TEACHING NOTES - [XIII]

VECTORS
(The following are optional. Teach if required)
Sine All

1.

2.

ASTC rule

tan cos

sin A
sin B sin C
=
=
a
b
c

Sine rule

3.

Cosine rule

1.

INTRODUCTION

C
b

a2 = b2 + c2 2bc cos A

VECTORS
Scalars: Physical quantities which can be completely described by a numerical value with unit are
known as scalars. A scalar can be positive, negative, or zero
e.g.
mass, temperature, density, charge, etc. [Explain here why they are scalars]
Vectors: Any physical quantity which have magnitude and direction, and also follows laws of vector
algebra are known as vectors
e.g.
force, velocity, etc.[ Explain here why they are vectors]
[Explain with help of displacement]
In these lectures we will learn how to deal with quantities having direction as important property. How to
symbolize these quantities. How their addition, subtraction, etc. are different from scalar quantities.
2.

REPRESENTATION OF VECTOR
A representation of vector will be complete if it gives us direction and magnitude.

Symbolic form: v , a , F, s used to separate a vector quantity from scalar quantities (u, i, m)

Graphical form: A vector is represented by a directed straight line, having the magnitude and direction
of the quantity represented by it.
gth
Len

Head

Tail
By definition magnitude of a vector quantity is scalar and The size or length of a vector is called its
magnitude. The magnitude of a vector can be positive or zero, but it cannot be negative.

[1]

3.

TERMINOLOGY OF VECTORS
Parallel vector: If two vectors have same direction, they are parallel to each other. They may be
located anywhere in the space.

Antiparallel vectors: When two vectors are in opposite direction they are said to be antiparallel
vectors.
Equality of vectors: When two vectors have equal magnitude and are in same direction and represent
the same quantity, they are equal.

i.e.
ab

Thus when two parallel vectors have same magnitude they are equal. (Their initial point & terminal point
may not be same)
Negative of a vector: When a vector have equal magnitude and is in opposite direction, it is said to be
negative vector of the former.

i.e.
or
a b
b a

Thus when two antiparallel vectors have same magnitude they are negative of each other.
4.

LAWS OF ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS:

Triangle rule of addition: Steps for adding two vectors representing same physical quantity by triangle
law.
Vector Addition

To add B to A

(1)

Draw A

(2)

Place the tail of B at the tip of A

(3)

Draw an arrow from the tail of A to the tip of B . This is vector A + B .

[2]

Note : A vector is not tied to a particular location on the page. You can move a vector around as long as

you dont change its length or the direction it points. Vector B is not changed by sliding it to where its tail

is at the tip of A
Polygon Law of addition:
This law is used for adding more than two vectors. This is extension of triangle law of addition. We keep
on arranging vectors such that tail of next vector lies on head of former. When we connect the tail of first
vector to head of last we get resultant of all the vectors.

Note: P = ( a b) c d = ( c a ) b d

[Associative Law]

Parallelogram law of addition:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

AC a b

Note : AC a b and AC b a thus a b = b a [Commutative Law]

Eg.
Sol.

Note : Angle between 2 vectors is the angle between their positive directions.

Suppose angle between these two vectors is , and | a | = a, | b | = b

| a b | = a 2 b 2 2ab cos

angle with vector a is

tan = bsin/(a+bcos)
Two vectors of 10 units & 5 units make an angle of 120 with each other. Find the magnitude & angle
of resultant with vector of 10 unit magnitude.

| a b | = a 2 b 2 2ab cos = 100 25 2 10 5(1 / 2) = 125 50 = 75 = 5 3

1
5 sin 120
5 3
5 3
=
=
=
3
10 5 cos120 20 5
5 3
= 30
[Here show what is angle between both vectors = 120 and not 60]
tan =

Some Important Results:

(1)
If = 0
a || b

then, | R | | a | | b |

& | R | is maximum

(2)
If =
a anti || b

then, | R | | a | | b |

& | R | is minimum

[3]

(3)

If = /2
R=

(4)

(5)

a b

a 2 b2

& tan = b/a ( is angle with a )

|a| = |b| = a

| R | = 2acos/2
& = /2

If | a | = | b | = a & = 120

then | R | = a

Multiplication of a vector by a number:

Let say we have a vector a and k is a number. Vector b = k a is defined as a vector of magnitude |ka|.

