Representation of a Vector

A vector is represented by a line with an arrowhead. The point O from

which the arrow starts is called the tail or initial point or origin of the vector.
Point A where the arrow ends is called the tip or head or terminal point of
the vector. A vector displaced parallel to itself remains unchanged. If a
vector is rotated through an angle other than 3600, it changes.
A vector can be replaced by another when its direction and magnitude are
the same.

Unit Vector
A vector having unit magnitude is called a unit vector. It is used to denote
the direction of a given vector.
A→=a^A
a^ is the unit vector along the direction of A→
.
Types of Vectors
(i) Negative of a Vector: It has the same magnitude but opposite direction
of the given vector.
(ii) Equal vectors: If two vectors have equal magnitude and direction, they
are equal vectors.
(iii) Collinear vectors: Two vectors acting along the same straight lines or
along parallel straight lines in the same direction or in the opposite direction
are called collinear vectors.
(iv) Coplanar vectors: If three or more vectors lie in the same plane, then
they are called coplanar vectors.
(v) Zero vector: It is a vector with zero magnitude and no specific
direction.
Addition of Vectors
Law of Triangle: If two sides of a triangle are shown by two continuous
vectors (vector A and vector B), then the third side of the triangle in the
opposite direction shows the resultant of two vectors. (vector C).
C=A+B
Vector addition is commutative.
⇒A+B=B+A
Vector addition is associative.
⇒ A+(B+C) = (A+B)+C
If all sides of a polygon are represented by continuous vectors, the vector
sum of all sides is zero.
Polygon method: We use this method when we have to add more than
two vectors. It is an extension of the triangular law of vector addition. If a
number of vectors can be represented in magnitude and direction by the
sides of a polygon taken in the same order, then their resultant is
represented in magnitude and direction by the closing side of the polygon
taken in the opposite order.
Subtraction of vectors
While subtraction of vectors, we change the direction of the vector to be
subtracted and then add.
A−B=A+(−B)
Null vector
If a vector A is multiplied by zero, we get a vector whose magnitude is zero
called null vector or zero vector. The unit of vector does not change on
being multiplied by a dimensionless scalar.
Properties of Null vector
1) It has arbitrary direction.
2) It is represented by a point.
3) It has zero magnitude.
4) Dot product of a null vector with any vector is always zero.
5) Cross product of a null vector with any vector is also a null vector.
6) When a null vector is added or subtracted from a given vector, the
resultant vector is the same as the given vector.
Orthogonal unit vectors
The unit vectors along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of the right-handed
cartesian coordinate system are written as
i^,j^ and k^, respectively. These are known as orthogonal unit vectors.

Components of a Vector
Consider a vector V. The components of a vector in 2D coordinate system
are considered to be x-component and y-component. We can represent V
= (vx, vy). Let θ is the angle formed between the vector V and x-component
of the vector. The vector V and its x-component (vx) form a right-angled
triangle if we draw a line parallel to y-component (vy).
The horizontal component vx = V cos θ
Vertical component vy = V sin θ
Position Vectors
Position vector is a vector that gives the position of a point with respect to
the origin of the coordinate system. The magnitude of the position vector is
the distance of the point P from the origin O. Vector OP is the position
vector that gives the position of the particle with reference to O.
Consider point P whose coordinates are (x, y).
OP=r
x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ
r=xi^+yj^
|r|=√x2+y2

For a point P(x, y, z) in 3D coordinate system,

OP or vector r is the position vector with origin O as the initial point.
Magnitude of vector OP is:
|OP|=√x2+y2+z2
.
Parallelogram Law of Vectors
If two vectors act along two adjacent sides of a parallelogram having a
magnitude equal to the length of the sides, both pointing away from the
common vertex, then the resultant is given by the diagonal of the
parallelogram passing through the same common vertex and in the same
sense as the two vectors.
P+Q=R
Or
OA+OB=OC

