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BSCS 2 Physics
Scalar
- is a simple physical quantity that does not depend on direction, and is
therefore not changed by coordinate system rotations (in Newtonian mechanics), or
by Lorentz transformations (in relativity).
Examples:
For example, the distance between two points in space is a scalar, as are the mass,
charge, and kinetic energy of an object, or the temperature and electric potential at
a point inside a medium. On the other hand, the electric field at a point is not a
scalar in this sense, since to specify it one must give three real numbers that
depend on the coordinate system chosen. The speed of an object is a scalar (e.g.
180 km/h), while its velocity is not (i.e. 180 km/h north). The gravitational force
acting on a particle is not a scalar, but its magnitude is.
• temperature
• time
• pressure
• entropy
• negentropy
Jonah Bengt Enrique December 20, 2007
BSCS 2 Physics
Vector
- is a concept characterized by a magnitude and a direction, and which sums
with other vectors according to the Parallelogram law. A vector can be thought of as
an arrow in Euclidean space, drawn from an initial point A pointing to a terminal
point B. This vector is commonly denoted by indicating that the arrow points
from A to B. In this way, the arrow holds all the information of the vector quantity —
the magnitude is represented by the arrow's length and the direction by the
direction of the arrow's head and body. This magnitude and direction are those
necessary to carry one from A to B.
BSCS 2 Physics
Addition of Vectors
• Graphical Method
- Polygon Method
- Parallelogram Method
• Analytical Method
- Pythagorean Method
- Component Method
A = 5 cm, E B = 3 cm, E
Resultant Vector = 8
cm, E
Graphical Method – Polygon Method (uses head-to-tail method)
Analytical Method
BSCS 2 Physics
C. Vectors at an Angle
Examples: A = 30 units, E
B = 40 units, N
Scale: 1 segment = 10 units
1. Graphical Method
Resultant
B = 40 units, N
A = 20 units, E
BSCS 2 Physics
B R B1
• Analytical Method
a2 = c2 + b2 – 2bc cos A
b2 = a2 + c2 – 2ac cos B
Component Method
-X +X
+Y
-Y