ECNG2013

Vector
A Quick Review of the Basics
A vector is the name for a directed line segment from one point to another. The
magnitude and direction of the line are equally important characteristics unlike a
scalar quantity which has only magnitude.

The vectors

If

A B.

A and B are

equal if they have the same magnitude and we say

A B , but A and B are opposite in direction, then we say A B.

A B B A , A ( B C ) ( A B) C (vector addition is commutative and associative)

a (b ( A)) b( a ( A)) ab( A) ( multiplication by a scalar is associative)

( a b) A aA bA , a ( A B ) aA aB (Distributive Laws)

A vector of magnitude one is called the unit vector. In the Cartesian system, there
are unit vectors in the x, y and z directions denoted by i, j and k or i, j and k
respectively.
Dot (or Scalar) Product

The dot product of two vectors A and B is defined to be A.B A B cos , 0

where

is the angle between the vectors A and B . The dot product is a scalar quantity.
Cross (or Vector) Product
The cross product of two vectors

, 0
A B A B (sin )

A and B is

where is the angle between the vectors

direction of A B .

defined as

A and B ,

and is the unit vector in the

Properties of Dot and Cross products

A.B B. A (Commutative law)

A. ( B C ) A.B. A.C (Distributive law)
i. j j.k k.i 0
i.i j. j k.k 1

A.B A1 B1 A2 B2 A3 B3 where A A1i A2 j A3 k and B B1i B2 j B3 k

If A.B 0 then A and B are perpendicular.


A B B A (cross product is not commutative)

A ( B C ) ( A B ) ( A C ) (distributive law)

If A and B are not null vectors, then A B 0 implies that A is parallel
i j k, j k i, k i j
i i j j k k 0

to B

i j k

If A A1i A2 j A3k and B B1i B2 j B3k then A B A1 A2 A3

B1 B2 B3

A B A B sin

= Area of a parallelogram with sides

A and B