1

DEFINITION
Scalar Quantities
A scalar quantity is a quantity which is defined by only magnitude. Some
examples of scalar quantities are Mass, Charge, Pressure, etc.
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DEFINITION
Vector quantities
Vector quantities are those which have both magnitude and direction and
obey vector laws of addition. Some examples of vectors are displacement,
velocity, force, etc.
A quantity is called a vector only if it follows all the above three conditions. For
example, current is not a vector despite having both magnitude and
direction because it does not follow vector laws of addition.
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RESULT
Scalars and Vectors
Following are some differences listed between scalars and vectors.

S.No. Scalars Vectors

1. Have only magnitude Have both magnitude and direction
2. Algebra: Same as real numbers Algebra: Follow vector laws of addition
3. Examples: Mass, charge, etc Examples: velocity, force, electric field. etc.
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EXAMPLE
Vector notation in 1-D
A 1-D vector can have only a single direction.
An example of 1-D vector is:
A =2 i^A=2 i^
where, 22 is the magnitude and i^i^ is the direction of A A
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EXAMPLE
Vector notation in 2-D
A 2-D vector quantity has two components.
An example of 2-D vector is:
A =2 i^+3 j^A=2 i^+3 j^
where i^i^ and j^j^ are two components of the vector and 22 and 33 are
magnitudes in the respective directions.
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EXAMPLE
Vector notation in 3-D
A 3-D vector quantity has three components.
An example of 3-D vector is:
A =2 i^+3 j^+5 j^A=2 i^+3 j^+5 j^
where i^, j^i^, j^ and k^k^ are the three components (i.e. directions) of the
vector and 2, 32, 3 and 55 are magnitudes in the respective directions.
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DEFINITION
Free and fixed vectors
Free vector:
A free vector is a vector whose action is not confined to or associated with a
unique line in space. Examples: velocity vector, electric field vector, etc.
Sliding vector:
A vector that can be applied at any point on a body as long as it is along its
original line of action and doesn't change its effect in the body as a whole.
Example: force vector, etc.
Fixed vector:
Fixed vector is that vector whose initial point or tail is fixed. Example: position
vector, etc.
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DEFINITION
Calculating Unit vector
A unit vector is a vector whose magnitude is 1 represented by a lowercase
letter with a hat.
For example,i^i^ is a unit vector.
13i^+13j^+13k^13i^+13j^+13k^ is also a unit vector since its magnitude
is (13)2+(13)2+(13)2(13)2+(13)2+(13)2 =1
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DEFINITION
Zero vector
A zero or null vector is a vector whose magnitude is 0 and has unspecified
arbitrary direction. For example when a body projected vertically from the
ground returns to the ground, its vertical displacement is a zero or null
vector.
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DEFINITION
Equality of vectors

Two vectors are said to be equal if (i) they have the same magnitude and (ii)
are in the same direction. If we shift B parallel to A then it will completely
superimpose A i.e it has same length and are in the same direction
as A, so A=B
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EXAMPLE
Problems on vectors
To find the position vector of a particle at x=2 m,y=1 mx=2 m,y=1 m with
reference to an origin, its graph is drawn. The vector is represented by an
arrow as shown. Position vector is found as r =2i^+j^r=2i^+j^
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DEFINITION
Rectangular coordinate system
Rectangular coordinate system is a coordinate system that specifies each
point uniquely in a plane by a triplet of numerical coordinates, which are the
signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular directed lines,
measured in the same unit of length. The coordinates of a point are often
represented as x,yx,y and zz. The point of meeting of the three axis is known
as origin. A vector is represented in rectangular coordinate system as:
A =Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^
where
Ax,AyAx,Ay and AzAz are distances of the vector measured along
the x,yx,y and zzaxis respectively,
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DEFINITION
Triangle Law of Vector addition

Triangle law of vector addition states that when two vectors are represented
by two sides of a triangle in magnitude and direction taken in same order then
third side of that triangle represents in magnitude and direction the resultant
of the two vectors.
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DEFINITION
Associative, distributive and commutative law of vector addition
Vector addition follows:
1. Associative
law: A +(B +C )=(A +B )+C A+(B+C)=(A+B)+C
2. Commutative law: A +B =B +A A+B=B+A
3. Distributive law: k(A +B )=kA +kB k(A+B)=kA+kB (kk is a
scalar)
Note:
There are two other forms of distributive law-
A .(B +C )=A .B +A .C A.(B+C)=A.B+A.C
A (B +C )=A B +A C A(B+C)=AB+AC
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DEFINITION
Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition

Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition states that when two vectors are
represented by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram by direction and
magnitude then the resultant of these vectors is represented in magnitude and
direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram starting from the same point.
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LAW
Law of sines and law of cosines

Law of cosines is used to find the magnitude sum of two vectors being added.
A +B =C A+B=C
|C |=|A |2+|B |2+2|A ||B |cos(C)|C|=|A
|2+|B|2+2|A||B|cos(C)
where is the angle between A A and B B.