If k is a positive then direction of b is along a & if k is negative then direction of b is opposite to a .

Vector subtraction

To subtract B from A

Eg.
Sol.

(1)

Draw A

(2)

Place the tail of B at the tip of A .

(3)

Draw an arrow from the tail of A to the tip of B . This is vector A B .

Two vectors of equal magnitude 2 are at an angle of 60 to each other find magnitude of their sum &
difference.

| a b | = 2 2 22 2 2 2 cos 60 = 4 4 4 = 2 3

|a b| =

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 cos120 =

4 44 = 2

[4]



Zero(Null) vector When a = b & if want to find a b = zero(null) vector. It is a vector with
zero magnitude & undefined direction.

5.

UNIT VECTOR:
A unit vector is a vector of magnitude of 1, with no units. Its only purpose is to point, i.e. to describe a
direction in space.

A unit vector in direction of vector A is represented as A

A
=
&A
|A|

or A can be expressed in terms of a unit vector in its direction i.e. A = | A | A

Unit Vectors along three coordinates axes:
unit vector along x-axis is i
unit vector along y-axis is j
unit vector in z-direction is k

6.

1.

RESOLUTION OF VECTOR:

a = acos i + acos j

acos is known as component of a along x-axis (ax)

acos is known as component of a along y-axis (ay)

Results:
Unit vector along a ( a )

Since, a = a a

& a = a (i cos j cos )

ayj
axi

a = i cos j cos
2.

If components of a vector along x & y-axis are known, then that vector
can be completely represented as

a = a i a j
x

[5]

3.

|a| =

4.

ay
tan = a
x

5.

cos =

Eg.

Find a vector of magnitude 50N parallel to 4i 3j

Eg.

Find a vector of magnitude twice of 12i 5j and anti-parallel to 3i 4j

Eg.

Find total x & y component hence express resultant force as vector in ai bj format.

a 2x a 2y

where, is angle with x-axis

ax
, and cos =
a

ay

a

are called as direction cosines.

Illustration Just after firing, a bullet is found to move at an angle of 37 to horizontal. Its acceleration
is 10 m/s2 downwards. Find the component of acceleration in the direction of the velocity.
(A*) 6 m/s2
(B) 4 m/s2
(C) 8 m/s2
(D) 5 m/s2

POSITION VECTOR:
Position vector for a point is vector for which tail is origin & head is the given point itself.
Position vector of a point defines the position of the point w.r.t. the origin.

OP = r
=
r x i yj

DISPLACEMENT VECTOR:
Change in position vector of a particle is known as displacement vector.

OP = r = x i y j
1

OQ = r2 = x 2i y 2j

PQ = r2 r1 = ( x 2 x1 )i ( y 2 y1 )j
Thus we can represent a vector in space starting from (x1, y1) &
ending at (x , y ) as ( x x )i ( y y )j
2

Q(x2,y2)

r2

P(x1,y1)
r1

s
Average velocity vector is defined as v av
t

[6]

8.

PRODUCT OF VECTORS:
Scalar Product (Dot Product)

Dot product of two vectors a and b is defined as A B AB cos

where, is angle between them when they are drawn with tails coinciding.

For any two vectors A and B , AB cos = BA cos . This means that A B = B A . The scalar
product obeys the commutative law of multiplication; the order of the two vectors does not matter.
Results:

2.

