Vectors and Scalars

•Scalar Quantity
•Those physical quantities which can be completely
described by their magnitude is known as scalar
quantities.
•The scalars can be added and multiplied using the rules
of algebra.
•For eg. Mass, area, volume, speed, gravitational
potential, density, etc.
 Vector quantities

• The physical quantities that require both

magnitude and direction for complete
description are called vector quantities.
• For eg. velocity, acceleration, force, weight,
velocity gradient, gravitational field intensity,
etc
• The vectors are added and multiplied in
accordance with the rules of vector algebra.
 Types of vectors

• a] Parallel Vectors
• Two vectors A and B are said to be parallel
vectors if their directions are parallel as in the
figure.
 b] Negative vectors

• The negative of a vector A is the vector whose

magnitude is equal but direction is opposite to
that of A.
• In the figure -A represents the negative vector
of A.
 c] Equal vectors

• The two vectors A and B are said to be equal if

they have the same magnitude and the same
direction.
• That is if A = B if A = B and the directions of A
and B are the same.
 d] Collinear vectors

• Two vectors A and B are said to be collinear if

they pass through the same line
 e] Unit vector

• A vector having magnitude unity is called a unit vector.

• The unit vector of a A is represented by putting a cap or
hat over it.
• The vector A^ represents the unit vector of A.
• The direction of unit vector is the same as A.
• The unit vector along x-axis is i
The unit vector along y-axis is j
The unit vector along z-axis is k
 f] Resultant vectors

• A single vector whose effect is same as that of

two or more vectors is called resultant vector.
• If A, B, C, D, …. are the number of vectors
acting on a body and R be the resultant of
these vectors,
Then R = A + B + C + D + …..
 Triangle law of vector addition

• The triangle law of vector addition states that,

if two vectors acting simultaneously on a body
represented by the two sides of a triangle
both in magnitude and direction, then their
resultant is given by the third side of the
triangle taken in reverse order both in
magnitude and direction.
Diagram
 Considerations
• Consider two vectors P and Q acting simultaneously on a body.
• Vector P is represented by AD and vector Q is represented by
AB.
• According to triangle law of vector addition, side AE represents
resultant R of the vectors both in magnitude and direction.
• Let Ө the angle between P and Q as shown in the figure. Let Φ
be the angle made by Q with the resultant vector R.
• Here EC is perpendicular to AC.
 For calculation of magnitude

• In triangle ACE
• AE2 = AC2 + CE2
=(AB + BC)2 + (CE)2
= AB2 + 2AB.BC + BC2 + CE2 …… (1)
• In triangle BCE
• sinӨ = CE/P
• CE = PsinӨ
 Also
• cosӨ = BC / P
• BC = PcosӨ
• Using these values in equation (1) we have
• R2 = Q2 + 2QPcosӨ +( PcosӨ)2 + (PsinӨ)2
R2 = Q2 + 2QPcosӨ + P2
R = [Q2 + 2QPcosӨ + P2 ]^ (1/2)
 Also in triangle ACE

• tanΦ = CE/AC =
• If the two vectors are acting in the same direction
that is Ө = 00, the resultant will be maximum.
That is R = A + B
• If the two vectors are acting in the opposite direction
that is Ө = 1800, the resultant will be minimum.
That is R = A – B
• The values of resultant may lie anywhere between |
A+B| and |A-B|.