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Introduction To Vectors

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Introduction To Vectors

Uploaded by

smashnoonahnaf
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Vectors

A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Vectors are used to represent
physical quantities like displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force, which require both
magnitude and direction for their complete description.

Scalars vs. Vectors

 Scalars: Quantities that have only magnitude, such as temperature, mass, time, and
speed.
 Vectors: Quantities that have both magnitude and direction, such as displacement,
velocity, force, and acceleration.

Representation of Vectors

1. Graphical Representation A vector is represented graphically by an arrow. The length


of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector, and the direction of the arrow
represents the direction of the vector.
o The tail of the arrow represents the initial point.
o The head of the arrow represents the terminal point.
2. Algebraic Representation A vector in a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional
(3D) space can be written in terms of its components along the coordinate axes.
o In 2D space: A vector A\mathbf{A}A can be written as A=Axi^+Ayj^\
mathbf{A} = A_x \hat{i} + A_y \hat{j}A=Axi^+Ayj^, where:
 AxA_xAx is the component along the x-axis.
 AyA_yAy is the component along the y-axis.
 i^\hat{i}i^ and j^\hat{j}j^ are unit vectors along the x and y axes,
respectively.
o In 3D space: A vector A\mathbf{A}A can be written as A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^\
mathbf{A} = A_x \hat{i} + A_y \hat{j} + A_z \hat{k}A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^,
where:
 AzA_zAz is the component along the z-axis.
 k^\hat{k}k^ is the unit vector along the z-axis.

Magnitude of a Vector

The magnitude (or length) of a vector A\mathbf{A}A, represented as ∣A∣|\mathbf{A}|∣A∣, can be


found using the Pythagorean theorem.

 In 2D space, for a vector A=Axi^+Ayj^\mathbf{A} = A_x \hat{i} + A_y \hat{j}A=Ax


i^+Ayj^:

∣A∣=Ax2+Ay2|\mathbf{A}| = \sqrt{A_x^2 + A_y^2}∣A∣=Ax2+Ay2

 In 3D space, for a vector A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^\mathbf{A} = A_x \hat{i} + A_y \hat{j} +


A_z \hat{k}A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^:
∣A∣=Ax2+Ay2+Az2|\mathbf{A}| = \sqrt{A_x^2 + A_y^2 + A_z^2}∣A∣=Ax2+Ay2+Az2

Types of Vectors

1. Zero Vector A vector with zero magnitude and no specific direction is called a zero
vector or null vector, denoted as 0\mathbf{0}0.
2. Unit Vector A vector with a magnitude of 1 is called a unit vector. Unit vectors are used
to indicate direction. The unit vectors along the x, y, and z axes are i^,j^,k^\hat{i}, \
hat{j}, \hat{k}i^,j^,k^, respectively.
3. Equal Vectors Two vectors are said to be equal if they have the same magnitude and
direction, regardless of their initial points.
4. Position Vector A position vector represents the position of a point in space relative to
an origin. For a point P(x,y,z)P(x, y, z)P(x,y,z), its position vector is r=xi^+yj^+zk^\
mathbf{r} = x \hat{i} + y \hat{j} + z \hat{k}r=xi^+yj^+zk^.
5. Co-planar Vectors Vectors that lie in the same plane are called co-planar vectors.

Vector Addition and Subtraction

1. Vector Addition (Triangle or Parallelogram Law) The sum of two vectors A\


mathbf{A}A and B\mathbf{B}B is obtained by placing the tail of B\mathbf{B}B at the
head of A\mathbf{A}A. The resultant vector R\mathbf{R}R is drawn from the tail of A\
mathbf{A}A to the head of B\mathbf{B}B.
o Algebraic Addition: In terms of components, if A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^\mathbf{A}
= A_x \hat{i} + A_y \hat{j} + A_z \hat{k}A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^ and
B=Bxi^+Byj^+Bzk^\mathbf{B} = B_x \hat{i} + B_y \hat{j} + B_z \hat{k}B=Bx
i^+Byj^+Bzk^, the resultant vector R=A+B\mathbf{R} = \mathbf{A} + \
mathbf{B}R=A+B is: R=(Ax+Bx)i^+(Ay+By)j^+(Az+Bz)k^\mathbf{R} = (A_x
+ B_x) \hat{i} + (A_y + B_y) \hat{j} + (A_z + B_z) \hat{k}R=(Ax+Bx)i^+(Ay
+By)j^+(Az+Bz)k^
2. Vector Subtraction Vector subtraction is performed by adding the negative of the vector
to be subtracted. If you want to subtract vector B\mathbf{B}B from A\mathbf{A}A, you
add −B-\mathbf{B}−B to A\mathbf{A}A, where −B-\mathbf{B}−B is a vector with the
same magnitude as B\mathbf{B}B but in the opposite direction:

