SOME DEFINITIONS IN VECTOR

ALGEBRA
Define and illustrate the following terms :
(i) Equal vectors (ii) Negative of a vector
(iüi) Modulus ofa vector (iv) Unit vector
(v) Fixed vector (vi) Free vector
(vii) Collinear vectors (viii) Coplanar vectors
(x) Co-initial vectors (x) Co-terminus vectors.
(i) Equal vectors. Tvo vectors are said to be equal if
theyhave the same magnitude and same direction. In
Fig A and Bare two equal vectors.

A
If a vector is
B displaced parallel to
itself, it remains equal to
itself.
Fig. Equal Vectors.
 (i) Negative of a vector. The negative of a vector is
defined as another vector having the same magnitude
but having an opposite direction. In Fig. vector
Ais the negative of vector B or vice versa.

B=-A

Fig. Negative of a vector.

(iii) Modulus of a vector. The modulus of a vector
means the length or the magnitude of that vector. It Fie
is a scalar quantity.
(
Modulus of vector Á=| Á|= A
(iv) Unit vector. Aunit vector is a vector of unit
magnitude drawn in the direction of a given vector.

a unit vector in the direction of

vector A is given by
A
=

A unit vector in the direction of a given vector A

is written as A and is pronounced asA carat Fir
or 'A hat or 'A cap'.
Any vector can be expressed as the magnitude times
the unit vector along its own direction.

¢=
. o e The magnitude of a unit vector is unity. It
A unit vector has
just gives the direction of a vector.
no units or dimensions.

initial point is fixed

(v) Fixed vector. The vector whose
vector. For example,
is called a fixed vector or a localised
the position vector of a particle
initial pount is not fixed
(vi) Free vector. Avector whosenon-localised vector. For
is called a free vector or a particle
example, the velocity vector of avector.
free
moving along a straight line is a
vectors which either act
(vii) Collinear vectors. The linesare called
along the same line or along parallelvectors having
collinear vectors. Two collinear
called like or
the same direction (0 =0°) are
having the
parallel vectors. Two collinear vectors unlike or
opposite directions (0 = 180°) are called
antiparallel vectors.
 A
A B

(a) Like or parallel vectors

180° A

B A

(b) Unlike or antiparallel vectors

Fig. Collinear vectors

the
(viii) Coplanar vectors. The vectors which act in
same plane are called coplanar vectors.
have the
(ix) Co-initial vectors. The vectors which
In
same initial point are called co-initial vectors.
A, Band C are co-initial vectors.
Fig

A
C
B
B
A

Co-initial Fig. Co-terminus

Fig.
vectors. vectors.

(ix) Co-terminuS vectors. The vectors which have the

common terminal point are called co-terminus
vectors. In Fig. A, B and Care co-terminus
vectors.