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Vectors Notes

This document discusses different types of vectors and calculations with vectors. It defines scalar and vector quantities, with vectors having both magnitude and direction. Examples of vector quantities include displacement, velocity, and forces. The document outlines position vectors, equal vectors, negative/inverse vectors, parallel vectors, and unit vectors. It also covers methods for adding vectors using the triangular and parallelogram laws and evaluating the length (magnitude) of vectors using the Pythagorean theorem.

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Asher Harrison
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views

Vectors Notes

This document discusses different types of vectors and calculations with vectors. It defines scalar and vector quantities, with vectors having both magnitude and direction. Examples of vector quantities include displacement, velocity, and forces. The document outlines position vectors, equal vectors, negative/inverse vectors, parallel vectors, and unit vectors. It also covers methods for adding vectors using the triangular and parallelogram laws and evaluating the length (magnitude) of vectors using the Pythagorean theorem.

Uploaded by

Asher Harrison
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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VECTORS

TYPES OF VECTORS AND CALCULATIONS


Prepared by: R. McIntosh for Campion College 5th Form
4/11/2014
2
Prepared by: Campion College use
only.

Scalar Quantity
 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
involved.

 Other scalar quantities include: Time, distance, temperature ,


etc.
3
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only.

Vector Quantity - Definition


A vector is a quantity
that has size and
direction. The fancy
word for size is
"magnitude".
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Geometrically, we can picture a vector as a directed line
only.

segment, whose length is the magnitude of the vector


and with an arrow indicating the direction. The direction
of the vector is from its tail to its head.
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Real Life Examples


only.

 Breathing (your diaphragm muscles exert a force that has a


magnitude and direction)
 Walking (you walk at a velocity of around 6 km/h in the
direction of the bathroom)
 Going to school (the bus has a length of about 20 m and is
headed towards your school)
 Lunch (the displacement from your class room to the
canteen is about 40 m in a northerly direction)
 Road signs
Vectors
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Vectors are represented by a directed line segment its


only.

length representing the magnitude and an arrow


indicating the direction
This vector is named
B
u



A AB or u
Column Vector Prepared by: Campion College use
only.
7
8
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TYPES OF VECTORS

Position
Equal
Negative
Parallel
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Position Vectors
A position vector is a
vector whose initial
point is the origin.
Where is the origin?
POSITION VECTORS
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Equal Vectors
only.

Vectors are only


equal if they have
the same magnitude
and direction.
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Example 1
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Example 2
Negative/Inverse vectors
Negative/Inverse vectors

Two vectors are said to be inverse vectors if


they both have the same magnitude and
opposite direction.

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
Negative/Inverse vectors
PARALLEL VECTORS 18

Prepared by: Campion College use


only.
A UNIT VECTOR
Prepared by: Campion College use
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19
A UNIT VECTOR 20
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PROBLEM 21

Prepared by: Campion College use


only.
Evaluating Vectors
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The Triangular Law of Vector


Addition
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The Parallelogram Law of


Vector Addition
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Questions
PROBLEM
27
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PROBLEM 28
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Collinearity 29
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We have seen that if a vector v = ku then v must be parallel to u.


If vectors v and u also have a point in common then because
they are parallel they must lie on the same line so by definition
must be collinear.
   
   
If AB  k BC where k is a scalar then AB is parallel to BC.
If B is also a point in common to both AB and BC, then
A, B and C are said to be collinear.
COLLINEAR POINTS 30
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 These are points which lie on the same line.


 For Example:
A B C D

 If AB and BC are vectors. What name would best


describe them?

A B C D
Prove that the points A(2,4), B(8,6) and C(11,7) are collinear. 31
Prepared by: Campion College use
only.


 

AB  b  a BC  c  b
8  2 11  8 
       
 6  4  7   6
 6  3
   
 2 1
   
AB  2 BC  AB is parallel to BC

B is a point in common to both AB and BC so A, B and C are collinear


PROBLEM
32
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PROBLEM
33
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34

THE LENGTH (MAGNITUDE) OF A VECTOR


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THE LENGTH (MAGNITUDE) OF A VECTOR 35
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EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2
36
THE LENGTH (MAGNITUDE) OF A VECTOR
Prepared by: Campion College use
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EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4

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