Review of Vectors and Scalars; Scientific Notation and Units

Ms. Mikaela Fudolig Physics 71 EEE

Review: Vectors and Scalars

Scalars magnitude only Vectors magnitude and direction Scalar representation: number + units Vector representation
Arrows Unit vectors

Scalar addition
Scalar + Scalar (never Scalar + Vector) Scalars must have the same units before you can add them (never kg + mL) How to add: just add arithmetically

Vector addition: Graphical representation

Tail-to-head

A
B

Vector addition: Graphical representation

Tail-to-head

A
C

Vector addition: Graphical representation

Tail-to-head

Scalar-Vector Multiplication
Scalar x Vector
Magnitude changes (length of arrow) Direction:
Scalar > 0: Direction REMAINS THE SAME Scalar < 0: Direction REVERSES

Vector Subtraction: Graphical representation

Similar procedure as in vector addition Technique:
Reverse direction of the vector to be subracted:

A ( 1) A

Unit Vectors
Vectors are expressed as a combination of unit vectors

i - one vector of length 1 in the +x direction - one vector of length 1 in the +y direction j k - one vector of length 1 in the +z direction

Vector Addition
Add the is to the is, the js to the js, and the ks to the ks.
Arithmetic

Do NOT add the is to the js, etc.

Scalar-Vector Multiplication
Multiply ALL components by that scalar

ex. 2(i 4 ) 2i 8 j j

Converting from graphical to analytic

Trigonometry! Never forget:

SOHCATOA Pythagorean theorem

Exercise 1
A vector has a length of 3 units and is directed 30 north of west. Express this vector in terms of the unit vectors i, j, and k. Assume that north points in the +j direction.

Exercise 2
A vector has a length of 3 units and is directed 30 west of north. Express this vector in terms of the unit vectors i, j, and k. Assume that north points in the +j direction.

Exercise 3
Consider the displacement vector:

3m i 2 m j
How long is this vector, and in what direction does it point?

Exercise 4
Give the resultant of the following vectors:

A 3m i 2 m j B 5 m i 2 m 3m k j

Units and Scientific Notation

Units are important to know the amount of a quantity (scalar or vector).
Meter vs. foot Gram vs. kilogram I weigh 100. (what?)

Converting Units
Dimensional Analysis
Involves multiplying quantities by a factor of 1

? ft 5.00 cm 1 cm 1in 1 ft 5.00 cm ? cm 12 in 1in 1 ft 5.00 cm 2.54cm 12 in

Significant figures
All nonzero digits are significant. All zeroes between significant figures are significant. If a whole number ends in a zero and there is no decimal point after it, the digit 0 is not significant. (ex. 100 vs 100.) A 0 is significant if it is trailing, not if it is leading (ex. 0.010)

Scientific Notation and SF

Using scientific notation makes it easier to identify SF 1.30 x 103 g vs. 1300 g

Exercise
How many SF are there?
100.20 m 0.01050 g 10030 cm 500.0 m 2.050 x 103 J

Operations with SF
Addition/Subtraction
SF after the decimal place is what is important SF post-decimal place of Sum/difference must be the same as the post-decimal place SF of the addend/subtrahend with the smallest postdecimal place SF Ex. 100.15 + 10.2 = 110.35 110.4 expressed in scientific notation, express them with the same exponent, then add.

Operations with SF
Multiplication/Division
Product/Quotient must have the same SF as the factor/divisor/dividend the smallest SF Ex. 100 x 25.0 = 2500 3000

Operations with SF
If you have more than one arithmetic operation, do NOT use the SF rules to round up or down!
Ex. 120.0 + 55 x 10 = 120.0 + 550 = 670 not 120.0 + 600 Ex. 120.0 + 55.0 x 100.0 = 1.200 x 102 + 5.50 x 102 = 6.70 x 102