Remedial Special Class

Chapter 1

Vectors

1.1 Vectors
Learning competencies
• Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between scalars and vectors and give
common examples.

• Explain what a position vector is.

• Use vector notation and arrow representation of a vector.

• Specify the unit vector in the direction of a given vector.

• Determine the magnitude and direction of the resolution of two or more vectors using
Pythagoras’s theorem and trigonometry.

• Add vectors by graphical representation to determine a resultant.

• Add/subtract two or more vectors by the vector addition rule.

• Use the geometric definition of the scalar product to calculate the scalar product of two
given vectors.

• Use the scalar product to determine projection of a vector onto another vector.

• Use the vector product to test for collinear and orthogonality vectors.

• Explain the use of knowledge of vectors in understanding natural phenomena.

1.1.1 Vector and Scalar quantities

Scalars are the physical quantities that have the only magnitude. Examples of scalars
are electric charge, density, mass etc. Vectors are physical Quatities that must be
described by both magnitude and direction.
Example: Velocity, Force, Torque, Electric field etc.

1
2 CHAPTER 1. VECTORS
1.1.2 Vector Representation
Vectors are represented in two methods (Analytical/Algebric) and Graphical/Geometrical)

1. Analytical methods: Vectors are representated analytically by a letter with an

arrow over its head or with bold face letter.
→− →− →−
Example: Force =⇒ F or F, Momentum =⇒ P or P, Vector A =⇒ A or A

2. Graphical/Geometrical methods: Graphically vectors are representated by a straight

line and arrow drown to the scale. The length of the line is the magnitude

of the vector and arrow tells us the direction.

1.1.3 Vector Addition and subsection

The sum of two or more vectos is called resultant vector (R~). Note that subtraction is
addition of the negative ie

Vector addition is not simple algebraic addition of numbers that is handled with the normal
rules of arithmetic. It Obeys the laws of vector addition as follows

• The resultant of two vectos having the same direction is algebraic sum of the two vectors
with the same direction as both.

Example A~ = 8m East and B~ = 6m East then R~ = A~ + B~ = 14m East

• The resultant of two vectors having opposite direction has magnitude equal to the
difference of magnitudes of the vectors and the resultant has the same direction as the
larger vector. Example: A~ = 8m East and B~ = 6m West then R~ =
 3
A~ + (−B~) = 2m East
1.1. VECTORS

• The resultant of two vectors acting at right angle with each other is obtained using

Pythagorus theorem. Example: A~ = 8m East and B~ = 6m North then,

And then the magnitude of R~ obtained using Pythagorus theorem as

R2 = A2 + B2 + 2ABcosθ = A2 + B2 + 2ABcos900 = A2 + B2

Direction of R obtained by trigonometery

• If the two vectors inclined at a certain anle θ to each other.

The magnitude of the vector R~ = A~ + B~ is given by

√
|R~| = A2 + B2 + 2ABcosθ

The magnitude of the vector R~ = A~ − B~ is given by

√
|R~| = A2 + B2 − 2ABcosθ
4 CHAPTER 1. VECTORS
And its direction is given by

Or using sin law

NB:

• If the vectors form a closed polygon when joined head to tail in a certain order, their
resultant is zero or null vector

• Two or more vectors are equal if and only if they are

– the same physical quantities

– have the same magnitude and

– have the direction

Class work

[Link] Vector A~ and B~. Find the resultant vector

a) If the A~ = 4bunit East and B~ = 3unit East

b) If the A~ = 4bunit East and B~ = 3unit West

c) If the A~ = 4bunit East and B~ = 3unit north

 5
d) If the A~ = 4bunit East and B~ = 3unit at 60o north of east
1.1. VECTORS

2. A car travels 20.0km due north and then 35.0km in direction 600 west of north. Find the

magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant displacement. (ans S~ = 48.2km at

39.0o west of north).

