PHYSICS

VECTORS & SCALERS LECTURE NOTES

SCALER
Those physical quantities which can be completely described by knowing their magnitude only.
eg.: mass, distance travelled, volume, time, speed, current, energy, moment of inertia, temperature,
power, .

VECTOR
Those physical quantities whose complete decription requires magnitude as well as direction are
known as vectors.
eg: Displacement, velocity, force, acc., momentum, weight.

Representation Of a Vector

a
a – bold letter

eg: a = 2m/sec. (east)

Graphical Representation Of a Vector

It requires a fixed referenced direction are known as vectors.

Length of vector corresponds to it magnitude larger the length larger the magnitude.

Prob: Plot (a) 2m/sec. velocity in east direction

(b) 4m/sec. (600N of east)
(c) 1m/sec. (300 W of south)

Magnitude of a Vector
It’s the numerical value of a physical quantity and is dimensionless. It is always expressed with
units.
 
eg: V 2 m / s east

magnitude

Representation

|a|

eg: V = 2m/s east

| V | = 2 (m/sec)
or V = 2m/sec.
Note: A vector can be moved anywhere in the space parallely.

Angle Between Two Vectors

Move the vectors parallely in such a way that their tails comes in contact. The smaller angle
between or the < less than 1800 then will be the angle between them.

Equality of Vectors
Two vectors are said to be equal if they have same magnitude, same direction and they represent
same physical quantity.

Types of Vectors
1. Uunit Vector: A vector whose magnitude is 1 is known as unit vector.
2. Null Vector: A vector whose magnitude is 0 is known as null vector. A null vector has

got arbitrary direction. eg. displacement = 0

collinear or like non collinear or unlike

3. Parallel or Anti Parallel Vectors: If the < between two vectors is zero the vectors are said to be
parallel i.e. they will have same direction.


If the angle between two vectors is 1800 or  then are known as anti || vectors.


eg: 
a  2m / sec (east )
  parallel
b  5m / sec (east )
 
a  2m / sec (east ) 
  anti parallel
b  5m / sec ( west )

Negative of a Vector
Putting a ‘–ve’ sign on vector, reverses the direction keeping the magnitude same.

a = 

– a = 
Multiplying a Vector with a Scalar
Case I: If scaler is +ve
A positive scaler only changes the magnitude and keeps the direction same.

a = 5m/sec. (east)

2 a = 10m/sec. (east)
Case II : If scalar is –ve
A –ve scales changes magnitude as well as direction.

a = 5 m/sec. (east)

–2 a = –10 m/sec. (east)
or = 10 m/sec. (west)

A Vector Pointing Quadrants

Scaler Addition
A particle makes a displacement OA along a straight & then makes a displacement AB along a
straight line.
Distance travelled during OA & displacement during OA is same i.e. 4mt.
Distance & displacement during AB is 2mt

Prob: What is the total distance travelled from O to B?

Inference: Scalers are added algebrically

Net displacement  A + 2
Hence, vectors are added by some other way.

Vector Addition
(a) Geometrical way
(i) Triangular law of vector addition
 

Draw the given vectors in such a way, the tail of one matches with the head of other. Complete the
 by drawing the third side. Mark out the arrow which points from initial tail to final head. This
will give us the resultant vector. Only valid for adding two vectors.

(ii) Parallelogram law

This is also used for adding two vectors.

   
Draw a line from head of b parallel to a . Draw another line from head of a || to b . This will
  
create a ||gram. The drawn diagonal will give the resultant R = a + b .
Add the two vectors


| a | or a = 1mt.

| b | or b = 1mt.

Note: If two vectors of equal magnitude are added then their resultant lies along angle bisector.

Q. A person makes a displacement of 3 mts towards north & then makes a displacement of 4 mts.
towards east. Find the net displacement? Plot the vectors.
 

Vectors can be added in any order their resultant is always same.

