VECTORS: ADDITION & RESOLUTION

Scalar and vector quantities; position and displacement vectors, general vectors and their
notations; equality of vectors, multiplication of vectors by a real number; addition and
subtraction of vectors, Unit vector; resolution of a vector in a plane, rectangular components,
Scalar and Vector product of vectors.
VECTORS: A vector quantity is a quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction. Any
general vector is represented as 𝐴⃗ = 𝐴𝐴̂.
The vector is represented by an arrow as shown in fig.

𝐴⃗
⃗⃗
𝐵
O

The length of the line gives the magnitude of the vector & the direction of the arrow
represents the direction of vector. The point ‘O’ from where the vector start is called the
tail or origin of vector & point ‘P’ where the vector ends is called the head or tip of
vector.
(i) Equality of Vectors: Two vectors A and B are said to be equal if, and only if, they
have the same magnitude and are in the same direction.

(ii) Negative of a vector: A vector is said to be negative of a given vector if its

magnitude is same as the given vector but direction is opposite.

(iii) Co-initial vectors: Vectors which have same initial points.

𝐴⃗
⃗⃗
𝐵
 (iv) Co-terminus Vectors: Vectors which have common terminal point.
(v) Collinear vectors: the vectors which either act along the same line/ opposite
direction.
If vectors have same direction i.e angle is zero then we call parallel vectors. If
vectors have opposite direction i.e angle is 180 then we call antiparallel vectors.
(vi) Null/zero vector: A vector having zero magnitude & has can point in an arbitrary
direction.
(vii) MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS BY REAL NUMBERS:
Multiplying a vector 𝐴⃗ with a positive number λ gives a vector whose magnitude
is changed by the factor λ but the direction is the same as that of A:
|𝜆 𝐴⃗| = λ |𝐴⃗| if λ > 0.
Multiplying a vector 𝐴⃗ by a negative number −λ gives another vector whose
direction is opposite to the direction of 𝐴⃗ and whose magnitude is λ times |𝐴⃗|.
(viii) Unit vector: A unit vector is a vector of unit magnitude and points in a particular
direction 𝐴̂.
Unit vectors along the 𝑥-, 𝑦- and 𝑧-axes of a rectangular coordinate system are
denoted by 𝑖̂, 𝑗̂ and 𝑘̂, respectively.

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS:

Parallelogram law of addition of vector: If two vectors, acting simultaneously at a point, can be
represented in magnitude & direction by the two adjacent sides of a parallelogram drawn from
a point, then the resultant is represented completely both in magnitude & direction by the
diagonal of the parallelogram drawn from that point.

Y 𝐴⃗ Z
⃗⃗
𝐵 ⃗⃗
𝐵
𝐵
⃗⃗sinθ

θ α θ
O 𝐴⃗ X N
⃗⃗cosθ
𝐵
Let the two vectors⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴&𝐵⃗⃗, inclined to each other at an angle θ be represented both in
magnitude & direction by the two adjacent sides 𝑂𝑋⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ & 𝑂𝑌
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗of the parallelogram OXYZ. Then
according to the parallelogram law of vector addition, the resultant of 𝐴⃗ & 𝐵
⃗⃗ is represented
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗of the parallelogram.
both in magnitude & direction by the diagonal 𝑂𝑍
For finding the magnitude, using Pythagoras theorem for right angled triangle OZN:
(𝑂𝑍)2 = (𝑂𝑁)2 + (𝑍𝑁)2 = (𝑂𝑋 + 𝑋𝑁)2 + (𝑍𝑁)2
(𝑅)2 = (𝐴 + 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)2 + (𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃)2
(𝑅)2 = (𝐴)2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + (𝐵)2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + (𝐵)2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
(𝑅)2 = (𝐴)2 + (𝐵)2 [𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃] + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝑅 = √𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

For direction of 𝑅⃗⃗ :Let the resultant vector make an angle ‘α’ with the direction of 𝐴⃗. Then from
right angled triangle OZN:
𝑍𝑁 𝑍𝑁 𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
tan α= 𝑂𝑁 = 𝑂𝑋+𝑋𝑁 = 𝐴+𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃.

Triangular law of vector sum: If two vectors, acting simultaneously at a point, can be
represented in magnitude & direction by the two consecutive sides of a triangle taken in the
same order, then the resultant is represented completely both in magnitude & direction by the
third side of the triangle taken in opposite order.

Special cases:

(1) 𝜃 = 0 ⃗⃗
𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 ⃗⃗
𝐵

𝑅⃗⃗
2 2 2
𝑅 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠0 (𝑐𝑜𝑠0 = 1)
𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵
𝑅 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 & Direction is along A or B.

