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1. Vector Concepts
Vector Notation
We will use a bold letter to name vectors. For example, a force
vector could be written as F.
If a vector goes from initial point P to terminal point Q, it can
#
also be written as PQ.
Example: Vectors
#
We could have another vector RS as follows. It has initial point R
and terminal point S.
SCMA128 Mathematics I Algebra 4
Because the 2 vectors have the same magnitude and the same di-
rection (they are both horizontal and pointing to the right), then
we say they are equal. We would write:
# #
OP = RS
Magnitude of a Vector
We indicate the magnitude of a vector using vertical lines on
either side of the vector name.
# # #
The magnitude of vector OP is written | OP| or k OPk.
(When we use vertical lines like this with a number, it is called
absolute value, and is a similar concept to magnitude.)
So for example, vector A above has magnitude 4 units. We would
write the magnitude of vector A as
kAk = 4
Scalar Quantities
A scalar quantity has magnitude, but not direction.
For example, a pen may have length 10 cm. The length 10 cm
is a scalar quantity: it has magnitude, but no direction is in-
volved.
Scalar Multiplication
We can increase or decrease the magnitude of a vector by multi-
plying the vector by a scalar.
SCMA128 Mathematics I Algebra 5
They are vectors because they all have a direction (down) and a
magnitude.
Each of the following scalar multiples is true for this situation:
We note that the magnitude of each vector is the same, but they
are acting in opposite directions. In such a case, we indicate the
opposite directions by use of a negative sign.
So we write:
# #
OA = OB
Zero Vectors
A zero vector, denoted 0, has magnitude of 0. It can have any
direction.
In the tug-of-war example above, the teams are evenly matched at
a certain instant and neither side is able to move. In this case, we
SCMA128 Mathematics I Algebra 7
would have
# #
OA + OB = 0
# #
The 2 force vectors OA and OB, operating in opposite directions,
cancel each other out.
Unit Vectors
A unit vector has length 1 unit and can take any direction.
A one-dimensional unit vector is usually written i.
In the following diagram, we see the unit vector (in red, labelled i)
and two other vectors that have been obtained from i using scalar
multiplication (2i and 7i).
The diagram illustrates the boost that I am getting from the river
current and demonstrates my total speed, relative to the riverbank,
of:
1 + 0.25 = 1.25 m/s.
3. Vectors in 2 Dimensions
So far we have considered 1-dimensional vectors only.
Now we extend the concept to vectors in 2-dimensions. We can
use the familiar x-y coordinate plane to draw our 2-dimensional
vectors.
x-y plane.
The vector V is acting in 2 different directions simultaneously
(to the right and in the up direction). We can see that it has an
x-component (6 units to the right) and a y-component (3 units
up).
Components of Vectors
Reading from the diagram above, the size of the x-component of
the vector V is 6 units.
The size of the y-component of the vector V is 3 units.
Alternative Notation:
You will also see vectors written using matrix-like notation,
like this: " #
6
V=
3
above.
Recall that we write the magnitude of V using the vertical lines
notation kVk. We have:
q
2 2
Magnitude of V = kVk = 6 + 3 = 45 = 6.71 units.
So we have
3
tan = = 0.5
6
This gives:
Example:
Vx = 6 i
Vy = 3 j
V = 6i + 3j
SCMA128 Mathematics I Algebra 16
U2 + V2
V
+
U2 U U
V2
V
x
U1 V1 U1 + V1
If
U = U1 i + U2 j = (U1 ,U2 )
V = V1 i + V2 j = (V1 ,V2 )
then
That is, we add the first components together, and add the
second components together.
Solution: