Vectors

Introduction

A vector carries information regarding size and direction, eg

To get from A to B, go 3 units right and 2 units up, from B to C, go 2 units left and 1 unit up.

Notation

Let 1 unit to the right be donated i, and 1 unit up be denoted j.

So AB = 3i + 2j, and BC = -2i +j

To get from A to C, we can go directly

AC = i + 3j

Or from A to B and then from B to C

AB + BC = (3i + 2j) + (-2i +j) = i + 3j

Parallel Vectors

Vector a is parallel to vector b, if a is a multiple of b.

For example, if a = 2i + 3j, and b = -i – 3/2 j, then a and b are parallel because a = -2b.

Paul Messenger, March 2004

Vectors in 3 Dimensions

Usually, as we live in 3 dimensions, we will use 3 dimensional vectors.

Where
i is a unit vector in the x direction
j is a unit vector in the y direction
k is a unit vector in the z direction

The actual size or lengths of i, j, and k depend on the units you are using.

Example 1

If a = 3i + 4j – 3k and b = 2i + 4j – 5k

Find i) 3a
ii) 2b
iii) a + 3b

Solution

i) 3a = 3(3i + 4j – 3k) = 9i + 12j – 9k

ii) 2b = 2(2i + 4j – 5k) = 4i + 8j – 10k

iii) a + 3b = (3i + 4j– 3k) + 3(2i + 4j – 5k)

= 3i + 4j– 3k + 6i + 12j – 15k
= 9i + 16j – 18k

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Finding the Magnitude of a Vector

The magnitude of i, j, or k is one, since they are unit vectors.

Consider first just 2 dimensions, and for example the vector a = 3i + 4j. The magnitude (or length)
of a, written a , could be found using Pythagoras.

a  32  4 2  5

A vector in the same direction as a, but with a length of 1, is called a unit vector in the direction
of a, written â .

a 3i  4 j
aˆ  
a 5

3 4
 i j
5 5

Example 2

Find a unit vector in the direction of 5i - 12j.

Solution

Let b = 5i - 12j

b  5 2  12 2  169  13

b 5i  12 j 5 12
bˆ    i j
b 13 13 13

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In 3 dimensions, we use a similar form. Consider a general vector

a = xi + yj + zk (x, y, z are numbers)

a  x2  y2  z2

and similarly, to find a unit vector, we divide vector a by a .

a xi  yj  zk
aˆ  
a x2  y2  z2

Example 3

Find the magnitude of the vector, a = 2i - 2j + k, and hence find a unit vector in its direction.

Solution

The magnitude of a is
a  2 2  (2) 2  12  9  3

The unit vector is given by

a 2i  2 j  k 2 2 1
aˆ    i  j k
a 3 3 3 3

The Dot Product

The dot product is widely used in Physics and Mechanics, and you may come across these uses as
your course progresses. As far as this introduction goes, we will look at how to calculate the dot
product, and a few simple uses.

If
a = x1i + y1j + z1k (where x1, y1, z1, x2, y2, z2 are just numbers)

b = x2i + y2j + z2k

The dot product, or a . b is defined

a . b = x1x2 + y1y2 + z1z2

Example 4

Find the dot product of a = 4i + 2j - 3k, and b = 3i - 4j + 2k.

Solution
a.b = (4 × 3) + (2 × -4) + (-3 × 2)
= 12 – 8 – 6 = -2

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Uses of the Dot Product

i) If a . b = 0, then the two vectors a and b are said to be orthogonal, a similar idea to
perpendicular lines.

ii) Imagine two vectors originating from a single point.

The dot product relates the magnitudes of a and b to the angle θ by

a  b  a b cos

or
a b
cos  
ab

Example 5

If a = 3i - 2j + k and b = 2i + 3j - 4k, find a , b , a . b, and hence the angle, θ, between the two
vectors.

Solution

a  32  2 2  12  9  4  1  14  3.74
b  2 2  32  4 2  4  9  16  29  5.39

a.b = (3 × 2) + (-2 × 3) + (1 × -4)

=6–6–4
= -4

a b 4
cos     0.1984
a b 3.74  5.39

 cos  ( )

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Exercises

1. Consider the diagram

If AB = b, and CA = a, find BC and CB.

2.

Find AD and BF.

3. If a = 3i – 2j + k, b = -4i – 2j - 3k,
c = 2i + 2j - 3k, d = 6i + 6j -+ 8k

a) Find
i) 3a
ii) 4b
iii) c – 3b
iv) a + b – c
v) 4a – 2b + c

b) Find also
i) a
ii) b
iii) 4a  2b  c
and find the unit vectors in the direction of these vectors.

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 c) Find a . b and hence the angle θ between vectors a and b.

d) Find c . d. What conclusions can you draw about c and d?

Solutions

1. BC = - b – a
CB = a + b

2. AD = -c + b + a
BF = c + a

3.
a)
i) 3a = 9i – 6j + 3k
ii) 4b = -16i – 8j – 12k

iii) c – 3b = ( 2i + 2j - 3k ) - 3 (-4i – 2j - 3k )
= 2i + 2j - 3k + 12i + 6j + 9k
= 14i + 8j + 6k

iv) a + b – c = ( 3i – 2j + k ) + (-4i – 2j - 3k ) - ( 2i + 2j - 3k )
= -3i -6j + k

v) 4a – 2b + c = 4 (3i – 2j + k ) – 2 ( -4i – 2j - 3k ) + 2i + 2j - 3k
= 22i – 2j + 7k

b)
i) a = 3.74
Unit vector for a = 0.8i – 0.535j + 0.267k

ii) b = 5.39
Unit vector for b = -0.742i – 0.371j - 0.557k

iii) 4a  2b  c  22 2  2 2  7 2  23.17
Unit vector for 4a -2b + c = -0.95i – 0.086j - 0.302k

c) a . b = -12 + 4 – 3 = -11
ab  11
cos     0.5457
a b 3.74  5.39
θ = 123°

d) c . d = 12 + 12 – 24 = 0
So c and d are orthogonal.

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