Chapter :-2

Vectors
Scalars :-
Those physical quantities which have only
magnitude but no direction are called
scalars .Mass ,length ,time ,temperature ,density ,spec
ific heat capacity ,frequency etc. are examples of
scalars.
Vectors :-
Those physical quantities which have both
magnitude and direction are called vectors .
Displacement ,
velocity ,acceleration ,force ,momentum ,weight ,elec
tric field ,magnetic field etc. are examples of vectors.
Representation of a vector :-
A vector is graphically represented by a straight line
with arrow at one end . The length of the line gives
magnitude of the vector and arrow shows its
direction. A vector is represented in fig(i).
o p
fig(i) : A vector
Symbolically ,a vector is represented by a letter with
an arrow over it. e. g . Magnitude of is represented
by | | or A .
Types of vectors :-
1) Null vector (Zero vector ) :- A vector having zero
magnitude is called a zero vector . It is denoted by .
2) Unit vector :- A vector whose magnitude is unity is
called a unit vector. If is a vector , its unit vector is
written as . Mathematically it is defined as
= [| | is modulus of A ]
In rectangular co-ordinate system , and are the unit
vectors along X-axis ,Y-axis and Z-axis respectively.
3) Parallel vectors :
Two vectors having same direction are called
parallel or like vectors .

4)Antiparallel vectors :
Two vectors having exactly opposite direction are
called antiparallel or unlike vectors.
5) Equal vectors :-
Two vectors having same magnitude and direction
are called equal vectors .

6)Negative (opposite ) vectors :-

Two vectors having same magnitude but acting in
the opposite direction are called negative vectors.

Negative vector of is represented by -.

Addition (Composition) of vectors :
Triangle law of vector addition :-
It states that , “ If two vectors are represented in
magnitude and direction by the two sides of a triangle
taken in the same order, then third side of the triangle
taken in the opposite order represents the resultant
(vector sum ) of two vectors both in magnitude and
direction”.
Let two vectors and be represented by the sides OP
and PQ of a triangle OPQ taken in the same order as
shown in fig(i).Then according to triangle law of vector
addition, third side OQ of the triangle taken in
opposite order represents the resultant.
From figure(i), = +
Magnitude of resultant :
From point Q, let us draw QS perpendicular to OS.
Let Ɵ be the angle between vector and In magnitude,
OQ = R, OP = A and PQ = B.
In ΔOQS,
Or , ……….(i)
In ΔPQS,
= =
Or,
Similarly, = =
Or, PS = B
Putting the value of QS and PS in equation(i),
we get

Or +
Or,
Or,
Or,
This gives the magnitude of the resultant of vectors and .
Direction of resultant :
Let the resultant makes an angle with
Then in OQS,

Or,
Or, )
This gives the direction of resultant.
Parallelogram law of vector addition :
It states that, “If two vectors acting at a point are
represented in magnitude and direction by two
adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from a point ,
then the diagonal of the parallelogram passing
through that point represents their resultant both in
magnitude and direction”
Let two vectors and are represented by the sides OP
and OS of the parallelogram OPQS as shown in
fig(i).Then according to parallelogram law of vector
addition , the diagonal OQ represents their resultant.
From figure(i), = +
Magnitude of resultant :
From point Q, let us draw QT perpendicular on OP
produced . Let be the angle between and .
Using Pythagoras theorem in TQ,

In magnitude OP=SQ=A, OS=PQ=B and OQ = R

 ……….(i)
In ΔPTQ,
= =
Or, T
Similarly, = =
Or, PT = B
Putting the value of TQ and PT in equation(i),
we get

Or +
Or,
Or,
Or,
This gives the magnitude of the resultant of vectors
and .
Direction of resultant :
Let the resultant makes an angle with
Then in OQT,

