The Language of Science

How we communicate

Describing an object Scalars

Quantity that can be expressed with a single number

10 gallons, 30 miles, 20 years Expressed in magnitude only

Vectors Quantity expressed with a number and

direction Expressed in magnitude and direction 30 miles east, 24 m/s north

How do we represent vectors?

The arrow is called a vector. The length represents the

magnitude of the objects speed. The direction represents the

direction of the applied velocity.

Examples Calculate the resultant velocity of

Freda Flyer who normally flies at 100 km/h and then encounters a 10 km/h headwind.

100 km/H 10 km/h

90 km/h

Adding Vectors

80 km/h

60 km/h

Resultant = 100 km/h

Vector Components Changing a single vector into it’s

vertical and horizontal components is called resolution or decomposition.

Vertical component

Horizontal Component

Solving for the resultant Pythagorean Theorem

a2 + b2 = c2

5 km/h

5 km/h(5 km/h)2 + (5 km/h)2 = _________

Vertical and Horizontal Components

Equations – What are they good for? Equations help us describe what

happens and relationships. Equations are a shorthand form of

expressing ideas. Equations can be expressed in

graphical format.

Direct Relationship

A = k x B

Inverse Relationship

A = B

k

Power Law Relationship

A = k Bn

Inverse Square Relationship

A = 2B

k

Metric Prefixes

Multiply Giga

billion Mega

million Kilo

thousand

Divide Centi

hundred Milli

thousand Micro

million Nano

billion

Homework

Read Chapter 24 definitions