1.1.4 Vector Components

Components of vectors are projection of vectors along coordinate axis (x, y, z-axis).
This meanse splitting vector into its Components. Consider the following figures. From
the figures we can see that Ax and By forms two sides of right angle triangle with
hypotenuse of length A. Using simple trigonometery (definition of sin and cosin) we
see that

Figure 1.1: Vector Components

Thus for three dimension A = Ax + Ay + Az

1.1.5 Unit Vector

Unit vector is dimensionless vector with unit magnitude.
6 CHAPTER 1. VECTORS
Aˆ read as A hat or caret is a unit vector that points in the direction of vector A. We

shall use the symbols ˆi, ˆj and kˆ to representat a unit vector pointing in the positive x,

y and z direction respectively as we can see from the figure above.

• The unit vectors ˆi, ˆj and kˆ in rectangular coordinate System. ˆi, ˆj and kˆ are mutually

perpendiculr axes.

Figure 1.2: Unit Vector in Rectangular Coordinat Axis

• In general Vector A in rectangular coordinate system can be written as the sum of

three vectors each which is parallel to a coordinate axes A~ = Axˆi+Ayˆj +Azkˆ

Addition and Subtraction of two vectors A~ and B~ can be written intermes of unit vector
as

A~ + B~ = (Axˆi + Ayˆj + Azkˆ) + (Bxˆi + Byˆj + Bzkˆ)

= (Axˆi + Bxˆi) + (Ayˆj + Byˆj) + (Azkˆ + Bzkˆ) = (Ax + Bx)ˆi + (Ay + By)ˆj + (Az + Bz)kˆ Class work

1. Given vectors A~ = 4mˆi + 3mˆj, B~ = 2mˆi − 3mˆj, C~ = 2mˆi + 3mˆj − 2mkˆ and

D~ = 1mˆi − 2mˆj + 2mkˆ. Find

a) |A~| b) 2A~ + B~ − C~

c) Unit vector in the direction of vector R such that 2C~ + B~ − R~ = 0

2. A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements d~1 = (15ˆi + 30ˆj + 12kˆ)cm,

. Find

a) The components of the resultant displacement and its magnitude

b) Unit vector in the direction of resultant displacement

 7
1.2 Multiplication of vectors
Vector multiplication refer to several operations between two (or more) vectors. It may
concern any of the following articles:

• Scalar-vector multiplication

• Dot product

• Cross product
8

1.2.1 Scalar-vector multiplication

Multiplication of a vector by a scalar changes the magnitude of the vector, but leaves its
direction unchanged. The scalar changes the size of the vector. The scalar ”scales” the
vector.
For example, If

A~ = axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ

Multiplied A~ by the scalar b is

bA~ = b(axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ) = baxˆi + bayˆj + bazkˆ

Scalar multiplication obeys the following rules:

• Additivity in the scalar: (c + d)~v = c~v + d~v;

• Additivity in the vector: c(~v + w~) = c~v + cw~;

• Compatibility of product of scalars with scalar multiplication: (cd)~v = c(d~v);

• Multiplying by 1 does not change a vector: 1~v = ~v;

• Multiplying by 0 gives the zero vector: 0~v = 0;

• Multiplying by -1 gives the additive inverse: (−1)~v = −~v.

1.2.2 Dot product

The dot product of two vectors is the magnitude of one times the projection of the
second onto the first. The symbol used to represent this operation is a small dot at
middle height (·), which is where the name ”dot product” comes from. Since this
product has magnitude only, it is also known as the scalar product. Mathematically
defined as

A~ · B~ = ABcos(θ)

where θ the angle btween A~ and B~

 1.2. MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS 9

Let

A~ = axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ

and

B~ = bxˆi + byˆj + bzkˆ

Figure 1.3: Dot Product

A~ · B~ = (axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ) · (bxˆi + byˆj + bzkˆ)

= axbxˆi ·ˆi + aybyˆj · ˆj + azbzkˆ · kˆ

= axbx + ayby + azbz

since ˆi ·ˆi = (1)(1)cos(0) = 1, ˆj · ˆj = (1)(1)cos(0) = 1 , kˆ · kˆ = (1)(1)cos(0) = 1 but

ˆi · ˆj = ˆj ·ˆi = (1)(1)cos(900) = 0, ˆj · kˆ = kˆ · ˆj = (1)(1)cos(900) = 0 , kˆ ·ˆi = ˆi · kˆ =

(1)(1)cos(900) = 0
Dot Product Properties of Vector:

• Dot product of two vectors is commutative i.e. A~ · B~ = B~ · A~

= 0 then it can be clearly seen that either A~ or B~ is zero or cos(θ) = 0.

