ELEMENTS OF VECTORS

1.

2.
3.

4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

15.
16.
17.

Scalar : A physical quantity having only magnitude but not associated with any direction is called
a scalar.
eg: time, mass, distance, speed, work, energy, power, pressure, temperature, electric current,
gravitational potential, pole strength, magnetic flux, entropy, electric capacity, velocity of light,
large angular displacement, electric charge, etc.
Scalars are added and subtracted by algebraic method.
Vector : A physical quantity having magnitude as well as associated direction and which obeys
vector laws is called a vector.
eg: displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, impulse, moment of force, small
angular displacement, angular velocity, angular acceleration, magnetic moment, dipole moment,
current density, intensity of electric field or magnetic field, shearing stress, weight, centrifugal
force, infinitesimally small area, etc.
Vectors are completely described by a number with a unit followed by a
statement of direction.
Angle can be considered as vector if it is small. Large angles can not be treated
as vectors as they do not obey laws of vector addition.
Surface area can be treated both as a scalar and a vector. A is magnitude of surface
n
area which is a scalar. This area is enclosed by a closed curve as shown if n is a
unit vector normal to the surface, we can write A n as a vector.
Surface area is a vector.
[If the four fingers of right hand curl along the direction of arrow of enclosing curve, thumb
indicates direction of area vector]
Tensor is a physical quantity which will have different values along different directions.
e.g. Moment of inertia, stress.
A vector is represented by a directed line segment. The length of the line segment is proportional
to the magnitude of the vector.
G
The magnitude or modulus of a vector (| r | or r) is a scalar.
Electric current, velocity of light has both magnitude and direction but they do not obey the laws of
vector addition. Hence they are scalars.
Equal vectors : Two vectors are said to be equal if they have the same magnitude and direction
irrespective of their initial points.
G
G
G
Negative vectors : A and A are vectors having the same magnitude and opposite direction. A is
G
called the negative of A .
Proper vector : A vector whose magnitude is not zero is known as proper vector.
Null Vector (Zero Vector): It is a vector whose magnitude is zero and direction is unspecified.
Examples:
a) Displacement after one complete revolution.
b) Velocity of vertically projected body at the highest point
Parallel vectors : Vectors in the same direction are called parallel vectors.
Antiparallel vectors : Vectors in opposite direction are called antiparallel vectors.
Like vectors or co-directional vectors : The vectors directed in the same direction,
irrespective of their magnitudes are called co-directional vectors or like vectors.

23

Elements of Vectors
18. Collinear vectors : Two or more vectors parallel or antiparallel to each other are called collinear
vectors.
19. Coplanar vectors : Vectors lying on the same plane are called coplanar vectors and the plane in
which they lie is called the plane of the vectors.
20. Unit vector : It is a vector whose magnitude is unity. A unit vector parallel to a given vector.
21.

G
If A is

a vector, the unit vector

G
in the direction of A is

G
written as a or A =

G
vector A

G
A
G = G .
modulus of A | A |

i, j and k are units vectors along x, y and z axis.

22. Position vector : The vector which is used to specify the position of a point
P
P with respect to some fixed point O is represented by OP and is known
as the position vector of P with respect to O.
23. Real Vector or Polar Vector: If the direction of a vector is independent of O
the coordinate system., then it is called a polar vector. Example: linear velocity, linear momentum,
force, etc.,
24. Pseudo or axial vectors : Axial vectors or pseudo vectors are those whose direction is fixed by
convention and reverses in a mirror reflection. Cross product of two vectors gives an axial vector.
eg : Torque, angular velocity, etc.
25. A vector remains unchanged when it is moved parallel to itself.
G
G
26. If m is a scalar and A a vector, then m A is a vector. Its magnitude is m times that of magnitude of
G
G
A . Its direction is the same as that of A , if m is positive and opposite if m is negative,
G
G G
G
P = mV ; F = ma ;
G G
G
G
G
F = Eq ; F = mB . If m is zero, m A is a null vector.