3
tan =
4
0
3
 = tan   = 370
–1
4
Net displacement  5 mts (370N of east)
3 3 4
 tan370 =  sin370 =  cos370 =
4 5 5
4 4 3
 tan530 =  sin530 =  cos530 =
3 5 5
(b) Analytical method

ABC is right angled triangle

In ABC
AC
cos 
AB
AC
cos 
b
AC = b cos 
BC
sin  
AB
BC
sin  
b
BC = b sin 
In  OBC
(BC)2 + (OC)2 = (OB)2
b 2 sin 2   (a  b cos ) 2  R 2
b 2 sin 2   a 2  b 2 cos 2   2ab cos   R 2
a 2  b 2 (sin 2   cos 2 )  2ab sin   R 2
R 2  a 2  b 2  2ab cos 
 R  a 2  b 2  2ab cos 
BC
tan  
OC
b sin 
tan  
a  b cos 
Special Cases :
1.  = 0°
R  a 2  b 2  2ab cos 0

R  a 2  b 2  2ab
R=a+b
  
| R ||a |  |b |
Two vectors are added like scalars in  b/w then is 0.
Two vectors are added like scalars when they are in same direction
2.   180 or 
R  a 2  b 2  2ab cos180  a 2  b 2  2ab  (a  b) 2
  
R = |a – b| or |R | |a ||b|


3.   90 or 2

R  a 2  b 2  2ab cos 90

R  a 2  b2

Range of Resultant:
R  a 2  b 2  2ab cos 
 1  cos   1
R max  a 2  b 2  2ab =a+b
  
| R |max  | a |  | b |

R min  a 2  b 2  2ab = |a – b|
  
or | R |min  | a |  | b |

R min  R  R max
|a b | R  a  b
    
| a |  | b | | R || a |  | b|
     
|a |  | b | | a  b ||a |  | b |
Q. This forces of magnitudes 6N and 4N are acting on the body. Which of the following can be the resultant
of the two?
2  R  10
(1) 11 N (5) 2 N
 (2) 10 N (6) 1 N
(3) 8 N (7) 0
(4) 7 N
Correct answers – (2), (3), (4), (5).
How to measure angle of vector

45° with x-axis –30° with x-axis or 330° with x-axis.

î , ˆj notation or RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS or UNIT VECTOR FORM.
Unit Vector : A vector whose magnitude is one (1).

Representation : â
Standard unit vectors : î, ĵ, k̂
î – unit vector in +ve x direction.
ˆj – unit vector in +ve if direction.

k̂ – unit vector in +ve z direction


a
 â
a
5 mt î
eg :  (1 mt )î
5
  
a  ax  ay
ax
cos  
a
ay
sin  
a
ax = a cos 
ay = a sin 

a x  a x î  (a cos ) î

a y  a y ˆj  (a sin ) ĵ
  
a  (a cos ) i  (a sin ) j
 
x component y component

a  a 2x  a 2y

ay
tan  
ax
 
Q. a  3î  2 ĵ

b  î  ˆj
(i) Plot the vectors
  
(ii) Find the vector R such that R  a  b . Plot R

13 units with tan–1 (2/3) with x-axis

tan  = 2/3
 = tan–1 (2/3)
tan  = 1

 or 45°
4
î, ˆj = 2 units with –45° with x-axis.
  
R ab
 3î  2 ĵ  2ˆj  ĵ 3î  2ˆj  î  ĵ
 4î  ˆj
17 units with tan–1 (4) from x-axis.

Q. Given two vectors

 
express then in î, ˆj rotation. Obtain a  b .

 
Q. Given vector a and b

(i) Express a in î, ˆj rotation

(ii) Plot b  2î  3 ĵ
  
(iii) If R  2a  b . Plot vector R.

Q. A particle makes three-displacements


S1  2î  xˆj

S 2  ( x  y) î  2ˆj

S3  xî  4 ĵ
If net displacement is 0 find valueof x and y.
Q. Two forces are acting on a body as shown


(a) If the resultant of two forces lie along y-axis. Find the magnitude of F2 .

(b) Where should a third force F3 . So that the body stays under equilibrium.

Q.