Dot Product of Two Vectors

If vector A and vector B are two given vectors and θ is the angle between
them, then
A.B=AB cos θ
A and B are the magnitude of vector A and vector B.
AB cos θ is a scalar quantity. B cos θ is the component of vector B in the
direction of vector A.
The dot product of two vectors is the product of the magnitude of one
vector with the resolved component of the other in the direction of the first
vector.
The dot product is also called a scalar product.
Properties of Dot Product
1) Dot product of two vectors is commutative, i.e.
A.B=B.A=AB cos θ
2) The dot product of a vector to itself is the magnitude squared of the
vector.
i.e.
A.A=AA cos 0=A2
3) The dot product of two mutually perpendicular vectors is zero.
A.B=AB cos 90=0
i^.i^=1
j^.j^=1
k^.k^=1

4) Dot product is distributive.

A.(B+C)=A.B+A.C
5) The scalar product of two parallel vectors is equal to the product of their
magnitudes.
A.B=AB cos 0=AB

Cross Product of Two Vectors

The cross product of two vectors, A and B, is denoted by A × B. Its
resultant vector is perpendicular to A and B. Cross products are also called
vector products. Cross product of two vectors will give the resultant a
vector and calculated using the Right-hand Rule.
A×B=A B sin θ n^
Consider two vectors, A and B. The cross product of A and B is a vector
having a magnitude equal to the product of the magnitudes of the two
vectors and the sine of the angle between them, and having the direction
perpendicular to the plane containing these vectors. θ is the angle between
them, and
n^ is the unit vector perpendicular to the plane of vector A and vector B.

Properties of Cross Product

(a) Cross product is not commutative. Consider two vectors, A and B.
A×B≠B×A
A×B=−B×A
(b) Cross product is distributive. Consider three vectors, A, B, and C.
A × (B + C) = A × B + A × C
(c) The cross-product of two parallel vectors is a zero vector.
A×B =AB sin θ n^=0
For parallel vectors, θ = 0. So sin θ = 0. Thus
A×B=0
(d) The cross-product of a vector by itself is a null vector.
A×A=0
(e) The magnitude of the cross product of 2 vectors that are at right angles
is equal to the product of the vectors.
If θ = 900,
A×B =AB sin 90n^=ABn^
(f) The cross product of unit orthogonal vectors i, j, k is as follows.
(i)
i^×j^=k^
j^×k^=i^
k^×i^=j^
j^×i^=−k^
k^×j^=−i^
i^×k^=−j^

(ii)
i^×i^=0
j^×j^=0
k^×k^=0

(g) The vector product can be expressed in terms of determinants.

Let
A= Axi^+Ayj^+Azk^
B=Bxi^+Byj^+Bzk^
A×B =|i^j^k^AxAyAzBxByBz|

Projection of a Vector
The projection of a vector A on other vector B is A.B / |B|.
If i^ is a unit vector along a line L, the projection of vector a on the line L is
given by a.i^
The projection vector of AB is zero, if θ=π/2.
The projection vector of AB is BA, if θ=π.
Points to remember
(1) The sum of three non-coplanar forces cannot be zero.
(2) The minimum number of equal forces required for a zero resultant is
two.
(3) The minimum number of unequal forces required for a zero resultant is
three.
(4) Multiplication of velocity vector by time gives the displacement.
(5) The unit of a vector is not changed if it is multiplied by a dimensionless
scalar.