27. Vector multiplication obeys commutative law when multiplied by a scalar. s A = A s where s is
scalar.
G
G
28. Vector multiplication obeys associative law when multiplier by a scalar i.e. m(n A )=mn A (m, n
are scalars)
G G
G
G
29. Vector multiplication obeys distributive law when multiplied by a scalar. s( A + B )=s A +s B .
ADDITION OF VECTORS:
30. Addition of vectors is also called resultant of vectors.
31. Resultant is a single vector that gives the total effect of number of vectors.
Resultant can be found by using
a) Triangle law of vectors
b) Parallelogram law of vectors
c) Polygon law of vectors
32. Two vectors can be added either by triangle law or parallelogram law of vectors.
G G G
R =P+Q
33. Triangle law : If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the
two sides of a triangle taken in order, then the third side taken in the reverse order G
G
Q
P
represents their sum or resultant in magnitude as well as in direction.
34. Parallelogram law :
G
G
If two vectors P and Q are represented by the two sides of a parallelogram drawn
R
from a point, then their resultant is represented in magnitude and direction by Q

the diagonal of the parallelogram passing through that point.

R = P 2 + Q 2 + 2PQ cos

24

Elements of Vectors
Tan =

Q sin
P sin
; tan =
P + Q cos
Q + P cos

35. The resultant of two vectors is the vectorial addition of two vectors.
36. The resultant of any two vectors makes lesser angle with the greater vector.
G

B
37. If | A |>| B | <

38. The magnitude of the resultant of two vectors of magnitudes a and b with arbitrary directions
must
A
be in the range (a b) to (a + b).
G
G
G
G G G
39. a and b are two vectors which when added give a vector c (i.e., ) a + b = c and if
G
G
G
G
G
i) | a | + | b | = | c | then a and b are parallel vectors ( = 0)
G

ii) | a | 2 + | b | 2 = | c | 2 then a and b are

perpendicular vectors ( = 90)
G
G
G
G
G
iii) | a | | b | = | c | then a and b are antiparallel
vectors ( = 180)
G
G
G
G
G
iv) | a | = | b | = | c | then a and b are inclined to
each other at 120
G
G
G G
G
v) If | A | = | B | and | A + B | = | A |, then = 120 .
G

vi) If | A | = | B | and | A B | = | A |, then = 60 .

G

vii)
If | A + B | = | A - B |, then = 90 .
40. If two vectors each of magnitude F act at a point, the magnitude of their resultant (R) depends on
the angle between them.
R = 2Fcos( /2).
Magnitude of resultant
Angle between forces ( )
0
2F
60
3F

41.
42.
43.

44.
45.

90
2F
120
F
180
0
Minimum number of equal vectors to give a zero resultant is 2.
The minimum number of unequal vectors to give a zero resultant is 3.
There are three laws of addition of vectors.
G G G G
a) Commutative law: A + B = B + A
G G G
G G G
b) Associative law: A + (B + C) = (A + B) + C
G G
G
G
c) Distributive law: m(A + B) = mA + mB where m is a scalar.
If the number of vectors is more than two, polygon law of vectors is
G
D
used.
Polygon law : If a number of vectors are represented by the sides of a
polygon taken in the same order, the resultant is represented by the G
R
closing side of the polygon taken in the reverse order.

G G G G G
R = A +B+C+D

G
C

G
B
G
A

25

Elements of Vectors
G
46. Resolution of a vector in two dimensions : If A is a vector making an angle with
xaxis, then Xcomponent = Acos , Ycomponent = Asin .

47. If i and j are unit vectors along X and Y axes, any vector lying in XOY plane can be
G
represented as A = A x i + A y j ;
48.

G
| A | = A = A 2x + A 2y

G
A

Ay

Ry
Rx

Axi

Ayj
X

Ax

49. The component of a vector can have a magnitude greater than that of the vector itself.
50. The rectangular component cannot have magnitude greater than that of the vector itself.
G G G G
51. If a number of vectors A, B, C, D,..... acting at a point are resolved along
Y
Xdirection as Ax, Bx, Cx, Dx, along Ydirection as Ay, By, Cy, Dy..
A y j
G
G
and if R is the resultant of all the vectors, then the components of R along
A
Xdirection and
Ydirection are given by Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + Dx + and Ry = Ay + By +
A zk
Cy + Dy + respectively, and
R = R 2x + R 2y ; tan =

Asin

; Tan =

Acos

where is the angle made by the resultant with

A x i
X

Xdirection.
52. If i, j and k are unit vectors along X, Y and Zaxes, any vector in 3 dimensional space can be
expressed as

53.

