Vectors and Scalars

Vector
A quantity having both magnitude and direction such as
displacement, velocity, force and acceleration.
Usually represented by an arrow; tail-end is called the origin/initial
point and the head is called terminal point/terminus.
Scalar
quantity having magnitude but no direction, e.g. mass, Iength, time,
temperature and any real number.
Operations with scalars follow the same rules as in elementary
algebra.
Scalar or Vector?
a) weight
b) calorie
c) specific heat
d) Momentum
e) Density
f) Energy
g) Volume
h) Distance
i) Speed
j) magnetic field intensity
Vector Algebra
1. Two vectors A and B are equal if they have the same magnitude and
direction regardless of the position of their initial points.
2. A vector having direction opposite to that of vector A but having the
same magnitude is denoted by A.
3. The sum or resultant of vectors A
and B is a vector C formed by
placing the initial point of B on
the terminal point of A and then
joining the initial point of A to the
terminal point of B.
Vector Algebra
4. The difference of vectors A and B, represented by A - B, is that
vector C which added to B yields vector A. Equivalently, A - B can be
defined as the sum A + (-B).
5. The product of a vector A by a scalar m is a vector mA with
magnitude m times the magnitude of A and with direction the
same as or opposite to that of A, according as m is positive or
negative. If m = 0, mA is the null vector.
Sample Problems
An automobile travels 3 miles due north, then 5 miles northeast.
Represent these displacements graphically and determine the
resultant displacement (a) graphically, (b) analytically.

Find the sum or resultant of the following displacements:

A. 10 ft northwest; B. 20 ft 30 north of east; C. 35 ft due south.
Laws of Vector Algebra
If A, B and C are vectors and m and n are scalars, then:

1. A+ B = B + A Commutative Law for Addition

2. A+ (B+C) _ (A+B) + C Associative Law for Addition
3. mA = Am Commutative Law for Multiplication
4. m (nA) = (mn) A Associative Law for Multiplication
5. (m+ n) A = mA + nA Distributive Law
6. m (A+ B) = mA + mB Distributive Law
Unit Vector
A vector having unit magnitude, if A is a vector with magnitude A 0,
then A/A is a unit vector having the same direction as A.
Any vector A can be represented by a unit vector a in the direction of
A multiplied by the magnitude of A. In symbols, A = Aa.
Rectangular Unit Vectors
An important set of unit vectors are those having the directions of the
positive x, y, and z axes of a three dimensional rectangular coordinate
system, and are denoted respectively by i, j, and k.
Components of a Vector
The vectors A1i, A2j, and A3k are called the rectangular component
vectors or simply component vectors of A in the x, y and z directions
respectively.
A1, A2 and A3 are called the
rectangular components or
simply components of A in the
x, y and z directions
respectively.
Components of a Vector
Sample Problems
Find the unit vector along 4i - 5j + 7k.
Find the position vectors r1 and r2 for the points P(2, 4, 3) and Q(1, -5,
2) of a rectangular coordinate system in terms of the unit vectors i, j,
k. (b) Determine graphically and analytically the resultant of these
position vectors.
Given r1 = 3i - 2j + k, r2 = 2i - 4j - 3k, r3 = - i + 2j + 2k, find the
magnitudes of (a) r3 , (b) r1 + r2 + r3 , (c) 2r1- 3r2 - 5r3.
If r1 = 2i - j + k, r2 = i + 3j - 2k, r3 = -21 + j - 3k and r4 = 3i+ 2j +5k, find
scalars a, b, c such that r4 = ar1 + br2 + cr3.
Scalar Field
If to each point (x,y,z) of a region R in space there corresponds a number or
scalar (x,y,z), then is called a scalar function of position or scalar point
function and we say that a scalar field 0 has been defined in R.

Examples:
1. The temperature at any point within or on the earth's surface at a certain
time defines a scalar field.
2. (x,y,z) = x3y - z2 defines a scalar field.

A scalar field which is independent of time is called a stationary or steady-

state scalar field.
Vector Field
If to each point (x,y,z) of a region R in space there corresponds a vector V
(x,y,z), then V is called a vector function of position or vector point function
and we say that a vector field V has been defined in R.

