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Scalars
Physical quantities which can be completely specified by
1. A number which represents the magnitude of the quantity.
2. An appropriate unit
are called Scalars.
Scalars quantities can be added, subtracted multiplied and divided by usual algebraic laws.
Examples
Mass, distance, volume, density, time, speed, temperature, energy, work, potential, entropy, charge etc.
Vectors
Physical quantities which can be completely specified by
1. A number which represents the magnitude of the quantity.
2. An specific direction
are called Vectors.
Special laws are employed for their mutual operation.
Examples
Displacement, force, velocity, acceleration, momentum.
Representation of a Vector
A straight line parallel to the direction of the given vector used to represent it. Length of the line on a
certain scale specifies the magnitude of the vector. An arrow head is put at one end of the line to indicate
the direction of the given vector.
The tail end O is regarded as initial point of vector R and the head P is regarded as the terminal point of
the vector R.
Diagram Coming Soon
Unit Vector
A vector whose magnitude is unity (1) and directed along the direction of a given vector, is called the unit
vector of the given vector.
A unit vector is usually denoted by a letter with a cap over it. For example if r is the given vector, then r
will be the unit vector in the direction of r such that
r = r .r
Or
r=r/r
unit vector = vector / magnitude of the vector
Equal Vectors
Two vectors having same directions, magnitude and unit are called equal vectors.
Free Vector
A vector which can be displaced parallel to itself and applied at any point, is known as free vector. It can
be specified by giving its magnitude and any two of the angles between the vector and the coordinate axes.
In 3-D, it is determined by its three projections on x, y, z-axes.
Position Vector
A vector drawn from the origin to a distinct point in space is called position vector, since it determines the
position of a point P relative to a fixed point O (origin). It is usually denoted by r. If xi, yi, zk be the x, y, z
components of the position vector r, then
r = xi + yj + zk
Diagram Coming Soon
Negative of a Vector
The vector A. is called the negative of the vector A, if it has same magnitude but opposite direction as that
of A. The angle between a vector and its negative vector is always of 180.
Splitting up a single vector into its rectangular components is called the Resolution of a vector.
Rectangular Components
Components of a vector making an angle of 90 with each other are called rectangular components.
Procedure
Let us consider a vector F represented by OA, making an angle O with the horizontal direction.
Draw perpendicular AB and AC from point on X and Y axes respectively. Vectors OB and OC represented
by Fx and Fy are known as the rectangular components of F. From head to tail rule of vector addition.
OA = OB + BA
F = Fx + Fy
Diagram Coming Soon
To find the magnitude of Fx and Fy, consider the right angled triangle OBA.
Fx / F = Cos => Fx = F cos
Fy / F = sin => Fy = F sin
Addition of Vectors by Rectangular Components
Consider two vectors A1 and A2 making angles 1 and 2 with x-axis respectively as shown in figure. A1
and A2 are added by using head to tail rule to give the resultant vector A.
Diagram Coming Soon
The addition of two vectors A1 and A2 mentioned in the above figure, consists of following four steps.
Step 1
For the x-components of A, we add the x-components of A1 and A2 which are A1x and A2x. If the xcomponents of A is denoted by Ax then
Ax = A1x + A2x
Taking magnitudes only
Ax = A1x + A2x
Or
Step 2
For the y-components of A, we add the y-components of A1 and A2 which are A1y and A2y. If the ycomponents of A is denoted by Ay then
Ay = A1y + A2y
Taking magnitudes only
Ay = A1y + A2y
Or
Ay = A1 sin 1 + A2 sin 2 ................. (2)
Step 3
Substituting the value of Ax and Ay from equations (1) and (2) respectively in equation (3) below, we get
the magnitude of the resultant A
A = |A| = (Ax)2 + (Ay)2 .................. (3)
Step 4
By applying the trigonometric ratio of tangent on triangle OAB, we can find the direction of the resultant
vector A i.e. angle which A makes with the positive x-axis.
tan = Ay / Ax
= tan-1 [Ay / Ax]
Here four cases arise
(a) If Ax and Ay are both positive, then
= tan-1 |Ay / Ax|
A.B=B.A
if A and B are two vectors having an angle between then, then their dot product A.B is the product of
magnitude of A, A, and the projection of vector B onto the direction of vector i.e., B(A).
And B.A is the product of magnitude of B, B, and the projection of vector A onto the direction vector B i.e.
A(B).
Diagram Coming Soon
To obtain the projection of a vector on the other, a perpendicular is dropped from the first vector on the
second such that a right angled triangle is obtained
In PQR,
cos = A(B) / A => A(B) = A cos
In ABC,
cos = B(A) / B => B(A) = B cos
Therefore,
A . B = A B(A) = A B cos
B . A = B A (B) = B A cos
A B cos = B A cos
A.B=B.A
Thus scalar product is commutative.
(b) Force experienced F by an electric charge q which is moving with velocity V in a magnetic field B
F = q (V x B)
Area of Parallelogram = |A x B|
Area of Triangle = 1/2 |A x B|