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VECTORS
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
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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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
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
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.
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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
( A + B cos ) + ( Bsin )
2 2
R=
Bsin
then tan d =
A + Bcos
Bsin
= tan 1
A + B cos
Case (i)
R = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos
= A 2 + B2 + 2AB × 1
= A 2 + B2 + 2AB
( A + B)
2
= = A+B
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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
Case (ii)
R = A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos180
= A 2 + B2 + 2ABx 1
= A 2 + B2 2AB
(A B)
2
=
=A– B
Case (iii)
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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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
= A 2 + B2 + 2ABx cos
= A 2 + B2 2AB cos
Example 9
Ans.
A+B = A B
= 90o
Resolution of Vectors
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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
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
Ax
tan 1
=
Ay
Ay
= tan 1
Ax
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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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
= 10 ×
3 ˆi + 10 × 1 ˆj
3 2
= 5 3iˆ + 5ˆj
= 5×
1
2
( ˆi ) + 5 3
2
ˆj
= 3 2iˆ 3 2ˆj
A vector addition in component method
Example 11
Find resultant of following forces
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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
(
F = F1 + F2 = 4iˆ + 3jˆ + ) ( 6iˆ + 8jˆ )
= 2iˆ + 11jˆ
F = F = 22 + 112 = 125
F2 = 2iˆ
F = 62 + 62 = 6 2
A.B = A B cos
B . A = B A cos
A . B = A B cos
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B B r i l l i a n t ST U DY CE NT R E REPEATERS PHYSICS (ONLINE) -2021
A.B
cos =
A B
A.B
= cos 1
A B
*) If two vectors are perpendicular, then their dot product will be zero
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
A.B
A cos =
B
A × B = A B sin nˆ
*) 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)