UNIT 1-PHY 131 Chapter 2 - Introduction To Vectors

After this unit you should be able to:
UNIT 1 • Write any vector in its component

form (2.1).
Chapter 2 • Calculate the magnitude of any
vector quantity (2.2).
Forces • Apply vector addition to any
Introductions to vectors number of vectors (2.3).
Slide 1
SCALARS AND VECTORS
A scalar quantity can have magnitude, algebraic sign

(positive or negative), and units, but not a direction in space.
When scalars are added or subtracted, they do so in the usual

way: 3 kg of water plus 2 kg of water is always equal to 5 kg
of water.
Adding vectors is different. All vectors follow the same rules

of addition - rules that take into account the directions of the
vectors being added.
Slide 2
SCALARS AND VECTORS: NOTATION
An arrow over a boldface symbol indicates a vector quantity:
When the symbol for a vector is written without the arrow

and in italics rather than boldface ( F ), it respresents the
magnitude of the vector (which is a scalar).
Absolute value bars are also used to represent the magnitude

of a vector:
The magnitude of a vector may have units and is never

negative; it can be positive or zero.
Slide 3
VECTOR REPRESENTATION
• 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.
4N
8N
• The negative of a vector is simply in the opposite

direction to the original vector:
+𝐹 −𝐹
Slide 4
Slide 5
GRAPHICAL VECTOR ADDITION
Slide 6
Often it is necessary to add one vector to another.
Slide 7
5m 3m
8m
Slide 8
GRAPHICAL VECTOR ADDITION
What if all the vectors start at the

same point? How would one draw the
resultant of such number of vector?
Slide 9
VECTOR ADDITION USING COMPONENTS
Components of a Vector
Any vector can be expressed as the sum of vectors parallel
to the x-, y-, and (if needed) z-axes.
The x-, y-, and z- components of a vector indicate the
magnitude and direction of the three vectors along the axes.
A component has magnitude, units, and an algebraic
sign ( + or − ).
The sign of a component indicates the direction along that
axis.
The process of finding the components of a vector is called
resolving the vector into its components.
Slide 10
Finding Components Consider a force vector that has

magnitude 9.4 N and is directed 58 ° below the +x-axis ).
Think of as the sum of two vectors,

one parallel to the x-axis and the
other parallel to the y-axis.
The magnitudes of these two vectors

are the magnitudes (absolute values)
of the x- and y-components of .
Slide 11
Slide 12
Problem-Solving Strategy: Finding the x- and y-
Components of a Vector from Its Magnitude
and Direction
1. Draw a right triangle with the vector as the hypotenuse
and the other two sides parallel to the x- and y-axes.
2. Determine one of the angles in the triangle.
3. Use trigonometric functions to find the magnitudes of
the components. Make sure your calculator is in
“degree mode” to evaluate trigonometric functions of
angles in degrees and “radian mode” for angles in
radians.
4. Determine the correct algebraic sign for each
component.
Slide 13
Finding Components
Slide 14
Problem-Solving Strategy: Finding the
Magnitude and Direction of a Vector from Its x-
and y-Components
1. Sketch the vector on a set of x- and y-axes in the
correct quadrant, according to the signs of the
components.
2. Draw a right triangle with the vector as the

hypotenuse and the other two sides parallel to the x-
and y-axes.
3. In the right triangle, choose which of the unknown

angles you want to determine.
Slide 15
and y-Components
4. Use the inverse tangent function to find the angle.
The lengths of the sides of the triangle represent Fx

and Fy.
If θ is opposite the side parallel to the x-axis, then tan

θ = opposite/adjacent = Fx / Fy .
If θ is opposite the side parallel to the y-axis, then tan

θ = opposite/adjacent = Fy / Fx .
Slide 16
and y-Components
5. Interpret the angle: specify whether it is the angle
below the horizontal, or the angle west of south, or
the angle clockwise from the negative y-axis, etc.
6. Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude

of the vector.
Slide 17
VECTOR ADDITION USING
COMPONENTS
Finding Magnitude and Direction
We can find a vector’s magnitude
and direction from its components.
Fx = 5.0 N, Fy = –8.0 N
Slide 18
Example 2.3
Suppose you are
standing on the floor
doing your daily
exercises.
For one exercise, you lift

