Scalars and Vectors

1st Year Physics Notes

Scalars
Physical quantities which can be completely specified by
1. A number which represents the magnitude of the quantity.
2. An appropriate unit
are called Scalars.
Scalars quantities can be added, subtracted multiplied and divided by usual
algebraic laws.
Examples
Mass, distance, volume, density, time, speed, temperature, energy, work, potential,
entropy, charge etc.

Vectors
Physical quantities which can be completely specified by
1. A number which represents the magnitude of the quantity.
2. An specific direction
are called Vectors.
Special laws are employed for their mutual operation.
Examples
Displacement, force, velocity, acceleration, momentum.
Representation of a Vector
A straight line parallel to the direction of the given vector used to represent it.
Length of the line on a certain scale specifies the magnitude of the vector. An arrow
head is put at one end of the line to indicate the direction of the given vector.
The tail end O is regarded as initial point of vector R and the head P is regarded as
the terminal point of the vector R.
Diagram Coming Soon
Unit Vector
A vector whose magnitude is unity (1) and directed along the direction of a given
vector, is called the unit vector of the given vector.
A unit vector is usually denoted by a letter with a cap over it. For example if r is the

given vector, then r will be the unit vector in the direction of r such that
r = r .r
Or
r=r/r
unit vector = vector / magnitude of the vector
Equal Vectors
Two vectors having same directions, magnitude and unit are called equal vectors.
Zero or Null Vector
A vector having zero magnitude and whose initial and terminal points are same is
called a null vector. It is usually denoted by O. The difference of two equal vectors
(same vector) is represented by a null vector.
R-R-O
Free Vector
A vector which can be displaced parallel to itself and applied at any point, is known
as free vector. It can be specified by giving its magnitude and any two of the angles
between the vector and the coordinate axes. In 3-D, it is determined by its three
projections on x, y, z-axes.
Position Vector
A vector drawn from the origin to a distinct point in space is called position vector,
since it determines the position of a point P relative to a fixed point O (origin). It is
usually denoted by r. If xi, yi, zk be the x, y, z components of the position vector r,
then
r = xi + yj + zk
Diagram Coming Soon
Negative of a Vector
The vector A. is called the negative of the vector A, if it has same magnitude but
opposite direction as that of A. The angle between a vector and its negative vector
is always of 180.
Multiplication of a Vector by a Number
When a vector is multiplied by a positive number the magnitude of the vector is
multiplied by that number. However, direction of the vector remain same. When a
vector is multiplied by a negative number, the magnitude of the vector is multiplied
by that number. However, direction of a vector becomes opposite. If a vector is
multiplied by zero, the result will be a null vector.
The multiplication of a vector A by two number (m, n) is governed by the following
rules.
1. m A = A m

2. m (n A) = (mn) A
3. (m + n) A = mA + nA
4. m(A + B) = mA + mB
Division of a Vector by a Number (Non-Zero)
If a vector A is divided by a number n, then it means it is multiplied by the
reciprocal of that number i.e. 1/n. The new vector which is obtained by this division
has a magnitude 1/n times of A. The direction will be same if n is positive and the
direction will be opposite if n is negative.

Resolution of a Vector Into Rectangular Components

Definition
Splitting up a single vector into its rectangular components is called the Resolution
of a vector.
Rectangular Components
Components of a vector making an angle of 90 with each other are called
rectangular components.
Procedure
Let us consider a vector F represented by OA, making an angle O with the
horizontal direction.
Draw perpendicular AB and AC from point on X and Y axes respectively. Vectors OB
and OC represented by Fx and Fy are known as the rectangular components of F.
From head to tail rule of vector addition.
OA = OB + BA
F = Fx + Fy
Diagram Coming Soon To find the magnitude of Fx and Fy, consider the right angled
triangle OBA.
Fx / F = Cos => Fx = F cos
Fy / F = sin => Fy = F sin
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Addition of Vectors by Rectangular Components
Consider two vectors A1 and A2 making angles 1 and 2 with x-axis respectively
as shown in figure. A1 and A2 are added by using head to tail rule to give the
resultant vector A.
Diagram Coming Soon The addition of two vectors A1 and A2 mentioned in the
above figure, consists of following four steps.

Step 1
For the x-components of A, we add the x-components of A1 and A2 which are A1x
and A2x. If the x-components of A is denoted by Ax then
Ax = A1x + A2x
Taking magnitudes only
Ax = A1x + A2x
Or
Ax = A1 cos 1 + A2 cos 2 ................. (1)
Step 2
For the y-components of A, we add the y-components of A1 and A2 which are A1y
and A2y. If the y-components of A is denoted by Ay then
Ay = A1y + A2y
Taking magnitudes only
Ay = A1y + A2y
Or
Ay = A1 sin 1 + A2 sin 2 ................. (2)
Step 3
Substituting the value of Ax and Ay from equations (1) and (2) respectively in
equation (3) below, we get the magnitude of the resultant A
A = |A| = (Ax)2 + (Ay)2 .................. (3)
Step 4
By applying the trigonometric ratio of tangent on triangle OAB, we can find the
direction of the resultant vector A i.e. angle which A makes with the positive xaxis.
tan = Ay / Ax
= tan-1 [Ay / Ax]
Here four cases arise
(a) If Ax and Ay are both positive, then
= tan-1 |Ay / Ax|
(b) If Ax is negative and Ay is positive, then
= 180 - tan-1 |Ay / Ax|
(c) If Ax is positive and Ay is negative, then
= 360 - tan-1 |Ay / Ax|
(d) If Ax and Ay are both negative, then
= 180 + tan-1 |Ay / Ax|

