Physics General (PHSG) Class Notes

Department Of Physics
Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College

Class: Semester –I (Lecture – I) Topic: Vectors

Preliminary Ideas:
Units:
In physics and metrology, units are standards for measurement of physical quantities that need clear definitions to
be useful.

Quantity:
Anything measurable is called a quantity in physics.

Physical Quantity:
A Physical Quantity is any physical property or subject that can be measured or calculated from other physical
property and expressed as the product of a numerical value and a physical unit.

Types of Physical Quantities:

There are two types of physical quantities : i) Scalar: A Physical Quantity with only value and no direction
Examples are Distance, Mass, Work, Energy, Density etc.

ii) Vector: A physical quantity with both magnitude & direction.

Examples are Velocity, Weight, Force, Impulse, Torque etc.

Types of Units:
There are two types of units: i) Fundamental Units: The fundamental units are those units who are not
dependent upon any other units or on each other, and
all other units are derived from them.

ii) Derived Units: Derived units are the combination of base units to
express a physical quantity.

List of Funadamental Units:

Units in Measurement System

Serial
Physical Quantity CGS FPS MKS / SI
No.
Unit Symbol Unit Symbol Unit Symbol
1 Length Centimeter cm Foot ft Meter m
2 Mass Gram g Pound lb Kilogram Kg
3 Time Second s Second s Second s
4 Electric Current Ampere A
Thermodynamic
5 Kelvin K
Temperature
6 Luminous Intensity Candela cd
Prepared by……
Prof. Abhisek Adhikari
Dept. Of Physics, Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College
 7 Amount of Substance Mole mole
8 Angle Radian rad
9 Solid Angle Steradians sr

Physics General (PHSG) Class Notes

Department Of Physics
Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College

Class: Semester –I (Lecture – II) Topic: Vectors

Vectors have both magnitude and direction. So to notify a vector a straight-line with an arrowhead is drawn.
Y

A
Here A vector is shown using a line OA. To show that OA is a vector it
must be written as 𝑂𝐴. It can also be defined with a single letter; as
Force is defined with 𝐹.
O X

** Value or Absolute Value or Length or Magnitude of a vector can be stated as Modulus of Vector and can be
shown as
Value of 𝑂𝐴 = Modulus (𝑂𝐴) = Mod (𝑂𝐴) = 𝑂𝐴

For a composite vector like 𝑂𝐴 = 𝑋𝑖 + 𝑌𝑗 modulus will be 𝑋𝑖 + 𝑌𝑗 = 𝑋2 + 𝑌2

𝑂𝐴 𝑋𝑖 + 𝑌𝑗
and Direction of a Vector can be shown as 𝑂𝐴 = = where the sign “ Λ “ sign is called “Hat” or
𝑂𝐴 2 2
𝑋 +𝑌
“Cap” to show direction of the vector.

Types of Vectors (Definitions):

1. Zero Vector: A zero vector is a vector when the magnitude of the vector is zero and the starting point of the
vector coincides with the terminal point.

2. Unit Vector: A vector which has a magnitude of unit length is called a unit vector.
3. Position Vector: If O is taken as reference origin and A is an arbitrary point in space then the vector OA is
called as the position vector of the point.

4. Co-planar Vectors: Three or more vectors lying in the same plane or parallel to the same plane are known
as co-planar vectors.

5. Collinear Vectors: Vectors which lie along the same line or parallel lines are known to be collinear vectors.

Prepared by……
Prof. Abhisek Adhikari
Dept. Of Physics, Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College
 They are also known as parallel vectors.

6. Equal Vectors: Two or more vectors are said to be equal when their magnitude is equal and also their
direction is the same.

𝑃
𝑄

7. Opposite Vectors: Two or more vectors are said to be equal when their magnitude is equal but their
direction is the opposite.

𝑃
𝑄

Here P is opposite vector of Q. And they can be related as 𝑃 = −𝑄 but 𝑃 = 𝑄 .

8. Like and Unlike Vectors: The vectors having the same direction are known as like vectors. On the contrary,
the vectors having the opposite direction with respect to each other are termed to
be unlike vectors.

*** Assignments: Will Be Given Later Seperately***

Prepared by……
Prof. Abhisek Adhikari
Dept. Of Physics, Rishi Bankim Chandra Evening College