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Vector Analysis

1. Scalars and vectors

2. Scalar and vector fields
3. Vector Algebra
4. Component vectors and unit vectors

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Scalar - a quantity whose value may be represented

by a single (positive or negative) real number.
Example: height, temperature, speed
Vector - a quantity with both magnitude and
direction in space. Example: force, velocity
Convention: a quantity is a vector if it is written in
bold font or has an arrow above, e.g.

Vectors are usually represented by directed

segments:

A field (scalar or vector) may be defined

mathematically as some function of that
vector which connects an arbitrary origin to a
general point in space.

“Function of position”

Types of fields: Scalar field and Vector Fields

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density at any point P within a volume, ρ(P)

P)

elevation of a point with coordinates (x,y)
from sea level, h(x,y)

temperature at any point A inside a container,

T(A)
A)

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wind strength and direction in a region

Magnetic field of the earth

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Vector addition follows the parallelogram law

and is commutative and associative

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Negating a vector reverses its direction:

“negative” B = -B
A - B = A + (-
(-B)

Multiplication of vectors and scalars obey the

associative and distributive laws
(r + s)(A
A + B) = r(A + B) + s(A + B)
= rA
A + rB + sA + sB

A vector reverses its direction when multiplied by a
negative scalar

Division of a vector by a scalar is multiplication by
the reciprocal of the scalar
A ÷ a = A x 1/a

Two vectors are equal if their difference is zero
A = B if A - B = 0

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Also known as the rectangular coordinate system

The right-handed Cartesian coordinate system:

A point in space may be described by stating its x,

y and z coordinates. These coordinates are the
distances from the origin to the intersection of a
perpendicular dropped from the point and the x, y
and z axes.

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The x-coordinate is equal to the distance of P from

the yz plane. The y-coordinate is equal to the
distance of P from the xz plane. The z-coordinate
is equal to the distance of P from the xy plane.

Example: The point (2,-1,4) is 2 units in

front of the yz plane, 1 unit at the back of
the xz plane and 4 units above the xy
plane.

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A vector is identified by giving its three component

vectors, each lying along the three coordinate axes,
whose vector sum is the given vector.

r = x + y +zz
x, y and z are the
three component
vectors of r

Unit vectors are vectors with unit magnitude

and directed along the coordinate axes in the
direction of increasing coordinate values.
Symbols: ax, ay, az or i, j, k or
or

A vector pointing from the origin to a point
P(x = x0, y = y0, z = z0) is written as
rP = x0 ax + y 0 ay + z 0 az
rP is called a position vector

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Illustration:
For P(2, -3, 1)
rP = 2ax - 3ay + az

2, -3 and 1 are the
component scalars and
2aax, -3ay and az are the
component vectors

Note: rP may be also
written as <2, -3, 1>

Vector RPQ is a vector whose tail is at P and head

(arrow) at Q
RPQ = rQ – rP

Illustration:
For rP = 2ax - 3ay + az and rQ = -4ax - ay + 2az:
RPQ = (-
(-4-2)a
2)ax + (-
(-1-(-3))ay + (2-
(2-1)a
1)az
= -6aax + 2ay + az

to add two vectors, add the corresponding
component vectors

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For a vector B = Bx ax + By ay + Bz az, the

magnitude |BB| or B is given by:

The unit vector in the direction of B, or aB, is

given by:

Example: Given H = ax + 2ay - 2az,

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Cartesian Cylindrical Spherical

ax ay az ap aΦ az ar aθ aΦ

ax 1 0 0 CosΦ -SinΦ 0 Sinθ CosΦ Cosθ CosΦ -SinΦ

ay 0 1 0 SinΦ CosΦ 0 Sinθ SinΦ Cosθ SinΦ CosΦ

az 0 0 1 0 0 1 Cosθ -Sinθ 0

ap CosΦ SinΦ 0 1 0 0 SinΦ CosΦ 0

aΦ -SinΦ CosΦ 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

az 0 0 1 0 0 1 CosΦ -SinΦ 0

ar Sinθ CosΦ Sinθ SinΦ Cosθ SinΦ 0 CosΦ 1 0 0

aθ Cosθ CosΦ Cosθ SinΦ -Sinθ CosΦ 0 -SinΦ 0 1 0

aΦ -SinΦ CosΦ 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

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