Cutnell JD & Johnson KW – INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICS,

8th Edition (2009), ISBN 9780470409428

CHAPTER 1
1.1. Measurement and vectors
1.1.1. Measurement and useful tools
The nature of Physics – to appreciate the beauty of
Physics
Physics involves measurement of variety of quantities.
Accuracy play a big role in measurements.
In measurement we work with SI units (MKS) system ( in
smaller units CGS ) regarded as basic units in which we
can derive the other units called derived units. N.B. No
British system will be used.
Review the table at the bottom of page 3 Table 1.4
( ignore the British system column) where
prefixes are illustrated by the table very large / very small
values.
Be able to convert from one unit to the other. E.g from
km/h to m/s
Convert 80 km/h to m/s
 80km  1000m  1h 
80km / h     
 1h  1km  3600s 
 1000  m
80km / h  80   22 m / s
 3600 s

Definition : Page 5 - Dimension – specify the nature of

the a quantity and the type of unit used to specify the
quantity.
The idea is to check the consistency of the unit used –
dimensional analysis.
Example – distance has a dimension [L]
1 2
Page 6 x  vt
2

L 2
[ L]   T   [ L][T ] - L.H .S  R.H .S no consistency
T 

Check consistency for

1
x vt
2
Review exercise on page 6.
Trigonometry
Used as one of the tool to solve Physics problems.
Page 7 example 4
On a sunny day, a tall building casts a shadow that is 67.2
m long. The angle between the sum’s rays and the
ground is   50 as shown by the figure . Determine the
height of the building.
Ans. 80 m.
N.B. The calculator should be in degree mode when
calculating.
Page 8. Example 5 – Study the example.
Pythagorean theorem is also used. Examples will be done
on this.

1.1.2. Scalars and vectors

Definition of a scalar quantity and examples.
Vector quantity has magnitude and direction ( cardinal
points ) 2 km in the direction 300 north of east shown in
figure 1.8 page 9.
How to represent the vector graphically – using arrows.
Examples of vectors e.g displacement
What distinguishes vectors from scalars is the direction
of a vector.
See the role of a plus sign and a negative sign assigned to
a number. Page 9 – conceptual example 6.
Representation of a vector – use bold letters called
boldface symbol. See page 10 above. The scalar is
represented as an italic without an arrow.
Review questions that follows.

vector addition and subtraction

Study page 10 section 1.6.
This where head –to – tail method is used, the
parallelogram method and the cardinal points to
illustrate the direction.
What are the meaning of negative in the symbol on
conceptual example 7? Page 11
It means the magnitude of the given vector remains the
same but the direction is reversed.
( negative of a vector )

N.B. scalars can sometimes be negative ( work ) but

magnitude of a vector is never negative ( negative
indicate the direction in this case).

Tutorial questions added page 12 question No. 6 – 11.

Vector components
Definition: section 1.7 and representation of a vector
components as shown.
See how we represent vector A using components Page
13 above and also graphically.
Resolving vector into its components
x –component of given vector is 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 and
y – component of a vector 𝑦 = 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃. Read page 14 and
understand the examples given.
Example 9 page 15 – Do you understand the questions?
Can we use parallelogram method to add three vectors
without first working with two then the other?
This where the component of a vector play a role.
Worked example
Example 9 on page 16.
A jogger runs 145 m in the direction 20.00 east of north (
same as saying on a bearing of 700) and then 105 m in
the direction 35.00 south of east ( same as saying on a
bearing of 3250) Calculate the magnitude and the
direction of a vector C for these two displacement.
vector x - component y - component
A 145 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠70° = 49.6 145 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛70° = 136
B 105 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠325° = 86.0 105 × 𝑠𝑖𝑛325°
= −60.2
A+B = C 135.6 76.1

See how C has been worked out which the same as

taking Pythagoras of 135.6 and 76.1.
Represent graphically
Magnitude has been worked out to be 155 m

76.1
Direction tan−1 [ ] = 29.30
135.6

Study the examples done on page 18 – 19

End of the chapter 1
This section is not done enough in your prescribed book
hence you need to use my notes here. You can use
other recommended books to reinforce my discussion.
Vector multiplication using scalar product and vector
product.
Scalar product - definition - the scalar (dot) product of
A and B is a scalar quantity C equal to the product of the
magnitude of the two vectors and the cosine of the angle
between them.
The scalar product obeys commutative law and
distributive law. ( what do we mean?)
Notation : The scalar product C of A and B and is
denoted by C = 𝐀 ∙ 𝐁
Pronunciation. A dot B or the scalar product of A and B.
The magnitude of C is C = 𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = 𝐀𝐁cosθ = |𝐀||𝐁|cosθ
where 𝜃 is the angle between A and B.
N.B. |𝐀| is always positive.
Example : The vectors lying in an xy plane given by ;
𝑨 = 2𝑖̂ + 3𝑗̂ and 𝑩 = −𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂
Calculate the (a). scalar product 𝐀 ∙ 𝐁
(b). the angle 𝜃 between A and B
Let’s work it together to see how the solution was done.
 𝐴 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘
𝐵 = 𝑏𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗 + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘
𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = (𝑎𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘) × (𝑏𝑥 𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗 + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘)

