Vectors of Scalar

*Coordinate System
*Vectors and Scalar Quantities
*Some properties of Vectors
*Components of a vector and unit vector

Coordinate System
Coordinate system are used to describe the position of an object in space. A coordinate system is an
artificial mathematical tool that we construct in order to describe the position on of a real object .The
easiest coordinate system to construct is one that we can use to describe the location of object in one
dimensional space.

y
Yp ------------- P

Xp x

Example of Cartesian Coordinate system and a point P with coordinate (Xp,Yp).

Vector and Scalar Quantities

A scalar quantity is the one which has magnitude only i.e it is specified by a single value with
appropriate unit and has no direction .Examples include volume,mass,temperature ,time. The rules of
the ordinary aritheemetic are used to manipulate scalar quantities .Scalar quantity can be describe with
following statements
(a) The body temperature is 37℃
(b) This morning Ibrahim did 700j of work
A vector quantity is specified by its magnitude and direction. Example include
velocity,acceleration,force,weight,momentum,tension e.t.c. The following scalar statement could
be used to describe vector quantity.
(a) The displacement of thrb car driven by Adams is 150km eastward.
(b) Yinka has weight of 15N acting vertically downwards.
Vectors have both numerical direction and directional properties .
The simplest vector quantity is displacement properties and a vector that represent
displacement is called DISPLACEMENT VECTOR.
Displacement vector tells us nothing about path that the particle takes.

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 Vector specification and Notation
Every vector can be represented completely by line segment. To differentiate vector from
scalar, we usually write a vector in bold type,i.e the letters representing the vector are usually
thickened e.g AB.
Vectors can also be written with arrows above or beneath the letters AB or AB
A
Y

2cm

) θ
O X
A vector A (A)_ which makes an angle with OX is represented by the length of a line OA and
its direction is represented by the angle θ with OA make with a fixed line OX. The magnitude
is OA.2cm.

RESOLUTION OF VECTORS
If A is a force 10N and 0 =30. The force along OX is 10cos30=103/2N
Force along OY is 10sin30=10Type equation here .=5N.

Parallel Vectors
BC,DE,FG,HI, are parallel to on another,so they are referred to as parallel vector:They may or
not be equal in magnitude.
B C
D E
F G
H I

Equal of Opposite vectors

Vector BC is equal and opposite to CB

Therefore BC +CB =0
BC =-CB

Null or Zero Vector

The Null or Zero vecxtor 0 has magnitude zero direction but it direction is not defined i.e
directionless. It is the resultant of two or more equal vectors that are acting pposite to each other. The
best example of a null vector would be the velocity of a stationary object. Zero vector has no unit.

Free vectors/Tied vector

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Free vector is the one whose line of action is not defined i.e it neither a point nor line and some thing
that can move freely around the space through it has a fixed magnitude and fixed direction. If the
action of a vector is specified ,then it is TIED VECTOR.

Vector Algebra
Vector Algebra is used to find interplay of two or helps for numerous application in physics and
engineering to perform addition and multiplication.Operation across physical quantities is represented
as vectors in three dimensional space.
The following definitions are fundamental
-Equality- Two vectors A and B are equal if they havethe same magnitude and same direction
-Negative- The negative A and B is defined as the vector that gives zero when added to A.
-A + A=0
-Adding vectors –Geometrically or Algeberiacally .
-Substracting vectors- Vector substraction make use of the definition of a negative vector.
-Unit vector- Is a dimensionless vector having a magnitude of exactly 1
Properties of vector :The two defining properties of vectors are magnitude and direction.
Lawa of Vector Algebra
(a) Cummutative law
A+B=AB
(b) Associative law
(A+B)+C=A+(B+C)
(c) Distributivr law
m(A+B)=mA+mB
(d) Cummutative law for multiplication
mA=Am
(e) Associative law for multiplication
M(nA)=(mn) A
Addition of Vectors (Geometric)
(i) Triangle method addition

R= A+B
B
A
R is the resultant of the two vectors

(ii) Consider a diplacement vector xy due North followed by a displacement yz east

Y Z

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 X

The vector xz represent the resultant vector displacement xz = xy + yz

A geometric construction can also be used to add more than two vectors

(iii) R=A+B+C+D
D

A
C
B

The Resultant vector R=A+B+C+D in the vector that completes the polygon .
R in the vector drawn from the tail of the first vector it the tip of the the last one.

