Vectors

Definition: A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. It is

represented by an arrow where the length represents the magnitude and the arrowhead
points in the direction.

Representing Vectors
Notation: Vectors are usually denoted by boldface letters such as v or with an
arrow above the letter, like (\vec{v}).
Components: A vector in two-dimensional space can be represented by its components
along the x and y axes: (\vec{v} = v_x \hat{i} + v_y \hat{j}), where (v_x) and
(v_y) are the scalar components and (\hat{i}), (\hat{j}) are the unit vectors in
the x and y directions, respectively.
Operations with Vectors
Addition: To add two vectors, you place them head to tail and draw the resultant
vector from the tail of the first to the head of the second.
Subtraction: To subtract a vector, you add its opposite. This is equivalent to
adding a vector with the same magnitude but in the opposite direction.
Scalar Multiplication: Multiplying a vector by a scalar changes the magnitude of
the vector but not its direction.
Magnitude and Direction
Magnitude: The magnitude of a vector is its length and can be calculated using the
Pythagorean theorem: (|\vec{v}| = \sqrt{v_x^2 + v_y^2}).
Direction: The direction of a vector is often expressed as an angle with respect to
the positive x-axis.
Dot Product
Definition: The dot product of two vectors is a scalar quantity that is the product
of their magnitudes and the cosine of the angle between them: (\vec{a} \cdot \
vec{b} = |\vec{a}| |\vec{b}| \cos(\theta)).
Properties: The dot product is commutative ((\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \vec{b} \
cdot \vec{a})) and distributive over vector addition.
Cross Product
Definition: The cross product of two vectors is a vector that is perpendicular to
both and has a magnitude equal to the area of the parallelogram that the vectors
span.
Formula: (\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = |\vec{a}| |\vec{b}| \sin(\theta) \hat{n}), where
(\hat{n}) is the unit vector perpendicular to the plane formed by (\vec{a}) and (\
vec{b}).
Applications
Vectors are used in physics to represent quantities like force, velocity, and
acceleration.
In engineering, vectors are essential for understanding forces in structures and
systems.
Examples
Vector Addition: If (\vec{a} = 3\hat{i} + 4\hat{j}) and (\vec{b} = 2\hat{i} + 5\
hat{j}), then (\vec{a} + \vec{b} = (3+2)\hat{i} + (4+5)\hat{j} = 5\hat{i} + 9\
hat{j}).

Dot Product: For vectors (\vec{a} = 3\hat{i} + 4\hat{j}) and (\vec{b} = 2\hat{i} +
5\hat{j}), the dot product is (\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = (3)(2) + (4)(5) = 6 + 20 =
26)