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Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra
Quantities can be divided into two groups
The length of the line �� is the magnitude of the vector and its direction
is specified by an arrow. If a vector �� = �� then the magnitude of �� =
��
If �� = �� + �� then �� = �² + �²
Note: �� ≠ ��
Unit Vector
⟹ �� + �� = � + � � + � + � �
� �
� − �� = �� + �� − (�� + ��)
�� + �� = � − � � + � − � �
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Example 1:
If �� = 2� + 4� and � = 3� − 4�
Find
a. �� + ��
�
b. � − ��
Solution:
� �
a. � + �� = 2� + 4� + (3� − 4�)
� �
� + �� = 2 + 3 � + (4 − 4)� = 5� + 0�
� �
� + �� = 5�
� �
b. � − � = 2� + 4� − (3� − 4�)
� �
� − � = 2 − 3 � + (4 −− 4)� =− � + 8�
Example 2:
= 2 + 10 + 4 � + 3 − 4 − 3 � + −4 − 3 − 2 �
� � � �
� + � +� = 16� − 4� − 9�
2
� � � 8 16
Therefore 2� − � � = 3
�+ 3
�
v
F
� sin �
�
H
Example 1:
120°
-H H
-V
Example2:
And object is acted on by two forces one of which is 10� and acts
horizontal and the other 20� which acts vertical. Determine the
resultant force.
3
Solution:
20N
�
10N
Applying Pythagoras theorem, the diagonal � is
� = 202 + 102 = 22.4�
The angle � is calculated as follows
20
���� =
10
20
� = tan−1 = 63.4°
10
Therefore the resultant vector � is 22.4� in the direction of 63.4° .
Example 3:
15m/s
10m/s
20°
10
7m/s
Calculate the resultant velocity � of the three velocities in the figure above.
Solution:
= 9.397 + 0 + −6.894
= 2.503�/�
= 3.420 + 15 + −1.216
= 17.204�/�
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Magnitude of resultant velocity � = �2 + �2
= 2.5032 + 17.2042
= 302.24
Therefore � = 17.39�/�
�
Direction of � is tan � =
�
17.204
⟹ tan � =
2.503
tan � = 6.8734
� = tan−1 6.8734
Therefore � = 81.72°
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� � � �
��. � = �� � cos �
� � � �
Since � �� = �� �
� � � �
Hence �. �� = ��. �
Example 1:
� �
If �� = 2� + 4� and �� = 3� − 4� find �. ��
Solution:
� �
�. �� = 2� + 4� . ( 3� − 4�)
= 2 3 �. � + 2 −4 �. � + 4 3 �. � + 4 −4 �. �
= 6 − 16
� �
Therefore �. �� =− 10
Example 2:
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� � �
If � = 2� + 3� − � and �� = 3� + 4� − 3� find �. ��
Solution:
� �
�. �� = 2� + 3� − � . (3� + 4� − 3�)
= 2 3 �. � + 2 4 �. � + 2 −3 �. � + 3 3 �. � + 3 4 �. � + 3 3 �. � + −1 3 �. �
+ −1 4 �. � + −1 −3 �. �
= 6 + 12 + 3
� �
Therefore �. �� = 21
The dot product is use to find the angle between two vectors.
Example 3:
Solution:
�� = 2� + 3�
�� = 2� + 3�
If � is the angle between �� and �� then by applying the dot product formula we
have
�� . �� = �� �� cos �
�� = 2� + 3� = 13
�� = 5� + 3� = 34
�� . �� = 2� + 3� . (2� + 3�)
= 2 5 + 3(3)
= 10 + 9
= 19
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Therefore substituting the values above, the dot product formula for
the two forces
�� . �� = �� �� cos �
Becomes
19 = 13 ( 34 ) cos �
19 = 442 cos �
19
cos � =
442
19
⟹ cos � =
21.0238
cos � = 0.9034
� = cos−1 0.9034
Finally � = 25.35°
That is � × � = 0, � × � = 0 ��� � × � = 0
2. if � = 90°
� � � � � � � �
� × �� = � �� sin 90° = �. �� = � �� (1)
� � � �
Hence � × �� = � ��
� � � � � �
3. � × �� =− (�� × �) when the direction of � × �� is reverse we
� �
have −(�� × �)
� ��
� � � �
4. � × (�� + ��) = (� × ��) + (� × �) cross product is distributive
over addition.
