VECTORS 1

Introduction of Vector
Physical quantities having magnitude, direction and
obeying laws of vector algebra are called vectors.
Example : Displacement, velocity, acceleration,
momentum, force, impulse, weight, thrust, torque,
angular momentum, angular velocity etc.

If a physical quantity has magnitude and direction both,

then it does not always imply that it is a vector. For it to
be a vector the third condition of obeying laws of vector
algebra has to be satisfied.

Example : The physical quantity current has both

magnitude and direction but is still a scalar as it disobeys
the laws of vector algebra.
 Types of Vector
→
(1) Zero vector ( 𝟎 ): A vector having zero magnitude
and arbitrary direction is a zero vector.

(2) Unit vector : A vector divided by its

→
magnitude is a unit vector. Unit vector for 𝐴
is 𝐴 (read as A cap or A hat). Since,
→
𝑨
𝐴= =

→
𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴.

Thus, we can say that unit vector gives

us the direction.
 Orthogonal unit vectors
𝚤̂, 𝚥̂ and 𝑘are called orthogonal unit vectors.
These vectors must form a Right Handed Triad
(It is a coordinate system such that when we
Curl the fingers of right hand from x to y then
we must get the direction of z along thumb).
𝚤̂ =unit vector in x direction,

𝚥̂ = unit vector in y direction,

𝑘 = unit vector in z direction

 Position Vector
A position or position vector, also known
as location vector or radius vector, is
a vector that represents the position of
a point P in space in relation to origin O.
Usually denoted x, r, or s, it corresponds
to the straight line segment from O to P. In
other words, it is
the displacement or translation that maps
the origin to P. O

𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝑧𝑘
A B
 Position Vector
A position or position vector, also known
as location vector or radius vector, is
a vector that represents the position of
a point P in space in relation to origin O.
𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝑧𝑘

Magnitude of OP= 𝑂𝐵 + 𝐵𝑃

r= 𝑂𝐴 + 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝑃
O
r= 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧

A B
 Position Vector
𝑟⃗ = 𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝑧𝑘

Magnitude of OP=r= 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧

Unit vector of 𝑟⃗ : A vector divided by its

magnitude is a unit vector. Unit vector for 𝑟⃗ is 𝑟̂
(read as r cap or r hat).

→
O
𝑟̂ =

𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝑧𝑘
= A B
𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧
Q.1. Position of a particle in a rectangular-co-ordinate
system is (3, 2, 5). Then find
(a) its position vector,
(b) magnitude of its position vector,
(c) unit vector of its position vector.
Q.1. Position of a particle in a rectangular-co-ordinate system
is (3, 2, 5). Then find
(a) its position vector,
(b) magnitude of its position vector,
(c) unit vector of its position vector.

(a) a point have coordinate (3, 2, 5) then

its position vector = 3𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ + 5𝑘 .

(b) r= 𝑥 +𝑦 +𝑧
= 3 + 2 + 5 = 9 + 4 + 25 = 38

⃗ ̂ ̂
(c) 𝑟̂ = =
 Displacement Vector

Displacement vector = 𝑃 𝑃

=final position vector – initial position vector

O
∆𝑟⃗ = 𝑟⃗ − 𝑟⃗
 Displacement Vector

Q.2. If a particle moves from point P (2,3,5) to

point Q (3,4,5). Its displacement vector be
(a) 𝑖 + 𝚥̂ + 10𝑘
(b) 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 5𝑘
(c) 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂
(d) 2𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ + 6𝑘
Q.2. If a particle moves from point P (2,3,5) to point Q
(3,4,5). Its displacement vector be
(a) 𝑖 + 𝚥̂ + 10𝑘
(b) 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 5𝑘
(c) 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂
(d) 2𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ + 6𝑘

