# 3.2 Vector addition and subtraction: graphical methods  (Page 4/15)

 Page 4 / 15

## Multiplication of vectors and scalars

If we decided to walk three times as far on the first leg of the trip considered in the preceding example, then we would walk , or 82.5 m, in a direction $\text{66}\text{.}0\text{º}$ north of east. This is an example of multiplying a vector by a positive scalar    . Notice that the magnitude changes, but the direction stays the same.

If the scalar is negative, then multiplying a vector by it changes the vector’s magnitude and gives the new vector the opposite direction. For example, if you multiply by –2, the magnitude doubles but the direction changes. We can summarize these rules in the following way: When vector $\mathbf{A}$ is multiplied by a scalar $c$ ,

• the magnitude of the vector becomes the absolute value of $c$ $A$ ,
• if $c$ is positive, the direction of the vector does not change,
• if $c$ is negative, the direction is reversed.

In our case, $c=3$ and $A=27.5 m$ . Vectors are multiplied by scalars in many situations. Note that division is the inverse of multiplication. For example, dividing by 2 is the same as multiplying by the value (1/2). The rules for multiplication of vectors by scalars are the same for division; simply treat the divisor as a scalar between 0 and 1.

## Resolving a vector into components

In the examples above, we have been adding vectors to determine the resultant vector. In many cases, however, we will need to do the opposite. We will need to take a single vector and find what other vectors added together produce it. In most cases, this involves determining the perpendicular components of a single vector, for example the x - and y -components, or the north-south and east-west components.

For example, we may know that the total displacement of a person walking in a city is 10.3 blocks in a direction $\text{29}\text{.0º}$ north of east and want to find out how many blocks east and north had to be walked. This method is called finding the components (or parts) of the displacement in the east and north directions, and it is the inverse of the process followed to find the total displacement. It is one example of finding the components of a vector. There are many applications in physics where this is a useful thing to do. We will see this soon in Projectile Motion , and much more when we cover forces in Dynamics: Newton’s Laws of Motion . Most of these involve finding components along perpendicular axes (such as north and east), so that right triangles are involved. The analytical techniques presented in Vector Addition and Subtraction: Analytical Methods are ideal for finding vector components.

## Phet explorations: maze game

Learn about position, velocity, and acceleration in the "Arena of Pain". Use the green arrow to move the ball. Add more walls to the arena to make the game more difficult. Try to make a goal as fast as you can.

## Summary

• The graphical method of adding vectors $\mathbf{A}$ and $\mathbf{B}$ involves drawing vectors on a graph and adding them using the head-to-tail method. The resultant vector $\mathbf{R}$ is defined such that $\mathbf{\text{A}}+\mathbf{\text{B}}=\mathbf{\text{R}}$ . The magnitude and direction of $\mathbf{R}$ are then determined with a ruler and protractor, respectively.
• The graphical method of subtracting vector $\mathbf{B}$ from $\mathbf{A}$ involves adding the opposite of vector $\mathbf{B}$ , which is defined as $-\mathbf{B}$ . In this case, $\text{A}–\mathbf{\text{B}}=\mathbf{\text{A}}+\left(\text{–B}\right)=\text{R}$ . Then, the head-to-tail method of addition is followed in the usual way to obtain the resultant vector $\mathbf{R}$ .
• Addition of vectors is commutative    such that .
• The head-to-tail method    of adding vectors involves drawing the first vector on a graph and then placing the tail of each subsequent vector at the head of the previous vector. The resultant vector is then drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the final vector.
• If a vector $\mathbf{A}$ is multiplied by a scalar quantity $c$ , the magnitude of the product is given by $\text{cA}$ . If $c$ is positive, the direction of the product points in the same direction as $\mathbf{A}$ ; if $c$ is negative, the direction of the product points in the opposite direction as $\mathbf{A}$ .