Addition of Vectors by Law of Parallelogram

According to the law of parallelogram of addition of vectors, if we are given two
vectors. A1 and A2 starting at a common point O, represented by OA and OB
respectively in figure, then their resultant is represented by OC, where OC is the
diagonal of the parallelogram having OA and OB as its adjacent sides.
Diagram Coming Soon If R is the resultant of A1 and A2, then
R = A1 + A2
Or
OC = OA + OB
But OB = AC
Therefore,
OC = OA + AC
is the angle opposites to the resultant.
Magnitude of the resultant can be determined by using the law of cosines.
R = |R| = A1(2) + A2(2) - 2 A1 A2 cos
Direction of R can be determined by using the Law of sines.
A1 / sin = A2 / sin = R / sin
This completely determines the resultant vector R.
Properties of Vector Addition
1. Commutative Law of Vector Addition (A+B = B+A)
Consider two vectors A and B as shown in figure. From figure
OA + AC = OC
Or
A + B = R .................... (1)
And
OB + BC = OC
Or
B + A = R ..................... (2)
Since A + B and B + A, both equal to R, therefore
A+B=B+A
Therefore, vector addition is commutative.
Diagram Coming Soon
2. Associative Law of Vector Addition (A + B) + C = A + (B + C)
Consider three vectors A, B and C as shown in figure. From figure using head - to tail rule.
OQ + QS = OS
Or
(A + B) + C = R

And
OP + PS = OS
Or
A + (B + C) = R
Hence
(A + B) + C = A + (B + C)
Therefore, vector addition is associative.
Diagram Coming Soon
Product of Two Vectors
1. Scalar Product (Dot Product)
2. Vector Product (Cross Product)
1. Scalar Product OR Dot Product
If the product of two vectors is a scalar quantity, then the product itself is known as
Scalar Product or Dot Product.
The dot product of two vectors A and B having angle between them may be
defined as the product of magnitudes of A and B and the cosine of the angle .
A . B = |A| |B| cos
A . B = A B cos
Diagram Coming Soon Because a dot (.) is used between the vectors to write their
scalar product, therefore, it is also called dot product.
The scalar product of vector A and vector B is equal to the magnitude, A, of vector
A times the projection of vector B onto the direction of A.
If B(A) is the projection of vector B onto the direction of A, then according to the
definition of dot product.
Diagram Coming Soon A . B = A B(A)
A . B = A B cos {since B(A) = B cos }
Examples of dot product are
W=F.d
P=F.V
Commutative Law for Dot Product (A.B = B.A)
If the order of two vectors are changed then it will not affect the dot product. This
law is known as commutative law for dot product.
A.B=B.A
if A and B are two vectors having an angle between then, then their dot product
A.B is the product of magnitude of A, A, and the projection of vector B onto the
direction of vector i.e., B(A).
And B.A is the product of magnitude of B, B, and the projection of vector A onto the
direction vector B i.e. A(B).
Diagram Coming Soon To obtain the projection of a vector on the other, a
perpendicular is dropped from the first vector on the second such that a right

angled triangle is obtained

In PQR,
cos = A(B) / A => A(B) = A cos
In ABC,
cos = B(A) / B => B(A) = B cos
Therefore,
A . B = A B(A) = A B cos
B . A = B A (B) = B A cos
A B cos = B A cos
A.B=B.A
Thus scalar product is commutative.
Distributive Law for Dot Product
A . (B + C) = A . B + A . C
Consider three vectors A, B and C.
B(A) = Projection of B on A
C(A) = Projection of C on A
(B + C)A = Projection of (B + C) on A
Therefore
A . (B + C) = A [(B + C}A] {since A . B = A B(A)}
= A [B(A) + C(A)] {since (B + C)A = B(A) + C(A)}
= A B(A) + A C(A)
=A.B+A.C
Therefore,
B(A) = B cos => A B(A) = A B cos 1 = A . B
And C(A) = C cos => A C(A) = A C cos 2 = A . C
Thus dot product obeys distributive law.
Diagram Coming Soon
2. Vector Product OR Cross Product
When the product of two vectors is another vector perpendicular to the plane
formed by the multiplying vectors, the product is then called vector or cross
product.
The cross product of two vector A and B having angle between them may be
defined as "the product of magnitude of A and B and the sine of the angle , such
that the product vector has a direction perpendicular to the plane containing A and
B and points in the direction in which right handed screw advances when it is
rotated from A to B through smaller angle between the positive direction of A and
B".
A x B = |A| |B| sin u
Where u is the unit vector perpendicular to the plane containing A and B and points
in the direction in which right handed screw advances when it is rotated from A to B
through smaller angle between the positive direction of A and B.

Examples of vector products are

(a) The moment M of a force about a point O is defined as
M=RxF
Where R is a vector joining the point O to the initial point of F.
(b) Force experienced F by an electric charge q which is moving with velocity V in a
magnetic field B
F = q (V x B)
Physical Interpretation of Vector OR Cross Product
Area of Parallelogram = |A x B|
Area of Triangle = 1/2 |A x B|