SUBJECT: FURTHER MATHEMATICS CLASS: SSS 1

TOPIC: VECTORS IN TWO DIMENSIONS

CONTENT:
(a) Scalars and Vectors: zero vector, negative and Equality of vectors.
(b) Addition and Subtraction of vectors, Multiplication of a vector by scalar, Magnitude and
direction of a vector and Unit vector.

SUB – TOPIC 1: Scalars and Vectors: Zero, Negative and Equality of vectors.
Scalars and Vectors
There are two kinds of physical quantities
1. Those which have only magnitude
2. Those which have both magnitude and direction

When we talk of the temperature of a patient as exceeding the normal body

temperature of 98.40F or the mass of a luggage as 34kg, or the density of dry air at STP as
1.293kg.m-3 etc, we are referring to some specific magnitude in each case and these quantities
go by the name scalars.
Definition: A scalar is that quantity which possesses only magnitude
Besides temperature, mass and density, other examples of scalars are; energy, speed, length
and time.
Suppose an engine boat moves with a velocity of 10knots, 450 East of North, then the
displacement of the boat can be found at any given time if we know the starting point. We have
two types of displacement namely;
Localized or free displacement: for example, a displacement 40km East is the same in Lagos as
in Accra.
Line located displacement; as in forces. When a force acts on a body, the body tends to move in
the direction of the line of force.
All quantities that behave or have the same characteristics as displacement are called Vectors.
Definition:
A vector quantity is that which has magnitude, direction and sense. The following are vector
quantities; force, momentum, velocity, acceleration, displacement, electric field strength and
magnetic induction. Vectors which have no particular directions associated with them are called
Free Vectors. A vector
which is located along a straight line is called a Line located vector. Force is an example of a line
located vector. When a vector
is applicable to a particular point, it is called Point located vector. In printed work,
vectors will be shown in print to distinguish them from scalars that are in light print.
The length or magnitude of a vector a is denoted lal. the magnitude of a vector is sometimes
called its Modulus or Absolute value or Numerical value.
Vector which has a magnitude of zero and no particular direction is called a Zero vector or Null
vector and is denoted by 0.
A vector which has an absolute value of unity is called a Unit vector.
The vector which has the same absolute value as a vector a but a direction opposite to the
vector a is called the Negative vector of a and is denoted –a.
We shall denote the unit vector in the direction of the vector a by â and is such that
a = lal â.
Two vectors which have the same magnitude and are in the same direction are said to be
Equivalent.
Evaluation
1. What is a scalar quantity?
2. Define a vector quantity?
3. Enumerate the examples of scalar
4. Define the followings. (i) Free vectors (ii) Line located vector (iii) Pointed located vector (iv)
Modulus (v) Unity (vi) zero vector (vii) Equivalent