VECTORS

Contents:
1. Introduction
2. Addition and Subtraction
3. Linear Dependence and Independence
4. Product of Vectors
5. Triple Product of Vectors
6. Reciprocal System of Vectors

Introduction

A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction.

It is represented by a directed line segment with a line of action and
whose direction is shown by arrow.

Free Vectors

A vector that can be displaced parallel to itself and applied at any point
is known as a Free Vector.
Free Vectors do not have a unique line of action.

Line Vector
Vectors which have a fixed line of action but can be moved in the line
of action are called Line vectors.
Eg- Force , Moment
Position Vector

Vector representing positon of a point with respect to a particular

chosen origin is called position vector.
Denoted by R
R = xi + yj + zk in the Cartesian co-ordinate system.

Unit Vector
Vector of unit magnitude is unit vector.

Null Vector
A vector of unit magnitude and arbitrary direction is called zero vector.
0 = a +(-a)
 Addition / Subtraction of Vectors
Triangle Law of Addition
Resultant of addition of 2 vectors A and B is a vector whose direction
and magnitude is given as follows:

|R|2=|A|2 + |B|2 + 2 |A||B|cos

Where =Angle between A and B

Polygon Law
The triangle law applied several times leads to the polygon law . The
following diagram illustrates the polygon law.
Parallelogram Law

Parallelogram Law can also be obtained from the Triangle law just by
shifting any vector to place its tail at the head of other vector.

Properties of Vector Addition

1. Commutative : A + B = B + A
2. Associative : A + ( B + C ) =( A + B ) + C
3. K(A+B)=KA+KB
4. (K + C ) A = K A + C A
 Subtraction of Vectors
A B = A + ( - B)
Where B is opposite in direction to B.

Product of Vectors
There are 2 types of products associated with vectors:
1. Dot Product / Scalar Product
2. Cross Product / Vector Product

Scalar Product
The scalar product of a and b is defined as :
a . b = |a| |b| cos

Result of this product is a scalar ,thus called scalar product.

a . b = |a| *(Magnitude of projection of b on a)
= |b| *(Magnitude of projection of a on b)
Properties
- Distributive - A . ( B + C ) = A . B + A . C
- A = A1 i + A2 j + A3 k B = B1 i + B2 j + B3 k then
A . B = A1B1 + A2B2 + A3B3

Vector Product

The vector product of a and b is defined as :

a x b = |a| |b| sin n
where n is the unit vector perpendicular to plane containing a and b
,and whose sense is given by the Right Hand Screw rule
i.e a , b , n form a right handed screw.
- a x b = 0 if a = K b K is real no.
Linear Dependence and Independence

A system of vectors a1,a2,an is said to be linearly dependent if there exists a

system of scalars k1, k2 , kn (not all zero) such that
k1a1+ k2a2 + + kn an= 0
They are said to be linearly independent if every relation of the type
k1a1+ k2a2 + + kn an= 0
implies that k1 = k2 =.= kn = 0.

Collinear Vectors (System of 2 linearly dependent vectors)

K1A + K2B = 0
or A=KB
implies that A and B are collinear vectors.

Coplanar Vectors (System of 3 linearly dependent vectors)

K1A + K2B + K3C = 0
This implies A , B , C are coplanar vectors.
Equivalently, this can be seen as :
Any vector C in the plane of A and B can be represented as a unique
linear combination of A and B.
i.e C = K1A + K2B
i.e Unique pair of (K1,K2) exists for C

System of 3 Non-Coplanar Vectors (Linearly Independent)

3 Non Coplanar vectors imply
K1A + K2B + K3C = 0
only if K1=K2=K3 = 0

Also , this implies that for K1,K2,K3 0 simultaneously

 R = K1A + K2B + K3C
is a unique vector in 3-D Space.
Thus, any vector in 3-D space can be uniquely represented as a linear
combination of 3 non-coplanar vectors

Triple Products
Scalar Triple Product (STP)
For 3 vectors Scalar Triple Product is defined as the scalar:
S=A.(BxC)=[A B C]
This STP is also equal to the volume of the parallelepiped whose co-
terminal edges are A , B , C .
Volume of Tetrahedron =(1/6) [A B C ]

Properties
- Cyclic Permutation of Vectors does not change value of STP.
[A B C]=[C A B] =[B C A]
- Anti-cyclic permutation of Vectors changes the sign of STP.
[A B C]=-[B A C]
-
- If are given as etc., then

Vector Triple Product

Vector Triple Product is defined as
V= A x ( B x C )
Result of VTP is a vector in the plane of B and C as V is perpendicular to
BxC
Thus, V = KB + LC is a linear combination of B and C .
Thus A x ( B x C ) = KB + LC
Taking dot product with A on both sides ,
A.(Ax(BxC))=(AxA).(BxC) =0
K(A.B)+L(A.C)=0
On solving ,

Ax(BxC) = (A.C)B-(A.B)C

Reciprocal System of Vectors

If are three non-coplanar vectors, then a system of vectors

defined by

is called the reciprocal system of vectors because .

All the other product combinations between the system a , b , c and a,
b , c are equal to 0.
Also If is a reciprocal system to then is
also reciprocal system to .