Vector
Vector
If A A ˆ
i A ˆ
j A ˆ
k and, B Bxiˆ B y ˆj Bz kˆ
x y z
Then A B =?
A B (Ax iˆ Ay ˆj Az kˆ) (Bx iˆ B y ˆj Bz kˆ )
A B Ax Bx(iˆ iˆ) Ax By(iˆ ˆj) Ax Bz(iˆ kˆ)
Ay Bx(ˆj iˆ) Ay B y(ˆj ˆj) Ay Bz(ˆj kˆ)
Az Bx(kˆ iˆ) Az B y(kˆ ˆj) Az Bz(kˆ kˆ)
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A B 0 Ax B y(kˆ) Ax Bz( ˆj) Ay Bx( kˆ) 0 Ay Bz(iˆ) Az Bx(ˆj) Az By( iˆ) 0
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A B Ay Bz (iˆ) Az B y ( iˆ) Az Bx (ˆj) Ax Bz ( ˆj) Ax B y (kˆ) Ay Bx ( kˆ)
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A B (Ay Bz Az B y )iˆ (Az Bx Ax Bz )ˆj (Ax B y Ay Bx )kˆ
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iˆ ˆj kˆ
A B Ax Ay Az
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Bx By Bz
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Dot product or Scalar product:
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Definition: The scalar or dot product of two vectors is a scalar equal to the product of the
magnitude of the vectors and the cosine of the angle between them.
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Explanation: Let OA and OB represent two vectors P and Q respectively both in
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magnitude and direction [Fig: Right side]. Both these vectors are inclined
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to each other by an angle Now, according to the definition of scalar
product, we get, P.Q P Q cos
r
so
or , P.Q PQ cos [ Here 0 ]
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From the figure, P OA; Q OB; BM is normal on OA and AN is
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normal on OB ∴ OM = OB cosθ
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or, OM = Q cosθ
∴ P.Q P(Q cos ) = P (OM)
= (magnitude of P ) (projection of Q on P )
Thus, Q.P QP cos Q ( P cos ) Q (ON ) = (magnitude of Q ) (projection of P on Q )
This means that the scalar product of two vectors is the product of the magnitude of either
vector and the projection of the in its direction.
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Important condition
about scalar product:
(i) If θ = 0°, then P.Q PQ cos 0 PQ . This is the condition for two vectors to be parallel to each
other.
(ii) If θ = 90°, then P.Q PQ cos 90 0 . This is the condition for two vectors to be perpendicular
to each other.
(iii) If θ = 180°, then P.Q PQ cos 180 - PQ . This is the condition for two vectors to be parallel
but opposite directed.
Dot product of rectangular unit vector:
The three rectangular unit vectors are iˆ, ˆj and k̂ are
perpendicular to each other
(a) iˆ. ˆj ij cos 90 1.1.0 0 iˆ. ˆj ˆj.kˆ kˆ.iˆ 0
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(b) iˆ.i ij cos 0 1.1.1 1 i .i j . j k .k 1
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Vector product or cross product:
Definition: The vector or cross product of any two vectors is another vector, the magnitude of
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which is obtained by multiplying the magnitudes of the constituent vectors with the sine of the
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angle between them and direction is perpendicular to the plane containing the vectors.
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Explanation: Let P and Q be the two vectors acting at O making an angle θ. According to
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definition the vector product is, R P Q ˆ P Q sin [ Here 0 ]
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Here is a unite vector which represent the direction of R and. The direction of is found from
the right-handed screw rule.
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d
r M
so
is a unit vector which denoted the direction of the resultant of ( P Q )
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If P Q is denoted by R then the direction of R is perpendicular to the plane of P and Q
of
Pr
R P Q PQ sin
(Magnitude of P) (Magnitude of Q along the perpendicular direction of P)
Again, Q P QP sin( )
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Q P QP sin
Q P (Magnitude of Q) (Magnitude of P along the perpendicular direction of Q)
P Q Q P I.e. Cross product does dos obey commutative law.
Important condition about vector product:
(i) When θ = 0°, then R P Q PQ sin 0 0 . This is the condition that two vectors are parallel
to each other.
(ii) When θ = 90°, then R P Q PQ sin 90 PQ . This is the condition that two vectors are
perpendicular to each other.
(iii) When θ = 180°, then R P Q PQ sin 180 0 . This is the condition that two vectors are
parallel and opposite to each other.
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Cross product or vector product of rectangular unit vector:
The three rectangular unit vectors are iˆ, ˆj and k̂ are
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perpendicular to each other
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(a) iˆ ˆj i j sin 90 1.1.1 kˆ, similarly ĵ k̂ î , k̂ î ĵ
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(b) iˆ i i j sin 0 1.1.0 0 iˆ iˆ ĵ ˆj k̂ k̂ 0
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The scalar or dot product obeys commutative law but Cross product does dos obey
commutative law: al
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Let the angle between the vectors P and Q is then
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P.Q PQ cos ... ... ... (1)
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Again, Q. P QPCos PQ cos ... ... ... (2)
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From (1) and (2) we get, P. Q Q. P i.e. the scalar or dot product obeys commutative law.
On the other hand the direction of (P Q) and (Q P) are opposite of each other, but the
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magnitude is the same, i.e. P Q PQ sin ... ... ... (3)
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And Q P Q P sin( )
r
so
Q P PQ sin ... ... ... (4)
From (3) and (4) we get, (P Q) (Q P)
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P Q Q P I.e. the cross product does dos obey commutative law.
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Commutative
Law: If A and B are two vector of same nature then
A B B A This is Commutative Law.
Proof: Suppose ORQP is a parallelogram with diagonal OQ and
OP RQ A ; OR PQ B
From ∆OPQ, OP PQ OQ ... ... ... ... (1)
And from ∆ORQ, OR RQ OQ ... ... ... ... (2)
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From (1) and (2) we get OP PQ OR RQ
I.e. A B B A
Associative Law: If A, B And C are three vectors of same physical nature, then,
(A B) C A (B C) this is the Associative law for vector addition.
Proof: Suppose OP A , PQ B and QR C . Appling triangle rule we can
write from ∆ OPQ, OP PQ OQ ( A B)
and from ∆ PQR, PQ QR PR ( B C )
and from ∆ OQR, OQ QR OR I.e. ( A B) C D
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again from ∆ OQR, OP PR OR I.e. A (B C) D
(A B) C A (B C) This is Associative law:
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Distributive law: Distributive law of scalar product is
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A .(B C) A . B A . C
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Proof: Suppose A, B and C are three vectors
A OP, B OQ and C QR
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Now From the figure, we get, A .(B C) A . (OQ QR )
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A .(B C) A . OR
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A .( B C ) A projection of OR on OP
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A .( B C ) A OT
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A .( B C ) A (OS ST )
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A .( B C ) A OS A ST
r
so
A .( B C ) A projection of OQ on OP A projection of QR on OP
es
A .(B C) A . OQ A . QR
of
A .(B C) A . B A . C
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The equation of a position vector in three dimensional reference system i.e. proof of
r x 2 y2 z2 :
Suppose, OX, OY and OZ be three lines perpendicular to each other and represent X, Y and Z
axis respectively. r Is a position
vector
which is represented by line OP, i.e. r OP . The co-
ordinate of P is (x,y,z) and i , j and k are the unit vectors along the axis X, Y and Z respectively.
PN is drawn normal to plane XY and PQ is normal to OZ. ON is joined. NL and NM is drawn
normal to OX and OY respectively. From figure, OL = x, OM = y, NP = z;
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By the triangle Law, OP ON NP
OP OL LN NP
OP OL OM OQ
r xiˆ yˆj zkˆ
Again From figure we get, OP2=ON2+NP2
OP2 = OL2+LN2+NP2
OP2 = OL2+OM2+OQ2
r 2 x2 y 2 z 2
r x2 y2 z2 (Proved)
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Vector Resolution:
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A vector quantity can be resolved into two or more vectors in different directions. Each
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resolving vector is known as component of the original vector. The process of resolving a
vector into two or more vector is called vector resolution or resolution of vector.
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Let R be a vector acting at a point O, along OC. The vector R is to be resolved into two
components. Let P and Q be the two resolved components acting along OA and OB respectively
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making at angle α and β with the resultant vector R . Let us complete the parallelogram OACB.
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Now from the law of triangle of addition, we get, OC OA AC i.e. R P Q
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To express the component vector in scalar form, we get,
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From the sine law of triangle,
OA AC OC
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sin OCA sin AOC sin OAC
P Q R
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sin sin sin [180 ( )]
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P Q R
r
sin sin sin( )
so
R sin R sin
P And Q
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sin( ) sin( )
Now, if the vector R resolved in to perpendicularly, then α + β = 90°
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∴ sin (α + β) = sin 90° = 1 and α + β = 90° ∴ β = 90°- α
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P R sin and Q R sin
∴ sin β = sin (90 - α) = cos α therefore, P = R sin β
∴P = R cos α and Q = R sin α
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