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� � � � � �
5. � × (���) = � � × �� = (���) × �� where k is a scalar.
= �1 �2 � × � + �1�2 � × � + �1 �2 � × � + �1 �2� × � + �1 �2 � × � + �1 �2 � × � + �1 �2 �
× � + �1 �2 � × � + �1 �2 � × �
Therefore ��= 0
�� = 0
�� =0
� × � are perpendicular
Therefore � × � = 1 (1)���90° = 1
�×�=1∗�
��=�
��= �
��=�
� � � �
Note: since � × �� =− (�� × �)
It implies that
� × � =− � × � =− �
� × � =− � × � =− �
� × � =− � × � =− �
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= �1 �2 � − �1 �2 � − �1 �2 � + �1 �2 � + �1 �2 � − �1 �2 �
� �
Finally � × �� = �1 �2 − �1 �2 � + �1 �2 − �1 �2 � + �1 �2 − �1 �2 �
Another method:
We can also use the method of determinants of sub-matrices to find the cross
product of two or more vectors.
� �
Note: = �� − ��
� �
� �
� = �� � + �1 � + �1 � and �� = �2 � + �2 � + �2 �
� � � �
� � �1 � � �1 �1
� × �� = �1 �1 �1 = 1 �+ 1 1 �+ � � �
�2 �2 �2 �2 2 2
� 2 �2 �2
� �
� × �� = �1 �2 − �1 �2 � + �1 �2 − �1 �2 � + �1 �2 − �1 �2 �
Example 1:
� �
If � = 2� + 3� and �� =− 2� + 4�
� �
Find � × ��
Solution:
� �
� × �� = (2� + 3�) × ( − 2� + 4�)
=− 4� × � + 8� × � − 6� × � + 12� × �
= 0 + 8� − 6( − �) + 0
= 8� + 6�
� �
Therefore � × �� = 14�
Second method:
� �
2 3 = 8 −− 6 � = 14�
−2 4
10
� �
Therefore � × �� = 14�
Example 2:
� �
Evaluate � × �� if
� �
� = 2� + 3� − 5� and �� = � − 4� + 3�
Solution:
� � �
� × �� = 2� + 3� − 5� (� = � − 4� + 3�)
= 0 − 8� − 6� − 3� − 0 + 9� − 5� − 20� − 0
Second method
� �
� = 2� + 3� − 5� and �� = � − 4� + 3�
� � � � �
2 3 3 −5 −5 2
� × �� = 2 3 −5 = �+ �+ �
1 −4 −4 3 3 1
1 −4 3
= −8 − 3 � + 9 − 20 � + −5 − 6 �
Result of scalar triple product is always a scalar (number). The value of the scalar
� �
triple product ��. (�� × �) is the volume of a parallelepiped with sides �, � ��� �.
Example:
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Solution:
� � � � �
The scalar triple product of vectors �, �� ��� � is ��. (�� × �)
� � �
� × � = � = � − 3� − � × (� + 2� − �)
= � × � + �� × � − 1� × � − 3� × � − 6� × � + 3� × � − 1� × � − 2� × � + 1� × �
= 0 + 2� + � + 3� − 0 + 3� − � + 2� − 0
� �
� × � = 5� + 5�
� � �
Finally �. �� × � = � + 2� . (5� + 5�)
= 5 1 + 2 0 + 5(0)
= 5
Another method
� � � � �
1 −3 −3 −1 −1 1
�� × � = 1 −3 −1 = �+ �+ �
1 2 2 −1 −1 1
1 2 −1
= 2 −− 3 � + 3 −− 2 � + −1 −− 1 �
� �
�� × � = 5� + 5�
� � �
Finally �. �� × � = � + 2� . (5� + 5�)
= 5 1 + 2 0 + 5(0)
= 5
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