VECTORS

INTRODUCTION
If we talk about those quantities which have a magnitude and a particular unit of measurement, then we can
divide these quantities in two categories, namely Scalars and Vectors. Description of scalar quantities
requires magnitude and unit of measurement only, but in case of vector quantities we need to specify
direction also, in addition to the magnitude and unit.
Hence we should keep in mind that vector quantities have an associated direction, and due to the directional
nature, these quantities cannot be added or subtracted or even multiplied or divided, using the simple
algebra. Of course we can use the same algebra for scalar quantities. For these vector quantities we have got
a different algebra, which is known as “Vector Algebra”.
For example mass is a scalar quantity, and suppose we have 2kg of potato in a bag, and suppose we buy
1kg apple and keep them in bag too. So total mass in the bag we have is 3kg. As we must be aware of that
force is a vector quantity and suppose 10N of force is being applied to an object and another force of 7N is
also applied on the same object. Then the value of total force applied will be different in different scenarios
as shown in figure given below. Why it is so? Since force is a vector quantity and we need the description
of direction of both the forces before arriving to the conclusion.

Figure-1.1 Figure-1.2 Figure-1.3 Figure-1.4

Vectors: Physical quantities, which have direction in addition to the magnitude and unit. For
complete description one needs to provide information about direction in addition to the magnitude and unit
of measurement. Examples are displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, linear momentum, torque,
angular momentum, etc.

Scalars: Physical quantities which don’t have any associated direction. These quantities require
magnitude and unit only for their complete description. Examples are distance, speed, work, energy, mass,
etc.
Representation of vector: If the quantity is of vector nature then we put a small arrow on the top of
the symbol of that quantity. But for calculation purpose, geometric representation of vectors is done in the
form of lines with arrow head along the given direction of vector. Length of this line represents magnitude

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of the vector. . Also note head and tail for vector in following diagram, as we might use these two
terms in further discussion.

Important terms in vectors:

1. Equal vectors: If two vectors have same magnitude and direction they are said to be equal vectors.

2. Like vectors or Parallel vectors: If two vectors have same direction but different magnitudes, they
are said to be like vectors or parallel vectors. In the figure and are parallel vectors as both have
same direction and magnitude of is twice of magnitude of .

3. Unlike vectors or antiparallel vectors: If two vectors have opposite directions and different
magnitudes, they are said to be unlike vectors or anti parallel vectors. In the figure and are
antiparallel vectors as both have opposite direction and magnitude of is twice of magnitude of .

4. Negative vector: If two vectors and have equal magnitude but opposite directions, then each
vector is negative vector of the other. i.e., = or =

5. Unit vector: A vector having unit magnitude is called unit vector. If is given vector then unit vector

in its direction is given by

6. Zero or Null vectors: A vector of zero magnitude is called null vector. It is denoted as . The initial
point and terminal point of a null vector coincide. So, direction of null vector is indeterminate.
Examples: Velocity of a body projected vertically up at the highest point, velocity of bob of a simple
pendulum at the extreme position. Properties of zero vectors:
1) 2)
3) 4)
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7. Proper vector: Any vector of non-zero magnitude is called proper vector. If is a proper
vector 0
8. Co–planar vectors: Vectors, acting in the same plane are called co–planar vectors. In the diagram
and are coplanar vectors.

9. Non Co–planar vectors: Vectors, acting in different planes are called non-coplanar vectors.

10. Angle between two vectors: To know the angle between two vectors, we should keep their tails at the
same location. And the angle which is less than 1800 is called angle between the two.

11. Cartesian co–ordinate system: In order to describe the motion of an object we must specify its
position relative to observer. One of the most convenient co – ordinate system is Cartesian co–ordinate
system. It consists of three mutually perpendicular axes designated as x – axis, y–axis and z–axis.
Location of any point p is specified by three co–ordinates x, y, and z as shown in the figure.

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 y

y x
O
z
x
z
12. Orthogonal vectors: If the angle between two vectors is 90°, those vectors are called orthogonal
vectors.
13. Orthogonal unit vectors: The unit vectors along x–axis, y–axis and z–axis are denoted by and
(read as i crown or cap, j cap and k cap respectively.)
These are the orthogonal unit vectors or Orthonormal base or vector triad.

e.g., a vector of 3 units along x–axis is

A vector of magnitude 6 along –x axis (–ve x –axis) is
y

ˆj

î
x
O
k̂

14. Position Vector and Displacement Vector: A vector drawn from the origin of coordinate system
towards a point is called position vector of that point. Suppose there are two points A & B in a
coordinate system then a vector drawn from A towards B is displacement vector from point A to point
B. These position and displacement vectors are illustrated in the following diagram. Vector names are
marked in the diagram.

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RESOLUTION OF A VECTOR
Components of a vector in Plane:
We can find component of a vector along given direction, as illustrated in the diagram to the right.
Suppose given direction makes an angle  with the vector . First drop the perpendicular from head of
the vector on line of given direction, then vector drawn from the tail of the vector towards foot of the
perpendicular is component of vector in this given direction.

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Components of a vector in 3-dimensions (x-y-z):
r
As described above we can find components along x, y and z direction. Suppose there is a vector A
and it makes an angle,  and  with x, y and z axes respectively. Now check the following diagram in
which it is illustrated that perpendiculars are dropped on x, y and z axes and then component vectors
are shown.

