Vectors

Vector Representation
Definition :
A vector is a quantity having both magnitude and direction
on a plane or in space.
Chapter 10 Examples : Velocity, force and displacement are vectors.

Vectors are represented geometrically by directed line segments.

Vectors
Terminal Point
B B B

AB u u

A A A
Initial Point

Vectors 1 Vectors 2

Vectors Vectors
Special Vectors Review

Zero vector (denoted by O) is a vector whose magnitude is 0 and 1. If A and B are any two points on a plane, then the directed line AB
whose direction is undefined. is called the displacement vector.
Unit vectors are vectors whose magnitudes are one unit in length, 2. If O is the origin, the vector represented by the directed line OA
regardless of their directions. is called the position vector of A.
û is used to represent unit vector in the direction of u. 3. If the vectors AB and PQ are parallel, then AB  k PQ , k  R.
u
uˆ  4. If PQ  u , then QP  u.  PQ   QP
u
5. The magnitude of the vector AB is represented by AB .
i, j and k are special unit vectors parallel to the positive x – axis,
y – axis and z – axis respectively. 1
PQ  2 RS , AB   PR, 2 PR  3RS
2
Meaning?

Vectors 3 Vectors 4

Vectors Vectors
Addition/Subtraction Of Vectors Addition/Subtraction Of Vectors
If vectors a and b are to be added, the (a + b) can be determined If a and b are any two vectors, then the difference of b from a or (a  b)
geometrically as follows. can be determined geometrically as follows.

A
b a b

a a Note that :
B
BA  OA  OB
ab b What about AB  ?
O
Position the vector b so that its initial point coincides Position a and b so that their initial points coincide.
with the terminal point of a. The vector from the terminal point of b to the terminal point of a
The vector (a + b) is represented by the arrow from is the vector (a  b).
the initial point of a to the terminal point of b.

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Vectors In Three Dimensions Vector Operations
The figure below shows the vector OP in a 3 dimensional space. Given that a  x1 i  y1 j  z1 k and b  x2 i  y 2 j  z 2 k ,
z Vector addition and subtraction
a  b  ( x1 i  y1 j  z1 k )  ( x2 i  y2 j  z2 k )
OP can be written as :  ( x1  x2 )i  ( y1  y 2 ) j  ( z1  z 2 )k
(1) OP  ai  b j  c k P(a, b, c)
c a  b  ( x1 i  y1 j  z1 k )  ( x2 i  y 2 j  z 2 k )
a  ( x1  x2 )i  ( y1  y2 ) j  ( z1  z 2 )k
 
(2) OP   b  Scalar Multiplication
c b ma  m( x1 i  y1 j  z1 k )  mx1 i  my1 j  mz1 k
  O y
(3) OP   a, b, c  Magnitude of a vector
a
a  x12  y12  z12 & b  x2 2  y 2 2  z 2 2
x Unit Vector
a x i  y1 j  z1 k x i  y2 j  z2 k
OP is also called a non - coplanar vector. aˆ   1 & bˆ  2
a x12  y12  z12 x2 2  y 2 2  z 2 2
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Vectors Vectors
Vector Operations Example 1 :
3 2 2 3
Given that A( x1 , y1 , z1 ) and B ( x2 , y 2 , z 2 ) are two points in space, Find the magnitude of the vector u  i  j  k.
5 5 5
 OA  x1 i  y1 j  z1 k & OB  x2 i  y 2 j  z 2 k , Solution :
2 2 2
Displacement vector  3  2  2 3 
u          
5
   5   5 
 AB  OB  OA
 ( x2 i  y 2 j  z 2 k )  ( x1 i  y1 j  z1 k ) 9 4 12
   1
 ( x2  x1 )i  ( y 2  y1 ) j  ( z 2  z1 )k 25 25 25
Example 2 :
 x2   x1   x2  x1 
      Find the real numbers x, y and z such that ( xi  2 y j  z k )  (3i  j )  4i  3k .
OR AB   y 2    y1    y 2  y1 
z  z  z z  Solution :
 2  1  2 1 ( xi  2 y j  z k )  (3i  j )  4i  3k
 ( x  3)i  (2 y  1) j  z k  4i  3k
Find BA  ? Find BA  ?  x  3  4, 2 y  1  0 &  z  3
What is the unit vector in the direction of BA ? 1
 x  1, y  & z  3
2
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Vectors Vectors
Example 3 : Example 4 :
If a  3i  2 j  5k and b  2i  j  k , find the vector 2a  3b. If a   2,  3,  4  and b   1,  1,  4 , find the vector a  b. Hence, find a
Hence, determine the unit vector in the direction of 2a  3b. vector of magnitude 3 units in the direction of the vector a  b.
Solution : Solution :
2a  3b  2(3i  2 j  5k )  3( 2i  j  k ) a  b  (2i  3 j  4k )  (i  j  4k )
 6i  4 j  10k  6i  3 j  3k  12i  j  7 k  i  4 j  8k
 a  b  12  (4) 2  (8) 2
2a  3b  12 2  (1) 2  7 2
 144  1  49  194  1  16  64  9
a  b i  4 j  8k
2a  3b  Unit vector in the direction of a  b  
 Unit vector in the direction of 2a  3b  a b 9
2a  3b
12i  j  7 k  Vector of magnitude 3 units i  4 j  8k
  3
in the direction of a  b 9
194
12 1 7 1 4 8
 i j k  i j k
194 194 194 3 3 3
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 Vectors
Example 5 :
The position vectors, relative to the origin O(0, 0, 0) of points A, B, C
and D are i + 2k, 2i + j, i + 4j – k and 3j + k respectively.
(a) Find, in terms of i, j and k, the vectors,
(i) AB, (ii) DC ,
(b) Hence, show that ABCD is a parallelogram.

Vectors 13