1 Vectors

Engineering Physics I
VECTORS
Dr. Karim HAJ ISMAIL

College of Humanities & Sciences
[email protected]
Credit captured snips: Young and Freedman, University Physics 11th edition & Sarway Jewett, Physics for scientists and Engineers .
Vectors, Motion and Newton’s Laws
1. Vectors
2. Motion
3. Newton’s Law
Scalar vs Vector Quantity
• Scalar Quantity: fully described by its magnitude (distance,

speed, mass ,...) (number with unit) (mass, time
temperature...)
• No matter in which direction
• 10 m + 5 m = 15 m
• Vector Quantity: described by its magnidtude and direction
(displacement, velocity, force (push or pull), ...)
- Calculation requires different set of operations.
- Direction is mandatory to have the correct description
Writing Vectors:
- Handwriting: 𝑨
- Printed A
- Sometimes both are used
Properties of Vectors p𝟐: 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
p𝟏: 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

Distance: The magnitude of travel of an
object. p𝟐: 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
Displacement as a vector: Magnitude of

travel of an object in a given direction.
𝑨
p𝟏: 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

- Displacement vector is an arrow between the
initial point and the ending point
- Displacement does not depend on the path.
- The displacement of a round trip is zero
p1, p𝟐
Properties of Vectors
• Two vectors are equal if they have the same magnitude and the same direction
𝑨𝑩 = 𝑪𝑫
• Two vectors with same magnitude and opposite direction. B D
𝑪𝑫 = − 𝑭𝑬
𝑨𝑩 𝑪𝑫
The absolute value of the magnitude of a vector is a scaler quantity → always positive
A F
C
ǀ𝑨𝑩ǀ
Vectors can be equal even they have different starting points.
A vector can never be equal to a scaler 𝑭𝑬

E
Addition & Substruction of Vectors
• The direction must be considered.
• They have the same units.
HEAD to TAIL
• The resultant vector is drown from the origin
of 𝑨 to the end of 𝑩
𝑪=𝑨+ 𝑩
• Order doesn’t affect the addition.
• Vectors obey the commutative law of addition
𝑪=𝑨+ 𝑩=𝑩+ 𝑨
TAIL-to-TAIL
• You may use the parallelogram method
• The resultant vector is the diagnal of the
constructed parallelogram.
𝑪=𝑨+ 𝑩
• In case of multiple vectors, you need to
repeat the process:
• Add 𝑨 and 𝑩 → 𝑫 𝑪
• Then add 𝑫 and 𝑪 → 𝑹
• The resultant vector is drown from the origin
𝑫
of 𝑨 to the end of 𝑩
𝑹=𝑨+𝑩+𝑪 𝑩
𝑨
• Vectors are parallel.
𝑹=𝑨+𝑩
• Only when the two vectors are parallel that the
magnitude of the resultant vector is the sum of their 𝑨 𝑩
magnitudes.
• Vectors are antiparallel

• The resultant vector is the difference
𝑹=𝑨-𝑩 𝑨
• Only when the two vectors are antiparallel that the

magnitude of the resultant vector is the difference of 𝑹=𝑨-𝑩 𝑩
their magnitudes.
Multiplication & Division by a Scalar
• Multiplying or dividing a vector with

a scalar gives a vector
𝑨
• The multiplication or division with
2*𝑨
positive number will only apply on the
magnitude component of the vector
• Multiplication with a scalar>0 gives a
𝑨
vector in the same direction
• Multiplication with a scalar<0 results - 2*𝑨
in a vector in the opposite direction
Components of Vectors
𝑨
To find the components of a vector, we use the Ay
cartesian coordinate system
Ax
Cartesian coordinate system
❖ Axis
❖ Direction
❖ Origin
- The magnitudes of the components are
the legs of the triangle
𝐴𝑦 𝑨𝒙
2 2
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 && tan 𝜃 =
𝐴𝑥 𝑨
- The x-component is the projection along 𝑨𝒚
𝑨𝒚
the x-axis 𝜽
- The y-component is the projection along 𝑨𝒙
the y-axis
𝐴𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐴𝑥 𝑂𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝐴𝑦
cos 𝜃 = = sin 𝜃 = =
𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐴 𝐻𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐴
𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴 cos 𝜃 𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴 sin 𝜃
Example
The magnitude of a component of a vector may be positive or negative numbers

Example:
The magnitude of the vector 𝑫 is 3.0 m and
making an angle 45° below the X axis.
Find the x and y components of 𝑫.
- Conceptualize, Categorize and analyze 𝑫𝒙

▪ Draw an approximation of the given values
𝟒𝟓°
and the expected result (if possible)
𝑫𝒚
▪ 𝐷 = 3 m, 𝜃 = 45°
𝑫
▪ 𝐷𝑥 = 𝐷 cos 𝜃 = 3. 𝑐𝑜𝑠 360 − 45 = 2.12 𝑚
▪ 𝐷𝑦 = 𝐷 sin 𝜃 = 3. 𝑠𝑖𝑛 360 − 45 = −2.12 𝑚
Add vectors using components
- Add all x-components:

𝑅𝑥 = 𝐴𝒙 + 𝐵𝑥
- Add all y-components:
𝑅𝑦 = 𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦
𝑅= 𝑅𝑥2 + 𝑅𝑦2
Vectors in 3-dimensions
Same applies in a three

coordinate system
𝐴= 𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2

Unit Vectors
• They are used to specify a given
direction and have no other physical
significance.
• A unit vector has a magnitude of 1
• It has no unit
Unit Vectors in 3-dimentional system
Example:
Find the sum of two displacement vectors 𝑨 and 𝑩 given by:
𝑨 = (2.0𝑖෡ + 2.0𝑗෡)m
𝑩 = (2.0𝑖෡ − 4.0𝑗෡)m
Find the magnitude of the resultant vector and the angle with x-axis
Draw an approximation of the given values and the expected

result (if possible)
𝐴𝑥 = 2.0 m, 𝐴𝑦 = 2.0 m
𝐵𝑥 = 2.0 m, 𝐵𝑦 = - 4.0 m 𝑨
Ax
333°
Scalar Product (dot product):
Scalar Product 𝑨. 𝑩 (dot product):
- The magnitude of 𝑨 multiplied by the
component of 𝑩 parallel to 𝑨
- The projection of the vector 𝑩 onto the
direction of 𝑨 is equal to B cos 𝜑
𝑨. 𝑩 = 𝑩. 𝑨
𝑨. 𝑩 = AB cos 𝜑
The scalar product is a scalar quantity.