According to the angle vector makes with axes, we can write individual components as follows:
 , Here Cos, Cos and Cos are known as direction cosines.
After getting to know all three components we can write the vector as:
, magnitude of the vector can be written as

Note: Cos= , Cos= and Cos= , Here Cos, Cos and Cos are known as direction cosines.
Let us square and add all three direction cosines as follows

 
Some important points:
1. If and
Then

2. If the co–ordinates of P and Q are (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) position vectors of P and Q with respect
to origin are and

Displacement vector
Note: Any vector (like ) can be expressed as the difference of to co–initial vectors (like )

3. If is parallel to , then = K (constant)

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4. If and are antiparallel vectors, then

ADDITION OF VECTORS
Triangle Method of vector addition:
It states that if two vectors acting on a particle at the same time are represented in magnitude and
direction by two sides of a triangle taken in one order, their resultant vector is represented in
magnitude and direction by the third side of the triangle taken in opposite direction.

Parallelogram method of vector addition:

It states that if two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the two adjacent sides of a
parallelogram then their resultant is represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the
parallelogram.

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Polygon law of vector addition:
When a number of vectors are represented both in magnitude and direction by the sides of a polygon
taken in an order, then their resultant is given by the closing side of that polygon taken in the reverse
order both in magnitude and direction.

In the above figure

(or)
When a number of vectors simultaneously acting at a point have zero resultant, then these vectors can
be represented in magnitude and direction by the sides of a polygon taken in an order.
D
C

E
B

In the above figure

Subtraction of vectors: one vector from another vector is addition of negative vector of the first vector to
the second vector.

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Note: Magnitude and direction of can be obtained from triangle law or parallelogram law

Here if is the angle between and , then is the angle between and .Properties of
vector addition and subtraction:
1. Vector addition is commutative ie.
2. Vector addition is associative ie,
3. Vector subtraction does not obey commutative law and associative law.

4. Vector addition and subtraction obey distributive law when multiplied by a scalar.

Where m is a scalar.

Multiplication of a scalar with vector:

When a vector is multiplied with a number (scalar) then its magnitude gets multiplied and the result
remains vector. If we multiply with a positive number then direction remains same as earlier but in
case of negative number the direction gets reversed.

Multiplication of vectors: As we know that multiplication of two numbers is also a number. But in case of
vectors multiplication is defined in two ways.
(i) Scalar Product or Dot Product: Result of this method is a scalar quantity
(ii) Vector Product or Cross Product: Result of this method is a vector quantity.
Let us understand these two types of products in detail.

Scalar Product or Dot Product: The name dot product is due to the symbol used to represent this product
is “dot”. Resultant is a scalar that means without association of any direction.
  ; Hence in this method magnitude of two vectors are multiplied and
then it is multiplied with Cos, where  is the angle between two vectors.
One example of such product in physics is work done by a force is equal to the dot product of force
vector to that with displacement vector. Here force and displacement are vectors whereas work done is
a scalar quantity.

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 Refer the above diagram to observe that dot product of the two vectors is equal to the magnitude of a
vector multiplied with magnitude of the component of other vector in its direction.

How to find angle between two vectors ?

if  is acute then , and if  is

obtuse then
,

Since 
So, 

Vector Product or Cross Product: The name cross product is due to the symbol used to represent this
product “cross(X)”. Result is a vector quantity.
  , hence magnitude of the cross product is “A B Sin” and
direction is given by . Here direction of is perpendicular to the plane of vectors according to
right hand rule. Right hand rule states that if we keep our right hand fingers towards first vector ( )
in such a way that palm remains perpendicular to the plane of vectors and when we curl our fingers
then they should approach second vector. This way done the thumb of right hand will give you the

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direction of or direction of cross product of vectors. Direction of cross product is shown in the
diagram. One more important point here you can note that cross product magnitude represents the
area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are represented by the two vectors.
One example of such product in physics is torque, a vector quantity, which is equal to the cross
product of perpendicular displacement vector to that of with force vector.

How to find cross product of two vectors?

Although magnitude
remains same but direction is reverse so we
may say that ;

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Practice questions:
Q1. The position of a particle is given by where t is in second and r is in meter.
(a) Find velocity and acceleration of particle.
(b) What is the magnitude and direction of velocity at time 2 sec?
Q2. Two vectors 20 N and 5 N are acting on a body and angle b/w them is 120 o. Calculate magnitude &
direction of their resultant.
Q3. What is the magnitude and direction of and ?
Q4. Calculate the magnitude of the vector meter.
Q5. What must be added to the two vectors and so that resultant may be a unit
vector along z-axis?
Q6. If and are two forces such that and . Find the magnitude of resultant.
Q7. If the position vectors of P and Q are and . Find PQ.
Q8. If and , find the module and direction cosines of and
.
Q9. If the resultant of the vectors and 5 makes an angle  with x-axis, find .
Q10. Find a unit vector parallel to the resultant of vectors and .
Q11. A vector of magnitude 100 units is inclined at 30o to another vector 0f 60 units. Find their dot product.
Q12. Vectors and act at a point making an angle of 30o with each other. Find ; =6 units, =7
units.
Q13. Prove that and are perpendicular.
Q14. Find the value of m for which vector ( ) is perpendicular to the vector ( ).
Q15. Find the angle between and .
Q16. A particle moves from position vector to the position vector in meter and
a uniform force of newton acts on it. Calculate the work done.
Q17. A force of N makes a body move on a rough plane with a velocity ms-1. Calculate the
power in watt.
Q18. Find the projection of on .
o
Q19. A vector of magnitude 100 units is inclined at 30 to another of magnitude 80 units. Find magnitude of
their vector product.
Q20. Calculate the area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are given by and .
Q21. Calculate the area of a triangle whose adjacent sides are given by vectors and
. Also find the third side.
Q22. Show that the vectors and are parallel.
Q 23. If . is a unit vector, then find the value of c.

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Q24. What is the vector joining the points (3, 1, 14) and (-2, -1, -6)?
Q25. When will the ratio between and be ?
Q26. If = , then find angle between them.
Q27. What is the torque of the force N acting at a point m.
Q28. Find magnitude of the component of the vector along .

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