G
G
G
G
A = A x i + A y j + A z k ; | A | = A = A 2x + A 2y + A 2z Here Ax, Ay, Az are the components of A and B are
G
scalars. A is body diagonal of the cube.
G
If , and are the angles made by A with Xaxis, Yaxis and Zaxis respectively, then
Ay
A
A
cos = x ; cos =
; cos = z and
P(x,y,z)
A
A
A
2
2
2
cos + cos + cos = 1
O (origin)

sin 2 + sin 2 + sin 2 = 2

54. If cos = l, cos = m and cos = n, then l, m, n are called direction cosines of the vector.
l2 + m2 + n2 = 1.
G

55. If vectors A = A x i + A y j + A z k and B = B x i + B y j + Bzk are parallel, then

G
G
Ay
Ax
A
=
= z and A =K B
Bx
By
Bz

where K is a scalar.
56. The vector i + j + k is equally inclined to the coordinate axes at an angle of 54.74.
57. The position vector of a point P(x,y,z) is given by
OP = xi + yj + zk and | OP| = x2 + y2 + z2

58. The vector having initial point P(x1, y1, z1) and final point Q(x2, y2, z2) is given by
PQ = ( x 2 x 1 )i + ( y 2 y1 )j + ( z 2 z1 )k .
59. Equilibrium is the state of a body in which there is no acceleration i.e., net force acting on a body
is zero.
60. The forces whose lines of action pass through a common point (called the point of concurrence)
are called concurrent forces.
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Elements of Vectors
61. Resultant force is the single force which produces the same effect as a given system of forces
acting simultaneously.
62. A force which when acting along with a given system of forces produces equilibrium is called the
equilibrant.
63. Resultant and equilibrant have equal magnitude and opposite direction. They act along the same
line and they are themselves in equilibrium.
64. Triangle law of forces : If a body is in equilibrium under the action of three
coplanar forces, then these forces can be represented in magnitude as well as R r p P
direction by the three sides of a triangle taken in order.
G G G

r are sides of a triangle. P, Q, R are coplanar vectors.

65. Lamis theorem : When three coplanar forces
equilibrium, then

P
Q
R
=
=
sin sin sin

p
q
r
G = G = G
|P| |Q| |R|

G G
G
P, Q and R keep

q
Q

where p, q,
P

a body in

66. When a number of forces acting on a body keep it in equilibrium, then the
algebraic sum of the components along the Xdirection is equal to zero and the algebraic sum of
the components along the Ydirection is also equal to zero. i.e., Fx = 0 and Fy = 0.
G

67. If A1 + A 2 + A 3 + .... + A n = 0 and A1 = A2 = A3 = An, then the adjacent vectors are inclined to each
other at an angle

2
360
or
.
N
N

68. N forces each of magnitude F are acting on a point and angle between any two adjacent forces is ,
then resultant force Fresultant =

N
F sin

2 .
sin( / 2)

l2-x2

69. BODY PULLED HORIZONTALLY :

i) A body is suspended by a string from a rigid support. It is pulled aside so that it makes an angle
with the vertical by applying a horizontal force F. When the body is in equilibrium,
ii) Horizontal force,
F= mgTan
l

iii)Tension in the string,

T=

mg
Cos

F
x

iv) T= (mg)2 + F2
v)

T
=
l

mg
2

l x

F
x

mg

70. If a body simultaneously possesses two velocities u and v , the resultant velocity is given by the
following formulae.
G
G
G
G
G
a) If u and v are in the same direction, the resultant velocity will be | u | + | v | in the direction of u
G
or v .
G
G
G
G
b) If u and v are in opposite direction, the magnitude of the resultant velocity will be | u |~| v | and
acts in the direction of the greater velocity.
G
G
c) If u and v are mutually perpendicular, the resultant velocity will be u 2 + v 2 making an angle
G
tan1(v/u) with the direction of u .