The scalar product is positive when 𝜑 = (0° - 90°)
The scalar product is negative when 𝜑 = (90° - 180°)
𝑨. 𝑩 = 0 (two perpendicular vectors)
Using Components to Calculate the Scalar Product:
𝑖෡. 𝑖෡ = 𝑗෡. 𝑗෡ = 𝑘෡ . 𝑘෡ = (1)(1)cos 0 = 1
𝑖෡. 𝑗෡ = 𝑖෡. 𝑘෡ = 𝑗෡. 𝑘෡ = (1)(1)cos 90= 0
𝑨. 𝑩 = (Ax 𝑖෡ + Ay 𝑗෡ + Az 𝑘෡ ). (Bx 𝑖෡ + By 𝑗෡ + Bz 𝑘෡ )
= Ax 𝑖෡. Bx 𝑖෡ + Ax 𝑖෡. By 𝑗෡ + Ax 𝑖෡. Bz 𝑘෡
+ Ay 𝑗෡. Bx 𝑖෡ + Ay 𝑗෡. By 𝑗෡ + Ay 𝑗෡. Bz 𝑘෡
+ Az 𝑘෡ . Bx 𝑖෡ + Az 𝑘෡ . By 𝑗෡ + Az 𝑘෡ . Bz 𝑘෡
= Ax Bx 𝑖෡. 𝑖෡ + Ax By 𝑖෡. 𝑗෡ + Ax Bz 𝑖෡. 𝑘෡

+ AyBx 𝑗෡. 𝑖෡ + Ay By 𝑗෡. 𝑗෡ + Ay Bz 𝑗෡. 𝑘෡
+ Az Bx 𝑘෡ . 𝑖෡ + Az By 𝑘෡ . 𝑗෡ + Az Bz 𝑘෡ . 𝑘෡
𝑨. 𝑩 = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz
𝒊Ƹ 𝒋Ƹ ෡
𝒌
𝑨 . 𝑩 = 𝑨𝒙 𝑨𝒚 𝑨𝒛
𝑩𝒙 𝑩𝒚 𝑩𝒛
Vector/Cross Product:
▪ The vector product of two vectors 𝑨 x 𝑩
is a vector quantity with a direction
perpendicular to the plane of these two
vectors.
▪ The magnitude of 𝑨 multiplied by the
component of 𝑩 perpendicular to 𝑨
▪ The vector product is not commutative
𝑨x𝑩=-𝑩x𝑨
Vectors are parallel → product/cross vector is zero.

Using Components to Calculate the Vector Product:
The product of any vector with itself is zero
Replacing each vector with its component:
𝒊Ƹ 𝒋Ƹ ෡
𝒌
𝑨 x 𝑩 = 𝑨𝒙 𝑨𝒚 𝑨𝒛
Example:
Vector 𝑨 has magnitude of 6 m along the x-axis. Vector 𝑩 has
magnitude of 4 m with an angle of 30° above the x-axis.
Find the vector/cross product 𝑪 = 𝑨 x 𝑩
Use the right hand rule

Vector 𝑨 and 𝑩 and lies in the same plane
RECALL
Scalar Product (dot product) calculation:
Using magnitudes: 𝑨. 𝑩 = AB cos 𝜑

Using components: 𝑨. 𝑩 = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz
𝒊Ƹ 𝒋Ƹ ෡
𝒌
𝑨 x 𝑩 = 𝑨𝒙 𝑨𝒚 𝑨𝒛
Vector Product (Cross product) calculation:
Using magnitudes: 𝑨 x 𝑩: magnitude = AB sin 𝜑, dircetion: right hand method

Using components: 𝑨 x 𝑩 = 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦 ෠𝑖 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑥 − 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧 𝑗Ƹ + 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦 − 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑥 𝑘෠

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Engineering Physics I

Dr. Karim HAJ ISMAIL

• Scalar Quantity: fully described by its magnitude (distance,

p𝟏: 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

Displacement as a vector: Magnitude of

p𝟏: 𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

A vector can never be equal to a scaler 𝑭𝑬

• Vectors are antiparallel

• Only when the two vectors are antiparallel that the

• Multiplying or dividing a vector with

The magnitude of a component of a vector may be positive or negative numbers

- Conceptualize, Categorize and analyze 𝑫𝒙

- Add all x-components:

Same applies in a three

𝐴= 𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2

Draw an approximation of the given values and the expected

The scalar product is a scalar quantity.

= Ax Bx 𝑖෡. 𝑖෡ + Ax By 𝑖෡. 𝑗෡ + Ax Bz 𝑖෡. 𝑘෡

Vectors are parallel → product/cross vector is zero.

The product of any vector with itself is zero

Replacing each vector with its component:

Use the right hand rule

Scalar Product (dot product) calculation:

Using magnitudes: 𝑨. 𝑩 = AB cos 𝜑

Vector Product (Cross product) calculation:

Using magnitudes: 𝑨 x 𝑩: magnitude = AB sin 𝜑, dircetion: right hand method

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