Chapt.

1: Vectors
Readings: Chapter 1 (12th edition),
pp. 2 -36

PowerPoint® Lectures for

University Physics, Twelfth Edition
– Hugh D. Young and Roger A. Freedman

Adapted by the Dept. of Physics, University of Ghana

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 Goals
• The difference between scalars and vectors,
and how to add and subtract vectors
graphically.
• What the components of a vector are, and how
to use them in calculations.
• What unit vectors are, and how to use them
with components to describe vectors.
• Two ways of “multiplying” vectors.

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 Scalars vs. Vectors
• Scalar quantities are numbers and combine with the
regular rules of arithmetic.
• Scalars may/may not have units.
• Vector quantities have direction as well as
magnitude and combine according to the rules of
vector addition.
• Vectors are specified by their direction from a
reference direction (in degrees or radians) and also
by their displacement in metres.

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 Vectors

Vectors have
magnitude and
direction.
They are drawn as
a ray.
In written form,
vectors are shown
here as bold faced
with arrow sign

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 Vector equality
Vectors are equal if
their magnitude
and direction are
equal. On equality,
it doesn’t matter
where a vector is
located -- only the
magnitude and
direction matter.

• If two vectors are antiparallel but equal in size, they are

negative of each other.
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 Vector Addition
Vectors may be added
graphically, “head to tail.”

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 Vector Addition

Vector addition is commutative. E.g. 𝐴 + 𝐵 = 𝐵 + 𝐴

It is also associative: 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶
= 𝐴 + (𝐵 + 𝐶)
= 𝐵 + (𝐴 + 𝐶)
Example
𝐴 = (4𝑖 − 5𝑗 + 7 𝑘) m
𝐵 = (𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 5 𝑘) m
𝐶 = (𝑖 + 𝑗 − 2 𝑘) m
𝐴+𝐵+𝐶 =?
= 4 + 1 + 1 𝑖 + −5 − 3 + 1 𝑗 + 7 + 5 − 2 k m
= 6𝑖 − 7𝑗 + 10k m

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 Vector Addition
As shown in the example
the order of addition of
vectors is immaterial. The
figures below demonstrate
this further. Notice the
direction and magnitude of
𝑅 (the resultant) in all
cases.

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• Identify
– Read problem carefully
– Identify what the target: Determine the final displacement of a trekker
– And what principles of physics are required: Vector addition
• Set up
– based on last step, sketch a diagram if needed,
– look for appropriate equation:
•Execute
– State the explanation,
– Do the calculation, if required, noting the missing parts from the given
parts: Cardinal system / frame of reference
– fix the puzzle!
• Evaluate
– Go over your solution.
– Withdraw from the paper work and see if the answer makes sense!
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 Components of Vectors

Manipulating vectors graphically is insightful but difficult

when striving for numeric accuracy. Vector components
provide a numeric method of representation.
A two dimensional vector can be built from an x
component and a y component.

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 Components of vectors - signs
A 2-D vector, 𝐴, may be “decomposed” into its components using
Ax = Acos θ  x –component
Ay = Asin θ  y-component
(where θ is the angle measured from the +x axis).

Components can be positive or negative.

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 Finding a Vector’s Magnitude and Direction
•

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 Calculations using components

When two vectors are described

by the direction angle θ such
that tan θ = -1, one distinguishes
the vectors by looking at the x-
and y-components
In this example Ax = 2 and
Ay = -2 so θ = 315o
Suppose Ax = -2 and Ay =2,
Then tan θ = -1 but θ =135o

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 Calculations using components
The components of two vectors can be used to calculate their resultant.

When two or
more vectors
make up a
resultant, the
components of
the resultant is
the sum of the
components the
of the vectors
forming the
resultant.
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 1.8: Calculations using components
• Refer to Example 1.7
A

Determine the resultant of the

vectors A, B, C given as

A (72.4 m, 32o north east of O)

B (57.3 m, 36o, south west of A) B
C (17.8 m, south of B)

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 Unit vectors
Assume vectors of magnitude 1
with no units exist in each of the
three standard dimensions.
The x direction is termed 𝑖, the y
direction is termed 𝑗, and the z
direction, 𝑘.
A vector is subsequently
described by a scalar times each
component.
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘
𝑖, 𝑗, 𝑘 are called unit vectors in
the 𝑥, 𝑦 , 𝑧 directions
respectively.

