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Scalars are quantities that have only magnitude (describes how large) Examples of scalar quantities include distance, speed, mass, volume and time. Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude and direction. Examples of vector quantities include displacement, velocity, acceleration and force.

Addition of:

1) Scalar Quantities - simple algebraic addition

i.e. 6 g + 6 g = 12 g               32 ml + 32 ml = 64 ml

2) Vector Quantities - require vector addition

i.e. 10.0 N [south] + 10.0 N [south] = 20.0 N [south]

      10.0 N [south] + 10.0 N [north] = 0.0 N

       10.0 N [north] + 10.0 N [east] = 14.1 N [45 degrees E of N]

Resolving Vectors Into Perpendicular Components -

Any vector can be described as a resultant vector, that is, the sum of two perpendicular vectors.

To determine the perpendicular components of any vector

. Several vectors can be added with ease by:

a) determining the perpendicular components of each vector
b) determining the sum of the x components and the sum of the y components
c) then Calculating the resultant with the Pythagorean theorem and trig.

Problems :

Airplane Navigation Problems

River Crossing problems

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