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Vectors for JEE

Scalars and Vectors
Scalar: A physical quantity with magnitude only (e.g., time, mass, temperature).
Vector: A physical quantity with both magnitude and direction, that also follows the laws of
vector algebra (e.g., displacement, velocity, force).
Magnitude

Direction
Must obey laws of vector algebra (parallelogram law, triangle law, etc.)

Vector Representation
Symbolic: A vector A is represented as A.
Diagrammatic: A vector is represented by an arrow.
The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector.

The arrowhead indicates the direction of the vector.

The tail indicates the initial point.

Types of Vectors
Equal Vectors: Vectors with the same magnitude, direction, and physical quantity.
Parallel Vectors: Vectors with the same direction.
Anti-parallel Vectors: Vectors with opposite directions.
Co-initial Vectors: Vectors starting from the same initial point.
Negative Vector: A vector with the same magnitude but opposite direction to a given vector.
Multiplying a vector by -1 results in its negative.

Zero Vector (Null Vector): A vector with zero magnitude and arbitrary direction.

Vector Operations
Multiplication by a Scalar: Multiplying a vector A by a scalar k changes the magnitude of the
vector.

If k > 0, the direction remains the same.

If k < 0, the direction is reversed.

Vector Addition
Triangle Law: If two vectors are represented as two sides of a triangle in magnitude and
direction taken in the same order, then the third side of the triangle represents the resultant
vector in magnitude and direction taken in the opposite order.

Parallelogram Law: If two vectors are represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then
the diagonal of the parallelogram represents the resultant vector.

Resultant Magnitude: If R = A + B , then the magnitude of the resultant vector is given by:

R= A2 + B 2 + 2AB cos θ ​

where θ is the angle between vectors A and B . A and B represent the magnitude of their
respective vectors.

Angle of Resultant: If α is the angle between the resultant R and vector A, then:
 tan α = B sin θ 2

A + B cos θ   
​

where θ is the angle between vectors A and B . A and B represent the magnitude of their
respective vectors.

Polygon Law: The resultant of multiple vectors can be found by arranging the vectors such that
the head of one vector coincides with the tail of the next. The vector connecting the tail of the
first vector to the head of the last vector is the resultant.
Maximum and Minimum Resultant:
The maximum magnitude of the resultant occurs when θ = 0o :

Rmax = A + B ​

The minimum magnitude of the resultant occurs when θ = 180o :

Rmin = ∣A − B∣ ​

Unit Vectors
A vector with a magnitude of 1. It is used to specify direction.
^i, ^j , and k^ are unit vectors along the x, y, and z axes, respectively.
​

Any vector A can be expressed in terms of its components and unit vectors:

A = Ax^i + Ay ^j + Az k^
​ ​ ​ ​

^ in the direction of vector A:

To find the unit vector A

A^ = A
​

∣A∣
where

∣A∣ = A2x + A2y + A2z ​ ​ ​ ​

Position Vectors
A vector that specifies the position of a point with respect to a reference origin.

If a point P has coordinates (x, y, z), its position vector r is given by:

r = x^i + y^j + zk^ ​

Displacement Vector: The vector connecting two points. If point A has position vector rA and ​ ​

point B has position vector rB , the displacement vector from A to B is:

​ ​

AB = rB − rA ​ ​ ​ ​

If rA ​ ​
= x1^i + y1 ^j + z1 k^ and rB = x2^i + y2 ^j + z2 k^, then
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

AB = (x2 − x1 )^i + (y2 − y1 )^j + (z2 − z1 )k^

​
​
​
​ ​
​
​

Components of a Vector
Rectangular Components: The projections of a vector along the coordinate axes.
In 2D:

Ax = A cos θ ​

Ay = A sin θ ​

where θ is the angle between A and the x-axis.

In 3D, with α, β , and γ being the angles between vector A and the x, y, and z axes,
respectively:

Ax = A cos α
​

Ay = A cos β
​

Az = A cos γ​

Direction Cosines:
 cos α = Ax ​
2
  
​

A
cos β = Ay ​

A
cos γ = Az ​

A
cos2 α + cos2 β + cos2 γ = 1

sin2 α + sin2 β + sin2 γ = 2

Dot Product (Scalar Product)

The dot product of two vectors A and B is a scalar quantity defined as:

A ⋅ B = AB cos θ

where θ is the angle between the vectors.

Component Form: If A = Ax^i + Ay ^

j + Az k^ and B = Bx^i + By ^j + Bz k^, then:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

A ⋅ B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Angle Between Two Vectors:

cos θ = A ⋅ B Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

= ​

A2x + A2y + A2z Bx2 + By2 + Bz2

​

AB ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Perpendicular Vectors: If A ⋅ B = 0, then A and B are perpendicular (orthogonal).

Dot Products of Unit Vectors:

^i ⋅ ^i = ^j ⋅ ^j = k^ ⋅ k^ = 1 ​ ​

^i ⋅ ^j = ^j ⋅ k^ = k^ ⋅ ^i = 0
​ ​

Self Dot Product:

A ⋅ A = A2

Component of One Vector Along Another: The component of vector A along B is given by
A cos θ.
A⋅B
Magnitude: A cos θ = B
​

A⋅B ^ A⋅B
Vector: B B
​
= B2 B
​

Component of One Vector Perpendicular to Another: The component of vector A perpendicular

to B can be found by the vector A − A∥ , where A∥ is the vector component of A along B .
​ ​

Cross Product (Vector Product)

The cross product of two vectors A and B is a vector C defined as:

C =A×B

Magnitude:

∣C ∣ = AB sin θ

where θ is the angle between the vectors.

Direction: The direction of C is perpendicular to both A and B , given by the right-hand rule.
Component Form: If A = Ax^i + Ay ^
j + Az k^ and B = Bx^i + By ^j + Bz k^, then:
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

A × B = (Ay Bz − Az By )^i + (Az Bx − Ax Bz )^j + (Ax By − Ay Bx )k^

​ ​
​ ​
​ ​
​ ​ ​
​ ​
​ ​

This can be represented as a determinant:

A × B = ^i ^j k^
Ax ​
​
​

Ay ​
​

Az ​
​ ​

Bx ​
By ​
Bz ​

Cross Products of Unit Vectors:

^i × ^i = ^j × ^j = k^ × k^ = 0 ​ ​
 ^i × ^j = k^​
2
  
^j × k^ = ^i
​

k^ × ^i = ^j ​

^j × ^i = −k^
​

k^ × ^j = −i^
​

^i × k^ = −^j ​

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