CHAPTER 5: VECTOR

NORAIHAN BINTI SALLEH HUDIN

DEPT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES, UTHM
DAS 12603 TECHNICAL SCIENCE I

INTRODUCTION
This chapter will discuss the basic concept of
vector operation, which includes:
Vector definition
Addition and subtraction of vector
The concept of vector component

LEARNING OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this chapter are to impart
students with:
The basic knowledge in vectors
The concept of vectors in engineering course

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Differentiate between the vector and the scalar

quantities.
Apply a vector analysis in engineering problem
Enhance knowledge on a vector concept and its
operation

2.1 DEFINITION OF VECTOR

QUANTITIES
Scalar quantities:
quantities that are measured require a description with only

a number (magnitude) and a unit.

Examples: mass, volume, temperature, time speed and
distance.
Vector quantities:
Require description with a number (magnitude) and a

direction
Examples: displacement, velocity, acceleration, force and
weight.
The scalar part of the vector is called magnitude of the
vector.

2.2 REPRESENTATION OF A
VECTOR: A BASIC CONCEPT
Some common denotation of vectors include:
Boldcase in typed writing: a.

a
In handwriting:

or a.
a

A
Point A: is called the initial point, tail, or base.
Point B: is called the head, tip, or endpoint.
The length of the arrow represents the magnitude.
The direction in which the arrow points represents the vectors
direction.
Vector AB is represented by a with magnitude a and direction AB.

 Two vectors are equal if the length (magnitude) and the

direction of both are the same.

Vector A
Vector B
Combination of two or more vectors will produce new

vector with both magnitude and direction depending on

the initial state of the vectors.
The new magnitude/direction of the new vector is
known as resultant magnitude/direction.
If one of these vectors changes the magnitude/direction,
it will affect the magnitude/direction of the resultant
vector.

 Same magnitude, different direction:

Vector A

Vector B

Zero magnitude, no direction

i.e. equilibrium state / steady
condition

Same direction, different magnitude:

Vector A

Vector B

Vector A

Vector B

Vector A + Vector B (to the right)

 Different on magnitude and direction:

Vector A

Vector B

Vector B

Vector A

Vector A Vector B (to the right)

or
Vector A

Vector A + Vector B
Vector A
Vector B

Vector B

Naming and defining the vector magnitude and

direction

a.

We can name a vector by its length and direction

3 km, southeast
25 km/h, at 50east of north

Or we can name a vector by x- and y-coordinates of

its endpoint, if its tail at the origin

(3, 4)
(5, -2)

Vector unit assignment and notation

b.

For 2D or 3D coordination system (Cartesian

coordinate), the notation of vector is assigned as i, j,
k.
i, j , k .
Sometimes also written as
The notation i, j, k are defined as x, y and z direction
respectively in the coordinate system.
In a general form of unit vector, a unit of magnitude
in any direction
is defined.
Vector A has a magnitude of A in the x-direction
A

Ay
Ax

and a magnitude of Ay in the y-direction.

Therefore vector A can be written as:

A = Axi + Ayj
Similarly, in 3D system, vector unit can be written as:
A = Axi + Ayj + Azk

 Adding/subtracting a vector can be done by

adding/subtracting magnitude with the same direction

respectively.
Example:
Given A = (3i + 2j)m, B = (-5i 4j)m and C = (-2i + 5j).
Determine the vector resultant of R = A + B + C.
Rx Ax Bx Cx
Solution:
x-component: 3i (5i) (2i)
4i
Ry Ay By C y

y-component : 2 j (4 j ) 5 j
3j

R Rx Ry

Therefore, the resultant force

4i 3 j m

2.3 VECTOR RESULTANT

Methods of finding a resultant vector:
Resultant Vector

Graphical method Analytical methodTrigonometry method

Parallelogram

Tail-to-tip

2.3.1 GRAPHICAL METHOD

Adding vectors by using parallelogram
method:

a)

Construct a parallelogram
A

Diagonal line is the resultant vec

A

R
B

R =A + B

b) Adding a vector by using tail-to-tip method:

B

Move the tail one vector to

the tip of the other vector
A
B

Resultant vector goes from the tail of

the first vector to the tip of the second
R
A
B
R=A+B

 Tail-to-tip method for the addition of more than

two vectors:
A

Move the tail of B to the tip of A, then move the tail of C to the tip

R=A+B+C

Example:
Two forces 3.0N and 4.0N act on a point.
a) What are the maximum and the minimum of
their resultant force?
b) If a force of 3.0N acts on y-axis, while 4.0N acts
on the x-axis with the angle between them is
90, what is their resultant?
Solution:
a) Maximum resultant occurs when both forces act
in the same direction:
R = 3.0N + 4.0N = 7.0N
Minimum resultant occurs when both forces act
in the opposite direction:
R =|3.0N + (-4.0N)| = 1.0N

b) By using
paralellogram:

3.0 N

4.0 N

The vectors should be drawn according to scale.

