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Vector
Vector
1
PHYSICS
Vectors
1.1 Introduction
a) definition
scalar quantities can be completely specified by a magnitude. They can be
added algebraically.
vector quantities cab be specified by both a magnitude and a direction.
They can be added geometrically or analytically.
b)
c)
representation of vector
A vector is a line drawn to represent a vector quantity in
(i) direction, by its arrow head, and
(ii) magnitude, by its length.
we have
d)
example in mechanics
scalar quantities
length
l
mass
m
time
t
volume
V
speed
v
energy
W/E
pressure
P
density
q
temperature /T
potential
V
difference
(voltage)
A =-4B
vector quantities
displacement
force
velocity
acceleration
momentum
torque / couple
angular momentum
e)
f)
P.2
specific direction.
a unit vector is a vector whose magnitude is 1.
The basic unit vectors in rectangular coordinates are
i , j, k
b)
c)
P.3
solution:
vector
80
100
110
160
+)
y-component
0
100 sin 45
110 sin 30
-160 sin 20
Rx = 94
Ry = 71
Since R = Rx i + Ry j
i.e. R = -94 i + 71
R=
x-component
80
100 cos 45
-110 cos 30
-160 cos 20
R x2 R y2
(94) 2 (71) 2
= 118N
tan = Ry / Rx
= -37or 143 (0 360)
= 143 only (It is because R lies on the second quadrant)
e.g. Find the magnitude and direction of the vector d.
Given that
d a b c
a 3i 4 j
b i
c 8j
solution:
vector
+)
hence,
=2 i +4
tan
d)
d x2 d y2
= dy / d x =
x-component
3
-1
0
y-component
-4
0
8
dx = 2
dy = 4
= 22 42 =
20
4
=2
2
= 63.4or 243.4
= 13.4 only (it is because d lies on first quadrant)
Since a b a (b )
P.4
summary:
b)
If
V A = velocity of A
V B = velocity of B
= velocity of B w.r.t. A
V AB
then V AB = V B - V A
e.g. Two oars start at the same point with uniform velocities.
Car A moves to the north with speed 10m/s while car B moves to the east
with speed 4 ms-1. Find the velocity of car A observed by a passenger in
car B.
Solution:
= V A = V B = -4 i + 10
VBA = 4 2 10 2 =
BA
tan=
10
4
= ________ or ________
= ________ only (it is because VBA lies on the second
quadrant)
AB
VAB =
= V B V A
( 4) 2 (8) 2 2( 4)(8) cos 40
P.5
K(a ) =k a
It is defined as a new vector whose magnitude is k times the magnitude of
(ii) properties
(1) a b b a
(2) (a b ) c a c b c
(iii) dot product of rectangular unit vectors
(1) i i j j k k 1
(2) i j j k k i 0
e)
a xb ab sin
(ii) Properties
(1) a xb b xa
(2) (a b ) xc axc b xc
(iii) Cross product of rectangular unit vectors
(1) i xi j xj k xk 0
(2) i xj k ; j xk i ; k xi j
d)
P.6
(i)
frictionless
surface
frictionless
surface
I = current
current)
Since F = I 1 x B ,