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    Basic Math: Vectors and Scalars Addition/Subtraction of Vectors Unit Vectors Dot Product

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    Ajay Mohan M
    This document introduces key concepts in vectors and scalars. Scalars represent physical quantities with magnitude alone, while vectors include both magnitude and direction. Vectors can be represented graphically with arrows or quantitatively with ordered pairs. Addition and subtraction of vectors involves adding/subtracting the corresponding components. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar scales each component. Unit vectors have a magnitude of 1 and specify directions along coordinate axes. The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar and can be used to find the projection of one vector onto another.

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    Basic Math: Vectors and Scalars Addition/Subtraction of Vectors Unit Vectors Dot Product

    Uploaded by

    Ajay Mohan M
    53 views9 pages
    This document introduces key concepts in vectors and scalars. Scalars represent physical quantities with magnitude alone, while vectors include both magnitude and direction. Vectors can be represented graphically with arrows or quantitatively with ordered pairs. Addition and subtraction of vectors involves adding/subtracting the corresponding components. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar scales each component. Unit vectors have a magnitude of 1 and specify directions along coordinate axes. The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar and can be used to find the projection of one vector onto another.

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    This document introduces key concepts in vectors and scalars. Scalars represent physical quantities with magnitude alone, while vectors include both magnitude and direction. Vectors can be represented graphically with arrows or quantitatively with ordered pairs. Addition and subtraction of vectors involves adding/subtracting the corresponding components. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar scales each component. Unit vectors have a magnitude of 1 and specify directions along coordinate axes. The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar and can be used to find the projection of one vector onto another.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    53 views9 pages

    Basic Math: Vectors and Scalars Addition/Subtraction of Vectors Unit Vectors Dot Product

    Uploaded by

    Ajay Mohan M
    This document introduces key concepts in vectors and scalars. Scalars represent physical quantities with magnitude alone, while vectors include both magnitude and direction. Vectors can be represented graphically with arrows or quantitatively with ordered pairs. Addition and subtraction of vectors involves adding/subtracting the corresponding components. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar scales each component. Unit vectors have a magnitude of 1 and specify directions along coordinate axes. The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar and can be used to find the projection of one vector onto another.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 9

    Basic Math

    Vectors and Scalars


    Addition/Subtraction of Vectors
    Unit Vectors
    Dot Product

    Scalars and Vectors (1)

    Scalar physical quantity that is specified in terms of a single


    real number, or magnitude
    Ex. Length, temperature, mass, speed
    Vector physical quantity that is specified by both magnitude
    and direction
    Ex. Force, velocity, displacement, acceleration
    We represent vectors graphically or quantitatively:
    Graphically: through arrows with the orientation representing the
    direction and length representing the magnitude
    Quantitatively: A vector r in the Cartesian plane is an ordered pair
    of real numbers that has the form <a, b>. We write
    r=<a, b> where a and b are the components of vector v.
    Note: Both r and r represent vectors, and will be used
    interchangeably.

    Scalars and Vectors (2)

    The components a and b are both scalar quantities.


    The position vector, or directed line segment from
    the origin to point P(a,b), is r=<a, b>.
    The magnitude of a vector (length) is found by using
    the Pythagorean theorem:

    r r a, b

    a 2 b2

    Note: When finding the magnitude of a vector fixed


    in space, use the distance formula.

    Operations with Vectors (1)

    Vector Addition/Subtraction
    The sum of two vectors, u=<u1, u2> and
    v=<v1, v2> is the vector
    u+v =<(u1+v1), (u2+v2)>.

    Ex. If u=<4, 3> and v=<-5, 2>, then u+v=<-1, 5>


    Similarly, u-v=<4-(-5), 3-2>=<9, 1>

    Operations with Vectors (2)

    Multiplication of a Vector by Scalar


    If u=<u1, u2> and c is a real number,
    the scalar multiple cu is the vector
    cu=<cu1, cu2>.

    Ex. If u=<4, 3> and c=2, then cu=<(24), (23)>


    cu=<8, 6>

    Unit Vectors (1)

    A unit vector is a vector of length 1.


    They are used to specify a direction.
    By convention, we usually use i, j and k to represent
    the unit vectors in the x, y and z directions,
    respectively (in 3 dimensions).

    i=<1, 0, 0>
    j=<0, 1, 0>
    k=<0, 0, 1>

    points along the positive x-axis


    points along the positive y-axis
    points along the positive z-axis

    Unit vectors for various coordinate systems:

    Cartesian: i, j, and k
    Cartesian: we may choose a different set of unit vectors,
    e.g. we can rotate i, j, and k

    Unit Vectors (2)

    To find a unit vector, u, in an arbitrary direction,


    for example, in the direction of vector a, where
    a=<a1, a2>, divide the vector by its magnitude (this
    process is called normalization).

    a
    a

    1
    a12 a 22

    1
    a12 a 22

    a1 , a 2

    Ex. If a=<3, -4>, then <3/5, -4/5> is a unit vector in the


    same direction as a.

    Dot Product (1)

    The dot product of two vectors is the sum of the


    products of their corresponding components. If
    a=<a1, a2> and b=<b1, b2>, then ab= a1b1+a2b2 .

    Ex. If a=<1,4> and b=<3,8>, then ab=3+32=35

    If is the angle between vectors a and b, then

    a b a b cos
    Note: these are just two ways of expressing the dot product

    Note that the dot product of two vectors produces a


    scalar. Therefore it is sometimes called a scalar
    product.

    Dot Product (2)

    Convince yourself of the following:

    a b a b cos a cos b proj (a.on.b ) b

    Conclusion: After you define the direction of an


    arbitrary vector in terms of the Cartesian system,
    you can find the projection of a different vector onto
    the arbitrary direction. By dividing the above
    equation by the magnitude of b, you can find the
    projection of a in the b direction (and vice versa).

    a b
    b

    proj (a.on.b )

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