By doing so, measuring the length of the
resultant vector will give its magnitude.
In this case, the magnitude of the resultant
vector is 5.0 N.

2.3.2 ANALYTICAL METHOD

This method is more precise than graphical method.

Easier to perform operation on more than two vectors.

In this method, vectors are resolved into two

components: x-component and y-component.

In some cases, we can find resultant force by using
cosine rule.
Cosine rule:
c2 = a2 + b2 2ab cos

Example:
An aircraft tracking station determines the distance from
a common point O to each aircraft and the angle
between the aircrafts. If angle O between the two
aircrafts is equal to 49o and the distances from point O
to the two aircrafts are 50 km and 72 km, find distance d
between the two aircrafts.
Solution:
Aircraft-1

d 2 72 2 50 2 2(72)(50) cos 49

54.4km
Aircraft-2

72km

49 50km

2.3.3 TRIGONOMETRY METHOD

a) Vector resolution using Pythagoras theorem
(Finding a resultant vector when component vectors are
given)
The original vector is split into x- and y-component.
The original vector, A, can be written as the sum of its
x- and y-component vectors: A = Ax + Ay
Ax

(y-component)

Ay (x-component)
The length of the original vector, A, can be accurately

calculated
by2 using
Pythagoras theorem:
2
2
A Ax Ay
A Ax2 Ay2

Example:
A plane flies at 241.5km/h due east. The wind blows
due north at 64.4 km/h. What is the net speed of the
plane?
Solution:
Use Pythagoras
theorem to
2
2
R Ax Ay

find R:
64.4 km/h
(wind)

(241.5) 2 (64.4) 2
62 469.61

241.5 km/h
(plane)

249.94km / h

b) Vector resolution using Trigonometric Equation

(Resolving a single vector to component vectors)

Consider the following triangle:
y

Ay

Ax
cos A
A
Ay
sin A
A

Ax A cos A
Ay A sin A

Ax

The magnitude of A can be found using

Pythagoras theorem:
A Ax2 Ay2
Ay
The direction of tan
A is
calculated
using the
A

following equation:

Ax

Example:
A boy pulls his little brother in a wagon. The handle of the wagon
makes a 30 angle upward relative to the ground. If the boy pulls
with a force of 100N along the handle, how much force is
actually being used horizontally and vertically?
Example:
A coplanar forces acting at a point O as shown in the figure below.
a) Resolve the forces along the x- and y-axis.
b) Determine the resultant y
force, FR, and its direction, R.
A = 8N
B = 5N
45

30

30

C = 6N

SUMMARY
Vectors are fundamental in the physical sciences

and engineering. It can be used to represent any

quantity that has both magnitude and direction
Vectors are usually denoted in boldcase,a as A, or
or a.
In vector unit system, the notation of i, j and k are
defined as x, y and z system.
The addition and subtraction operation of a vector
can be performed by either a graphical or
analytical methods.
A graphical method consists of two methods:
parallelogram and tip-to-tail method.

EXERCISE:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Two tugboats are towing a ship. Each exerts a force of 6 tons,

and the angle between the two ropes is 60. What is the
resultant force on the ship?
A boat moving at 5km/h is crossing a river. The current of the
river is flowing at 3km/h. In what direction should the boat head
to reach a point on the other bank of the river directly opposite
its starting point?
Going from one city to another, a driver drives his car 30km
north, 50km west and 20km southeast. How far has he been
travelling from his starting point?
A boy rides his bicycle 5m east before turning left and rides for
another 10m. How far has he travelled from where he starts?
A woman in a car on a level road sees an airplane travelling in
the same direction climbing at an angle of 30 above the
horizontal. By driving at 110 km/h, she is able to stay directly
below the airplane. Find the airplanes velocity.
A car weighing 12kN is on a hill that makes an angle of 20
with the horizontal. Find the components of the cars weight