(c) Displacement vector →

𝑟 = 𝛥𝑥𝚤̂ + 𝛥𝑦𝚥̂ + 𝛥𝑧𝑘
= 3 − 2 𝚤̂ + 4 − 3 𝚥̂ + 5 − 5 𝑘
= 𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂
Q.3. Given 𝐴⃗ = 3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂ (a) 𝐴⃗ = magnitude of 𝐴⃗= 3 + −4
𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ = 9 + 16 = 25 = 5
Find:
(a) 𝐴⃗ = magnitude of 𝐴⃗ (b) 𝐵 = magnitude of 𝐵 = 1 + 2
(b) 𝐵 = magnitude of 𝐵 = 1+4= 5
(c) 𝐴
(d) 𝐵 →
̂ ̂
(c) 𝐴 = =
(e) 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
(f) Unit vector of (𝐴 + 𝐵) →
̂ ̂
(d) 𝐵 = =

(e) 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵 = (3𝚤̂ − 4𝑗) + (𝚤̂ + 2𝑗) = 4𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂

= 4 + −2
= 16 + 4 = 20 = 2 5

( ) ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
(f) Unit vector of (𝐴 + 𝐵) = = =
( )
Q.3. Given 𝐴⃗ = 3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂
𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂
Find:
(a) 𝐴⃗ = magnitude of 𝐴⃗= 3 + −4
= 9 + 16 = 25 = 5

(b) 𝐵 = magnitude of 𝐵 = 1 + 2
= 1+4= 5
→
̂ ̂
(c) 𝐴 = =

→
̂ ̂
(d) 𝐵 = =

(e) 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵 = (3𝚤̂ − 4𝑗) + (𝚤̂ + 2𝑗) = 4𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂

= 4 + −2
= 16 + 4 = 20 = 2 5

( ) ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
(f) Unit vector of (𝐴 + 𝐵) = = =
( )
Q.4. If a unit vector is represented by
0.5𝚤̂ + 0.8𝚥̂ + 𝑐𝑘 , then the value of ‘c’ is
(a) 1
(b) 0.11
(c) 0.01
(d) 0.39
Q.4. If a unit vector is represented by 0.5𝚤̂ + 0.8𝚥̂ + 𝑐𝑘 , then
the value of ‘c’ is

(b) Magnitude of unit vector = 1

 (𝟎. 𝟓)𝟐 + (𝟎. 𝟖)𝟐 + 𝒄𝟐 = 𝟏
By solving we get 𝒄 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟏
 Product of Two Vectors
The scalar product (or dot product) The vector product (or cross product)
of two vectors is defined as the of two vectors is defined as a vector
product of the magnitude of two having a magnitude equal to the product
vectors with cosine of angle between of the magnitudes of two vectors with the
them. sine of angle between them, and direction
→ → perpendicular to the plane containing the
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 two vectors in accordance with right hand
screw rule.
→ →
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑛
 Scalar Product of Two Vectors
Definition : The scalar product (or
dot product) of two vectors is
defined as the product of the
magnitude of two vectors with
cosine of angle between them.
→ →
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
 Scalar Product of Two Vectors
→ →
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

Properties :
(i) It is always a scalar which is positive if angle
between the vectors is acute (i.e., < 90°) and
negative if angle between them is obtuse (i.e.
90°< < 180°).

→ → → →
(ii) It is commutative, i.e. 𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐵 . 𝐴
 Scalar Product of Two Vectors
→ →
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

Properties :
(iii) The scalar product of a vector by itself
is termed as self dot product and is given

→ →
by 𝐴 . 𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = 𝐴

→ →
i.e. 𝐴 = 𝐴.𝐴
Scalar Product of Two Vectors
→ →
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃
(iv) In case of unit vector 𝑛
𝑛. 𝑛 = 1 × 1 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠 0 = 1
so 𝚤̂. 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 . 𝑘 = 1

(v) 𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = ?
𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = 1 × 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠 9 0° = 0

so 𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝑘 = 𝑘 . 𝚤̂ = 0
Q.4. Given 𝐴⃗ = 3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂ + 5𝑘
𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 ,
find 𝐴⃗. 𝐵

Use
𝚤̂. 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 . 𝑘 = 1
𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝑘 = 𝑘 . 𝚤̂ = 0
Q.4. Given 𝐴⃗ = 3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂ + 5𝑘
𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 ,
find 𝐴⃗. 𝐵

