Vectors and vector algebra

What are vectors?

 
In physics, any measurable physical quantity having a definite
direction is called a vector – represented by
(crude definition)
 
Examples: Displacement (), Force (), Momentum (), Electric
field (), Magnetic field (),……….

Many algebraic operations can be performed on vectors such

as addition (or subtraction), multiplication just like
mathematical numbers
In physics, there are two interesting operations involving
vectors. They are Dot Product and Cross Product (already
completed in PHY101)
 A physicist’s definition of vector
Any set of three components which combines
properly on addition and transforms according to a
specific transformation law from one frame of
reference (coordinate axes) to another

  3
𝐴´ 𝑖=∑ 𝑅𝑖𝑗 𝐴 𝑗
𝑗 =1
• Follow treatment in the class
• See Griffiths Section 1.1.5 “How do vectors
transform”
 Vector transformation
 The components of a
vector depend on
choice of the
the
coordinate system. z' z
 Different coordinate
system will produce A
different components
for the same vector.
' y'
 The choice of coordinate
system being used can
significantly change the  
y
complexity of problems
in electrodynamics.

4 September 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002

 Vector transformation
(continued)
The coordinates of vector A in
coordinate system S are related to
the coordinates of vector A in
coordinate system S’: z' z
 Ay   sin
cos sin    Ay 
cos A
 A
 A z    z

The rotation considered here leaves

the x axis untouched. The x ' y'
coordinate of vector A will thus not
change:  
1
y
 Ax  0
  Ax  _
 

 y   
0
sin   A y   R 
 A 
A z    0 cos A  A 
cos  z 
4 September 2002  sin Physics 217, Fall 2002
 Vector transformation
(continued)
Coordinate transformation resulting from a rotation
around an arbitrary axis can be written as:

 Ax    Rxx Rxz   Ax   Rxx Ax  Rxy Ay  Rxz Az  


 Ay    Ryx Ryz   Ay    Ryx Ax  Ryy Ay  Ryz Az 
 A    Rzx R zy R   A   R
z  zz   z zx Ax  Rzy Ay  Rzz A z 
Rxy
or, more compactly, with x denoted as 1, y as 2, z as 3:
3
Ryy Ai   Rij Aj
j1

4 September 2002 Physics 217, Fall 2002 6

Recap of vector
fundamentals that were
already covered in
PHY101.
 Position, Displacement and Separation vectors
 The location of a point in three dimensions can be described by its
Cartesian coordinates The vector to that point from origin O is called the
position vector.

𝒓= 𝑥 ^𝒙 + 𝑦 ^𝒚 + 𝑧 ^𝒛
 

2 2 2
𝑟= √ 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧
  is the distance from the
origin

is the radial vector pointing radially outward

 The infinitesimal displacement vector, from to , is

𝑑 𝒍=𝑑 𝒓 =𝑑𝑥 𝒙^ +𝑑𝑦 ^𝒚 +𝑑𝑧 𝒛^

 
 In electrodynamics, it is common to
have two points- a source point r’,
where an electric charge is located,
and a field point, r at which one
calculates electric or magnetic field.

 The separation vector from the source point to field point is denoted
by

Its magnitude is
 In component form
 
𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
𝑨 . (𝑩 ×𝑪 )= 𝐵𝑥
𝐶𝑥 [ 𝐵𝑦
𝐶𝑦
𝐵𝑧
𝐶𝑧 ]
It can also be proved easily that
 
𝑨 . ( 𝑩 ×𝑪 ) =𝑩 . ( 𝑪 × 𝑨 ) =𝑪 . ( 𝑨 × 𝑩 )

Note that dot and cross product can be interchanged

 
𝑨 . ( 𝑩 ×𝑪 ) =( 𝑨 × 𝑩 ) ∙𝑪
 Vector algebra: component form
 Let and be the unit vectors parallel to the x, y and z axes
respectively. An arbitrary vector A can be expanded in terms of
these basis vectors.

  andare the components of A; geometrically, they are the

projections of A along the three coordinate axes
  𝐴 𝑥 = 𝑨 ∙ ^𝒙  𝐴 𝑦 = 𝑨 ∙ ^𝒚  𝐴 𝑧= 𝑨 ∙ 𝒛^
Rule (i): To add vectors, add like components
Rule (ii): To multiply by a scalar, multiply each component

Rule (iii): To calculate the dot product, multiply like components,

and add
 
Rule (iv): To calculate the cross-product, form the
determinant whose first row is , , whose second row is A (in
component form), and whose third row is B