Lesson: Vector Quantities Mathematics

In this lesson, we will learn how to identify how vectors are used in mechanics to solve problems in two dimensions.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

distinguish between a scalar and a vector,
understand that a vector has both magnitude and direction, especially that a vector with negative components still has a positive magnitude in the opposite direction,
recall important vector quantities: displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force and recall their corresponding scalar quantities, if applicable,
use both column and , notation to denote vectors in two dimensions,
calculate the magnitude and direction of a 2D vector using trigonometry.

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

Say that the positive direction of motion is toward the right. Which of the following correctly describes the motion of a particle whose velocity is negative and acceleration is positive?

Q2:

A particle is moving from point to point and then to point . The displacement from point to point is cm, and the displacement from point to point is cm. Find the distance between point and point rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a centimeter.

Q3:

The acceleration of a particle is m/s². Find the angle, rounded to the nearest degree, that the acceleration of this particle makes with the unit vector .