Ans.
𝐴⃗. 𝐵 = (3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂ + 5𝑘 ).(𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 )
= 3𝚤̂.(𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 )−4𝚥̂.(𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 )+5𝑘 .(𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 )
= 3𝚤̂. 𝚤̂ + 6𝑖. 𝚥̂ − 9𝑖. 𝑘 − 4𝑗. 𝚤̂ − 8𝑗. 𝚥̂ + 12𝑗. 𝑘 + 5𝑘 . 𝚤̂ + 10𝑘 . 𝚥̂ − 15𝑘 . 𝑘
= 3 − 8 − 15 = −20
Use
𝚤̂. 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 . 𝑘 = 1
𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝑘 = 𝑘 . 𝚤̂ = 0
Scalar Product of Two Vectors
→ →
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

𝚤̂. 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 . 𝑘 = 1
𝚤̂. 𝚥̂ = 𝚥̂. 𝑘 = 𝑘 . 𝚤̂ = 0

→ → → →
(vi) Let 𝐴= 𝑖 𝐴 + 𝑗 𝐴 +𝑘𝐴
→ → → →
𝐵= 𝑖 𝐵 + 𝑗 𝐵 +𝑘𝐵
→ →
Find 𝐴 . 𝐵 =?

→ → → → → → → →
𝐴.𝐵 = 𝑖 𝐴 + 𝑗 𝐴 + 𝑘 𝐴 . 𝑖 𝐵 + 𝑗 𝐵 +𝑘𝐵
=𝐴 𝐵 +𝐴 𝐵 +𝐴 𝐵
1. If a vector 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ + 8𝑘 is perpendicular to the vector
4𝚥̂ − 4𝚤̂ + 𝛼𝑘 . Then the value of 𝛼 is

(a) –1 (b)

(c) − (d)1
1. If a vector 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ + 8𝑘 is perpendicular to the vector
4𝚥̂ − 4𝚤̂ + 𝛼𝑘 . Then the value of 𝛼 is

(a) –1 (b)

(c) − (d)1

→
1. (c)Given vectors can be rewritten as 𝐴 = 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ + 8𝑘 and
→
𝐵 = −4𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ + 𝛼𝑘
Dot product of these vectors should be equal to zero
because they are perpendicular.
→ →
 𝐴 . 𝐵 = −8 + 12 + 8𝛼 = 0  8𝛼 = −4  𝛼 = −1/2
 → →
1. The vector 𝑃 = 𝑎𝚤̂ + 𝑎𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 and 𝑄 = 𝑎𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 are
perpendicular to each other. The positive value of a is

(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 9 (d) 13
 → →
1. The vector 𝑃 = 𝑎𝚤̂ + 𝑎𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 and 𝑄 = 𝑎𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 are
perpendicular to each other. The positive value of a is

(a) 3 (b) 4
(c) 9 (d) 13

𝑃. 𝑄 = 0
 𝑎 − 2𝑎 − 3 = 0
 𝑎 = 3
1. A force 𝐹⃗ = 3𝚤̂ + 𝑐𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 acting on a particle causes a
displacement 𝑆⃗ = −4𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 in its own direction. If
the work done is 6J, then the value of c will be
(a) 12 (b) 6
(c) 1 (d) 0
1. Find the angle between two vectors given by
6𝚤̄ + 6𝚥̄ − 3𝑘 and 6𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 .

𝐴⃗. 𝐵
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 =
𝐴𝐵
1. Find the angle between two vectors given by
6𝚤̄ + 6𝚥̄ − 3𝑘 and 6𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 .

