 AIM : The aim of this presentation is to make research about the classification of

Physical Quantities on the basis of direction and look at different mathematical as

well as practical approaches to this.
 On the basis of direction physical quantities can be classified into three categories:
1. Vectors
2. Scalars
3. Phasors
We start by defining these and discussing approaches to these.
 A quantity which has unit, magnitude, direction and obeys the laws of vector
addition and multiplication is known as a vector quantity. Vectors can be
represented by straight arrows. The direction of the arrow will determine the
direction of the vector. The length of the vector is represented by the length of the
arrow.
 SOME VECTOR QUANTITIES:
1. Displacement
2. Velocity
3. Momentum
 Quantities which has unit and magnitude. If it has direction, it would not obey the
laws of vector addition and multiplication are scalar quantities.
 A quantity which has unit, magnitude, direction and obeys the laws of vector
addition but not vector multiplication is known as a phasor quantity.
 A vector when multiplied by any number becomes that times longer and if the
number being multiplied I negative then the direction of the vector is reversed.
Thus, the vector –a would have the same magnitude as the vector a but its direction
would be opposite to a. Similarly, vector a and 2a are in the same direction, only
their magnitude is different as one is twice the other.

- 0.5a
a 2a
 . A variety of mathematical operations can be performed with and upon vectors.
These include vector addition and multiplication. To perform these operations we
need an accurately scaled vector diagram. The head-to-tail method is used to draw
a scaled vector diagram and an appropriate scale is given so that it is easier to
operate.
 . There are three graphical representations that are widely used for vector addition.
These are:
1. Parallelogram law of vector addition
2. Triangle law
3. Polygon law of vector addition

PARALLELOGRAM LAW:
When two vectors are given, align them in such a way that both have a common
initial point. Treat both vectors as adjacent sides of a parallelogram. Now, create the
rest of the parallelogram and from the common initial point of the two vectors draw
the diagonal which represents the resultant of the vectors in terms of both direction
and ma
When two vectors are given, align them in such a way that both have a common
initial point. Treat both vectors as adjacent sides of a parallelogram. Now, create the
rest of the parallelogram and from the common initial point of the two vectors draw
the diagonal which represents the resultant of the vectors in terms of both direction
and magnitude.
a

a a

b b
Again, when two vectors are given, align them in such a way that the initial point of
one vector is the end point of the other vector and both of them form two adjacent
sides of a triangle. Then, the third side of the triangle will give the resultant of the
two vectors.