27

Elements of Vectors
G
G
71. If v 1 is the velocity of the flow of water in a river and v 2 is the velocity of a boat (relative to still
G
G
water), then the velocity of the boat w.r.t the ground is v 1 + v 2 .

i. If the boat is going down stream, the velocity of the boat relative to the ground,
G
G
G
| v |=| v 1 | + | v 2 | .
G
G
G
ii. If the boat is going upstream, the velocity of the boat relative to the ground, | v |=| v 1 | | v 2 | .
G

iii. If the boat is moving at right angles to the stream, v = v12 + v 22 making an angle of tan1(v1/v2)
with the original direction of the motion.
72. MOTION OF A BOAT CROSSING THE RIVER IN SHORTEST TIME :
G
G
If VB and VR are the velocities of a boat and river flow respectively then to
cross the river in shortest time, the boat is to be rowed across the river i.e.,
G
along normal to the banks of the river.
V
i)

The direction of the resultant is = tan1

=

VR

VB

with the normal or tan

G
VR

VR
x
=
VB
d

2
ii) Magnitude of the resultant velocity v = v B2 + v R

iii) Time taken to cross the river, t =

d=width of the river or t=

d
where
vB

d2 + x 2
2

VB + VR

=
2

x
VR

iv) This time is independent of velocity of the river flow.

v) The distance travelled down stream = BC
d
x=
VR
VB

73. MOTION OF A BOAT CROSSING THE RIVER IN SHORTEST DISTANCE :

i) The boat is to be rowed upstream making some angle with normal to the
bank of the river which is given by = sin

VR

VB

V
or sin= R
VB

ii) The angle made by boat with the bank or river current is (90 + )
iii)Resultant velocity has a magnitude of

VR
VB

V = VB2 VR2
iv) The time taken to cross the river is

t=

d
VB2

VR2

Subtraction of two vectors :

G
G
G
G
G
G G
G
74. If P and Q are two vectors, then P Q is defined as P + ( Q) where Q is the negative vector of Q .
G

If R = P Q , then R = P 2 + Q 2 2PQCos
G G
In the parallelogram OMLN, the diagonal OL represents A + B and the diagonal
G G
NM represents A B
G G G G
a) subtraction of vectors does not obey commutative law A B B A
G
G
G G
G G
b) subtraction of vectors does not obey Associative law A (B C) ( A B) C
28

B
O

Elements of Vectors
G G
G
G
m ( A B) = m A m B

c) subtraction of vectors obeys distributive law

75. If two vectors each of magnitude F act at a point, the magnitude of their difference depends on
the angle between then

Magnitude of difference of vectors = 2Fsin

2

76. Relative velocity : When the distance between two bodies is altering either in magnitude or
direction or both, then each is said to have a relative velocity with respect to the other.
Relative velocity is vector difference of velocities.
G
G
G
a. The relative velocity of body 'A' w.r.t. 'B' is given by VR = VA VB
G

The relative velocity of body 'B' w.r.t. 'A' is given by VR = VB VA

b.

G
G
G
G
VA VB and VB VA are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction

c.

G
G
G
VR = VA VB =

d.

VA2 + VB2 2 .VA VB . cos

e.

For two bodies moving in the same direction, relative velocity is equal to the difference of
velocities. ( = 0.cos 0 = 1)
G
VR = VA VB

f.

For two bodies moving in opposite direction, relative velocity is equal to the sum of their
velocities. ( =180;cos180 = 1)
G
VR =VA + VB

g.

If they move at right angle to each other, then the relative velocity
= v 12 + v 22 .

G
77. Rain is falling vertically downwards with a velocity VR and a person is
G
travelling with a velocity VP . Then the relative velocity of rain with respect
G
G
G
to the person is V = VR VP .
G
Relative velocity = | V |= VR 2 + VP 2 .

