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PHYS109 L2 Vectors

The document explains the Cartesian and Polar coordinate systems, detailing how points are represented in two and three dimensions. It also covers vector and scalar quantities, including their definitions, representations, and operations such as addition and scalar products. Additionally, it describes the relationship between Cartesian and Polar coordinates and the use of unit vectors in vector notation.

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beyzanur303
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1 views

PHYS109 L2 Vectors

The document explains the Cartesian and Polar coordinate systems, detailing how points are represented in two and three dimensions. It also covers vector and scalar quantities, including their definitions, representations, and operations such as addition and scalar products. Additionally, it describes the relationship between Cartesian and Polar coordinates and the use of unit vectors in vector notation.

Uploaded by

beyzanur303
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cartesian Coordinate System

In this coordinate system any point in the space is represented as (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).

P (x, y, z)

P (x1, y1)

position in two dimensional xy-plane position in three dimensional space


Polar Coordinate System:
Besides Cartesian coordinate system there are other coordinate systems used to define the position of a point in a plane. We
can define the position of any point in a plane by giving its distance r to the origin and the anticlockwise angle it makes with +x axis,
𝜃. The coordinates defined as (𝑟, 𝜃) called to be polar coordinates. The polar coordinate system can be more useful in defining the
position of moving objects. For example, it is much more easier to define the position of an object having a circular motion in a
plane, by using polar coordinates. It is simply from the fact that the radius of an object having circular motion will remain constant so
instead of two variables the only variable needed will be 𝜃 by using polar coordinates.

(𝑥, 𝑦) ≡ (𝑟, 𝜃)
𝑟 and 𝜃 are the parameters defining the position in polar
coordinates. r is the length of the line connecting the point to origin
(0, 0) and 𝜃 is the anticlockwise angle measured starting from +x
axis.
❖ The Relation Between Cartesian and Polar Coordinates:

It is possible to use a right angled triangle with side lengths r, x and y to define the Cartesian coordinates (𝑥; 𝑦) of a point in a
plane if its polar coordinates (𝑟; 𝜃) are known or just the reverse.

𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑟 ⟹ 𝑥 = 𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝑦
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑟 ⟹ 𝑦 = 𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

𝑦 𝑦
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝑥 ⟹ 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 −1(𝑥 )

𝑟 = √𝑥2 + 𝑦2

Vector and Scalar Quantities


• Scalar: Those are the quantities that giving their magnitude (number + unit) are enough to define them, no direction for them. Eg;
physical quantities like mass, temperature, speed… have no direction.

• Vector: those are the quantities that have directions. To define them a direction must be given with their magnitude. Eg; velocity,
acceleration, displacement… have directions.
➢ Representing Vectors:

Vectoral quantities are represented with an arrow on (like 𝐴⃗) them meaning they have direction. In some books they can be
represented with bold letters (like A) also. The magnitude of a vector is represented as |𝐴⃗| = 𝐴. For example, the magnitude of the
velocity vector 𝑣⃗ is speed and is represented as |𝑣⃗| = 𝑣.

➢ Unit Vectors:

Any vectoral quantity can be represented in unit vector notation, by using unit vectors. To do so we will need to define unit
vectors showing the selected directions in space. Unit vector; are the dimensionless vectors with unity in magnitude but selected
along a direction (like x, y, and z).

Unit vectors are used to define a selected direction in the


plane or space, they have no other physical meaning. In
the Cartesian coordinate system the unit vectors are used
as shown in the figure and as defined below.
Identifications: Directions:

𝑖̂: the unit vector defined along x-axis. 𝑖̂ : + 𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑗̂ : + 𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑘̂ : + 𝑧 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑗̂: the unit vector defined along y-axis.

