Types of Vectors and Their Definitions in Physics -

Scalars and Vectors

Types of Vectors and Their Definitions in Physics –

Scalars and Vectors
April 6, 2023 by Laxmi (https://www.learncram.com/author/laxmi/)
Types of Vectors
(i) Equal Vectors:
Two vectors of equal magnitude and having same direction are called equal
vectors.

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Types of Vectors and Their Definitions in Physics – Scalars
and Vectors

(ii) Negative Vectors:

Two vectors of equal magnitude but having opposite directions are called negative
vectors.
The negative vector of A is represented as -A.
(iii) Zero Vector or Null Vector:
A vector whose magnitude is zero, known as a zero or null vector. Its direction is not
defined. It is denoted by 0.

Velocity of a stationary object, acceleration of an object moving with uniform

velocity and resultant of two equal and opposite vectors are the examples of null
vector.

(iv) Unit Vector:

A vector having unit magnitude is called a unit vector.
A unit vector in the direction of vector A is given by

A^
(vi) Co-initial Vectors Vectors:
having a common initial point, are called co-initial vectors.
(vii) Collinear Vectors:
Vectors having equal or unequal magnitudes but acting along the same or parallel
lines are called collinear vectors.

(viii) Coplanar Vectors:

Vectors acting in the same plane are called coplanar vectors.

(ix) Localised Vector:

A vector whose initial point is fixed, is called a localised vector.

(x) Non-localised or Free Vector:

A vector whose initial point is not fixed is called a non-localised or a free vector.

(xi) Position Vector:

A vector which gives position of an object with reference to the origin of a
coordinate system is called position vector. It is represented by a symbol r.

(xii) Displacement Vector: The vector which tells how much and in which direction
an object has changed its position in a given interval of time is called displacement
vector.

Displacement vector is the straight line joining the initial and final positions and
does not depend on the actual path undertaken by the object between the two
positions.
The displacement vector for AB is
Δr = r2 – r1

Scalars and Vectors Topics:

Scalars and Vectors

Tensors
(https://www.learncram.com/physics/scalars-
(https://www.learncram.com/physics/tenso
and-vectors/)

Types of Vectors Addition of Vectors

(https://www.learncram.com/physics/types-of- (https://www.learncram.com/physics/addit
vectors/) vectors/)

Rotation of Vectors Direction Cosines of a Vector

(https://www.learncram.com/physics/rotation-of- (https://www.learncram.com/physics/direc
a-vector/) cosines-of-a-vector/)

Subtraction of Vectors Multiplication of Vectors

(https://www.learncram.com/physics/subtraction- (https://www.learncram.com/physics/mult
of-vectors/) of-a-vector/)

Scalar Product of Two Vectors Vector Product of Two Vectors

(https://www.learncram.com/physics/scalar- (https://www.learncram.com/physics/vecto
product-of-two-vectors/) product-of-two-vectors/)

Division of Vectors
(https://www.learncram.com/physics/division-of-
vectors/)

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