BRIDGING COURSE: MODULE 1

ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY

Vector Algebra

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 Introduction
• Physical quantities can be divided into two main
groups, scalar quantities and vector quantities.

• A scalar quantity is one that is defined completely by

a single number (magnitude) with appropriate units,
e.g. length, area, volume, mass, time, etc.

• A vector quantity is defined completely when we

know not only its magnitude, but also the direction
in which it operates, e.g. force, velocity, acceleration.

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 Vector representation
• A vector quantity can be represented graphically by a line:

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 Unit Vector

The magnitude of vector A is: The unit vector along A is:

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 Addition of vectors

Ans: 50 N
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Addition of vectors

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 Vector addition & multiplication
• Let vector r1 has x, y, z components (3, 2, 1)
respectively.
• Vector r2 has x, y, z components (2, 2, 3)
• Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant
r1 + r2
Addition
• Add corresponding components
• r1 + r2 has components (3+2, 2+2, 1+3) = (5, 4, 4)
Magnitude
• By using Pythagoras Theorem
• |r1+r2| = (x1+x2)2+(y1+y2)2+(z1+z2)2 = 52+42+42
• = 7.55 7
Direction
• r = r1 + r2 = 5 , 4 , 4
• |r1 + r2| 7.55 7.55 7.55
• = (0.6622, 0.5298, 0.5298)

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Scalar or Dot product.
• A . B = |A||B| cos 
•  is the angle between vectors A and B.
• The scalar product can be viewed as the product of A with the
projection of B onto A.
• If A and B are perpendicular, A . B = 0
• A . B = |A||B| cos 90o = 0

TRIGONOMETRY
FUNCTIONS

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Vector or Cross product of A with B

A x B = ñ|A||B| sin 
 is the angle between vectors A and B
ñ is a unit vector perpendicular A and B
• The vector product can be viewed as the product of A
with the projection of B onto plane perpendicular to A.

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• The direction of the vector product is that in which a
right-handed screw would move when turned from
direction of A to B.
• If A and B are perpendicular, A . B = 0
• BxA=-AxB

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WORKED EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1
Find the distance vector between
P1(1, 2, 3) and P2(-1, -3, 3) in Cartesian
coordinates.

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EXAMPLE 2a
b) Find the angle  between A (2, 3, 3)
and B (-1, -5, -1) by using the Cross
Product between them. xˆ yˆ zˆ
2 3 3
1  5 1

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EXAMPLE 2b
b) Find the angle that vector B (-1, -5, -1)
makes with the z-axis, by using dot
product.

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