
Example 2.1
Find the negative of each:
1. ⃗ = 60 km North ⃗= 60 km South
2. ⃗⃗ = 100km/h, South of East ⃗⃗ = 100 km/h, North of West
Diagram Summary
Type Symbolic Relation Sketch
(a) Parallel ⃗ parallel ⃗⃗ →→
(b) Antiparallel ⃗ uparrow\downarrow ⃗⃗ →←
(c) Equal ⃗= ⃗⃗ Same direction, same length
(d) Negative ⃗= ⃗⃗ Opposite direction
2.2 Graphical Method of Addition of Vectors in Two Dimensions (2-D)
Resultant Vector
 When two or more vectors act simultaneously on a point or object, they can be replaced by a
single vector that has the same effect as all of them combined.
 The resultant vector is a single vector that represents the combined effect of two or more
vectors.
 It has the same physical impact as the original set of vectors acting together.
 That single equivalent vector is called the resultant vector ( ⃗⃗ ).
Mathematically and geometrically:
⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ ⃗
If several displacements, forces, or velocities act on a body, the resultant gives:
 the overall displacement for motion,
 the net force for dynamics, or
 the net velocity for combined motions.
Graphical (Geometric) Vector Addition Methods
 When vectors act in a plane, we can represent them to scale using a ruler (for magnitude)
and a protractor (for direction).
The most common methods are:
2.1 Triangle Law of Vector Addition
 This law states that if two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by two sides
of a triangle (placed head-to-tail), the third side represents the resultant vector in
magnitude and direction.
 “If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by two sides of a triangle
taken in order, then their resultant is represented by the third side of the triangle taken in
the opposite order.”

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 Procedure:
 Draw the first vector ⃗ to scale. ⃗
 From the head of ⃗ draw the second vector ⃗ to scale. ⃗
 Connect the tail of ⃗ to the head of ⃗ to form the resultant ⃗.
Mathematically: ⃗
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
The magnitude of ⃗ is found using a ruler, and the direction using a protractor relative to a
reference
➤ Procedure
1. Choose a scale, e.g., 1 cm = 1 N or 1 cm = 10 m.
2. Draw vector A to scale in its direction.
3. From the head (tip) of A, draw vector B to scale in its own direction.
4. The resultant vector ( ⃗⃗ ) is drawn from the tail of A to the head of B.
⃗⃗ ⃗ ⃗⃗
Mathematical Connection
If the angle between A and B is ( ): B
√
and A

where ( ) is the angle between ( ⃗⃗ ) and ( ⃗).

Conceptual Illustration
If you walk 4 m East, then 3 m North, your overall displacement is the hypotenuse of the
triangle formed by these two steps.
Solution
√
Direction:
( ) North of East
Activity 2.3
A + B = B+ A (commutative property).
Apparatus:
Ruler, protractor, graph paper.
Procedure:
1. Draw vector (A) of 5 cm.
2. Draw vector (B) of 9 cm making ( ) with (A ).
3. Measure the resultant (R ).
4. Repeat with the order reversed: draw (B) first, then (A).
Observation: Both constructions yield the same (R).
 Hence vector addition is commutative.
2.2 Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition
 This law applies when two vectors are placed tail-to-tail.
 The resultant is the diagonal of the parallelogram formed by the two vectors as adjacent
sides.
Procedure:
 Draw both vectors ⃗⃗ and ⃗⃗ from a common origin (tail-to-tail).
 Complete the parallelogram by drawing lines parallel to each vector
 The diagonal from the common tail to the opposite corner is the resultant ⃗⃗.

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Procedure
1. Draw the two vectors A and B with common tail at point O.
2. Complete the parallelogram by drawing lines parallel to both vectors.
3. The diagonal from the common tail gives the resultant vector ( R).
A

B
R B

A
Mathematical Relation
If the angle between A and B is ( ):
√
The direction of the resultant with respect to A:

where ( ) is the angle between ( ⃗⃗ ) and ( ⃗).

Activity 2.4 Parallelogram Law Verification
Discussion Prompt:
Some students think that if ( C= A + B ), then ( |C| = |A| + |B| ).
Why is this incorrect?
Explanation:
 Because vector addition considers both magnitude and direction.
 Only when vectors are collinear and parallel (θ = 0°) is the equality true.
 Otherwise, the diagonal is shorter than the sum of sides.
2.3 Polygon Law of Vector Addition
 An extension for more than two vectors.
 Place vectors head-to-tail in sequence to form an open polygon.
 The resultant is the vector closing the polygon (from the tail of the first to the head of the
last).
➤ Procedure
[Link] a scale and direction system (e.g., East–North).
[Link] (A), then from its head draw (B), then (C), etc.
[Link] the tail of the first vector to the head of the last → resultant (R). D
R= A + B + C+ …
If the polygon closes, i.e., final point = starting point,
then ( R = 0 ) — meaning the system is in equilibrium. C
R
Polygon Law B
Suppose four forces act successively on a ring: A
=10N East, =6N North, =10 N West, =6N South
Constructing these head-to-tail forms a closed rectangle,
hence: + + + = 0
The body is in equilibrium — a key idea in statics.

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2.4 Subtraction of Vectors
Vector subtraction ( ) is defined as adding the negative of (B).

Graphically:
 Reverse direction of (B) (to get ( ).
 Add it to (A) using the triangle method.
The vector from head of B to head of A represents ( ).
⃗⃗ ⃗ ⃗⃗
Mathematical Connection
If the angle between A and B is ( ): B
√
and A
-B
Activity 2.5
Objective:
Apparatus: 20 m tape, markers, ruler, protractor, graph paper.
Steps:
1. Mark the origin in a field.
2. Walk 12 m North, 16 m East, and 10 m South-East.
3. Plot each on graph paper (scale 1 cm = 1 m).
4. Measure and label the resultant displacement.
5. Calculate direction using the measured angle.
Discussion: How does the resultant compare with actual straight-line distance between start and
end?
Conceptual Summary
Law Representation Diagram Application
Triangle Law Two vectors head-to- △ Simple two-vector systems
tail (displacement, force)
Parallelogram Two vectors tail-to-tail ▱ Forces or velocities acting on same
Law point
Polygon Law Many vectors in order ⬡ Several sequential vectors (motion,
equilibrium)
Subtraction Add inverse vector →← Relative motion or net difference
Vector Addition Properties
1. Commutative:
A+B=B+A
2. Associative:
A+(B+C)= (A+B)+C
3. Existence of Zero Vector:
A+O=A

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