  
If resultant of a and b lie along y-axis. Find the magnitude of b .
WRITING ˆi, ˆj NOTATION FROM CO-ORDINATES :


AB  ( x 2  x1 )î  ( y 2  y1 ) ĵ

| AB |  ( x 2  x 1 ) 2  ( y 2  y1 ) 2

AB represents
(i) displacement from point A to point B
(ii) direction A to B
(iii) Position of B with reference to A or Position vector of B as seen by A.
In general position vectors are written with respect to origin.


OA  ( x 0  0) î  ( y 0  0)ˆj = x 0 î  y 0 ĵ
 eg. : position vector of (2, 3) = 2î  3 ĵ

Note :


Position vector of A is r1

Position vector of B is r2

then
  
AB  r2  r1
Q. Point A is given as (7, a) and point B is given as (3, b). A force of 20N acts at an  of –53° with x-axis.
Another force acts along direction AB and has magnitude 10 N. Find
(i) vector AB

(ii) magnitude of AB
(iii) a unit vector in direction of AB
(iv) Plot the 20 N force and express it in î, ˆj
(v) Find the force of 10 N in direction of AB
(vi) Let resultant.
Q. Point A is given as (2, a) and point B is given as (2b, 2). Find a force vector of magnitude 100 N in
direction of AB.

Q.

Three forces are acting on a body under equilibrium. Find magnitudes of F1 and F2.

3-D VECTORS
( î, ˆj, k̂ Notations)
 
a  a x î  a y ˆj  a z k̂

| a |  ( a x ) 2  (a y ) 2  (a z ) 2

For eg.: a  2î  ˆj  k̂

| a |  4  1 1  6
a 2x  a 2y  a 12

a 2  a12  a 2z

a 2x  a 2x  a 2y  a 2z

Direction Cosines:

The angle which a makes with x, y and z axis are  and  respectively..
az
cos  
a
ay
cos  
a
ax
cos  
a
Q. Prove : cos 2   cos 2   cos 2   1
2
a 2z a y a 2x a 2z  a 2y  a 2x a2
L.H.S.  2 2 2   2
a a a a2 a
=1
Q. Points A(1, 2, 3), B(2, 3, 4) and C(0, 1, 0) are given
 
(i) Find AB and BC


(ii) Find the resultant of AB and BC .
(iii) Find a vector in direction of R whose magnitude is 10.

Miltiplication of Vectors:
1. Scalar Product of Dot Product
2. Vector Product or Cross Product
 
Dot Product (a  b)
   
a  b  | a || b | cos 
or ab cos 
where  is the angle between the vectors
Note : If dot product of two vectors in 0, than a  b
or If   90°
then  
ab  0
Thus î  ˆj  0  ˆj  î
ĵ  k̂  0  k̂  ĵ
 k̂  î  0  î  k̂
 
a  b  ab cos 
 
b  a  ab cos 
   
a b  ba
 
Note : a  a  (a )(a ) cos 0
= a2
î  î  1
ĵ  ĵ  1
k̂  k̂  1

Derivation a  a x î  a y ˆj  a z k̂

b  b x î  b y ĵ  b z k̂  a x bx  a yb y  a zbz

e.g : a  î  2ˆj  k̂

b  2î  ˆj  2k̂
 
ab  2 2 2 = 2
Example of Scalar Product
Force × Displacement × cos  = 
 
F d  
Meaning of FS cos 

5 sin  1 F
FS sin   0
FS cos   
FS cos  means displacement ‘S’ done in direction of force, F..
Finding angle between two vectors

a  a î  a ˆj  a k̂
x y z

b  b x î  b y ĵ  b z k̂

a  ax 2  ay 2  az 2 , b  bx 2  by 2  bz 2
 
a  b  a x b x  a y b y  a z bz
also  
a  b  ab cos 
 
a b
cos  
ab
Q. A(1, 2, 0), B(1, 6, 3) and P(8, 26, 0). A body is displaced from A to B during the AB displacement a
force of 50 N acts on the body in direction AP. Find the mark done by the force during AB.
Vector Product or Cross Product
Representation :  
ab
 
Formula a  b  ab sin  n̂
 
where ab is the magnitude of a and b and  is angle between them

Direction of n̂  
ab

(i) Right Hand Rule : Keep your right hand in such a way that the fingers point along the curved arrow as
 
shown. The thumb will we us the direction of a  b .
   
