course_planning:pre_lecture:vectors

This takes DC about 9 minutes to deliver.

  1. Start with verbal definitions
    1. Define scalar (physical quantity represented by just a number)
      1. Give examples (mass, volume, and density)
    2. Define vector (physical quantity represented by number and direction - size and orientation)
      1. Give examples (velocity (traveling along Grand River to the east at 40 mph), accel, forces)
  2. Picture of a vector
    1. Similarity of two vectors
  3. Mathematical representation in 3D
    1. Components of the vector (how much of the vector is in each direction)
  4. Shift to 2D vector (easier to draw)
    1. Graphical representation (draw big)
      1. Vector components can be measured from reference point (origin or elsewhere)
      2. Mathematical representation
      3. Magnitude can be computed (Pythag)
      4. Orientation can be computed (trig, defined from +x; so be careful)
      5. Can also get components from mag and orientation (trig, defined from +x, so again be careful)
    2. Finally, adding and subtracting vectors
      1. Graphically, tip to tail method (show addition)
      2. Mathematically, add or subtract scalar components (show addition)
    3. Some additional notes are online including unit vectors and vector subtraction
  • course_planning/pre_lecture/vectors.txt
  • Last modified: 2014/06/22 07:23
  • by pwirving