-VP

VP

VR

78. The direction of relative velocity (or) the angle with the vertical at which an umbrella is to be held
is given by Tan =

G
VP
G
VR

79. If the product of two vectors is another vector, such a product is called vector product or cross
product.
80. If the product of two vectors is a scalar, then such a product is called scalar product or dot
product.
DOT PRODUCT :
81. Dot product is the product of one vector and the component of another vector in its direction.
Eg : Magnetic flux, instantaneous power, work done, potential energy.
G
G
G
82. Dot product of two vectors A and B = A .
G
G G
B = | A || B | cos = AB cos
GG GG
a) Scalar product is commutative i.e., a.b = b.a
G G G
GG GG
b) Scalar product is distributive i.e., a.(b + c ) = a.b + a.c
G

G G

83. If A and B are parallel vectors, then A . B = AB.

29

Elements of Vectors
G
G
G G
84. If A and B are perpendicular to each other, then A . B =0.
G
G
G G
85. If A and B are antiparallel vectors, then A . B = AB.

86. Dot product of two vectors may be positive or negative. If <90, it is positive and 90<<270 it
is negative.
87. In the case of unit vectors,
i . i = j . j = k . k = 1 and i . j = j . k = k . i = 0
G

88. If A = A x i + A y j + A zk and B = B x i + B y j + Bzk , then A . B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz , A . A = A 2x + A 2y + A 2z .

APPLICATIONS OF DOT PRODUCT :
GG
89. W = F.S (dot product of force and displacement is work)
G G
90. P = F.V (dot product of force and velocity is power)
GG
91. Ep = mg.h (dot product of gravitational force and vertical displacement is P.E)
G G

92. Magnetic flux, = A.B (dot product of area vector and magnetic flux density vector)
93.
94.
95.
96.

GG
a.b
Angle between the two vectors a and b is given by Cos = G G
| a || b |
G G
G
G A.B
The magnitude of component of vector B along vector A = G .
|A|
G G
G A.B
G
The magnitude of component of vector A along vector B = G .
|B|
G G
G
G
A.B
Component of vector A along vector B = G .B .
|B|

CROSS PRODUCT :

G G

97. The vector or cross product of two vectors A and B is a vector C whose magnitude is AB sin where
G
G
G
is the angle between the vectors A and B and the direction of C is perpendicular to both
G
G
G
G G
A and B such that A, B and C form a right hand triple.
G

Eg: angular momentum ( L = r ), torque ( = r F ), angular velocity ( V = r ) etc.

i j = k ; j k = i ; k i = j ;
In the case of unit vectors j x i = - k; k x j = - i ; i x k = - j and
i i = j j = k k = 0.

98.

G
G
If A = A x i + A y j + A z k and B = B x i + B y j + B z k

i
G G
, then A B = A x
Bx

Ay

Az

By

Bz

( A yB z A zB y )i ( A xB z A zB x )j + ( A xB y A yB x )k

99. If A x B = 0 and A and B are not null vectors, then they are parallel to each other.
G G
G G
A x B = BxA
G
G G
G G G G
A (B + C) = A B + A C ;
G G
G G G
G
m(A B) = (mA) B = A (mB)
G G G G
a) A B B A

(commutative law is not obeyed)

b)

G
G
G G
G G
A (B C) ( A B) C

30

Elements of Vectors
(Associate law is not obeyed)
G
G G
G G G G
A (B + C) = A B + A x C

c)

(Distributive law is obeyed)

APPLICATIONS OF CROSS PRODUCT :
G

100.Torque is the cross product of radius vector and force vector, = r F

101.Angular momentum is the cross product of radius vector and linear momentum, L = r p
102.Linear velocity in circular motion may be defined as the cross product of angular velocity and
G G G
radius vector. V = r
G

103.The area of the triangle formed by A and B as adjacent sides is

G

1 G G
A B .
2

104.Area of triangle ABC if position vector of A is a , position vector of B is b and position vector of
G

C is c , then area =

1 G G G G G G
| ab + bc + c a |.
2

105.The area of the parallelogram formed by A and B as adjacent sides is A B .

G

106.If P and Q are diagonals of a parallelogram, then area of parallelogram=

107.Unit vector parallel to
G G

G
C or normal

G G

G G
G
G
G
AxB
to A and B is n = G G .
| AxB |

1 G G
(P x Q) .
2

108.If A.(B x C) = 0 , then A, B and C are coplanar.

G

G G

109.If A + B = C , then A.(B x C) = 0 .

110. Division by a vector: is not defined because it is not possible to divide a direction by a
direction.

31