Or,
Or, )
This gives the direction of resultant.
Special cases :
i) When two vectors are acting in the same direction
i.e. = , then

i.e. In this case , the magnitude of resultant is equal

to the sum of magnitudes of two vectors.
and = = 0
or
ii) ) When two vectors are acting at right angles to
each other i.e. = 9 , then

and =
or,
iii) When two vectors are acting in the opposite
direction i.e. = 18 , then

i.e. In this case, the magnitude of the resultant is

equal to the difference in the magnitudes of vectors.
and =0
or,
Q1) A vector of magnitude 12 units is added to
another vector of 14 units at an angle of to each
other. Calculate the magnitude and direction of
resultant. [ Ans : R= 25.12 units & = ]
Q2) Two forces 30N and 40N are acting at an angle of
between them . Find the resultant force in magnitude
and direction.[ Ans: F = 60.83N & =
Q3) The magnitude of resultant of two equal forces
acting at right angles to each other is 1414N. Find the
magnitude of each force.[Ans : 1000N ]
Q4) A force of 6N acts on a body due east and the
other force 8N acts due north . What is the resultant
of the forces ? [Ans: F=10N & = North of east ]
Polygon law of vector addition :-
It states that , “ If a number of vectors are
represented in magnitude and direction by the sides
of a polygon taken in the same order, then closing
side of the polygon taken in the opposite order
represents their resultant both in magnitude and
direction.”
Let , , and are represented by the sides OP, PQ, QS
and ST of a polygon OPQST taken in the same order as
shown in fig(i) , then the closing side OT taken in
opposite order represents the resultant.
`i.e. =
Subtraction of vectors:
Suppose and are two vectors inclined at an angle
Then we can write,
= (- )
i.e. the subtraction of from means the addition of
(- ) with .
In figure, the angle between and (- ) is
Thus the magnitude of resultant = (- ) is given by

Let resultant makes an angle with then

Resolution of vectors :-
The process of splitting of a single vector into two
or more vectors is called resolution of the vector . The
split vectors are called component of the given
vector . It is the opposite process of addition of
vectors.
Rectangular components of a vector(2 dimension):
When a vector is resolved into two perpendicular
directions , then the component vectors are called
rectangular components .
Consider a vector represented by in the x-y plane.
suppose makes an angle with x-axis as shown in
figure . Let us draw BP perpendicular on OX and BQ
perpendicular on OY. Then = x and = y are rectangular
components of .Where x is called X-component or
horizontal component and y is called Y-component or
vertical component. Here A, Ax and Ay are the
magnitudes of , x and y respectively.
In OBP,
=
Or, Ax = A (X-component)………(i)
Similarly, =
Or, Ay = A (Y-component) ……..(ii)
Squaring and adding equation (i) and (ii), we get ,
+ = +
or, + = ( + )
or, + =
or, = +
or, A = . This gives the magnitude of .
Again dividing equation (ii) by equation (i) , we get ,
= =
or, =
or, )
This gives the direction of
Note(1): Using triangle law of vector in OBP, we have
= +
or, = +
or, = +
or, = Ax + Ay , where and are unit vectors along X-
axis and Y- axis respectively.
Note(2): Components of in 3 dimension is given by,
= + +
or, = + +
Magnitude of is given by,
A=
Q1) One of the two rectangular components of a force
is 20N and it makes an angle of with the force . Find
the magnitude of the other component.
[ Answer: ]
Q2)A rocket fires two engines simultaneously . One
produces a thrust of 725N directly forward, while
other gives a 513N thrust at above the horizontal .
Find magnitude and direction of the resultant.
[Answer: 1190N & ]
Q3) One of the rectangular components of a velocity
of 80km/h is 40km/h .Find the other component.
[Answer: 69.28km/h]
Product of two vectors :-
1) Scalar(Dot) product of two vectors:
If and are two vectors and be the angle between
them, then scalar product of and is defined as
= || |
or, = AB , where A and B are magnitudes of and .
Hence , scalar product of two vectors is defined as the
product of their magnitudes and the cosine of the
angle between them.
Properties of scalar product :
a) = .
b) ( + ) = +
c) =
d) When = AB maximum value.
e) When = ABminimum value.
Examples:
1) Work done , W=
2) Electric flux, =
3) Power, P =
Scalar product of unit vectors :
Let , and are the unit vectors along X-, Y- and Z-
axis respectively. Then,
= | | = = 1.
Similarly, = 1 and =1.
Again, = | | = = 0.
Similarly, , = 0 and , =0. Y
^𝑗

