B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021

MOTION IN A PLANE

Physical quantities can be classified into two types. Scalar quantities and vector quantities. Those
quantities which have only magnitude are known as scalars.
Examples : Mass, distance, speed etc.
Those quantities which have both magnitude and direction but do not obey laws of vector addition are
not vectors such as electric current.
A vector is represented by straight line with an arrow head. The length of the lines gives the magnitude
of the vector and arrow head gives the direction of the vector.
The vectors are represented by boldface letters or with an arrow over simple letter. If A is a vector then

it is represented by A and magnitude of that vector is represented by A or A

Types of Vectors
1. Equal vectors : Two vectors are equal if their magnitude and direction same
2. Negative vector : A vector is said to be negative vector if the magnitude is same but direction is opposite
3. Parallel vectors : Vectors in the same direction
4. Antiparallel vectors : Vectors in the opposite direction
5. Zero or null vector : A vector whose magnitude is zero and direction is in determinate

6. Unit vector : It is a vector of unit magnitude If A is a vector then its unit vector is denoted by A

A
A=
Then A

A= AA

7. Co-initial vectors : The vectors which have the same starting point are called coinitial vectors
8. Coplanar vectors : Three or more vectors are lying in the same plane or parallel to the same plane are
known as coplanar vectors
9. Collinear vectors : Vectors which lie along the same line or parallel lines are known to be collinear
vectors
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Multiplication of a vector by a scalar

When a vector A is multiplied by scalar K, then the resultant vector has magnitude KA, and direction same
as that of A
Addition of Vectors
1. Triangular Law of vector addition
If two vectors are arranged as the adjacent sides of a triangle, then the third side taken in the opposite
direction will represent their resultant

Then R is the resultant of A and B

2. Parallelogram Law of vector addition

If two vectors are arranged as the adjacent sides of a parallelogram, then the diagonal passing through
the point of intersection of these vectors represent their resultant

Here R is the resultant of A and B

3. Polygon Law of vector addition

If we need to find resultant of P, Q and S . Then join the head of P to the tail of Q , then head of Q to
the tail of S . Then join tail of P and head of S and it will represent their resultant.

Here R represent the resultant of P, Q and S .

Magnitude and direction of the resultant vector

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( A + B cos ) + ( Bsin )
2 2
R=

= A 2 + 2ABcos + B2 cos2 + B2 sin 2

= A 2 + 2ABcos + B2 ( sin 2 + cos2 )

= A 2 + 2ABcos + B2 ×1

is the angle made by R with A

Bsin
then tan d =
A + Bcos

Bsin
= tan 1

A + B cos
Case (i)

A and B in same direction

=0

R = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos

= A 2 + B2 + 2AB × 1

= A 2 + B2 + 2AB

( A + B)
2
= = A+B

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Case (ii)

A and B in opposite direction

= 180o

R = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos180

= A 2 + B2 + 2ABx 1

= A 2 + B2 2AB

(A B)
2
=

=A– B
Case (iii)

A and B are perpendicular

= 90o

R = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos 90

= A 2 + B2 + 2AB × 0

= A 2 + B2
Note:
Max value of resultant is A + B and minimum value of resultant is A – B

A B R A+B
Subtraction of Vectors

A B=A+ ( B)
Two subtract two vectors, we are adding one vector with negative vector of other vector

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A B = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos (180 )

= A 2 + B2 + 2ABx cos

= A 2 + B2 2AB cos
Example 9

If A + B = A B find angle between A and B

Ans.

A+B = A B

A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos = A 2 + B2 2ABcos

A 2 + B2 + 2ABcos = A 2 + B2 2AB cos

4ABcos = 0
cos = 0

= 90o
Resolution of Vectors

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Ax Ay
cos = sin =
A A

Ax = A cos Ay = A sin

A = Ax + Ay A = Axiˆ + Ayjˆ

A = A cos ˆi + A sin ˆj

angle made by vector with horizontal =

Ax
tan 1
=
Ay

Ay
= tan 1

Ax

angle made by vector with vertical = 1

Ax
tan 1
=
Ay

Ax
1
= tan 1

Ay

Example 10
Represent the following forces in vector form

i) ii) iii)

Ans.

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i) F = 10 cos 30iˆ + 10 sin 30ˆj

= 10 ×
3 ˆi + 10 × 1 ˆj
3 2

= 5 3iˆ + 5ˆj

ii) F = 5cos 60 ( ˆi ) + 5sin 60ˆj

= 5×
1
2
( ˆi ) + 5 3
2
ˆj

= 2.5iˆ + 2.5 3jˆ

iii) F = 6 cos 45 ( ˆi ) + 6sin 45 ( ˆj)

= 3 2iˆ 3 2ˆj
A vector addition in component method
Example 11
Find resultant of following forces

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(i) F1 = 5cos 37iˆ + 5sin 37ˆj = 5 × 4 5 ˆi + 5 × 3 5 ˆj = 4iˆ + 3jˆ

F2 = 10cos 53 ( ˆi ) + 10sin 53 ( ˆj)

= 10 × 3 5 ( ˆi ) + 10 × 4 5 ˆj
= 6iˆ + 8jˆ

(
F = F1 + F2 = 4iˆ + 3jˆ + ) ( 6iˆ + 8jˆ )
= 2iˆ + 11jˆ

F = F = 22 + 112 = 125

ii) F1 = 10 cos 37iˆ + 10sin 37ˆj = 10 × 4 5 iˆ + 10 × 3 5 ˆj = 8iˆ + 6jˆ

F2 = 2iˆ

F = F1 + F2 = 8iˆ + 6jˆ + 2iˆ = 6iˆ + 8jˆ

F = 62 + 62 = 6 2

Scalar Product of Vectors

The dot product of two vector is scalar and it is given by

A.B = A B cos

Where is the angle between A and B

B . A = B A cos

*) The scalar product is scalar. it can be +ve, –ve or zero

If 0 < < 90 scalar product is positive

If 90 < < 180 scalar product is negative

If = 90o , scalar product is zero
2
*) A.A = A A cos = A = A 2

*) Angle between two vectors is given by

A . B = A B cos
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A.B
cos =
A B

A.B
= cos 1

A B

*) If two vectors are perpendicular, then their dot product will be zero

*) ˆi.iˆ = ˆj.jˆ = k.k

ˆ ˆ =1

*) ˆi.jˆ = ˆj.kˆ = k.i

ˆ ˆ=0

If A = A x ˆi + A y ˆj + A z kˆ and B = Bx ˆi + B y ˆj + Bz kˆ

then A.B = A x B x + A y By + A z Bz

*) Component of A along B is given by

A.B
A cos =
B

Vector or Cross Product

The product of two vectors are given by

A × B = A B sin nˆ

Where n̂ is a unit vector perpendicular to both A and B

*) A×B B× A

A×B
*) sin =
A B

*) A× A = 0

*) ˆi × ˆi = ˆj × ˆj = kˆ × kˆ = 0

*) ˆi × ˆj = kˆ = ( ˆj× kˆ )
*) ˆj × kˆ = ˆi = ( kˆ × ˆj)