𝑘̂ : the unit vector defined along z-axis. −𝑖̂ : − 𝑥 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑗̂ : − 𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 − 𝑘̂ : − 𝑧 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

We can write any vector, taking place in three-dimensional space, by using those unit vectors. This writing of vector is called
unit vector notation.
𝑎⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ : is the unit vector notation of 𝑎⃗

𝑎𝑥 : 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓𝑎⃗ (the projection on x-axis)

𝑎𝑦 : 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎⃗ (the projection on y-axis)

𝑎𝑧 : 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑧 − 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎⃗ (the projection on z-axis)

2
The magnitude of vector 𝑎⃗: |𝑎⃗| = √(𝑎𝑥 )2 + (𝑎𝑦 ) + (𝑎𝑧 )2
➢ Addition of Vectors:

While performing any mathematical operation, addition, subtraction or multiplication, with vectors we should keep in mind that
the vectors must be written in unit vector notation, otherwise no mathematical operation can be correctly performed. After writing the
vectors in unit vector notations we can only add the components having the same direction (the numbers before each unit vector are
added separately).

Given, 𝑎⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ 𝑣𝑒 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑏𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂

the addition of vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ are performed with the operation 𝑎⃗ + 𝑏⃗⃗ = (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 )𝑖̂ + (𝑎𝑦 + 𝑏𝑦 )𝑗̂ + (𝑎𝑧 + 𝑏𝑧 )𝑘̂

When any of the vectors does not have a component in a specific direction the coefficient of the unit vector in that direction is zero.

Example:

Given, 𝐴⃗ = (3𝑖̂ + 2𝑘̂ ) 𝑣𝑒 𝐵 ̂ + 𝑘̂ );


⃗⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗

⃗⃗ = (3 + 2)𝑖̂ + (0 + 4)𝑗̂ + (2 + 1)𝑘̂ = (5𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂)


𝐴⃗ + 𝐵

⃗⃗ = (3 − 2)𝑖̂ + (0 − 4)𝑗̂ + (2 − 1)𝑘̂ = (𝑖̂ − 4𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ )


𝐴⃗ − 𝐵
➢ Scalar Product of Vectors:
The symbol for scalar product in vectors is “.” (dot). That is why this product is also called as dot product. Do not forget that
we must have the vectors in unit vector notation to be able to perform this mathematical operation also.

• The Scalar Product of a Vector with a Scalar: simply, the number should multiply the coefficients of each unit vector that the
vector is multiplied.

Example:

Given, 𝐴⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑘̂ ) 𝑣𝑒 𝐵 ̂ + 6𝑘̂ );


⃗⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗

2𝐴⃗ = 2(2𝑖̂ + 3𝑘̂ ) = (2)(2)𝑖̂ + (2)(3)𝑘̂ = 4𝑖̂ + 6𝑘̂


1
⃗⃗ = 1 (2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗
𝐵 ̂ + 6𝑘̂) = (1) (2)𝑖̂ + (1) (4)𝑗̂ + (1) (6)𝑘̂ = 𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂
2 2 2 2 2

• The Scalar Product of two Vectors:


In order to perform this operation we should multiply the unit vectors side by side their coefficients. While performing the scalar
product of unit vectors keep in mind that (𝑖̂. 𝑖̂) = (𝑗̂. 𝑗̂) = (𝑘̂ . 𝑘̂) = 1, and all the rest of the multiplications (eg. 𝑖̂. 𝑗̂ 𝑜𝑟 𝑗̂. 𝑘̂ ) are zero. The
result of the scalar product of two vectors is always a scalar; meaning cannot include any unit vector –showing direction.

Example:

Given, 𝐴⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑘̂ ) 𝑣𝑒 𝐵 ̂ + 6𝑘̂ );


⃗⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗

⃗ = (2𝑖̂ + 3𝑘̂ ). (2𝑖̂ + 4𝑗


𝐴⃗. 𝐵 ̂ + 6𝑘̂ ) = (2)(2)(𝑖̂. 𝑖̂) + (3)(6)(𝑘̂. 𝑘̂ ) = 4 + 18 = 22

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