your arms up and out
until they are horizontal. In this position, assume that the
deltoid muscle exerts a force of 270 N at an angle of 15 °
above the horizontal on the humerus.
What are the x- and y-components of this force?
Slide 19
Example 2.3
Solution
Slide 20
Example 2.3
Check
Slide 21
Problem-Solving Strategy: Adding Vectors
Using Components
1. Find the x- and y-components of each vector to be
added.
2. Add the x-components ( with their algebraic signs ) of
the vectors to find the x-component of the sum. (If
the signs are not correct, the sum will not be correct.)
3. Add the y-components (with their algebraic signs) of
the vectors to find the y-component of the sum.
4. If necessary, use the x- and y-components of the sum
to find the magnitude and direction of the sum.
Slide 22
VECTOR ADDITION USING
COMPONENTS
Adding Vectors Using Components
Slide 23
Example 2.4
In a traction apparatus, three cords
pull on the central pulley, each
with magnitude 22.0 N, in the
directions shown in the figure.
What is the sum of the forces

exerted on the central pulley by
the three cords?
Give the magnitude and direction

of the sum.
Slide 24
Free-body diagram
Reasoning Strategy
• Select an object(s) to which the equations of equilibrium are

to be applied.
• Draw a free-body diagram for each object chosen above.

Include only forces acting on the object, not forces the object
exerts on its environment.
• Choose a set of x, y axes for each object and resolve all forces
in the free-body diagram into components that point along these
axes.
• Apply the equations and solve for the unknown quantities.
Slide 25
Example 2.4
Solution
Slide 26
Example 2.4
Solution
Slide 27
Example 2.4
Solution
Slide 28
VECTOR MULTIPLICATION
• Vectors can be multiplied in two ways:
• Dot product, indicated as follows: 𝐴 ∙ 𝐵
• Cross product, indicated as follows: 𝐴 × 𝐵
• We will not be using the cross product in this course.
• The dot product is defined as follows:
𝐴 ∙ 𝐵 = |𝐴| |𝐵| cos 𝜃 = 𝐴 𝐵 cos 𝜃
• 𝜃 is the angle BETWEEN the two vectors, 𝐴 and 𝐵
• The dot product of two vectors is a SCALAR quantity.
• To calculate the dot product of two vectors, if the
components of the vectors are known, simply multiply
the components and add together:
𝐴 ∙ 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧
Slide 29
DOT PRODUCT IN PHYSICS
• The dot product is a mathematical tool that has many

useful applications in Physics.
• In this course, it is used in defining the work done by a
constant force:
𝑊= 𝐹∙ 𝑟
• 𝐹 is the force vector and 𝑟 the displacement vector.
• This will be covered in detail in later chapters.
Slide 30
SELF ASSESSMENT
(a) Revisit example 2.2 from your text book, and calculate the
magnitude and direction of resultant force using vector components.
(b) Two ropes are attached to a heavy box to pull it along the
floor. One rope applies a force of 475 newton's in a direction due
west; the other applies a force of 315 newton's in a direction due
south. As we will see later in the text, force is a vector quantity. (a)
How much force should be applied by a single rope, and (b) in what
direction (relative to due west), if it is to accomplish the same effect
as the two forces added together?
Slide 31
(c)
Slide 32
(d)
Slide 33
(e) The magnitudes of the four displacement vectors shown in
the drawing are A = 16.0 m, B = 11.0 m, C = 12.0 m, and
D = 26.0 m. Calculate the magnitude and directional angle
for the resultant that occurs when these vectors are added
together.
Slide 34

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How do you add vectors using components?

How do you add vectors using components?

What is the dot product and how is it used?

What is the dot product and how is it used?

After this unit you should be able to:

UNIT 1 • Write any vector in its component

A scalar quantity can have magnitude, algebraic sign

When scalars are added or subtracted, they do so in the usual

Adding vectors is different. All vectors follow the same rules

When the symbol for a vector is written without the arrow

Absolute value bars are also used to represent the magnitude

The magnitude of a vector may have units and is never

• The negative of a vector is simply in the opposite

What if all the vectors start at the

Finding Components Consider a force vector that has

Think of as the sum of two vectors,

The magnitudes of these two vectors

2. Draw a right triangle with the vector as the

3. In the right triangle, choose which of the unknown

The lengths of the sides of the triangle represent Fx

If θ is opposite the side parallel to the x-axis, then tan

If θ is opposite the side parallel to the y-axis, then tan

6. Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude

For one exercise, you lift

What are the x- and y-components of this force?

What is the sum of the forces

Give the magnitude and direction

• Select an object(s) to which the equations of equilibrium are

• Draw a free-body diagram for each object chosen above.

• Apply the equations and solve for the unknown quantities.

• The dot product is a mathematical tool that has many

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