= 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 (𝑖. 𝑖 ) + 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑦 (𝑖. 𝑗) + 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑧 (𝑖. 𝑘 ) +

𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑥 (𝑗. 𝑖 ) + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 (𝑗. 𝑗) + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑧 (𝑗. 𝑘 ) +

𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑥 (𝑘. 𝑖 ) + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑦 (𝑘. 𝑗) + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧 (𝑘. 𝑘 )

𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧
Example 1 : Calculate the scalar (dot) product of
𝐀 = (8î + 2ĵ − 3k̂), and 𝐁 = (3î − 6ĵ + 4k̂) and draw
the vectors to indicate roughly the angle between the
given vectors. Verify that the diagram is correct.
Example 2:
𝐀 = 8î + 2ĵ − 3k̂ and
𝐁 = 3î − 6ĵ + 4k̂
𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = (8î + 2ĵ − 3k̂ ) ∙ (3î − 6ĵ + 4k̂)
Proof and results
𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧

Example 3 : 𝐀 = 2î + ĵ + 2k̂ and 𝐁 = 4î − 3ĵ

Ans. 70.50
The angle between the two vectors
𝐀 ∙ 𝐁 = ABcosθ = |𝐀||𝐁|cosθ

−1
𝐀∙𝐁
𝜃 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( )
|𝐀||𝐁|
If the right angled triangle can be identified we can use
R Ry
𝜃𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (| x|) 𝜃𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 (| |)
𝐑 𝐑
 −1
Rz
𝜃𝑧 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( )
|𝐑|

Components of a vector and unit vector

Vector components
Definition: section 1.7 and representation of a vector
components as shown.
See how we represent vector A using components Page
13 above and also graphically.
Resolving vector into its components
x –component of given vector is 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 and
y – component of a vector 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃. Read page 14 and
understand the examples given.
Example 9 page 15 – Do you understand the questions?
Unit vector
Another way of expressing a vector components is to use
unit vector.
Definition - a unit vector is vector that has a magnitude
of 1 but no dimensions (dimensionless) i.e no specific
unit to define it, only used to define direction. Caps are
used to differentiate from other vectors. They are only
used to signify directions. The symbols 𝑖̂ , 𝑗̂ , 𝑘̂ shall
be used to denote the positive direction along x, y and z.
The caps or hats are the standard notation for unit
vectors.
The magnitude of each unit vector is 1, i.e |𝑖̂| =|𝑗|=|𝑘̂ |=1
The unit- vector notation for vector A is
𝑨 = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂
Study the given page (61) – Serway and do the quiz and
the example that follows.

The point lying in the plane can be specified by a position

vector r which given in a unit vector form as
𝒓 = 𝑥𝑖̂ + 𝑦𝑗̂ + 𝑧𝑘̂
Example : A particle undergoes three consecutive
displacements : 𝒓̅𝟏 = (15𝑖̂ + 30𝑗̂ + 12𝑘̂ )𝑐𝑚,

𝒓̅𝟐 = (23𝑖̂ − 14𝑗̂ − 5𝑘̂ )𝑐𝑚, and 𝒓̅𝟑 = (−13𝑖̂ + 15𝑗̂)𝑐𝑚

Calculate the components of the resultant displacement
and its magnitude
Ans. 𝑹 = (25𝑖̂ + 31𝑗̂ + 7.0𝑘̂ )𝑐𝑚
|𝐑| = R = 40 cm
Calculate the angle 𝜃𝑥 ; 𝜃𝑦 ; 𝜃𝑧 that R makes with x, y and
z- axis respectively.
Read a paragraph just before the quiz 3.5.
Ans. 𝜃𝑥 = ; 𝜃𝑦 = ; 𝜃𝑧 =
𝑅𝑥 𝑅 25
𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜃𝑥 = ; 𝜃𝑥 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( ) = 510
𝑅 𝑅 40

Similarly this can be done for the two angles.

Study the given page 168 – Serway and answer the quiz
that follows.

