Vectors

A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction. Examples include, force,
displacement, acceleration, momentum and velocity.

Representation of a vector

A vector is represented by a line with an arrow to indicate the direction of the vector.
A
OA
O
where the order of the letters shows the direction

Vectors in dimensions

Vectors can be represented in three dimensions as I, j and k along the x, y and z- axes respectively

Resultant of vectors

When several vectors (V1, V2, V3… Vn) are acting on a point object, the net vector R, is calculated as
the vector sum

R = V1 + V2 + V3 + … + Vn = ∑𝑟=𝑁
𝑟=1 𝑉𝑟

Example 1

Find the resultant of the following vectors

(a) (2i + 3j + 3k) and (2i + 4j – 8k)

2 2 4
𝑅 = (3) + ( 4 ) = ( 7 ) 𝑜𝑟 4𝑖 + 7𝑗 − 5𝑘
3 −8 −5
(b) (7i – 4j + 3k), (5i -2j + 8k), (i –k)
7 5 1 13
𝑅 = (−4) + (−2) + ( 0 ) = (−6) 𝑜𝑟 13𝑖 − 6𝑗 + 10𝑘
3 8 −1 10
Example 2

The resultant of (5i -2j), (7i + 4j), (ai + bj) and (-3i + 2j) is (5i + 5j). Find the values of a and b.
 5 7 𝑎 −3 5
𝑅= ( )+( )+( )+( )=( )
−2 4 𝑏 2 5
9+𝑎 5
=( )= ( )
4+𝑏 5
9 + a = 5; a = -4 also 4 + b = 5; b = 1

Example 3

The resultant of the forces (3i + (a-c)j)N, ((2a + 3c)I + 5j)N and (4i, 6j)N acting on a particle is
(10i + 12j)N. find

(i) Values of a and c

3 2𝑎 + 3𝑐 4 10 (i) + 3(ii)
𝑅=( )+ ( )+( )= ( )
𝑎−𝑐 5 6 12
2a + 3c + 7 = 10 5a = 6; a = 1.2
2a + 3c = 3 ……….. (i) from eqn. (ii)
a –c +11 = 12
a – c = 1 ………….. (ii) c = 0.2

(ii) magnitude of (2a + 3c)I + 5j

R = (2a + 3c)I + 5j = (1.2 x 2 + 3 x 0.2)i + 5j = 3i + 5j

|𝑅| = √32 + 52 = 5.831𝑁

Magnitude or modulus of a vector

This is the length of a vector

(i) Given R = xi + yj; |𝑅| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

(ii) Given R = xi + yj + zk; |𝑅| = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2

Example 5

Find the magnitude of the following vectors

(a) 3i + 4j; |𝑅| = √32 + 42 =5

(b) 3i + 2j – 6k; |𝑅| = √32 + 22 (−6)2 = 7

Direction of a vector
Consider R = xi + yj

𝑥
𝜃 = tan−1 ( )
𝑦

Example 6

Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of each of the following
 (a) (2i + 3j)N, (5t – 2j)N, (-3i, 3j)
2 5 −3 4
𝑅 = ( )+ ( )+ ( )= ( ) 𝜃 = tan−1 ( )= 450
4
3 −2 3 4 4
|𝑅| = √42 + 42 = 5.6569N
2 −6 2
(b) ( ) 𝑁, ( ) 𝑁𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) 𝑁
4 −5 1
2 −6 2 −2
𝑅 = ( ) +, ( ) + ( ) = ( ) 𝜃 = tan−1 ( )= 1800
0
4 −5 1 0 −2
2
|𝑅| = √(−2) + 0 = 2N 2

Example 7

Four forces of ai + (a-1)j, 3i + 2aj, 5i -6j, and –i -2j act on a particle. The resultant forces make an
angle of 450 with horizontal. Find a. Hence determine the magnitude of the resultant force.
𝑎 3 5 −1
𝑅= ( )+( )+ ( )+ ( ) 𝑎+7
𝑎−1 2𝑎 −6 −2 = tan−1 (450 ) = 1
3𝑎−9
𝑎+7
=( ) a + 7 = 3a – 9, a = 8
3𝑎 − 9
𝑎+7 8+7 15
𝑅=( )= ( )=( )
3𝑎 − 9 3𝑥8−9 15
|𝑅| = √152 + 152 = 21.21N

Unit vector
This a vector whose magnitude is unit (1)
𝑟
Unit vector of r denoted by r = |𝑟|

