SCALARS & VECTORS SCALAR QUANTITIES Physical quantities which can completely be specified by a number (magni tude) having

an appropriate unit are known as "SCALAR QUANTITIES". Scalar quantities do not need direction for their description. Scalar quantities are comparable only when they have the same physical dimension s. Two or more than two scalar quantities measured in the same system of units are equal if they have the same magnitude and sign. Scalar quantities are denoted by letters in ordinary type. Scalar quantities are added, subtracted, multiplied or divided by the simple rul es of algebra. EXAMPLES Work, energy, electric flux, volume, refractive index, time, speed, elec tric potential, potential difference, viscosity, density, power, mass, distance, temperature, electric charge, electric flux etc. VECTORS QUANTITIES Physical quantities having both magnitude and direction with appropriate unit are known as "VECTOR QUANTITIES". We can't specify a vector quantity without mention of deirection. vector quantities are expressed by using bold letters with arrow sign such as: vector quantities can not be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided by the sim ple rules of algebra. vector quantities added, subtracted, multiplied or divided by the rules of trigo nometry and geometry. EXAMPLES Velocity, electric field intensity, acceleration, force, momentum, torqu e, displacement, electric current, weight, angular momentum etc. REPRESENTATION OF VECTORS On paper vector quantities are represented by a straight line with arrow head pointing the direction of vector or terminal point of vector. A vector quantity is first transformed into a suitable scale and then a line is drawn with the help of the scale choosen in the given direction. ADDITION OF VECTORS PARALLELOGRAM LAW OF VECTOR ADDITION Acccording to the parallelogram law of vector addition: "If two vector quantities are represented by two adjacent sides or a par allelogram then the diagonal of parallelogram will be equal to the resultant of these two v ectors." EXPLANATION Consider two vectors . Let the vectors have the following orientation parallelogram of these vectors is : According to parallelogram law: MAGNITUDE OF RESULTANT VECTOR Magintude or resultant vector can be determined by using either sine law or cosine law.

RESOLUTION OF VECTOR DEFINITION The process of splitting a vector into various parts or components is ca lled "RESOLUTION OF VECTOR" These parts of a vector may act in different directions and are called " components of vector". We can resolve a vector into a number of components .Generally there are three components of vector viz. Component along X-axis called x-component Component along Y-axis called Y-component Component along Z-axis called Z-component Here we will discuss only two components x-component & Y-component which are perpendicular to each other.These components are called rectangular compone nts of vector. METHOD OF RESOLVING A VECTOR INTO RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS Consider a vector acting at a point making an angle q with positive X-a xis. Vector is represented by a line OA.From point A draw a perpendicular AB on X-axis.Suppose OB and BA represents two vectors.Vector OA is parallel to X-axis and vector BA is parallel to Y-axis.Magnitude of these vectors are Vx and Vy respectively.By the method of head to tail we not ice that the sum of these vectors is equal to vector .Thus Vx and Vy are the re ctangular components of vector . Vx = Horizontal component of . Vy = Vertical component of . MAGNITUDE OF HORIZONTAL COMPONENT Consider right angled triangle DOAB MAGNITUDE OF VERTICAL COMPONENT Consider right angled triangle DOAB MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION OF VECTOR BY A NUMBER (SCALAR) MULTIPLICATION OF A VECTOR BY A SCALAR When a vector is multiplied by a positive number (for example 2, 3 ,5, 6 0 unit etc.) or a scalar only its magnitude is changed but its direction remains the same as that of the original vector. If however a vector is multiplied by a negative number (for example -2, -3 ,-5, -60 unit etc.) or a scalar not only its magnitude is changed but its direction a lso reversed. The product of a vector by a scalar quantity (m) follows the following rules: (m) = (m) which is called commutative law of multiplication. m(n ) = (mn) which is called associative law of multiplication . (m + n) = m + n which is called distributive law of multiplication . DIVISION

OF A VECTOR BY A SCALAR The division of a vector by a scalar number (n) involves the multiplica tion of the vector by the reciprocal of the number (n) which generates a new vec tor. Let n represents a number or scalar and m is its reciprocal then the new vector is given by : where m = 1/n and its magnitude is given by: The direction of is same as that of if (n) is a positive number. The direction of is opposite as that of if (n) is a negative number. Addition of vectors by Head to Tail method (Graphical Method) Head to Tail method or graphical method is one of the easiest method use d to find the resultant vector of two of more than two vectors. DETAILS OF METHOD Consider two vectors and acting in the directions as shown below: In order to get their resultant vector by head to tail method we must fo llow the following steps: STEP # 1 Choose a suitable scale for the vectors so that they can be plotted on t he paper. STEP # 2 Draw representative line of vector Draw representative line of vector such that the tail of coincides wi th the head of vector . STEP # 3 Join 'O' and 'B'. represents resultant vector of given vectors and i.e. STEP # 4 Measure the length of line segment and multiply it with the scale choos en initially to get the magnitude of resultant vector. STEP # 5 The direction of the resultant vector is directed from the tail of vecto r to the head of vector . UNIT VECTOR-FREE VECTOR-POSITION VECTOR-NULL VECTOR UNIT VECTOR "A unit vector is defined as a vector in any specified direction whose m agnitude is unity i.e. 1. A unit vector only specifies the direction of a given vector. " A unit vector is denoted by any small letter with a symbol of arrow hat ( ). A unit vector can be determined by dividing the vector by its magnitude. For example unit vector of a vector A is given by: In three dimensional coordinate system unit vectors having the directio n of the positive X-axis, Y-axi and Z-axis are used as unit vectors.These unit v ectors are mutually perpendicular to each other. FREE VECTOR