Determine the unit vector B in the direction of

𝐀 = î + ĵ + k̂
1 1 1
𝐁= î + ĵ + k̂
√3 √3 √3
Check whether the answer confirms that B is a unit
vector
Vector product - definition - the vector product of A and
B is a vector C which is perpendicular to both A and B and
is denoted by 𝐂 = 𝐀 × 𝐁 .
The magnitude of C is C = 𝐀𝐁sinθ = |𝐀||𝐁|sinθ
where 𝜃 is the angle between A and B.
Since C is perpendicular to A and B which are lying on the
plane, the direction of C is either pointing out of the
plane or into the plane.
Pronunciation. A cross B
or the vector product of A and B.
See how we find the direction as illustrated.
Clockwise (negative) into the plane  and unticlockwise
as positive and out of the plane 
Does cross product obeys communicative law and
distributive law? – Check using an example.
See page 17
j

k i

𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑖 × 𝑖 = 𝑖𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛0 = 0
𝑖×𝑖 =𝑗×𝑗 =𝑘×𝑘 =0
𝑖 × 𝑗 = 𝑖𝑗𝑠𝑖𝑛90 = 𝑘
𝑖×𝑗 =𝑗×𝑘 =𝑘×𝑖 =1
𝑗 × 𝑖 = −(𝑗𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑛90) = −𝑘
𝑗 × 𝑖 = 𝑖 × 𝑘 = 𝑘 × 𝑗 = −1
Given vectors A and B, compute 𝐂 = 𝐀 × 𝐁
 𝐀 = ax i + ay j + az k
𝐁 = bx i + by j + bz k
𝐀 × 𝐁 = (ax i + ay j + az k) × (bx i + by j + bz k)
= ax bx (i × i) + ax by (i × j) + ax bz (i × k) +

ay bx (j × i) + ay by (j × j) + ay bz (j × k) +

az bx (k × i) + az by (k × j) + az bz (k × k)
𝐀 × 𝐁 = ax by k − ax bz j − ay bx k + ay bz i + az bx j−az by i
𝐀 × 𝐁 = (ay bz −az by )i + (az bx − ax bz )j + (ax by
− ay bx )k
Examples
1. if
𝐚̅ = 3î − 4Ĵ
𝐛̅ = −2î + +3k̂
What is 𝐚̅ × 𝐛̅ ?

Ans 𝐜̅ = −12î − 9ĵ − 8k̂

2. A vector 𝐚̅ of magnitude 10 units and another vector
𝐛̅ of magnitude 6.0 units differ in directions by 600.
Find (a). the scalar product of the two vectors.
3. Show that 𝐚̅ ∙ (𝐛̅ × 𝐚̅) is zero for all vectors 𝐚̅ and 𝐛̅.
b × a = (by az −bz ay )i + (bz ax − bx az )j + (bx ay − by ax )k
a ∙ (b × a) = (ax i + ay j + az k) ∙ [(by az −bz ay )i + (bz ax − bx az )j + (bx ay − by ax )k]

a ∙ (b × a) = ax (by az −bz ay ) + ay (bz ax − bx az ) + az (bx ay − by ax )

a ∙ (b × a) = ax by az −ax bz ay + ay bz ax − ay bx az + az bx ay − az by ax

a ∙ (b × a) = 0

4. what is the magnitude of 𝐚̅. (𝐛̅ × 𝐚̅) if there is an

angle Ф between the
directions of 𝐚̅ and 𝐛̅?
5. For the following three vectors, what is
3𝐜̅ ∙ (𝟐𝐚̅ × 𝐛̅)?
 𝐚̅ = 2.00î + 3.00ĵ − 4.00k̂
𝐛̅ = −3.00î + 4.00ĵ − 2.00k̂
𝐜̅ = 7.00î + 8.00ĵ
Null vector
NULL VECTOR
A null vector is a vector having magnitude
equal to zero. It is represented by . A null
vector has no direction or it may have any
direction. Generally a null vector is either
equal to resultant of two equal vectors acting
in opposite directions or multiple vectors in
different directions.
Example : 𝐀 = 2î − 3ĵ + 6k̂ 𝑚 and 𝐁 = î + 2ĵ − 3k̂ 𝑚
𝐀 + 𝐁 = 3î − 1ĵ + 3k̂ 𝑚
|𝐀| = A = 7.00 m
|𝐁| = B = 3.74 m
A + B = 10.7 m
|𝐀 + 𝐁| = 4.36 m
The unit- vector notation for vector R is
𝐑 = R x î + R y ĵ + R z k̂
Determine the unit vector B in the direction of
𝐑 = R x î + R y ĵ + R z k̂
Rx Ry Rz
̂=
𝐑 î + ĵ + k̂
|𝐑| |𝐑| |𝐑|
𝐑 = 3î + 4ĵ
3 4
̂=
𝐑 î + ĵ = 0.6î + 0.8ĵ
5 5