= 0 ab = ab

= /2 ab = 0

3.

ij = ik = jk = 0

4.

ii = jj = kk = 1

a = a x i a y j a z k

b = b x i b y j bz k

thus, ab = a x b x a y b y a z b z

a b
cos = this is used to find the angle between two vectors.
| a || b |

1.

5.

6.

(Used to test orthogonality)

Illustration-1) If a 3i 4j and b 2i j then find angle between them.

a b

Sol.
cos = ; | a | = 5; | b | = 5
| a || b |
64
2
1 2

So, cos =
=

= cos
5 5 5 5
5 5
.

(a)

(b)

[7]

The scalar product is a scalar quantity, not a vector, and it may be positive, negative, or zero. When is
between 0 and 90, cos > 0 and the scalar product is positive (Fig.1.26a). When is between 90

and 180 so that cos < 0, the component of B in the direction of A is negative, and A B is negative.

Finally, when = 90, A B = 0. The scalar product of two perpendicular vectors is always zero..

(a)

(b)

(c)

We will use the scalar product to describe work done by a force. When a constant force F is applied to

a body that undergoes a displacement s , the work W (a scalar quantity) done by the force is given by

W F s
In later chapters well use the scalar product for a variety of purposes, from calculating electric potential.
Calculating the scalar product using components

We can calculate the scalar product AB directly if we know the x-, y-, and z-components of A and

i i j j k k = (1) (1) cos 0 = 1

B . We find
i j i k j k = (1) (1) cos 90 = 0

Now we express A and B in terms of their components, expand the product, and use these products

of unit vectors.
AB = (Ax i + Ay j + Az k ) (Bx i + By j + Bz k )
AxBx + AyBy + AzBz
Finding angles with the scalar product

cos =

A xBx A yB y A zBz
A B

AxBx AyBy AzBz

= A 2 A 2 A 2 B 2 B 2 B 2
x
y
z
x
y
z

Vector Product

The vector product of two vectors A and B , also called the cross product, is denoted by A B . As
the name suggests, the vector product is itself a vector. We will use this product to describe torque and
angular momentum and extensively to describe magnetic fields forces.

C = A B,
then C = AB sin

[8]

Note: the vector product of two parallel or antiparallel vectors is always zero. In particular, the vector
product of any vector with itself is zero.

Figure : (a) The vector product A B . determined by the right-hand rule. (b) B A = A B

Note: The vector product is not commutative! In fact, for any two vectors A and B ,


A B B A

(a)
(b)

Figure: Calculating the magnitude AB sin of the vector product of two vector, A B .
Calculating the Vector Product Using Components
i i j j k k 0
Using the right-hand rule, we find
i j j i k ;
j k k j i ;

k i i k j

[9]

Fig.:

(a) We will always use a right handed coordinate system, like this one.
(b) We will never use a left handed coordinate system (in which i j k , and so on.)

A B = A x i A yj A z k B x i B y j Bz k

(A y B z A z B y ) i ( A z B x A x B z )j ( A x B y A y B z )k

Thus the components of C = A B are given by

Cx = AyBz AzBy
Cy = AzBx AxBz

Cz = AxBy AyBx

The vector product can also be expressed in determinant form as

i

A B Ax
Bx

j
Ay
By

k
Az
Bz

Vector product vs. scalar product

Be careful not to confuse the expression AB sin for the magnitude of the vector product A B with the

similar expression AB cos for the scalar product A B . To see the contrast between these two

expressions, imagine that we vary the angle between A and B while keeping their magnitudes constant.

When A and B are parallel, the magnitude of the vector product will be zero and the scalar product will

be maximum. When A and B are perpendicular, the magnitude of the vector product will be maximum
and the scalar product will be zero.

SOME BASICS OF MATHS

1.

Small angle approximation sin tan

cos 1

2.

Binomial approximation

(1 x ) n 1 nx if x << 1
53

3.

sin 37, cos 37

2
1
2

5
37

{Home Work :

Chaper-2

Ex.
Obj.

Q.1 to 18
I (1 to 5) & II (All)

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