Example 8

Find the unit vector of a = 6i -2j + 3k

Solution
6i −2j + 3k 1
a= = (6i − 2j + 3k)
√62 + (−2)2 +32 7

Parallel vectors

If vectors a and b are parallel, then one of them is a scalar multiple of the other.
xi + yj + zk
If a vector r of magnitude |𝑟| moves in direction xi + yj + zk then, r =|𝑟| ( )
√𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2

Example 9

Find the vector, V which has a magnitude of 15 units and is parallel to 16i + 12j
16i + 12j 16i + 12j
V = 15 x = 15 x = 12𝑖 + 9𝑗
√162 +122 20

Example 10

A body of velocity v and of magnitude 20m/s moves in the direction 6i + 8j. Find V.
 6i + 8j 6i + 8j
V = 20 x = 20 x = 12𝑖 + 16𝑗
√62 +82 10

Example 11

A force of magnitude 12N acts on a body in the direction 2i + j + 2k. Find the force
2i + j + 2k 2i + j + 2k
V = 12 x = 12𝑥 = 8𝑖 + 4𝑗 + 8𝑘
√22 +12 + 22 3

Example 12
1
The force A of magnitude 5N in the direction with unit vector (3𝑖 + 4𝑗) and force B of magnitude
5
1
13N in the direction with unit vector (5𝑖 − 12𝑗). Find the resultant forces of A and B.
13
1 3 8
FA = (3𝑖 + 4𝑗)𝑥5 = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 5
5 F = ( )+ ( )=( )
4 −12 −8
1
FB = (5𝑖 − 12𝑗) 𝑥 13 = 5𝑖 − 12𝑗 |𝐹| = √82 + (−8)2 = 11.3137N
13

Example 13

A particle P moves through a displacement of 2m when acted o by two forces F1 and F2. Find the
work done by the resultant force, if F1 = i – j and F2 = 10 N and acts in the direction 4i + 3j

Solution
1 8 9
F =( )+( )=( )
F1 = i – j −1 6 5

4i + 3j |𝐹| = √92 + 52 = 10.2956N

F2 = 10 𝑥 = 8i + 6j
√4 2 +3 2
W = |𝐹| 𝑥 𝑑 = 10.2956 x 2 = 20.5912J

Revision exercise 1
1. Find the resultant of each of the following forces
(a) (6i + 2j)N, (-5i + j)N, (3i – 3j)N. [(4i)N]
(b) (2i + 4j)N, (3i -5j), (6i +2j)N, (-7i – 7j)N. [(4i -6j)N]
(c) (2i + 3j -7k)N, (2i + 5k)N, (3j + 4k)N. [(4i + 6j + 2k)N]
2. The resultant of forces (5i + 7j), (ai + bj) and (bi –aj)N is a force (11i + 5j)N. Find a and b.
[a = 4, b = 2]
3. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of each of the following;
(a) (-2i + 5j)N, (I + 2j)N. [ 7.07N at 98.10]
(b) (6i + 2j)N, (4i – 3j)N. [10.05N at 354.30]
(c) (3i + 2j), (-5i + j)N. [3.61N at 1240]
4. A force of magnitude 50N acts on a body in the direction 24i + 7j. Find the force. [(48i + 14j)]
5. Two forces F1 and F2 have magnitude αN and βN and act in the direction i -2j and 4i + 3j
respectively. Given that the resultant of F1 and F2 is (48i + 14j). Find the magnitude of αN and
βN. [α = 8√5N and β = 50N]
6. If a = 3i + 4j, b = 4i + 20j and c = 5i – 19j; find the
(i) resultant of a and b [(7i + 24j)]
(ii) resultant of a and c [(8i – 15j)]
(iii) vector is parallel to a and has magnitude of 15 unit [(9i + 12j)]
 (iv) vector parallel to (a + b) and has a magnitude of 100 units [(28i + 96j]
7. If a = 2i + 5j, b = -7i + 7j and 14i. Find the;
(i) resultant of a and b [(-5i + 12j)]
(ii) resultant of a, b and c [(9i + 12j)]
(iii) |b| [7√2]
(iv) |a + b + c| [15units]
(v) vector is parallel to a and has a magnitude of 5√29 units. (10i + 25j)
(vi) Vector is parallel to (a + b + c) and has magnitude 90 units. [(54i + 72j)]
8. If a = i -3j + 2k, b = 5i + 4j and c = 3i + j + 4k. Find the
(i) resultant of a and b [(6i + j + 2k)]
(ii) resultant of a, b and c.[(9i + 2j + 6k)
(iii) |a| [√14]
(iv) |a + b + c|[11units]
5
(v) Vector parallel to (a + b + c) and has magnitude 5 units [ (9𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 6𝑘)]
11
9. If a = 2i + 7j + 7k, b = 6i -3j + 2k and c = -4j -3k. find the
(i) resultant a and b [8i +4jj + 9k]
(ii) resultant a and c [2i + 3j + 4k
(iii) |b| [7units]
(iv) |a + b + c| [10 units]
(v) vector is parallel to |a + b + c| and has magnitude of 50 units [40i + 30k]