A−B=A+(−B)\mathbf{A} - \mathbf{B} = \mathbf{A} + (-\mathbf{B})A−B=A+(−B)

Multiplication of Vectors

1. Dot Product (Scalar Product) The dot product of two vectors A\mathbf{A}A and B\
mathbf{B}B is a scalar quantity given by:

A⋅B=∣A∣∣B∣cos⁡θ\mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B} = |\mathbf{A}| |\mathbf{B}| \cos \


thetaA⋅B=∣A∣∣B∣cosθ

Where θ\thetaθ is the angle between the two vectors. The dot product is:
o Positive if 0∘≤θ<90∘0^\circ \leq \theta < 90^\circ0∘≤θ<90∘
o Zero if θ=90∘\theta = 90^\circθ=90∘ (vectors are perpendicular)
o Negative if 90∘<θ≤180∘90^\circ < \theta \leq 180^\circ90∘<θ≤180∘

In terms of components, for A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^\mathbf{A} = A_x \hat{i} + A_y \


hat{j} + A_z \hat{k}A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^ and B=Bxi^+Byj^+Bzk^\mathbf{B} = B_x \
hat{i} + B_y \hat{j} + B_z \hat{k}B=Bxi^+Byj^+Bzk^:

A⋅B=AxBx+AyBy+AzBz\mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B} = A_x B_x + A_y B_y + A_z


B_zA⋅B=AxBx+AyBy+AzBz

2. Cross Product (Vector Product) The cross product of two vectors A\mathbf{A}A and
B\mathbf{B}B is a vector that is perpendicular to the plane containing A\mathbf{A}A
and B\mathbf{B}B. It is given by:

A×B=∣A∣∣B∣sin⁡θn^\mathbf{A} \times \mathbf{B} = |\mathbf{A}| |\mathbf{B}| \sin \


theta \hat{n}A×B=∣A∣∣B∣sinθn^

Where θ\thetaθ is the angle between A\mathbf{A}A and B\mathbf{B}B, and n^\
hat{n}n^ is a unit vector perpendicular to the plane of A\mathbf{A}A and B\
mathbf{B}B (using the right-hand rule for direction).

In terms of components:

A×B=(AyBz−AzBy)i^+(AzBx−AxBz)j^+(AxBy−AyBx)k^\mathbf{A} \times \
mathbf{B} = (A_y B_z - A_z B_y) \hat{i} + (A_z B_x - A_x B_z) \hat{j} + (A_x B_y -
A_y B_x) \hat{k}A×B=(AyBz−AzBy)i^+(AzBx−AxBz)j^+(AxBy−AyBx)k^

Properties of Vectors

1. Commutative Property
o Vector addition is commutative: A+B=B+A\mathbf{A} + \mathbf{B} = \
mathbf{B} + \mathbf{A}A+B=B+A
2. Associative Property
o Vector addition is associative: (A+B)+C=A+(B+C)(\mathbf{A} + \mathbf{B})
+ \mathbf{C} = \mathbf{A} + (\mathbf{B} + \mathbf{C})(A+B)+C=A+(B+C)
3. Distributive Property
o The dot and cross products distribute over vector addition: A⋅(B+C)=A⋅B+A⋅C\
mathbf{A} \cdot (\mathbf{B} + \mathbf{C}) = \mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B} + \
mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{C}A⋅(B+C)=A⋅B+A⋅C A×(B+C)=A×B+A×C\
mathbf{A} \times (\mathbf{B} + \mathbf{C}) = \mathbf{A} \times \mathbf{B}
+ \mathbf{A} \times \mathbf{C}A×(B+C)=A×B+A×C

Applications of Vectors
1. Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration
o Displacement is a vector that represents the change in position of an object.
o Velocity is the rate of change of displacement with respect to time.
o Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.

4o

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