Examples:
1. If the velocity at any point (x,y,z) within a moving fluid is known at a
certain time, then a vector field is defined.
2. V (x,y,z) = xy2i - 2yz3j + x2zk defines a vector field.

A vector field which is independent of time is called a stationary or steady-

state vector field.
Sample Problems
Given the scalar field defined by (x, y, z) = 3x2z - xy3 + 5, find at
the points (a) (0, 0, 0), (b) (1, -2, 2) (c) (-1, -2, -3).
Given the vector field defined by V (x, y, z) = 4yz3i + 3xyzj - z2k. Find (a)
(1,-1,-2), (b) (0,-3,1).
Dot Product
THE DOT OR SCALAR PRODUCT of two vectors A and B, denoted by A
B (read A dot B), is defined as the product of the magnitudes of A
and B and the cosine of the angle between them. In symbols,

A B = AB cos

Note that A B is scalar and not a vector.

Dot Product
The following laws are valid:

1. AB=BA Commutative Law

2. A (B + C) = A B + A C Distributive Law
3. m(A B) = (mA) B = A (mB) = (A B)m, where m is a scalar.
4. i I = j j = k k = 1, ; i j = j k = k I = 0
5. If A = A1i + A2j + A3k and B = B1i + B2j + B3k, then
A B = A1B1 + A2B2 + A3B3
A A = A2 = A12 + A22 + A32
B B = B2 = B12 + B22 + B32
6. If A B = 0 and A and B are not null vectors, then A and B are perpendicular.
Sample Problems
Find the Scalar Product of the two vectors 3i + 4j + 5k and 2i + 3j + k.
Find the angle between A = 2i + 2j - k and B = 6i - 3j + 2k .
Determine the value of a so that A = 2i + aj + k and B = 4i - 2j - 2k are
perpendicular.
Cross Product
THE CROSS OR VECTOR PRODUCT of A and B is a vector C = A x B (read A
cross B). The magnitude of A x B is defined as the product of the
magnitudes of A and B and the sine of the angle between them. The
direction of the vector C = A x B is perpendicular to the plane of A and B
and such that A, B and C form a right-handed system. In symbols,

A x B = AB sin u,

where u is a unit vector indicating the direction of A x B. If A = B, or if A is

parallel to B, then sin = 0 and we define A x B = 0 .
Cross Product
The following laws are valid:

1. A x B = -B x A Commutative Law
2. A x (B + C) = A x B + A x C Distributive Law
3. m(A x B) = (mA) x B = A x (mB) = (A x B)m, where m is a scalar.
4. i x I = j x j = k x k = 0; i x j = k jxk=i kxi=j
5. If A = A1i + A2j + A3k and B = B1i + B2j + B3k, then

If A x B = 0 and A and B are not null vectors, then A and B are parallel.
Sample Problems
If A = 2i - 3j - k and B = i + 4j - 2k, find (a) A x B, (b) B x A, (c) (A + B) x
(A - B).
Find the area of the triangle having vertices at P(1, 3, 2), Q(2, -1, 1),
R(-1, 2, 3).
Determine a unit vector perpendicular to the plane of A = 2i - 6j - 3k
and B = 4i + 3j - k .
Triple Products
Dot and cross multiplication of three vectors A, B and C may produce
meaningful products of the form (A B)C, A (B x C) and A x (B x C).
The following laws are valid:

1. (A B)C A (B C)
2. A (B x C) = B (C x A) = C (A x B) = volume of a parallelepiped
having A, B and C as edges, or the negative of this volume,
according as A, B and C do or do not form a right-handed system. If
A = A1i + A2j + A3k, B = B1i + B2j + B3k and C = C1i + C2j + C3k, then
Triple Products

3. A x (B x C) (A x B) x C
4. A x (B x C) = (A C)B - (A B)C
(A x B) x C = (A C)B - (B C)A

The product A (B x C) is sometimes called the scalar triple product or box

product and may be denoted by [ABC] . The product A x (B x C) is called the
vector triple product.
Sample Problem
If A = 3i j + 2k, B = 2i + j - k, and C = I - 2j + 2k, find (a) (A x B) x C, (b)
A x (B x C).
Reciprocal sets of Vectors
The sets of vectors a, b, c and a', b', c' are called reciprocal sets or
systems of vectors if

a a = b b = c c = 1
a b = a c = b a = b c = c a = c b = 0