Lecture 1

Review of Vectors

Dr Sohail Amjad
 Outline

The Nature of Physics

Physics Calculations: Units, Uncertainty, Orders of mag ...
Vectors: Addition, Multiplication.

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The Nature of Physics

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Quantities and Units

Any number that is used to describe a

physical phenomenon quantitatively is
called a physical quantity.
Some physical quantities are so
fundamental that we can define them only
by describing how to measure them.
Quantities are expressed in units. For
example, length is expressed in meters
denoted by m.
During any calculation involving physical
quantities, the system of units must
remain uniform throughout the calculation.

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Mars Climate Orbiter

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 Mars Climate Orbiter

At 09:00:46 UT Sept. 23, 1999, the orbiter began its Mars orbit
insertion burn as planned. The spacecraft was scheduled to
re-establish contact after passing behind Mars, but, unfortunately,
no signals were received from the spacecraft.
An investigation indicated that the failure resulted from a
navigational error due to commands from Earth being sent in
English units (in this case, pound-seconds) without being converted
into the metric standard (Newton-seconds).
The error caused the orbiter to miss its intended orbit (87 to 93
miles or 140 to 50 kilometers) and to fall into the Martian
atmosphere at approximately 35 miles (57 kilometers) in altitude
and to disintegrate due to atmospheric stresses.
$193.1 m BURNT, Reason: WRONG UNITS!

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 Errors and Uncertainties

measurement = (best estimate ± uncertainty) units

Systematic Error: Which occurs due to the device or machine.
Statistical Error: Which occurs due to statistical uncertainty.
A Physics measurement might be written as:
Example: Time of flight measurement of free falling object.
t = 8 ± 0.2(sys.) ± 0.3(stat.)

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 Writing Quantities in Physics

Speed in general is denoted by v. However, the speed of light, a

constant of nature, is denoted by c. and c = 299, 792, 458 m/s
How would you write it?
1 c = 299, 792, 458 m/s (Too tedious to repeat every time).
2 c = 2.99, 792, 458 × 108 m/s (Use Exponents)
3 c = 2.99 × 108 m/s (Use Significant Figures)
4 c = 3 × 108 m/s (Learn to Round off)

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 Prefixes and orders of magnitude

Speed of light in vacuum c = 3 × 108 m/s

Speed of a car on road ∼ 108km/h = 30m/s = 3 × 101 m/s
Result : Speed of light is 7 orders of magnitude higher than that of a car
on the road.
However, the sound travels at ∼ 340m/s = 3.4 × 102 m/s
Result : Speed of light is 6 orders of magnitude higher than that of sound
in the air.
To indicate larger or smaller quantities we use prefixed, like µm,mm,
km, ...
An adequate unit is a necessary measure to meet the common sense
requirements for example, meter and kg.

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 Course Overview

We are in Outcome Based Education (OBE1 ) system .....

Objectives are defined first and then we design the curriculum
accordingly.
PEOs2 −→ PLOs3 −→ CLOs4 (this course).

1 Outcome Based Education

2 Program Educational Objectives - 4-5 years after completing the degree
3 Program Learning Outcomes - at the time of completion of degree
4 Course Learning Outcomes - right after this course/semester
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 Course Overview

So we will try to have a continuous assessment in place...

Quizzes: We will conduct 3 quizzes over the period of this course.
Assignments: Will have 3 assignments. Do them on A4 sized paper
please.
Mid-Semester Exams: Will happen around 8th or 9th week of the
semester.
End-Semester Exams: After the completion of teaching. Generally
in 17th/18th Week.

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 Vectors

Scalar: A physical quantity that is described by a number and unit

(magnitude). For example mass can be described as 5kg.
Vector: In contrast, a vector quantity has both a magnitude (the
“how much” or “how big” part) and a direction in space. For
example speed of wind can be 5 km/h from South.
Displacement is a vector quantity.

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 Vectors

Two vectors are said to be equal if their magnitude and direction is

same.
A negative vector is defined as having the same magnitude as
original vector, but opposite to its direction.