Note : a  b  b  a in direction
   
a b  ba
   
a  b   b a
   
 (a  b )  ( b  a )  0
(ii) Screw Rule : Assume a screw at point 0

If we rotate the screw along the curved arrow the screw come out if the direction is anti-clockwise. The
 
movement of screw will tell us the direction of a  b
Note :

î  ĵ  k̂ ĵ  î   k̂
ĵ  k̂  î k̂  î   ĵ
k̂  î  ˆj k̂  ĵ   î
î  î  0
ĵ  ˆj  0
k̂  k̂  0
 
Derivation a  b  (a x î  a y ˆj  a z k̂ )  (b x î  b y ˆj  b z k̂ )

 a x b y k̂  a x b z ˆj  a y b y k̂  a y b z î  a z b x ĵ  a z b y î

 (a y b z  a z b y )î  (a x b x  a z b x ) ĵ  (a x b y  a y b x )k̂
 (a x b z  a z b x )
 î ˆj k̂
 
a  b  ax ay az
bx by bz

 (a y b z  a z b y )î  (a x b z  a z b x ) ĵ  (a x b y  a y b x )k̂

Q.

 
two vector a and b are given.
 
(1)  between a and b
 
(2) magnitude of a component of a along b
 
(3) Find the î , ˆj notation of component of a along b
 
(4) Find the î , ˆj notation of component of a  to b .
  
Q. a 1b  a  a 11b

b  2î  ˆj
 
Find the components of a along and 1 b in unit vector form [( î, ĵ ) notation].

Vector Notations of Eq. of Motions

  1
S  (u ) t  a ( t ) 2
2
  
v  u  (a ) t
     
v  v  u  u  2a  s
m  
K.E.  (v  v)
2
 
Power  F  V
 
  FS
 1 
V  (S)
E
 
F  m(a )
  
  r  F
  Force
Torque Position vector
Q. A particle is located at (–1, –2) and moves to (–9, 4) in 5 sec. Find velocity.
Q. A particle of mass 1 kg. is located at (1, 0, –1). It moves with a velocity  2î  3ˆj and acc.  2î  4 ĵ  2k̂ .
It reaches point B in 1 sec. Find
(1) Co-ordinate of B (2) Velocity of B
(3) Total distance travelled (4) Power at t = 2 sec.
Q.

Under the action of two forces F1 and F2. A particle of mass 5 kg. move with are acc. of 10 m/s2 at 37°
North of East. Find F2
Q. Resultant of two forces of magnitude P and 2P is 1 to P. Find  between two forces.

Q.

Resultant of these forces = 10 N. Find P and Q.

Q. Two vectors of magnitude P and Q are inclined at  Q resultant is of magnitude 2P. If angle between P
P
and Q is changes is (180 – Q) resultant is halved. Find .
Q
   
Q. Two vectors are given A  2î  ĵ and B  î  ĵ sketch then graphically. Find component of A along B

and 1 to B .

  
Q. A  2î  3 ĵ  k̂ , B  4î  2ˆj  2k̂ . Find a vector 11 to A but 2 times magnitude of B.
Approminations :
sin    

tan   
1. if  is small ( in radians)
cos   1
  2  2 
eg : sin 2  sin   
 180  180 90
2. Binomial Theorem  (1  x ) n  1  nx if x << 1
eg : (1  .001) 9  1  9(.001)  1.009
(1  0.01) 8  1  ( 8)( 0.01)
= 1 + 0.08
= 1.08
8
 0.01 
(5  .01) 8  5 8 1  
 5 

 (8)(.01) 
 58 1  
 5 
1/ 3
 1 
Q. (124)1 / 3  (125  1)1 / 3  1251 / 3 1  
 125 
  1  1    1 
= 51       51  
  3  125    175 