𝐴⃗. 𝐵
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 =
𝐴𝐵
⃗.
1. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 = = =
×

𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 =
Scalar Product of Two Vectors
Example :
(i) Work W : In physics for constant force work is
defined as, 𝑊 = 𝐹𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 …(i)
But by definition of scalar product of two vectors,
→ →
𝐹 . 𝑠 = 𝐹𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 …(ii)
So from eqn (i) and (ii)
→
W= 𝐹 . →𝑠 i.e. work is the scalar
product of force with displacement.
1. A particle moves from position 3𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 6𝑘 to 14𝚤̂ + 13𝚥̂ + 9𝑘
due to a uniform force of (4𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 )𝑁. If the displacement in
meters then work done will be

(a) 100 J (b) 200 J

(c) 300 J (d) 250 J

1. (a) 𝑺=→
𝑟 −→
𝑟 = (11𝚤̂ + 11𝚥̂ + 15𝑘 )

→ →
𝑊 = 𝐹 . 𝑆 = (4𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 3𝑘). (11𝚤̂ + 11𝚥̂ + 15𝑘 )
= (4 × 11 + 1 × 11 + 3 × 15) = 100𝐽.
1. A force 𝐹⃗ = 3𝚤̂ + 𝑐𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 acting on a particle causes a
displacement 𝑆⃗ = −4𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 in its own direction. If
the work done is 6J, then the value of c will be
(a) 12 (b) 6
(c) 1 (d) 0

→
1. (a)𝑊 = 𝐹 . →
𝑠 = (3𝚤̂ + 𝑐𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 ). (−4𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 ) =
− 12 + 2𝑐 − 6
Work done = 6𝐽 (given)
∴ −12 + 2𝑐 − 6 = 6 ⇒ 𝑐 = 12
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
Definition : The vector product or cross product of two
vectors is defined as a vector having a magnitude equal to
the product of the magnitudes of two vectors with the sine
of angle between them, and direction perpendicular to the
plane containing the two vectors in accordance with right
hand screw rule.

→ →
Thus, if 𝐴 and 𝐵 are two vectors, then their vector
→ →
product written as 𝐴 × 𝐵 is a vector defined by

→ → →
𝐶 = 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑛
 Product of Two Vectors
The scalar product (or dot product) The vector product (or cross product)
of two vectors is defined as the of two vectors is defined as a vector
product of the magnitude of two having a magnitude equal to the product
vectors with cosine of angle between of the magnitudes of two vectors with the
them. sine of angle between them, and direction
→ → perpendicular to the plane containing the
𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃 two vectors in accordance with right hand
screw rule.
→ →
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑛
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
→ → →
𝐶 = 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 𝑛
→ → →
The direction of 𝐴 × 𝐵 , i.e. 𝐶 is
→
perpendicular to the plane containing vectors 𝐴
→
and 𝐵 and in the sense of advance of a right
→ →
handed screw rotated from 𝐴 (first vector) to 𝐵
(second vector) through the smaller angle
between them. Thus, if a right handed screw
whose axis is perpendicular to the plane framed
→ → → →
by 𝐴 and 𝐵 is rotated from 𝐴 to 𝐵 through the
smaller angle between them, then the direction
of advancement of the screw gives the direction
→ → →
of 𝐴 × 𝐵 i.e. 𝐶
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
Properties
(i) Vector product of any two vectors is always a vector
perpendicular to the plane containing these two vectors,
→ →
i.e., orthogonal to both the vectors 𝐴 and 𝐵 , though the
→ →
vectors 𝐴 and 𝐵 may or may not be orthogonal.
(ii) Vector product of two vectors is not commutative,
→ → → →
i.e., 𝐴 × 𝐵 = − 𝐵 × 𝐴
Here it is worthy to note that
→ → → →
| 𝐴 × 𝐵 | = | 𝐵 × 𝐴 | = 𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃
→ → → →
i.e. in case of vector 𝐴 × 𝐵 and 𝐵 × 𝐴 magnitudes are
equal but directions are opposite.
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
(vi) The self cross product, i.e., product of a vector by itself vanishes,
→ → →
i.e., is null vector 𝐴 × 𝐴 = 𝐴𝐴 𝑠𝑖𝑛 0 𝑛 = 0
→ →
(vii) In case of unit vector 𝑛 × 𝑛 = 0 so that 𝚤̂ × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 × 𝑘 = 0
(viii) In case of orthogonal unit vectors, 𝚤̂, 𝚥̂, 𝑘 in accordance with right hand
screw rule :
𝚤̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 ,
𝚥̂ × 𝑘 = 𝚤̂
𝑘 × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂
And as cross product is not commutative,
𝚥̂ × 𝚤̂ = −𝑘 ,
𝑘 × 𝚥̂ = −𝚤̂
𝚤̂ × 𝑘 = −𝚥̂
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
→
𝚤̂ × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 × 𝑘 = 0