• Also we know that using scalar product of vectors (pA~) · (qB~) = (pB~) · (qA~) =

pq(A~ · B~)

• The dot product of a vector to itself is the magnitude squared of the vector i.e.
10

A~ · A~) = AAcos(0) = A2

• Distributive Property: A~ · (B~ + C~) = A~ · B~ + A~ · C~

• Non-Associative Property: A~ ·(B~ ·C~) 6= (A~ ·B~)·(A~ ·C~), because the dot
product between a scalar and a vector is not allowed.

1.2.3 Cross Product

The cross product of two vectors ~a and ~b is vector ~c which is perpendicular to both

~a and ~b and equal magnitude to the area of the parallelogram between ~a and ~b.

The symbol used to represent this operation is a large diagonal cross (×), which is
where the name ”cross product” comes from. Since this product has magnitude and
direction, it is also known as the vector product.

~a ×~b = absin(θ)nˆ

Figure 1.4: Cross Product

The vector ˆn (n hat) is a unit vector perpendicular to the plane formed by the two

vectors and θ is the angle between ~a and ~b. The direction of ˆn is determined by the
right hand rule.
Cross Product Properties :

• the cross product is distributive:

• the cross product is not commutative:

 1.2. MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS 11

but

• the cross product of any vector with itself is zero: ~a ×~a =~b ×~b = 0

• cross product of any unit vector with itself is zero: ˆi × ˆi = (1)(1)sin(0) = 0, ˆj × j =

(1)(1)cos(0) = 0 , kˆ × kˆ = (1)(1)cos(0) = 0

• any cyclic product of the three coordinate axes is positive and any anticyclic
product is negative as shown bellow.

Let

~a = axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ

and

~b = bxˆi + byˆj + bzkˆ

~a ×~b = (axˆi + ayˆj + azkˆ) × (bxˆi + byˆj + bzkˆ)

~a ×~b = 0 + (axby)kˆ − (axbz)ˆj − (aybx)kˆ + 0 + (aybz)ˆi + (azbx)ˆj − (azby)ˆi + 0

~a ×~b = (aybz − azby)ˆi + (azbx − axbz)ˆj + (axby − aybx)kˆ

Or using determinat form

12

Exercise

1. Which of the following statements is true about the relation-ship between the dot
product of two vectors and the product of the magnitudes of the vectors? (a)
is larger than AB; (b) is smaller than AB; (c) could be larger or
smaller than AB, depending on the angle between the vectors; (d) could be
equal to AB.

2. Which of the following is equivalent to the following scalar product: (A~ × B~) ·

(B~ × A~)? (a)

3. Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between the
magnitude of the cross product of two vectors and the product of the magnitudes
of the vectors? (a) |A~ × B~| is larger than AB; (b) |A~ × B~| is smaller than AB;

could be larger or smaller than AB, depending on the angle between

the vectors; (d) |A~ × B~| could be equal to AB.

4. Is the triple product defined by A·(B×C) a scalar or a vector quantity? Explain why
the operation A · (B × C) has no meaning.

5. Vector A is in the negative y direction, and vector B is in the negative x direction.

What are the directions of (a) A × B (b)B × A?

6. Given M = 6ˆi + 2ˆj − kˆ and N = 2ˆi − ˆj − 3kˆ calculate the M · N, M × N and the

angle between M&N and.

8.7. CAPACITANCE NET WORK 13
CHAPTER 1. VECTORS
14 CHAPTER 8. ELECTROSTATICS