Vectors

LECTURE 1

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Vectors
LECTURE 1
Vectors
Vectors
What are the physical quantities?
 Do you remember,
what are the following quantities called?

Pressure Length

Height Temperature

Mass
Time

These all are measurable quantities

How are physical quantities classified?
 Classification of Physical Quantity

Scalars Vectors
Scalar Quantity A quantity that has only magnitude and NO direction

➔ Length
➔ Volume
➔ Mass
➔ Temperature
➔ Time
➔ Work
➔ Energy
Vector Quantity These quantities have both Magnitude & Direction.

➔ Velocity A vector quantity obeys vector laws of addition

➔ Force
➔ Displacement
➔ Acceleration
 Magnitude

Vector
Direction
Quantity
ob
ey
s

Vector Law of
Addition
Example Total Mass ?
A. 5kg
B. 3kg
C. 4kg
D. 7kg 4 kg

3 kg
Example Total Inflow ?
A. 7 litres/sec
B. 4 litres/sec
C. 3 litres/sec
D. 5 litres/sec
3l /s 4l /s
Example Total Current I coming out ?
I=
5
A
A. 10 A
B. 5A
C. 25 A
D. 7A
Iout = ?

A
5
I=
 Current is a scalar quantity or a vector quantity?
I=
5 We know that current is represented by
A
magnitude & direction.

90°
Iout = 10 A
A
5
I=

Current of 5A entering at
junction from two
different directions can
be added. If It is was We say that Current is 10 Ampere in the
vector, it would have direction opposite to the flow of
been 5√2 A electrons.
Example Net Force on Body ?
A. 10 N
B. 5N
C. 11 N
D. ZERO
5N 5N
Example Net Force on Body ?
A. 10 N
B. 5N
C. 11 N
D. ZERO
5N 5N
Example Net Force on Body ?
A. 1N
B. 7N
C. 5N
D. ZERO
3N 4N
Example Net Force on Body ?
A. 1N
B. 7N 2N
C. 5N
D. ZERO

3N 4N

2N
Example Net Force on Body ?
A. 10 N 5N
B. ZERO
C. Cannot be determined
D. None of these

5N
Example In Which direction will the body move ?
A. North
B. East
C. North- East
D. South- West 5N

6N 10 N

1N
 Define Notion of a Vector?
A vector quantity is denoted by a small arrow above the physical quantity

Vector Quantity A should be written as A

Example:
Displacement is expressed as s
Velocity is expressed as v
 Magnitude of Vector Notation

If Vector Quantity is A
Then Magnitude of Vector is written as | A|= A

Examples

Magnitude of Vector S is written as |S | = S

Magnitude of Vector v is written as |v | = v
How are Vectors represented?
Vectors can be represented by 2 ways

Representation of Vectors

Pictorial Equation
Vectors can be represented by two ways

Representation of Vectors

Pictorial Equation

By an Arrow By an equation with

some standard terms

A ^
A A
A=
Magnitude = | A | p2 + q2
Magnitude = √
Pictorial Representation

de =⏐
A ⏐ . Head

a gnitu
.
Tail
M
θ
A

Length of Vector represents magnitude

Arrow - Head represents Direction with the

help of an angle with horizontal or vertical
Equation Form
Displacement of Vector as a combination of X contribution & Y contribution

Y College

Pat
h D = D “x”direction + D “y”direction

Y direction
nt ^
D em
e ^
plac D = Dx i + Dy j
Dis

X direction
X
Home
 Define Unit Vectors and representation of a
vector by a unit vector?

2
Unit Vector
A unit vector represents the direction of a given vector.

Vector ⇒ (Magnitude) (Direction)

Where,

a → vector
|a| → magnitude of vector a
∧
a → direction of vector a
Unit Vector
A unit vector represents the direction of a given vector.

A unit vector is ,
Given vector
Magnitude of that vector

(unit vector or ∧ a vector

a=
direction) magnitude
⎟ a⎟
Representation of Vector by Unit Vector
Direction
F = 10 N (in east)

Magnitude Unit

Now divide vector F by its magnitude

10 N (in east)
F= ∧
10 N F can be written as F ,
∧ if the magnitude is 1 unit
F cap F = 1 ( in east )
How do you represent vector along 3 directions?
Consider a coordinate axis system.
Rectangular unit vectors are the unit vectors along the positive or negative
direction of the axes of the co-ordinate system.