𝚤̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 ,
𝚥̂ × 𝑘 = 𝚤̂
𝑘 × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂

𝚥̂ × 𝚤̂ = −𝑘,
𝑘 × 𝚥̂ = −𝚤̂
𝚤̂ × 𝑘 = −𝚥̂
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
→
𝚤̂ × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 × 𝑘 = 0
Q.. Given 𝐴⃗ = 3𝚤̂ − 4𝚥̂
𝐵 = 2𝚥̂ − 3𝑘 ,
find 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 𝚤̂ × 𝚥̂ = 𝑘 ,
𝚥̂ × 𝑘 = 𝚤̂
𝑘 × 𝚤̂ = 𝚥̂

𝚥̂ × 𝚤̂ = −𝑘 ,
𝑘 × 𝚥̂ = −𝚤̂
𝚤̂ × 𝑘 = −𝚥̂
 Area of a Parallelogram

Area of a Parallelogram= 𝒃 𝒂 sin 𝜃

= 𝒃×𝒂
1. The area of the parallelogram represented by
→ →
the vectors 𝐴 = 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ and 𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ is
(a) 14 units
(b) 7.5 units
(c) 10 units
(d) 5 units

Area of parallelogram= 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵

= 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 = 2𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ × 𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ = 5𝑘

= 5 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠
Vector Product of Two Vectors
→ → → →
Let 𝐴= 𝑖 𝐴 + 𝑗 𝐴 +𝑘𝐴
→ → → →
𝐵= 𝑖 𝐵 + 𝑗 𝐵 +𝑘𝐵
→ →
Find 𝐴 × 𝐵 =?

𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
→ →
𝐴×𝐵 = 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
𝐵 𝐵 𝐵

= 𝚤̂ 𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 − 𝚥̂(𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 ) + 𝑘 (𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 )
 Vector Product of Two Vectors
𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
→ →
𝐴×𝐵= 𝐴 𝐴 𝐴
𝐵 𝐵 𝐵

= 𝚤̂ 𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 − 𝚥̂(𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 ) + 𝑘 (𝐴 𝐵 − 𝐴 𝐵 )
 → → → →
1. If 𝐴 = 3𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 and 𝐵 = 2𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂ + 4𝑘 then value of | 𝐴 × 𝐵 |
will be
(a) 8 2 (b) 8 3
(c) 8 5 (d) 5 8

→ → 𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
𝐴×𝐵 = 3 1 2
2 −2 4

= (1 × 4 − 2 × −2)𝚤̂ + (2 × 2 − 4 × 3)𝚥̂ + (3 × −2 − 1 × 2)𝑘

= 8𝚤̂ − 8𝚥̂ − 8𝑘

→ → → →
Magnitude of 𝐴 × 𝐵 = | 𝐴 × 𝐵 | =
(8) + (−8) + (−8)
=8 3
 → →
1. The angle between the vectors 𝐴 and 𝐵 is 𝜃. The value of
→ → →
the triple product 𝐴 . (𝐵 × 𝐴 ) is
(a) 𝐴 𝐵 (b) Zero
(c) 𝐴 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝜃 (d) 𝐴 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃

→ → → → →
1. Let 𝐴 . (𝐵 × 𝐴 ) = 𝐴 . 𝐶
→ → → → →
Here 𝐶 = 𝐵 × 𝐴 Which is perpendicular to both vector 𝐴 and 𝐵
→ →
𝐴.𝐶 =0
1. The area of the parallelogram whose sides are represented
by the vectors 𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 and 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 is
(a) 61sq.unit (b) 59sq.unit
(c) 49sq.unit (d) 52sq.unit

𝐴⃗ = 𝚥̂ + 3𝑘 ,
𝐵 = 𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘

𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
𝐶⃗ = 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 = 0 1 3
1 2 −1