A body travelling at a velocity of 30ms^-1 in a straight line is brought to rest by application of brakes. if it covers a distance of 100m during this period, find the retardation.
what's acceleration
The change in position of an object with respect to time
Mfizi
Acceleration is velocity all over time
Pamilerin
hi
Stephen
It's not It's the change of velocity relative to time
Laura
Velocity is the change of position relative to time
Laura
acceleration it is the rate of change in velocity with time
Stephen
acceleration is change in velocity per rate of time
Noara
what is ohm's law
Stephen
Ohm's law is related to resistance by which volatge is the multiplication of current and resistance ( U=RI)
Laura
how i don understand
how do I access the Multiple Choice Questions? the button never works and the essay one doesn't either
How do you determine the magnitude of force
mass × acceleration OR Work done ÷ distance
Seema
Which eye defect is corrected by a lens having different curvatures in two perpendicular directions?
acute astigmatism?
the difference between virtual work and virtual displacement
How do you calculate uncertainties
What is Elasticity
using a micro-screw gauge,the thickness of a piece of a A4 white paper is measured to be 0.5+or-0.05 mm. If the length of the A4 paper is 26+or-0.2 cm, determine the volume of the A4 paper in: a). Cubic centimeters b). Cubic meters
what is module
why it is possible for an object(man) to stay on air without falling down?
its impossible, what do you mean exactly?
Ryan
Exactly
Emmanuella
it's impossible
Your
Why is it not possible to stand in air?
bikko
the air molecules are very light enough to oppose the gravitational pull of the earth on the man..... hence, freefall occurs
Arzail
because of gravitational forces
Pamilerin
this mostly occur in space
Stephen
what is physics
no life without physics ....that should tell you something
Exactly
Emmanuella
😎👍
E=MC^2
study of matter and energy and an inter-relation between them.
Minahil
that's how the mass and energy are related in stationery frame
Arzail
Ketucky tepung 10m
firdaus
Treeskin, 6m Cloud gam water 2m Cloud gam white 2m And buur
firdaus
Like dont have but have
firdaus
Two in one
firdaus
Okay
firdaus
DNA card
firdaus
hey am new over hear
Shiwani
War right? My impesilyty again. Don't have INSURAN for me
firdaus
PUSH
firdaus
I give
firdaus
0kay
firdaus
Hear from long
firdaus
Hehehe
firdaus
All physics... Hahahaha
firdaus
Tree skin and two cloud have tokside maybe
firdaus
Sold thing
firdaus
PUSH FIRST. HAHAHAAHA
firdaus
thanks
firdaus
Kinetic energy is the energy due to montion of waves,electrons,atoms, molecule,substances an object s.
Emmanuella
Opjective 0
firdaus
Atom nber 0
firdaus
SOME N
firdaus
10.000m permonth. U use momentom with me
firdaus
hi
Hilal
plz anyone can tell what is meteor and why meteor fall in night? can meteor fall in the day
Hilal
meteor are the glowy (i.e. heated when the enter into our atmosphere) parts of meteoroids. now, meteoroids are the debris resulting from the collision of asteroids or comets. yes, it occurs in daytime too, but due to the daylight, we cant observe it as clearly as in night
Arzail
thank's
Hilal
hello guys
Waka
wich method we use to find the potential on a grounded sphere
Noman
with out a physics the life is nothing to see
What do you want to talk about😋😋
Emmanuella
the study of all the natural events occuring around us..... this is Physics (until those events obey the laws of physics)
Arzail
Conservation of energy😰
Emmanuella
yeah, that too
Arzail
Energy, it always remains there in a physical system. it can only take the form either in motion (kinetic energy) or in rest (potential energy)
Arzail
In nature organisms feed on one another in an orderly way.
Emmanuella
that describes the food chain, in which we humans are at the top
Arzail
The energy that came initially from the sun 🌞is converted into a form in which it can be stored in green plant.
Emmanuella
Therefore, there is conservation of energy.
Emmanuella
DNA CARD
firdaus
"card"
firdaus
Darag
firdaus