Scalar products or dot products

The dot product of two vectors a and b inclined at angle θ is given by

a.b = |𝒂||𝒃| 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽

Note

If two vectors are perpendicular then the angle between them is 900 and

a.b = |𝒂||𝒃| 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟗𝟎 = 𝟎

Example 14

If a = i – 2k and b = 3i – 3j + k, find

(i) a.b (ii) the angle between a and b

Solution
1 3
(i) a.b = ( 0 ) . (−3)= 3 + 0 + -2 = 1
−2 1
𝑎.𝑏 1
(ii) 𝜃 = cos −1 (|𝑎||𝑏|) = cos −1 = 84.10
√12 + (2)2 √32 +(−3)2 +12

Example 15

If p = 2i – j + 3k and q = i + 4j + 3k; find the angle between p and q.

Solution
 2 1
p.q = (−1) . (4) = 2 + -4 + 9 = 7
3 3
𝑝.𝑞 7
𝜃 = cos −1 (|𝑝||𝑞|) = cos −1 = 680
√22 + (−1)2 +32 √12 +4 2 +32

Example 16

If the angle between two vectors a = xi + 2j and b = 3i + j is 450.Find the two possible values of
constant x.

Solution
𝑥 3
( ) . ( ) = √𝑥 2 + 22 .√32 + 12 x2 + 3x – 4 = 0
2 1
√2 (x + 4)(x -1) = 0
3x + 2 = √𝑥 2 + 22 . √10.
2
x = -4 and x = 1
2
(3x + 2)2 = (x2 + 4). 10 x
4

Example 17

If p = 2αi + 7j – k and q = 3αi + αj + 3k.Find the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular

Solution
2𝛼 3𝛼
( 7 ).( 𝛼 ) = 0
−1 3
6α2 + 7α – 3 = 0
1 3
α = and α =
3 2

Revision exercise 2
1. Find the scalar products for each of the following pairs of vectors.
(i) a = 2i + j, b = i - 3j [-1] 0 −3
(ii) a = 3i, b = -2i + j [-6] (vii) ( 5 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( 2 ) [8]
(iii) a = 5i + j - 2k, b= 4i + 3j – 8k [39] −2 1
(iv) 2i + 4j – 15k and -8i + 2j – k [7] 5 1
2 3 (vi) ( 2 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( 2 ) [2]
(v) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [4]
1 −2 7 −1
5 2
(vi) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [6]
−1 4

2. Find the angles between each of the following pairs of vectors

(i) 3i + 4j and 5i – 12j [1210] 3 1
(ii) 3i and -2j [900] (v) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [820]
1 −2
(iii) 2i + 3j – 6k and 2i + j + 2k [100]
6 5
(iv) i + 2j – k and –I + 2j – k [480] (vi) ( ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( ) [920]
−8 4
 0 −1 2 2
(v) (vii) ( 1 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( 0 ) [1200] (viii) (2) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ( 1 ) [730]
−1 1 3 −1
3. If a = αi + 2j – k and b = 5i –αj + k. Find the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular
1
[ ]
3
4. If a = 2i + αj and b = -α – k. Find the value of the scalar α if the vectors are perpendicular [0]
5. If a = 4i + 5j and b = qi – 8j. Find the value of scalar q if the vectors are perpendicular. [10]
6. If a = 6i – j and b = 2i + pk. Find the value of scalar p if the vectors are perpendicular [12]
𝑞 −1
7. Given ( 2 + 𝑞 ) and ( 3 ) are perpendicular vectors. Find the value of q. [18]
3 4−𝑞
8. If a = qi + 8j +(3q + 1)k and b = (q+1)I + (q-1)j – 2k. Find the value of the possible values of
constant q if the vectors are perpendicular. [2 or -2]