Law of sines is used to find the relation between magnitudes of vectors and
angles between them.
|A |sinA=|B |sinB=|C |sinC|A|sinA=|B|sinB=|C|sinC
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DEFINITION
Polygon Law of Vector Addition
Polygon law of vector addition states that if a number of vectors can be
represented in magnitude and direction by the sides of a polygon taken in the
same order, then their resultant is represented in magnitude and direction by
the closing side of the polygon taken in the opposite order.
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DEFINITION
Addition of Vectros in Rectangular Co-ordinate System
Let's take two vectors in rectangular co-ordinate system:
a =a1i^+a2j^a=a1i^+a2j^
b =b1i^+b2j^b=b1i^+b2j^

Addition of Vectors:
a +b =(a1+b1)i^+(a2+b2)j^a+b=(a1+b1)i^+(a2+b2)j^
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DEFINITION
Magnitude of vector in rectangular coordinate system
Let a vector be defined as A =Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^A=Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^
Then, its magnitude is given
by: |A |=A2x+A2y+A2z|A|=Ax2+Ay2+Az2
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EXAMPLE
Calculate magnitude of resultant and angle between two vectors
Example:
What is the angle between P P and the resultant
of (P +Q )(P+Q) and (P Q )(PQ)?

Solution:
The resultant of P +Q P+Q and P Q PQ gives 2P 2P vector
which is in the direction of P P.
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DEFINITION
Dot Product
The dot product of two vectors a a and b b is defined as:
a .b =abcosa.b=abcos
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EXAMPLE
Dot Product of Parallel and Perpendicular Vectors
a .b =0a.b=0 (For Perpendicular Vectors)
a .b =aba.b=ab (For Parallel Vectors)
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RESULT
Component of a Vector
Since a .b =abcosa.b=abcos
Projection of vector aa on bb is:
acos=a .b^acos=a.b^
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DEFINITION
Product of a scalar and a vector
When a vector is multiplied by a scalar, its magnitude is multiplied by the
direction of the scalar.
If a vector is defined as A =|A|AA=|A|A where AA is defined as the
angle with respect to a given fixed line.
Then, kA =k|A|(A180o)kA=k|A|(A180o) if k<0k<0
kA =k|A|(A)kA=k|A|(A) if k>0k>0
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EXAMPLE
Dot Product of Two Vectors expressed in rectangular coordinate system
Representation of vectors in rectangular coordination system:
a =a1i^+a2j^a=a1i^+a2j^
b =b1i^+b2j^b=b1i^+b2j^
Their dot product is:
a .b =a1b1+a2b2a.b=a1b1+a2b2
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RESULT
Angle Between Vectors
cos=a .b |a||b|cos=a.b|a||b|
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DEFINITION
Linear combination of orthogonal vectors
Let us define a set SS of three perpendicular vectors that can be defined in
the rectangular coordinate system.
S={S 1,S 2,S 3}S={S1,S2,S3}
Then, any vector A A in the rectangular coordinate system can be
represented as a linear combination of the three vectors in the set S. This is
done by taking a dot product along each component.
Example:
A vector is defined as A =3i^A=3i^. Rewrite A A as a linear
combination of S 1=2i^+j^S1=2i^+j^ and S2=i^2j^S2=i^2j^.
Unit vectors are: S1^=2i^+j^5S1^=2i^+j^5, S2^=i^2j^5S2^=i^2j^5
Component of A along S1S1 is : A1=A .S1^=6/5A1=A.S1^=6/5
Component of A along S2S2 is : A2=A .S2^=3/5A2=A.S2^=3/5
Then, A =A1S1^+A2S^2A=A1S1^+A2S^2
Solving, A =65S 1+35S 2A=65S1+35S2
Note:
1. Orthogonality of the given vectors is a necessary condition to write a vector
as a linear combination along the vectors.
2. Number of orthogonal unit vectors is equal to the dimension of the
coordinate system.
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DEFINITION
Cross Product of Vectors
The Cross Product abab of two vectors is another vector that is at right
angles to both.
a b =absin()n^ab=absin()n^
Where n^n^ is perpendicular to both the vectors.
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DEFINITION
Right hand thumb rule

Direction of the resultant of the cross product of two vectors can be found
using the right hand thumb rule. It is shown in the attached figure.
For example, if a a is in east direction and b b is in north direction,
then a b abis in the upward direction.
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FORMULA
Cross Product of Vectors
a b =0ab=0 (For parallel vectors)
a b =abn^ab=abn^ (For perpendicular vectors)
(Where n^n^ is perpendicular to both the vectors)
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DEFINITION
Cross Product of Unit Vectors
a b =n^ab=n^ (For perpendicular vectors)
(where n^n^ is a unit vector perpendicular to both the vectors)
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EXAMPLE
Cross Product of Vectors
Representation of vectors in rectangular coordination system:
a =a1i^+a2j^a=a1i^+a2j^
b =b1i^+b2j^b=b1i^+b2j^
Their cross product is:
a b =(a1b2a2b1)n^ab=(a1b2a2b1)n^
33
EXAMPLE
Angle Between Vectors using cross-product
Angle between vectors can be determined using cross-product by:

sin()=|a b ||a||b|sin()=|ab||a||b|

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EXAMPLE
Area of parallelogram using cross product
Area of parallelogram is given by:
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SHORTCUT
Right Handed System of Vectors
When two vectors uu and vv are kept tail-to-tail,then placing the right hand
along the direction of uu, and curling the fingers in the direction of the
angle vv makes with uu, the thumb points in the direction of uvuv.
A three-dimensional coordinate system in which the axes satisfy the right-
hand rule is called a right-handed coordinate system, while one that does not
is called a left-handed coordinate system.