Vectors & Scalars 9/10/2015

Scalars  Scalars are quantities or measurements with no direction.  Can you think of an example?

Examples  Almost all base units are scalars  Time, Length, Mass ect.

What are vectors?  Vectors represent a value with magnitude and direction  Today we will use vectors to describe the motion of your bodies around the school

Creating a Vector  To create a vector we need a magnitude and direction  An example could be saying you travelled 2 miles east

Example  Mr. Peterson decided to visit a relative in Duluth. He travelled 150 miles west  How can we draw a vector to describe Mr. Peterson’s motion

Adding Vectors  To add vectors we use the Tip to Tail method. When you draw a vector from the beginning of the first vector to the tip of the final vector this gives you a resultant vector This means we add the tip of the first vector to the tail of the second + =How would we find the resultant vector?

Example  Leslie decided to go get ice cream she travels 2 miles west. She then wants to bring one ice cream cone to her grandmother who lives 1 mile west. What is Leslie’s resultant vector?

Adding opposite vectors  Some vectors go different directions.  We still add these using the Tip to Tail method. The resultant vector then starts at the beginning of vector one and goes to the tip of vector two Example: Noah drove 50 miles East. However, he left his phone at a gas station and had to drive 20 miles East to pick it up. What was Noah’s resultant vector?  +  =

Example  John drives to Duluth which is 150 miles North. He then drives from Duluth to Superior which is 2 miles South. What is John’s resultant vector?