Everything Science Grade 10

20.1 CHAPTER 20. VECTORS AND SCALARS

Vector notation ESAGJ

Vectors are different to scalars and must have their own notation. There are many ways of

writing the symbol for a vector. In this book vectors will be shown by symbols with an

arrow pointing to the right above it. For example,

→

F,

→

Wand→vrepresent thevectorsof

force, weight and velocity, meaning they have both a magnitudeanda direction.

Sometimes just the magnitude of a vector is needed. In this case, the arrow is omitted. For

the case of the force vector:

•

→

Frepresents the force vector

• Frepresents the magnitude of the force vector

Graphical

representation of vectors

ESAGK

Vectors are drawn as arrows. An arrow has both a magnitude (how long it is) and a direction

(the direction in which it points). The starting point of a vector is known as thetailand the

end point is known as thehead.

See video: VPgdw at http://www.everythingscience.co.za

b b b

b

Figure 20.2: Examples of vectors

b magnitude

tail head

Figure 20.3: Parts of a vector

366 Physics: Mechanics