Solved Examples
Question 1. Given A = 2i + 3j and B = i + j. The component of vector A
along vector B is
(a) 1/√2
(b) 3/√2
(c) 5/√2
(d) 7/√2
Solution:
Component of vector A along B is A.B/|B|
= (2i + 3j).(i + j)/√(1 + 1)
= 5/√2
Hence option c is the answer.
Question 2. A force is inclined at an angle of 60° to the horizontal. If its
rectangular component in the horizontal direction is 50 N, then the
magnitude of the force in the vertical direction is
(a) 25 N
(b) 75 N
(c) 87 N
(d) 100 N
Solution:
Given horizontal component of force, fx = 50 N
Given angle = 600.
tan 60 = fx/fy
√3 = 50/fy
So fy = 50√3
= 87 N
Hence option c is the answer.
Question 3. How many minimum number of coplanar vectors having
different magnitudes can be added to give zero resultant?
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 4
(d) 5
Solution:
From the Triangle Law of vector addition, a minimum of three vectors is
needed to get zero resultant. A minimum of 3 coplanar vectors is required
to represent the same physical quantity with different magnitudes that can
be added to give zero results.
Hence option b is the answer.
Question 4. The square of the resultant of two equal forces is three times
their product. The angle between the forces is
(a) π
(b) π/3
(c) π/4
(d) π/2
Solution:
Let A and B be the two forces and θ be the angle between them.
Also, A = B.
Given square of the resultant of two equal forces is three times their
product.
F2res = 3AB
⇒ F2res = A2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ
⇒ 3AB = A2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ
Since A = B,
⇒ 3A2 = 2A2 + 2A2cos θ
⇒ A2 = 2A2cos θ
⇒ cos θ = 1/2
⇒ θ = π/3
Hence option b is the answer.
Question 5. If A = B + C and the values of A, B, and C are 13, 12, and 5,
respectively, then the angle between A and C will be
(a) cos-1(5/13)
(b) cos-1(13/12)
(c) π/2
(d) sin-1(5/12)
Solution:
Given A = B + C
Here 132 = 122 + 52.
So, according to the Pythagoras theorem, the angle between B and C is
90°.
Angle between A and C = cos θ = 5/13.
⇒ θ = cos-1(5/13)
Hence option (a) is the answer.
Question 6: If the scalar and vector products of two vectors A and B are
equal in magnitude, then the angle between the two vectors is
(a) 45°
(b) 90°
(c) 180°
(d) 360°
Solution:
Given A.B = A × B
⇒ AB cos θ = AB sin θ
⇒ tan θ = 1
⇒ θ = 45°
Hence option a is the answer.
Question 7: If the angle between vectors A and B is θ, then the value of
the product (B × A).A is equal to
(a) BA2 cos θ
(b) BA2 sin θ
(c) zero
(d) BA2 sin θ cos θ
Solution:
B × A will be perpendicular to both A and B.
(B × A).A = (B × A)A cos θ (here θ = 90°)
= |B × A||A| cos 90°
=0
Hence option c is the answer.

Practice Problems
1. If the angle between two vectors A and B is 1200 then its resultant C will
be
(a) C = |A – B|
(b) C < |A – B|
(c) C > |A – B|
(d) C = |A + B|
2. Three concurrent coplanar forces 1 N, 2 N, and 3 N acting along different
directions on a body
(a) can keep the body in equilibrium if 2 N and 3 N act at right angles
(b) can keep the body in equilibrium if 1 N and 2 N act at right angles
(c) cannot keep the body in equilibrium
(d) can keep the body in equilibrium if 1 N and 32 N act at right angles
3. Vector A has a magnitude of 5 units and lies in the XY- plane, and points
in a direction 1200 from the direction of increasing X. Vector B has a
magnitude of 9 units and points along the Z-axis. The magnitude of cross
product A x B is
(a) 30
(b) 35
(c) 40
(d) 45
4. If a.b = |a×b|, then θ will be
(a) 45°
(b) 60°
(c) 30°
(d) 75°
5. The direction of A is vertically upward, and the direction of B is in the
North direction. The direction of A × B will be
(a) western direction
(b) eastern direction
(c) vertically downward
(d) at 450 upward north direction
6. A motorboat covers a given distance in 6 h moving downstream on a
river. It covers the same distance in 10 h moving upstream. The time it
takes to cover the same distance in still water is
(a) 9 h
(b) 7.5 h
(c) 6.5 h
(d) 8 h