A vector that can be displaced parallel to itself and applied at any poi nt is known as a FREE VECTOR. A free vector can be specified by giving its magnitude and any two of th e angles between the vector and coordinate axes. POSITION VECTOR Avector that indicates the position of a point in a coordinate system is referred to as POSITION VECTOR. Suppose we have a fixed reference point O, then we can specify the posit ion the position of a given point P with respect to point O by means of a vector having magnitude and direction represented by a directed line segment OP .This vector is called POSITION VECTOR. In a three dimensional coordinate system if O is at origin then,O(0,0,0) and P is any point say P(x,y,z) in this situation position vector of point P will be: NULL VECTOR A null vector is a vector having magnitude equal to zero.It is represent ed by . A null vector has no direction or it may have any direction. Generally a null vector is either equal to resultant of two equal vectors acting in opposi te directions or multiple vectors in different directions. MULTIPLICATION & DIVISION OF VECTOR BY A NUMBER (SCALAR) MULTIPLICATION OF A VECTOR BY A SCALAR When a vector is multiplied by a positive number (for example 2, 3 ,5, 6 0 unit etc.) or a scalar only its magnitude is changed but its direction remains the same as that of the original vector. If however a vector is multiplied by a negative number (for example -2, -3 ,-5, -60 unit etc.) or a scalar not only its magnitude is changed but its direction a lso reversed. The product of a vector by a scalar quantity (m) follows the following rules: (m) = (m) which is called commutative law of multiplication. m(n ) = (mn) which is called associative law of multiplication . (m + n) = m + n which is called distributive law of multiplication . DIVISION OF A VECTOR BY A SCALAR The division of a vector by a scalar number (n) involves the multiplica tion of the vector by the reciprocal of the number (n) which generates a new vec tor. Let n represents a number or scalar and m is its reciprocal then the new vector is given by : where m = 1/n and its magnitude is given by: The direction of is same as that of if (n) is a positive number. The direction of is opposite as that of if (n) is a negative number.

RESOLUTION OF VECTOR DEFINITION The process of splitting a vector into various parts or components is called "RE SOLUTION OF VECTOR" These parts of a vector may act in different directions and are called "componen ts of vector". We can resolve a vector into a number of components .Generally there are three components of vector viz. Component along X-axis called x-component Component along Y-axis called Y-component Component along Z-axis called Z-component Here we will discuss only two components x-component & Y-component which are pe rpendicular to each other.These components are called rectangular components of vector. METHOD OF RESOLVING A VECTOR INTO RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS Consider a vector acting at a point making an angle q with positive X-axis. Ve ctor is represented by a line OA.From point A draw a perpendicular AB on X-axis.Suppose OB and BA represents two vectors.Vector OA is parallel to X-axis and vector BA is parallel to Y-axis.Magnitude of these vectors are Vx and Vy respectively.By the method of head to tail we not ice that the sum of these vectors is equal to vector .Thus Vx and Vy are the rec tangular components of vector . Vx = Horizontal component of . Vy = Vertical component of . ADDITION OF VECTORS BY RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS METHOD INTRODUCTION Rectangular component method of addition of vectors is the most simplest method to add a number of vectors acting in different directions. DETAILS OF METHOD Consider two vectors making angles q1 and q2 with +ve x-axis respective ly. STEP #01 Resolve vector into two rectangular components and . Magnitude of these components are: and STEP #02 Resolve vector into two rectangular components and . Magnitude of these components are: and For latest information , free computer courses and high impact notes vis it : www.citycollegiate.com STEP #03 Now move vector parallel to itself so that its initial point (tail) lie s on the terminal point (head) of vector as shown in the diagram. Representative lines of and are OA and OB respectively.Join O and B wh

ich is equal to resultant vector of and STEP #04 Resultant vector along X-axis can be determined as: STEP # 05 Resultant vector along Y-axis can be determined as: STEP # Now we In the HYP2 = 06 will determine the magnitude of resultant vector. right angled triangle DBOD: BASE2 + PERP2

STEP # 07 Finally the direction of resultant vector will be determined. Again in the right angled triangle DBOD: Where q is the angle that the resultant vector makes with the positive X -axis. In this way we can add a number of vectors in a very easy manner. This method is known as ADDITION OF VECTORS BY RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS METHOD.