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 Class example

Two vectors are given by 𝐷 = 6𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 𝑘 m

𝐸 = (4𝑖 − 5𝑗 + 8 𝑘) m, find 2 𝐷 − 𝐸

The problem involves scalar multiplication of vectors and

then subtraction.

Let 𝐹 = 2 𝐷 − 𝐸
= 2 6𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 𝑘 − 4𝑖 − 5𝑗 + 8 𝑘
= 12 − 4 𝑖 + 5 + 6 𝑗 + −2 − 8 𝑘

∴ 𝐹 = (8𝑖 + 11𝑗 − 10𝑘) m

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 Multiplication of vectors

Vector multiplication is carried out in two ways:

1. Scalar or “dot” product
2. Vector or “cross” product

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 1 - The scalar product
The result of a dot product is a scalar quantity.
• If the magnitude and direction of the vectors are known:

𝑨• 𝑩 = | 𝑨 | | 𝑩 |cos φ
• If the components of the vectors are known:

𝑨 • 𝑩 = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz

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 Example – Dot product

In the figure, 𝐴 = 7.5 m, 𝐵 = 5 m. Find 𝐴. 𝐵

𝜙 = 130𝑜 − 53𝑜 = 77𝑜
𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝐴 𝐵 cos 77𝑜 = 7.5 5 0.2249 = 8.4 m2

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 Example – Dot product
Two vectors are given as
𝐴 = 𝑖 + 9𝑗 + 2𝑘;
𝐵 = −5𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘

Determine the angle between the vectors 𝐴 and 𝐵.

-5+9-2 = 2
= √(1+81+4)* √(25+1+1)*COSθ
= 9.2736*5.1961*COS87.62

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 2 - The vector (cross) product
The result is a vector quantity

𝑨 × 𝑩 = ABsinφ = - (𝑩 × 𝑨)

⃓𝑨 × 𝑩 ⃓ = ⃓ABsinφ⃓
This is the magnitude of the
solution.
The Right-Hand Rule is used to
determine the direction of the
cross product.

𝐴 × 𝐵 = (AyBz – AzBy)𝑖

- (AxBz –AzBx) 𝑗
+(AxBy – AyBx) 𝑘
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 Example
Vector A has magnitude 6 units and is in the
direction of the + x-axis. Vector B has magnitude
4 units and lies in the xy-plane, making an angle
of 30° with the + x-axis. Find the vector product
A × 𝐵.

ABsin30o = (6)(4)(sin30o) = 12

From the right-hand rule the direction of A × 𝐵 is

along the +z-axis, so we have A × 𝐵 = 12𝑘.

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 The vector product

It is important to note the following properties of

vector product.

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 Figure 1.32a

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 The vector product
With the above properties, the cross product of two
vectors 𝐴 = Ax𝑖 + Ay𝑗 + Az𝑘 and

𝐵=Bx𝑖 + By𝑗 + Bz𝑘

can be calculated as
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧

= 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦 𝑖 − 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑧 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦 − 𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝑘

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 Example - cross product
Two vectors are given as
𝐴 = 𝑖 + 9𝑗 + 2𝑘;
𝐵 = −5𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘

1. Use the cross product 𝐴 × 𝐵 to find the angle

between the two vectors.
2. Evaluate your result.

⃓ − 11𝑖 − 9𝑗 + 46𝑘 ⃓ = 48.1456

= 9.2736*5.1961*sin87.62

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 Sine and cosine rules
Consider three vectors with their
magnitudes and directions represented
by a triangle as show.
The sides and angles are related as:

called the sine rule

and also as
The latter relation is called the cosine
rule.
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