Substraction of vectors
-B B

-B +B

The substraction of the two vectors is defined as the addition of the first vector and negative of the
second vector
Carstesaian Coordinate (Also called rectangular coordinate)
The position of a point in a place in a plane convienently specified by the distance from the
perpendicular lines .The lines are called X-axis and Y-axis and their point of interception is called
Origin.
4 *B
3
2
1 *A

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 1 2 3 4
For example, the coordinates of A(1,1) and B(3,2). The coordinates for the general point P are taken
as (X,Y) and specific point are taken as (X1,Y2), (X2,Y2) (X3,Y3) e.t.c.
The distance between the points A and B can be found using pythagoras theorem.

A(1,1) and B(3,2) is R. i.e AB2=( x 2−x 1)2+( y 2− y 1)2

2 2 2
R =(3−1) +(2−1)
=22+12

=4+1
=5
R=√ 5

Planar polar coordinates (r,θ). x=rcosθ

y=rsinθ
y
Tanθ= r=√ x2 + y 2
X
Cartesian vector Notation
In this notation,Ɩ is a vector of magnitude one unit in the direction OX i.e of X

j is a vector of magnitude one unit in the direction of Y. and k is a vector of magnitude one unit in the
direction of Z.
Yϳ

Zᴋ Xі

The unit vector ^

X is defined as

^ X the vector
X = ie
X magnitude of vector

Component of Vectors
One method of adding vectors makes use of the projection of vectors along the axis of a rectangular
coordinate system. These projections are called components
Ie
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 A= A x + A y

A x =¿ Acosθ

A y = Asinθ

Ay
Tan θ =
Ax
A =√ A x 2+A y 2

Component is resultant vector R are given by

Suppose R = A + B
Addition of vectors A and B
Rx = Ax + By

Ry = A y + By
y

Given that A = A X і + A y ϳ + A Z ᴋ

B = BX і + B y ϳ + BZ ᴋ

The resultant sum of vector R=A+B

R= (Ax – Bx)і + (Ay – By)ϳ + (Az -Bz)ᴋ

Subtraction of two vectors A and B

With reference to eq (i) and (ii) above
The Resultant R=A-B
i.e R =(Ax-Bx)Ɩ + (Ay-By)j + (Az-Bz)k--------------(iv)
Hence, the magnitude of resultant is given by
2
(r ) = x 2+ y 2+ z 2 where (r) is the magnitude or modulous.
Example If F 1= 4Ɩ –j , F 2=-3Ɩ + 2j and F 3=-3

Find the resultant, magnitude and direction of force.

Solution

(i) Resultant force F = F 1+ F 2 + F 3

[(4+(-3))Ɩ + (-1 +2-3) j]

F= Ɩ -2 j

(ii) Magnitude | F ¿ 2= x 2 + y 2

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 √
f=√ x 2+ y2 = 12+(−2)2
√ 1+4 =√ 5 =2.23N
(iii) If Ɩ is true, it is drawn along +ve direction also, if j is +ve it is drawn along the +ve
direction

Example 2
Consider two forces of magnitude P=30N and Q=40N acting on a body o in any of it
possible direction . Find the resultant R when
(i) P and Q acts right angle to each other
(ii) P and Q act at an acute angle i.e ᶿ

Solution
Using the Pythagoras theorem The magnitude of R is given by
2 2 2
R =P + Q
R=√ p 2+ Q2

R= √ 302 +40 2

α R= √ 900+1600

R=√ 2500

=50N.
The direction of the resultant with respect to given lone OQ in the angle α makes with OQ and is
diven by
opp 30 3
tan α = = =
adj 40 4
tan α=0.750

α= tan−10.750

α=36.9ᴼ
(ii) When θ=60ᴼ
2 2 2
Use Cosine formula i.e R = P + Q –2PQ cos(180-θ)
Because (cos 180-θ) =-cos θ, thus we have
2 2 2
R = P +Q +2PQ cosθ
=302+40 2+2×30×40cos60ᴼ

= 900+1600+2400cos60ᴼ
=2500+2400×0.5

=2500+1200
2
R =3,700
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R=√ 3,700

R=61N

The scalar product of two vectors

The scalar or dot product of two vectors A and B is written as A.B =|A||B| cosӨ where Ө is the angle
between the vectors between vectors A and B or direction a and B.

It can be shown that A.B =a Ɩ b Ɩ +a 2 b 2

Note that Ɩ.Ɩ =j.j=1×1 cosӨ=1

Ɩ.j = j.Ɩ=1×1 cos 90=0

Example
Find the scalar product between
(i) A=2Ɩ +3j and

B=-Ɩ +4j
Solution

A.B=a 1 b 1 + a 2 b 2

= a 1 . a2 +b 1.b 2

= 2(-1) + 3(4)
=-2+12
=10
2. Find the scalar product of A and B if
A=3Ɩ-4 j , B =6Ɩ-8j

A.B =a 1 b 1 +a 2 b 2

= (3)(6) + (-4)(-8)
=18+32
=50
3. A force ,f= 2Ɩ +4j a acts on a body and moves through a displacement S=Ɩ +5j. Find the workdone
W =F× S

(2Ɩ + 4j).( Ɩ +5j)

2Ɩ. Ɩ + 20j. j
2+20=22J
4. Consult the material or mechanic
Angle between two vectors

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From the definition of the scalar (dot) product
A.B =|A||B| cos Ө
A.B
Cos Ө =
| A|∨B∨¿ ¿

Vector product or cross product of two vectors

The vector product of two products of two vectors A and B which are inclined at angle Ө is written as
A× B and is defined as a vector are parallel.

A× B =|A| |B| sin Ө =0

Ɩ× Ɩ =j×j =κ×κ=0

If two vectors are perpendicular

A×B =ABsin Ө= AB. (sinӨ=sin 90ᶿ=1)

Tutorial
Given two vectors P =2Ɩ + 3j + 4κ
Q= 6Ɩ + j +κ
Find (i) P+Q
(ii) Q -p
(iii) |p| +|Q|

Angle between vectors p and Q

(2) show that the vectors
U = 2і + 3ϳ - 6ᴋ
V= 6і + 2ϳ + 3ᴋ
W= 3і -6ϳ - 2ᴋ
Are mutually perpendicular and find the units vector u^ , v^ , w
^ in the direction of u , v , w
respectively.

Example 3.1
A car travel 20km due north and ten 35 km in a direction 60.0 west of north, shown in the figure.
Find the magnitude and direction of the car’s resultant duisplacement.

40
B
θR 20

β A
9
 X(km)
-20

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Example 3.2
Find the sum of two vectors A and B lyining in the xy-plane and given by

A= (2.0і + 2.0ϳ)m

B = (2.0і + 4.0ϳ)m

Example 3.3

 A particle undergoes three consecutive displacements:

d1 = (15і + 30ϳ + 12k)cm

d1 = (23і - 14ϳ - 5.0k)cm

d1 = (-13і + 15ϳ)cm

 Find the components of the resultant displacement and its magnitude.

Space and Time

In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that fuses the three dimensions of space and
the one dimension of time unit single four-dimension continium.
Spacetime diagrams are useful in visualizing and understanding relativistic effect6s such as how
difficient observers perceive,where and when event occur
For universe to exist, you need the three ingredient time,space, and energy.
Definition
Space is three a three dimensional continum in which object and event occur and containing position
direction
In classical physics, physical space often conceived in three linear dimensions
Physical space independent of what occupies it i.e absolute space.

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