^ 0 X
𝑘 𝑖^
Fig: unit vectors
Z
2)Vector (Cross) product :-
If and are two vectors and be the angle between
them, then vector product of and is defined as
= || |
or, = AB , where is unit vector which is
perpendicular to both vectors and .
Hence, the vector product of two vectors is a vector
whose magnitude is equal to the product of
magnitudes of the vectors and the sine of the angle
between them.
Properties of vector product :-
a) , but = -( )
b) ( + ) = +
c) = 0
d) When = AB minimum value.
e) When = AB AB , maximum value.
Examples:
1) Torque,
2) Angular momentum, =
Vector product of unit vectors :
Let , and are the unit vectors along X-, Y- and Z-
axis respectively. Then,
= | | = = 0. Similarly, = 0 and =0.
Again, = | | Similarly, = and
=
Important Formula :-
1) Magnitude of resultant of two vectors and is given
by , and direction of the resultant is given by ,
2) In rectangular components of vector , if vector
makes an angle with X-axis then
i) Horizontal or X- component is,
ii) Vertical or Y- component is ,
iii) = and A =
3) Scalar or dot product of two vectors and is given by
= || | = AB
4) Scalar product of unit vectors , and are given by
= 1, = 1 & =1 and =0, = 0 & . =0.
5) Vector or Cross product of two vectors and is
given by, = || | = AB .
6) Vector product of unit vectors , and are given by:
=0, = 0 & =0 and , = & =
7) If = + , then magnitude of vector is given by, A =
8) If = + + , then magnitude of vector is given by, A =
Dot and Cross product of two vectors in 3- Dimension:
Let = + + and = + + be two vectors then scalar
product of and is given by
= ( + + ).( + + )
=

Again vector product of and is given by

Short Questions:
Q1) Given two vectors = 4 and = 5. Find the
magnitude of each vector.[Answer: 5 & ]
Q2) Two vectors are given as = 2 and = 3. Which one
of two is larger in magnitude? Justify your answer.
Q3) If = 4 and = 7, find the angle between the vectors
and .[Answer: 54
Q4) A vector is defined as = 2What is the magnitude
of the Y-component of ?
Q5) A force(in Newton) expressed in vector notation as
= 2is applied on a body so that the displacement
produced in meter is given by = . Express the result and
nature of the work done. [ Answer: 9 J ]
Q6) A force(in Newton) expressed in vector notation as
= 4is applied on a body so that the displacement
produced in meter is given by = in 4 seconds. Estimate
the power.
Q7) The magnitude of two vectors are 3 and 4, and their
dot product is 6,what is the angle between them?
[ Answer: 60]
Q8) If the scalar product of two vectors is equal to the
magnitude of their vector product, find the angle
between them. [ Answer: 45]
Q9) Two vectors have equal magnitude and their resultant
also has the same magnitude. What is the angle between
two vectors?
Answer: Let A and B be the magnitude of two vectors and
and R be the magnitude of resultant. If be the angle
between A and B , then

According to question, A=B=R

or, +
or, ( 1+ )
or, =-
120
Q10) Should a quantity having magnitude and direction be necessarily a
vector ? Explain with examples.
 No. A quantity having magnitude and direction will be a vector only if it obey
the laws of vector addition . For example, electric current has both
magnitude and direction but it does not obey the laws of vector addition and
hence it is scalar quantity.
Q11) Can the magnitude of the resultant of two vectors be less than the
magnitude of any of the vector?
Answer: Yes. The magnitude of resultant of two vectors and is given by , .
When ,

or,
or,
or,
or,
i. e.
Q12) Can the sum of two equal vectors be equal to either of the vectors?
Explain.
Answer: Let and are two equal vectors and be their resultant. Then,
= +
Since, =
= + =2 or = + = 2
Thus, sum of two equal vectors cannot equal to the either of the vectors.
Alternatively: No . Two vectors are said to be equal if their magnitude and
direction are both same. If == x and then

or,
Or, R = 2
i.e. the magnitude of resultant is equal to twice the magnitude of either
vector.
Q13) Can the sum of two vectors of equal magnitude be
equal to the magnitude of either of the vectors ? Explain.
Answer: Yes. Let and are two vectors and be their
resultant . Then according to question,
|= |= |= x (say)
Now,
or,
Squaring we get,

or, (1+ )

Thus, if the angle between two vectors of same magnitude is

120 the magnitude of their resultant is equal to the
magnitude of either vector.
Q14) If = 0, what is the angle between and ?
Q15) If , and are the unit vectors along X-, Y- and Z-
axis respectively, find ).
Q16) Two vectors and are such that and A –B =C.
Find the angle between them.
Q17) If | |= | |, find the angle between and .
Q18) The magnitudes of two vectors are 3 and 4, and
their resultant is 6. What is the angle between them?
Q19) Can you find a vector quantity that has a
magnitude of zero but components that are different
from zero? Explain.