= −7𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ − 𝑘

Hence area = |𝐶⃗| = 49 + 9 + 1 = 59𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡

 → → → →
1. The value of (𝐴 + 𝐵 ) × (𝐴 − 𝐵 ) is

(a) 0 (b) 𝐴 − 𝐵
→ → → →
(c) 𝐵 × 𝐴 (d) 2(𝐵 × 𝐴 )

(𝐴⃗ + 𝐵) × (𝐴⃗ − 𝐵) = 𝐴⃗ × 𝐴⃗ − 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 + 𝐵 × 𝐴⃗ − 𝐵 × 𝐵

= 0 − 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 + 𝐵 × 𝐴⃗ − 0
= 𝐵 × 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵 × 𝐴⃗
= 2(𝐵 × 𝐴⃗)
 1. What is the unit vector perpendicular to the following
vectors 2𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 and 6𝚤̂ − 3𝚥̂ + 2𝑘
̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
(a) (b)
̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
(c) (d)

𝐴⃗ = 2𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 6𝚤̂ − 3𝚥̂ + 2𝑘

𝐶⃗ = 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 = 2𝚤̂ + 2𝚥̂ − 𝑘 × 6𝚤̂ − 3𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 = 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵

𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
= 2 2 −1 = 𝚤̂ − 10𝚥̂ − 18𝑘 = 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵
6 −3 2
̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
Unit vector perpendicular to both 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵 = =
Vector Product of Two Vectors

Example : Since vector product of two vectors is

a vector, vector physical quantities (particularly
representing rotational effects) like torque, angular
momentum, angular velocity can be expressed as the
vector product of two vectors. It is well – established
in physics that :
→
(i) Torque → 𝜏 =→
𝑟 ×𝐹
→
(ii) Angular momentum 𝐿 = →
𝑟 ×→
𝑝
(iii) Velocity →
𝑣 =→
𝜔×→𝑟
1. The linear velocity of a rotating body is given by →
𝑣 =→
𝜔 ×→ 𝑟 , where
→
𝜔 is the angular velocity and → 𝑟 is the radius vector. The angular
velocity of a body is →
𝜔 = 𝚤̂ − 2𝚥̂ + 2𝑘 and the radius vector →
𝑟 = 4𝚥̂ −
3𝑘, then | →
𝑣 | is
(a) 29units (b) 31units
→
(c) 37units (d) 41units 𝜏 =→
(i) Torque → 𝑟 ×𝐹
→
(ii) Angular momentum 𝐿 = →
𝑟 ×→
𝑝
𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
1. (a) 𝑣⃗ = 𝜔 × 𝑟⃗ = 1 −2 2 (iii) Velocity →
𝑣 =→
𝜔 ×→
𝑟
0 4 −3
= 𝚤̂(6 − 8) − 𝚥̂(−3) + 4𝑘
= −2𝚤⃗ + 3𝚥⃗ + 4𝑘

|𝑣⃗| = (−2) + (3) + 4 = 29 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡

 →
2. Find the torque of a force 𝐹 = −3𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 5𝑘 acting at the
point →
𝑟 = 7𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ + 𝑘

(a) 14𝚤̂ − 38𝚥̂ + 16𝑘 (b) 4𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ + 6𝑘

(c) 21𝚤̂ + 4𝚥̂ + 4𝑘 (d) −14𝚤̂ + 34𝚥̂ − 16𝑘 →
𝜏 =→
(i) Torque → 𝑟 ×𝐹
→
(ii) Angular momentum 𝐿 = →
𝑟 ×→
𝑝
2. 𝜏⃗ = 𝑟⃗ × 𝐹⃗ = (7𝚤̂ + 3𝚥̂ + 𝑘 )(−3𝚤̂ + 𝚥̂ + 5𝑘 ) (iii) Velocity →
𝑣 =→
𝜔 ×→
𝑟

𝚤̂ 𝚥̂ 𝑘
𝜏⃗ = 7 3 1 = 14𝚤̂ − 38𝚥̂ + 16𝑘
−3 1 5
THANK YOU