1
1. scalar
Physical concepts that require only one
numerical quantity for their complete
specification are scalar quantities.
2. vector
Vector quantities require for their complete
specification a positive quantity, called the
magnitude of the vector and the direction.
Notice:
Not all things with a magnitude and
direction are vectors.
§2.1 scalar and vector quantities
2
§2.1 scalar and vector quantities
Vector A
r magnitude AA or
r
Direction
3. Representation of the vector
§2.2 Operation of the vectors
1. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar
AB
rr
α=
0>α
0<α
A
r
B
r A
r
B
r
Letter symbol
arrow symbol
2. Vector addition by geometric methods
A
r
B
r
Triangle rule or parallelogram rule:
Polygon rule:
4321
RRRRR
rrrrr
+++=
1
R
r
2
R
r
3
R
r
4
R
r
R
r
§2.2 operation of the vectors
A
r
B
r
C
r
B
r
BAC
rrr
+=
Resultant:
Note:
BAC
BABA
+≠
+≠+
rr
3
3. Vector difference by geometric methods
The operation +(- ) is identical in all respects
to the operation implied by -
1
r
r
1
r
r
A
r
B
r
)( BABAC
rrrrr
?+=?=
A
r
B
r
?
C
r
4. The scalar(dot) product of two vectors
The scalar product is a way to multiply two
vectors to yield a scalar result.
Define:
θcosABBA =?
rr
§2.2 operation of the vectors
Note:
BACABBA ?≠?≠?
rrrr
A
r
B
r
θ
§2.2 operation of the vectors
5. The cross product of two vectors
The new vector that results from the vector
product has both a magnitude and a direction.
Define:
BAC
rrr
×=
1 A, B are always positive
2θ < π/2
3θ > π/2
4θ = π/2
5
0cos >=? θABBA
rr
0cos <=? θABBA
rr
0cos ==? θABBA
rr
CABACBA
rsrrrrr
?+?=+? )(
Notice:
4
BAC
rrr
×=
§2.2 operation of the vectors
Magnitude:
θsinABBA =×
rr
Direction:perpendicular to the
plan containing the
BA
rr
and
Right hand rule for the direction of the cross product:
A
r
B
r
A
r
B
r
Note:
§2.2 operation of the vectors
1θ is always less than π in ABsin θ
2
3
4
5
0or0 =×=× BBAA
rrrr
ABBA
rrrr
×≠×
ABBA
rrrr
×?=×
CABACBA
rrrrrrr
×+×=+× )(
§2.3 The Cartesian representation of any vector
1. The Cartesian coordinate system
Right handed Cartesian coordinate system:
5
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
Unit(basis) vectors: kji
?
,
?
,
?
Magnitudes: 1
Directions: indicate the directions
that correspond coordinates
increase.
i
?
k
?
j
?
x
y
z
1
??
=? ii 0
??
=? ji 0
??
=?ki
0
??
=?ij
1
??
=? jj
0
??
=?kj
0
??
=?ik
0
??
=? jk
1
??
=?kk
Scalar product of the Cartesian unit vectors with
each other
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
2. The case of two dimensions
jAiA
jAiAA
yx
?
sin
?
cos
??
θθ +=
+=
r A
r
x
A
y
A
x
y
i
?
j
?
θ
Vector A
r
Magnitude:
22
yx
AAA +=
Direction: decided by angle
x
y
A
A
1
tan
?
=θ
6
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
3. The case of three dimensions
A
r
iA
x
?
kA
z
?
jA
y
?
x
y
z
kAjAiAA
zyx
???
++=
r
z
y
x
AAkA
AAjA
AAiA
==?
==?
==?
γ
β
α
cos
?
cos
?
cos
?
r
r
r
We can prove that
2122221
)()(
zyx
AAAAAA ++=?=
rr
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
4. The operations of vectors in Cartesian
coordination system
Addition:
kBAjBAiBA
kBjBiBkAjAiABA
xzyyxx
zyxzyx
?
)(
?
)(
?
)(
)
???
()
???
(
+++++=
+++++=+
rr
1coscoscos
222
=++ γβα
x
y
z
γ
β
α
A
r
7
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
kBAjBAiBA
kBjBiBkAjAiABA
zzyyxx
zyxzyx
?
)(
?
)(
?
)(
)
???
()
???
(
?+?+?=
++?++=?
rr
Difference:
Multiplication:
kAjAiA
kAjAiAA
zyx
zyx
???
)
???
(
ααα
αα
++=
++=
r
Scalar product of two vectors:
zzyyxx
zyxzyx
BABABA
kBjBiBkAjAiABA
++=
++?++=? )
???
()
???
(
rr
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
cross product of two vectors:
kBABA
jBABAiBABA
kBjBiBkAjAiABA
xyyx
zxxzyzzy
zyxzyx
?
)(
?
)(
?
)(
)
???
()
???
(
?+
?+?=
++×++=×
rr
zyx
zyx
BBB
AAA
kji
BA
???
=×
rr
or
Mnemonic:
kjikji
??????
+
-
8
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
where
0
??
=×ii
kij
???
?=×
jik
???
=×
kji
???
=×
0
??
=× jj
ijk
???
?=×
jki
???
?=×
ikj
??
=×
r
0
??
=×kk
5. Variation of a vector
1 The Magnitude changes, the direction is preserved;
2 The direction changes, the magnitude is preserved;
3 Both the magnitude and direction change.
i
A
r
f
A
r
A
r
?
AAA
AAA
if
if
rrr
rrr
?
?
+=
?=
Discuss 1 and 2
§2.3 the Cartesian representation of any vector
t
B
t
A
BA
t d
d
d
d
)(
d
d
rr
rr
+=+
t
B
AB
t
A
BA
t d
d
d
d
)(
d
d
r
rr
r
rr
?+?=?
t
B
AB
t
A
BA
t d
d
d
d
)(
d
d
r
rr
r
rr
×+×=×
Differentiation of a vector:
k
t
A
j
t
A
i
t
A
kAjAiA
tt
A
z
y
x
zyx
?
d
d
?
d
d
?
d
d
)
???
(
d
d
d
d
++=++=
r
9
Homework
1 read chapter 2, especially the chapter summary;
2 problems: 3, 7, 15, 20, 30, 43, 51, 58
3 preparation of chapter 3