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Scalars and Vectors

In Physics, quantities are described as either scalar quantities or vector quantities . A scalar quantity has only a magnitude (numbers and units) but no direction. A vector quantity has both a magnitude and a direction.

Which of the follow are vectors?

distance displacement mass weight temperature velocity acceleration No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes

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Vectors...
There are two common ways of indicating that something is a vector quantity:

Boldface notation: A
A= A

Arrow notation:

The Components of a Vector

Length, angle, and components can be calculated from each other using trigonometry: Ay = A sin q Ax = A cos q

A = Ax 2 + Ay 2

q = tan -1 Ay / Ax

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

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2D Cartesian and Polar Coordinate Representations

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

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Vector addition The sum of two vectors is another vector.

A =B+C B B A C

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Vector subtraction

Vector subtraction can be defined in terms of addition.

B-C = B + (-1)C B B-C C B -C

Unit Vectors:
A Unit Vector is a vector having length 1 and no units. It is used to specify a direction. Unit vector u points in the direction of U. Often denoted with a hat: u =
l

Useful examples are the cartesian unit vectors [ i, j, k ] point in the direction of the x, y and z axes. R = rxi + ryj + rzk

j k z i x

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Vector addition using components: l Consider C = A + B.

(a) C = (Ax i + Ay j ) + (Bx i + By j ) = (Ax + Bx )i + (Ay + By )j (b) C = (Cx i + Cy j )

l Comparing components of (a) and (b):

Cx = Ax + Bx Cy = Ay + By
C A Ax B Ay Bx By

Example l l l Vector A = {0,2,1} Vector B = {3,0,2} Vector C = {1,-4,2}

(a) {3,-4,2}

What is the resultant vector, D, from adding A+B+C?

(b) {4,-2,5}

(c) {5,-2,4}

D = (AXi + AYj + AZk) + (BXi + BYj + BZk) + (CXi + CYj + CZk) = (AX + BX + CX)i + (AY + BY+ CY)j + (AZ + BZ + CZ)k = (0 + 3 + 1)i + (2 + 0 - 4)j + (1 + 2 + 2)k = {4,-2,5}

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Multiplying Vectors
Given two vectors:

r + Ay A = Axi j + Az k r + By B = Bx i j + Bz k

Dot Product (Scalar Product)

Cross Product (Vector Product) r r A B = ( Ay Bz - Az By ) i + ( Az Bx - Ax Bz ) j + ( Ax By - Ay Bx ) k ) b = A B Sinq AB (a j k Ay Az (determinant) By Bz r r r r r Note that A B ^ A, A B ^ B, r r r r and A B B A. i = Ax Bx

r r A B = Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz = A B Cos q AB

AB is the magnitude of B times the projection of A on B (or vice versa). Note that AB = BA

January 10, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 5

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Describing Position in 3-Space

A vector is used to establish the position of a particle of interest. The position vector, r, locates the particle at some point in time.

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The Displacement Vector

r + yy r = xx r r r Dr = r2 - r1 r r r Dr = r2 - r1 + y2 y ) - ( x1 x + y1 y ) = (x 2 x + Dy y = Dxx

January 11, 2011

Physics 114A - Lecture 6

13/24
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Instantaneous Velocity in 3D
V = lim (r / t) as t 0 = dr / dt 3 Components : Vx = dx / dt, etc Magnitude, |V| = SQRT( Vx2 + Vy 2 + Vz2)

Average Velocity in 3-D Vavg = (r2 r1)/(t2-t1) = r / t t is scalar so, V vector parallel to vector

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Properties of Vectors

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We can resolve vector into perpendicular components using two-dimensional coordinate systems:
Polar Coordinates Cartesian Coordinates

rx = r cos 25.0 = (1.50 m)(0.906) = 1.36 m ry = r sin 25.0 = (1.50 m)(0.423) = 0.634 m r = rx 2 + ry 2 = (1.36 m) 2 + (0.634 m) 2 = 2.25 m 2 = 1.50 m

q = tan -1 [ (0.634 m) / (1.36 m) ] = tan -1 (0.466) = 25.0

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