Introduction to Vectors

Vectors

Last Friday we did independent research about vectors. After collaborating our findings, this is what we came up with!

Vectors are mathematical bodies described by a magnitude (size) and direction (orientation of the vector); this includes displacement, velocity, acceleration and force.

Examples: Playing pool at the billiards.

We also learned about scalars. Not to be confused with vectors, scalars are different in the sense that they only have magnitude. This includes distance, speed, area, volume and so on.

Examples: Temperature in the classroom.

As defined before, we learned that a direction is the orientation or route of the vector. In order to describe direction in a vector we can use a compass to help us.

Compass Point   

   

From our words, we can then establish a value in terms of direction. See below.

·         North-        [000°]

·         East-           [090°]

·         South-        [180°]

·         West-         [270°]

·         North East-  [045°]

·         South East-  [135°]

·         South West-  [225°]

·         North West-  [315°]

Since we now have values, we can find our angles using our bearings. See below for a demonstration.

Bearing

[160°]                             South, 20° East

·         Because we know that that South is 180°, we can subtract 20° East from 180°. This than gives us our number of 160°.

We could also write this as East, 70° south. (90° + 180° = 160°)