Scalars vs.

Vectors
Vector Algebra (Operations)
VECTORS Rectangular Coordinate System
Dot Product
Cross Product
SCALARS AND VECTORS
The term scalar refers to a quantity whose value may be
represented by a single (positive or negative) real number. The x, y, and z we
use in basic algebra are scalars, and the quantities they represent are scalars.
If we speak of a body falling a distance L in a time t, or the temperature T at
any point in a bowl of soup whose coordinates are x, y, and z, then L, t, T, x,
y, and z are all scalars. Other scalar quantities are mass, density, pressure
(but not force), volume, volume resistivity, and voltage.
SCALARS AND VECTORS
A vector quantity has both a magnitude and a direction in
space. We are concerned with two- and three-dimensional spaces only, but
vectors may be defined in n-dimensional space in more advanced
applications. Force, velocity, acceleration, and a straight line from the positive
to the negative terminal of a storage battery are examples of vectors. Each
quantity is characterized by both a magnitude and a direction.

A field (scalar or vector) may be defined mathematically as

some function that connects an arbitrary origin to a general point in space.
VECTOR ALGEBRA
the addition of vectors follows the parallelogram law.

Coplanar vectors are vectors lying in a common plane.

VECTOR ALGEBRA
The rule for the subtraction of vectors follows easily from that for addition, for
we may always express .
Vectors may be multiplied by scalars. The magnitude of the vector changes,
but its direction does not when the scalar is positive, although it reverses
direction when multiplied by a negative scalar. Multiplication of a vector by a
scalar also obeys the associative and distributive laws of algebra, leading to

Division of a vector by a scalar is merely multiplication by the reciprocal of

that scalar.
VECTOR ALGEBRA
Two vectors are said to be equal if their difference is zero.

Zero Vector or Null Vector is a vector which has zero magnitude and an
arbitrary direction. Example: a) Two people holding a rope in opposite
directions with equal force. b) Displacement of throwing an object upward and
then again holding it at the same position.
RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM
In the rectangular coordinate system we set up three coordinate axes mutually
at right angles to each other and call them the x, y, and z axes.
RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM
VECTOR MAGNITUDE AND UNIT VECTORS
VECTOR MAGNITUDE AND UNIT VECTORS
Each of the three coordinate systems we discuss will have
its three fundamental and mutually perpendicular unit
vectors that are used to resolve any vector into its
component vectors.
It is helpful to write a unit vector having a specified
direction.
A unit vector in a given direction is merely a vector in that
direction divided by its magnitude.

Note: The Abs Function in calculators are use to find the

magnitude of a given vector.
VECTOR MAGNITUDE AND UNIT VECTORS
Sample problem :
VECTOR MAGNITUDE AND UNIT VECTORS
Drill problem :
DOT PRODUCT
Given two vectors A and B, the dot product, or scalar product, is defined as the
product of the magnitude of A, the magnitude of B, and the cosine of the
smaller angle between them,

The dot appears between the two vectors and should be made heavy for
emphasis. The dot, or scalar, product is a scalar, as one of the names implies,
and it obeys the commutative law,

for the sign of the angle does not affect the cosine term. The expression A· B is
read “A dot B.”
DOT PRODUCT
The most common application of the dot product is in mechanics, where a constant
force F applied over a straight displacement L does an amount of work FL cos θ,
which is more easily written F · L.

Another example might be taken from magnetic fields. The total flux crossing a
surface of area S is given by BS if the magnetic flux density B is perpendicular to the
surface and uniform over it. We define a vector surface S as having area for its
magnitude and having a direction normal to the surface (avoiding for the moment the
problem of which of the two possible normal to take). The flux crossing the surface is
then B · S. This expression is valid for any direction of the uniform magnetic flux
density. If the flux density is not constant over the surface, the total flux is
DOT PRODUCT
DOT PRODUCT
Any unit vector dotted with itself is unity,

One of the most important applications of the dot product is that of finding
the component of a vector in a given direction. We can obtain the component
(scalar) of B in the direction specified by the unit vector a as

The geometrical term projection is also used with the dot product. Thus, B · a is
the projection of B in the a direction.
DOT PRODUCT
DOT PRODUCT
The projection of u unto v is the component (scalar projection) of u in the direction specified
by the unit vector v times the unit vector of v.
DOT PRODUCT
DOT PRODUCT
DOT PRODUCT
Sample Problem :
DOT PRODUCT
DOT PRODUCT
Drill Problem :
CROSS PRODUCT
Given two vectors A and B, we now define the cross product, or vector product, of A and
B, written with a cross between the two vectors as A × B and read “A cross B.” The cross
product A × B is a vector; the magnitude of A × B is equal to the product of the
magnitudes of A, B, and the sine of the smaller angle between A and B; the direction of
A×B is perpendicular to the plane containing A and B and is along one of the two
possible perpendiculars which is in the direction of advance of a right-handed screw as
A is turned into B.
Remember that either vector may be moved about at will, maintaining its direction
constant, until the two vectors have a “common origin.” This determines the plane
containing both. However, in most of our applications we will be concerned with vectors
defined at the same point.
As an equation we can write
CROSS PRODUCT
Reversing the order of the vectors A and B results in a unit vector in the opposite
direction, and we see that the cross product is not commutative, for B×A = −(A×B).
If the definition of the cross product is applied to the unit vectors ax and ay, we find
, for each vector has unit magnitude, the two vectors are perpendicular,
and the rotation of indicates the positive z direction by the definition of a
right-handed coordinate system. In a similar way,
CROSS PRODUCT
CROSS PRODUCT
Drill Problem:
QUIZ