Fundamentals of Mechanics (PHYS 1201)

Vectors

SAMBANI, D

CUNIMA

September 5, 2023
VECTORS

Unit Vectors
A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of 1, with no
units. Its only purpose is to point - that is, to describe a
direction in space.
Unit vectors provide a convenient notation for many expressions
involving components of vectors.
We will always include a caret or “hat" in the symbol for a unit
vector to distinguish it from ordinary vectors whose magnitude
may or may not be equal to 1.
In the x-y coordinate system we can define a unit vector î that
points in the direction of the positive x-axis and a unit vector ĵ
that points in the direction of the positive y-axis

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VECTORS

Unit Vectors
We can write a vector A ⃗ in terms of its components as
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ
A
Using unit vectors, we can express the vector sum R ⃗ of two
⃗ and B
vectors A ⃗ as A
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ and B
⃗ = Bx î + By ĵ
Thus R⃗ =A ⃗ +B ⃗ = Rx î + Ry ĵ
If the vectors do not lie in the x-y plane, then we need a third
component. We introduce a third unit vector ⃗k that points in
the direction of the positive z-axis
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ + Az k̂ and B
A ⃗ = Bx î + By ĵ + Bz k̂

SAMBANI, D (CUNIMA) Fundamentals of Mechanics (PHYS 1201) September 5, 2023 3/8

VECTORS

Example
Given the two displacements D ⃗ = (6.00î + 3.00ĵ − 1.00k̂) m and
⃗
E = (4.00î − 5.00ĵ + 8.00k̂) m
1 ⃗ −E
Find the magnitude of 2D ⃗

Solution
⃗ −E
Let the vector 2D ⃗ be F⃗
⃗ = 2(6.00î + 3.00ĵ − 1.00k̂) − (4.00î − 5.00ĵ + 8.00k̂)
F
= (8.00î + 11.00ĵ − 10.00k̂)m q
The magnitude is finally given as F = Fx2 + Fy2 + Fz2
q
= 82 + 112 + (−10)2 = 16.9m

SAMBANI, D (CUNIMA) Fundamentals of Mechanics (PHYS 1201) September 5, 2023 4/8

VECTORS
Products of Vectors: Scalar Product
Vectors are not ordinary numbers, so ordinary multiplication is
not directly applicable to vectors.
The scalar product of two vectors A ⃗ and B⃗ is denoted by A⃗ ◦ B.
⃗
The scalar product is also called the dot product
Although A⃗ and B ⃗ are vectors, the quantity A
⃗ ◦B⃗ is a scalar.
To define the scalar product A⃗ ◦ B,
⃗ we draw the two vectors A ⃗
⃗ with their tails at the same point. The angle between
and B
them is denoted as ϕ and ranges from 0° to 180°.
⃗ ◦B
A ⃗ = AB cos ϕ = |A||⃗ B|
⃗ cos ϕ
The scalar product A⃗ ◦B ⃗ can be positive, negative , or zero
depending on the angle between A ⃗ and B
⃗

SAMBANI, D (CUNIMA) Fundamentals of Mechanics (PHYS 1201) September 5, 2023 5/8

VECTORS

Scalar Products Using Components

Scalar product in terms of components is given as:
⃗ ◦B
A ⃗ = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz
Thus, the scalar product of two vectors is the sum of the
products of their respective components

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Example
⃗ ◦B
Use the figure below to find the scalar product A ⃗ of the two
vectors. The magnitudes of the vectors are A = 4.00 and
B = 5.00

Solution
⃗ ◦B
A ⃗ = AB cos ϕ = 4.00 × 5.00 × cos 77°
=4.50
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VECTORS

Practice Question
⃗ = 2.00î + 3.00ĵ + 1.00k̂
Find the angle between the vectors A
⃗ = −4.00î + 2.00ĵ − 1.00k̂
and B

Answer
ϕ = 100°

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