Rao IIT Academy HSC - Physics - [XI.

Std] : Section - 1

2. Scalars and Vectors

(1) Scalars: A physical quantity which possesses magnitude alone is called a scalar quantity or a
scalar. e.g. length, work, speed, density, time etc.

(2) Vectors: A physical quantity which possesses magnitude as well as direction is called a vector
quantity or a vector. e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, torque etc.

(3) Equal vectors: If two vectors, having same magnitude and same direction are called equal
vectors.

(4) Negative vectors: If two vectors, having same magnitude but opposite direction are called
negative vectors.

(5) Zero vectors: A vector having no magnitude is called zero vector. e.g. A - A = O

(6) Unit vector : a vector having unit magnitude in a given direction is called unit vector in that direction.
Unit vector along direction of is given by

Law of triangle law of vectors :

If the two vectors of the same type are represented, in magnitude and direction, by two sides of a triangle
taken in order, their resultant is represented, in magnitude and direction, by the third side of the triangle
drawn from the starting point of first vector to the end point of the second vector.

Law of polygon of vectors : If number of vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by sides of
an incomplete polygon taken in order, then resultant is represented in magnitude and direction by remaining
side of polygon directed from the starting point of the first vector to the end point of last vector.

Law of parallelogram of vectors : If two vectors of same type, acting at a point are represented in
magnitude and direction by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram, their resultant is represented in magnitude
and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram, drawn from their common point.

Q. Two vectors & , drawn from a point, are inclined to each other at an angle . Determine the
magnitude and direction of their resultant, using the law of parallelogram of vectors.

Ans: Let the vectors & be represented by sides AB and AC as shown in fig. Complete the parallelogram
ABDC. Then according to law of parallelogram of vectors the diagonal AD represents the resultant
vector in magnitude and direction. Draw DE perpendicular to AB produced.
2 2 2 2
From AED , AD 2 = AE + DE = ( AB + BE ) + DE
2 2 2 2
AD = AB + 2 AB BE + BE + DE
2 2 2
From BED, BE + DE = BD
AD 2 = AB 2 + 2 AB BE + BD 2

But BE = BD cos

1
HSC - Physics - [XI. Std] : Section - 1 Rao IIT Academy
AD2 = AB 2 + 2 AB BD cos + BD 2

AD 2 = AB 2 + BD 2 + 2 AB BD cos D C

Now AD = R , AB = P and BD = AC = Q

R 2 = P 2 + Q 2 + 2 PQ cos Q R

R = P 2 Q 2 2 P Q cos


This expression gives magnitude of resultant vector. A
P B D
To find the direction of the resultant, let be the angle made by resultant with vector P
DE DE
From AED, tan = AE = AB BE

From BED, DE = BD sin and BE = BD cos

BD sin Q sin
tan = =
P Q cos
AB BD cos
Q sin
tan = P Q cos This gives direction of resultant vector..

Resolution of Vector: The process of finding the components of given vector is called resolution of
vector. The given vector can be split up into two or more components such that the combined effect of
these components is same as the original vector.

Consider a vector R = OC , originating from the origin O. Draw perpendicular from C to meet X

axis at A and Y axis at B. R x = OA and R y = OB are rectangular component of

By the parallelogram law of vectors, R R x R y

R R x i R y j where i and j are unit vectors along the positive direction of X and Y axis
respectively. Y-axis

If is the angle made by R with the X axis then B

OA R
cos = = x RX = R cos (1) and Ry R
OC R
AC Ry
sin = = RY = R sin (2)
OC R x-axis
O A
Squaring and eq. (1) & (2) we get, Rx

2
 Rao IIT Academy HSC - Physics - [XI. Std] : Section - 1
RX2 + RY2 = R2 cos2 + R2 sin2 RX2 + RY2 = R2 ( cos2 + sin2 )

R2 = RX2 + RY2 or R = R 2x R 2y

Dividing eq. (2) by (1) we get,

Ry 1
Ry
= tan = tan
R
Rx x

If i , j and k are unit vectors along positive Z-axis

direction of X axis , Y axis and Z axis respectively,


K
they are called as rectangular unit vectors.
j
Y-axis
i
If R x , R y and R z are the rectangular components

x-axis
of R along the X , Y and Z axes of a three dimensional

rectangular Cartesian co-ordinate system, then R R x R y R z

R Rx i Ry j Rz k and magnitude R = R 2x R 2y R 2z

Q. Define the scalar product of two vectors.

Ans: The scalar product ( or dot product ) of two vectors is a scalar quantity equal to the product of the
magnitudes of the two vectors and the cosine of angle between them.

If A and B are two vectors with magnitude A & B and if is an angle between them then

A B = A B cos

Important points of Scalar product:

(1) A B = B A

(2) If two vectors are perpendicular A B = 0 i.e. if A B = 0 then A is perpendicular to B

(3) If A is a unit vector A A =1

(4) i j = jk = k i = 0, ii = j j = k k = 1

(5) If A = A x + A y + A z & B = B x + B y + B z

then A B =Ax B x +Ay B y + Az B z

3
 HSC - Physics - [XI. Std] : Section - 1 Rao IIT Academy

A B
(6) Acute angle between A & B is given by cos =
AB

(7) Work done W = F S & Power P = F v

Q. Prove that AB = A x B x + A y B y+ A z B z

Ans: Let A A x i A y j A z k and B Bx i By j Bz k

A B = ( A x i A y j A z k ) . ( Bx i B y j Bz k )

= i i Ax Bx + i j Ax By + i k Ax Bk + j i Ay Bx + j j Ay By +

j k Ay Bk + k i Az Bx + k j Az By + k k Az Bz .

A B = A x B x + A y B y+ A z B z

A B = A x B x + A y B y+ A z B z

Q. Define vector product of two vectors.

Ans: The vector product ( or cross product ) of two vector is a vector whose magnitude is equal to the
product of the magnitudes of the two vectors and sine of the angle between them. Its direction is
perpendicular to the plane of the two vectors, in the sense advance of a right handed screw rotated from
the first vector to the second vector.

If A and B are two vectors with magnitude A & B and if is an angle between them then

A B = AB sin n , n is a unit vector perpendicular to plane A & B and its direction is given
by right hand screw rule.

Important points of Vector product:

(1) AB = - B A

(2) If two vectors are parallel then their cross product is equal to zero. i.e. if A B = 0 it means

A is parallel to B

(3) AA = 0

4
 Rao IIT Academy HSC - Physics - [XI. Std] : Section - 1

(4) i i = j j = k k =0, i j k , j k i , k i j,

j i -k, k j -i , i k - j

(5) Vector product is not commutative but distributive.

(6) Area of parallelogram with adjacent side along the vectors P & Q is given by P Q .

(7) The moment of force about a vector is given by = r F

1
(8) Area of triangle ABC = AB BC
2

A B
(9) Unit vector perpendicular to both A and B =
A B

(10) Angular momentum L r p

Q. Express the vector product in terms of the component of the two vectors.

Ans: Let A A x i A y j A z k & B B x i B y j Bz k

A B = A x i A y j A z k B x i B y j Bz k

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

j k Ay Bz + k i Az Bx + k j Az By + k k Az Bz .

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

= ( Ay Bz - Az By ) i - ( Ax Bz - Az Bx ) j + ( Ax By - Ay Bx ) k
A B

i j k
Ax Ay Az
A B =
Bx By Bz