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Vector Addition

To add two vectors A⃗ and B,⃗ we place

them head − to − tail, i.e. such that the
⃗ touches the tail of B.
tip of A ⃗
Their resultant vector or result of the
⃗ to tip of B.
sum is a vector from tail of A ⃗
The process can be done in any order e.g,
⃗ before A.
placing B ⃗
Another way of performing same operation
is to draw an imaginary parallelogram.
There are otherway of adding more
vectors.

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 Vector Addition

Adding any two vectors, and then the third one.

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 Vector Addition

Adding all vectors together.

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 Vector Addition - Problem

A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km north and then 2.00 km east on a

horizontal snowfield. How far and in what direction is she from the
starting point?

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 Vector Addition - Problem
A cross-country skier skis 1.00 km north and then 2.00 km east on a
horizontal snowfield. How far and in what direction is she from the
starting point?

Ans: 2.24 km and 26.6◦ NE

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Components of a Vector

Vectors can be divided into components,

based on the coordinate system used.
A component is basically projection of the
vector on the axis of consideration. For
example, horizontal component is the
shadow of the vector on x-axis.
Mathematically, the components can be
computed as:

Ax = Acosθ, Ay = Asinθ

Where θ is the angle of the vector to the

+x-axis and A is its magnitude.
Writing a vector with components:
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ
A

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Components of a Vector - Usage

Finding a vector from components:

 
q
2 2 −1 Ay
A = Ax + Ay , θ = tan
Ax

Multiplying a Vector by a scalar

(number):

Bx = cAx By = cAy

Adding vector using components:

Rx = Ax + Bx Ry = Ay + By

3D Vector:
⃗ = Ax î + Ay ĵ + Az k̂
A
q
A = A2x + A2y + A2z
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 Unit Vectors

Notice the use of î, ĵ, k̂ in above expressions. These are called unit
vectors.
A unit vector has magnitude of 1 and it indicates the direction.
Any vector can be written as
⃗ = |A|Â
A

Where |A| is the magnitude of this vector, and  is the unit vector
for direction.
The use of unit vectors in explicit expressions makes it easier to
identify components. For example the displacement (or position)
vector to a point P in space located at (4,-7,9) can be written as

⃗r = 4î − 7ĵ + 9k̂

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 Components of a Vector - Problem

Two points are located at

⃗ = 6î + 3ĵ − 1k̂ and
A
⃗ = 4î − 5ĵ + 8k̂
B

⃗ − B.
Find the magnitude of 2A ⃗

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 Components of a Vector - Problem

Two points are located at

⃗ = 6î + 3ĵ − 1k̂ and
A
⃗ = 4î − 5ĵ + 8k̂
B

⃗ − B.
Find the magnitude of 2A ⃗
ans: 16.9 m

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Multiplication (Product) of vectors

There are two ways of doing it.

Scalar (dot) Product:
⃗B
A. ⃗ = ABcosϕ, where ϕ is the
⃗ and B.
angle between the vectors A ⃗
Scalar Product is commutative i,e.
⃗B
A. ⃗ = B.
⃗ A
⃗
Vector (Cross) Product:
⃗×B
A ⃗ = C,
⃗ and |C|
⃗ = ABsinϕ
The Vector product gives a
resultant vector which is
perpendicular to the plane
containing original vector. Thus it
contains information on direction.
Therefore, A⃗×B ⃗ ̸= B
⃗ ×A ⃗ rather
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
A × B = −B × A ⃗

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 Product of vectors using components
Scalar (dot) Product:
⃗B
A. ⃗ = (Ax î + Ay ĵ + Az k̂).(Bx î + By ĵ + Bz k̂).

î.î = ĵ.ĵ = k̂.k̂ = 1

î.ĵ = ĵ.k̂ = k̂.î = 0
⃗B
=⇒ A. ⃗ = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz

Vector (Cross) Product:

⃗×B
A ⃗ = (Ax î + Ay ĵ + Az k̂) × (Bx î + By ĵ + Bz k̂).

î × î = ĵ × ĵ = k̂ × k̂ = 0
î × ĵ = −ĵ × î = k̂
ĵ × k̂ = −k̂ × î = ĵ
k̂ × î = −î × k̂ = ĵ

I will leave the rest of calculation to you!

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