Y
^
j ^
-k
^ 1 unit ^
-i 1 unit i
X
it O
un
^ 1
k ^
-j
Z
 Along +ve direction Along –ve direction
i represents unit vector along x axis
J represents unit vector along y axis
k represents unit vector along z axis
Y
^
j ^
-k
1 unit

^ ^
-i 1 unit i
X
it O
un
^ 1
k ^
-j
Z
 Along +ve direction Along –ve direction
i + x axis - x axis
J + y axis - y axis
k + z axis - z axis
Y
^
j ^
-k
1 unit

^ ^
-i 1 unit i
X
it O
un
^ 1
k ^
-j
Z
Example Force Vector = 10 N along positive x-axis
A. F = (10 N) ^i
B. F = (9 N) ^i
C. F = (8 N) ^i
D. F = (7 N) ^i
Example Force Vector = 10 N along negative x-axis
A. F = (10 N) ( ^i ) = - 10N ^i
B. i ) = - 11N ^i
F = (11 N) ( ^
C. F = (12 N) ( ^i ) = - 12N ^i
D. F = (13 N) ( ^i ) = - 13N ^i
Example Force Vector = 20 N along negative z-axis
^
A. F = (20 N) ( k ) = 20N k^
^ ^
B. F = (20 N) ( j ) = -20N j
^ ^
C. F = (20 N) ( i ) = -20N i
D.
^ ^
F = (20 N)( -k ) = -20N k
Example

Example 1 Force Vector = 10 N along positive x-axis

Solution F = (10 N) ^i

Example 2 Force Vector = 10 N along negative x-axis

Solution F = (10 N) ( ^i ) = - 10N ^i

Example 3 Force Vector = 20 N along negative z-axis

Solution F = (20 N) ( k^ ) = -20N ^k
What are different types of vector?
Equal Vectors

Two or more vectors having the same magnitude and the

same direction irrespective of their positions in space are
called equal vectors.
B
D AB = CD
P
A Q
P = Q
C

Consider AB and CD
having same
magnitude and
direction
Opposite or Negative or Anti Parallel Vectors
Any two vectors of same type which are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction are called opposite
or negative vectors.

B
P D
A
Q
C

P = –Q
Zero Vectors

A vector having zero magnitude and undefined direction

is called a zero vector or a NULL vector.

It is represented by 0

Zero vector cannot be represented graphically

How is vector calculations performed?
Addition of vectors when they are in same direction

A 3 units B
having magnitude 3 units and pointing towards Right

P 5 units Q
having magnitude 5 units and pointing towards Right
Addition of vectors when they are in same direction

A 3 units B
having magnitude 3 units and pointing towards Right

P 5 units Q
having magnitude 5 units and pointing towards Right

Direction of the resultant vector is same as the given vectors

A Q
8 units
Addition of vectors when they are in Opposite direction

A 3 units B
having magnitude 3 units and pointing towards Left

P 5 units Q
having magnitude 5 units and pointing towards Right
Addition of vectors when they are in Opposite direction

A 3 units B
having magnitude 3 units and pointing towards Left

P 5 units Q

having magnitude 5 units and pointing towards Right

Direction of the resultant vector is same as the bigger vector

B Q
2 units
The net force is the sum of all individual forces acting on an object.

Thus net force is the resultant of adding all the force

vectors

5 5
+ =

5 5
+ =
5 10
+ =
Determine the net force in following cases.

Magnitude of Fnet ?

Direction of Fnet ?

F1 = 50 N F1 = 1200 N

F3= 20 N
B A
F2 = 50 N F2 = 800 N
 F1 = 50 N F1 = 1200 N

F3= 20 N
B A
F2 = 50 N F2 = 800 N
 F1 = 50 N F1 = 1200 N

F3= 20 N
B A
F2 = 50 N F2 = 800 N

Magnitude of Fnet is 400 N

Magnitude of Fnet is 20 N
Direction of Fnet is upward in
Direction of Fnet is towards
left the direction of bigger force
 →→ →
Given that A + B + C = 0 out of 3 vectors 2 are equal in magnitude & the
magnitude of 3rd vector is √2 times that of either of the 2 having equal
magnitude. Then the angles between vectors are given by

A. 30°, 60°, 90°

B. 45°, 45°, 90°
C. 45°, 60°, 90°
D. 90°, 135°, 135°
 A boy walks uniformly along the sides of a rectangular park of size
400m X 300m, starting from one corner to the other corner diagonally
opposite. Which of the following statement is Incorrect.

A. He has travelled a distance of 700m

B. His displacement is 700 m
C. His displacement is 500 m
D. His velocity is not uniform throughout the walk
When 3 forces of 50 N, 30 N & 15 N act on a body, then the body is

A. At rest
B. Moving with a uniform velocity
C. In equilibrium
D. Moving with an acceleration
The magnitudes of vectors A, B & C are 3, 4 & 5 units respectively.
If A + B = C, the angle between A and B is

A.

B.

C.

D.
5 equal forces of 10 N each are applied at one point & all are lying in one
plane. If the angles between them are equal, the resultant force will be

A. Zero
B. 10 N
C. 20 N
D. 10√2 N
A scooter going due east at 10 ms-1 turns right through an angle of 90°. If
the speed of the scooter remains unchanged in taking turn, the change is
the velocity of the scooter is

A. 20.0 ms-1 south eastern direction

B. Zero
C. 10.0 ms-1 in southern direction
D. 14.14 ms-1 in south-west direction
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