(2) 𝜃 = 900 𝑅 = √𝐴2 + 𝐵 2

 𝐵 𝐵
tanα=𝐴 i.e α=tan-1(𝐴) with respect to vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴

⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑅 ⃗⃗
𝐵
α
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴
(3) 𝜃 = 1800 cos180=−1
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴

𝑅⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵

𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠180(𝑐𝑜𝑠180 = −1)

𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 − 2𝐴𝐵
𝑅 =𝐴−𝐵 direction is along A.
Subtraction of vectors can be defined in terms of addition of vectors.
We define the difference of two vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵 ⃗⃗ as the sum of two vectors
𝐴⃗ and –𝐵 ⃗⃗ :
𝐴⃗–𝐵 ⃗⃗= 𝐴⃗+ (–𝐵
⃗⃗)
It is shown in Fig.
The vector –𝐵 ⃗⃗ is added to
vector 𝐴⃗ to get 𝑅⃗⃗ 2 = (𝐴⃗ –𝐵
⃗⃗). The vector 𝑅⃗⃗ 1 =𝐴⃗ + 𝐵⃗⃗

Laws of vector addition:

(i) Vector addition is commutative. i.e 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗=𝐵
⃗⃗ + 𝐴⃗
(ii) Vector addition is associative. i.e 𝐴⃗ + (𝐵
⃗⃗+ 𝐶⃗)= (𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗ )+ 𝐶⃗

(iii) Addition of two vectors of same magnitude:

𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑅 = √𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 & tanα= 𝐴+𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃.

|𝐵|=|𝐴|

𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑅 2 = 𝐴2 + 𝐴2 + 2𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃=2𝐴2 (1 + cos 𝜃)

𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝜃 = (2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 𝜃 − 1) & sin2𝜃 = 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝜃
𝑅 2 =2𝐴2 [2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 2]
𝜃 𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
𝜃 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛 cos 2𝑠𝑖𝑛 cos 𝜃
2 2 2 2
𝑅 = 2𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 & tanα= 𝐴+𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = = 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛 2.
𝐴(1+𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) 2𝑐𝑜𝑠2
2
𝜃
Resultant vector bisects the angle between the vectors i.e α = 2.
Special cases:
Case1: 𝜃 = 0 R=2A & α=0
Case2: 𝜃 = 600 R=√3 A & α=300
Case3: 𝜃 = 900 R=√2 A & α=450
Case4: 𝜃 = 1200 R=A & α=600
Case5: 𝜃 = 1800 R=zero thus we get null vector.
1. Establish the following vector inequalities geometrically or otherwise: 4.6
(i) |a+b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(ii) |a+b| ≥ ||a| −|b||
(iii)|a−b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(iv) |a−b| ≥ ||a| − |b||
Q

𝑅⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗
𝑏

O ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑎 P
(i) In the triangle OPQ, since one side of a triangle is always smaller than the sum of
the other two sides i.e OQ < OP+PQ
|𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|<|𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗+𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|+|⃗⃗⃗
𝑏|

⃗⃗⃗⃗&⃗⃗⃗
If the angle between vectors 𝑎 𝑏 is zero, then |𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|=|𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗+𝑏 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|+|⃗⃗⃗
𝑏|
Thus, in general |a+b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(ii) In the triangle OPQ, since sum of two sides of a triangle is always greater than
the third side i.e OQ +PQ > OP
OQ >|OP − PQ|
|a+b| > ||a| −|b||
⃗⃗⃗⃗&⃗⃗⃗
When: 𝜃 = 1800 , i.e when the vectors 𝑎 𝑏 are in straight line but in opposite
direction
|a+b| = ||a| −|b||
Thus, in general |a+b| ≥ ||a| −|b||
(iii)
O ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑎 P

−⃗⃗⃗
𝑏
S
In the triangle OPS, since one side of a triangle is always smaller than the sum of
the other two sides i.e OS < OP+PS
⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|+|−⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 |<|𝑎 𝑏|

⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝑎 ⃗⃗⃗⃗|+|⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 |<|𝑎 𝑏|

⃗⃗⃗⃗&⃗⃗⃗
when the vectors 𝑎 𝑏 are in straight line but in opposite direction
|𝑎⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗|+|⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 |=|𝑎 𝑏|
Thus, in general |a−b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(iv) In the triangle OPS, since sum of two sides of a triangle is always greater than the
third side i.e OS +PS > OP
OS >|OP − PS|
⃗⃗⃗⃗|>||a| −|−b||
⃗⃗⃗⃗ − 𝑏
|𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝑎 𝑏 |>||a| −|b||

⃗⃗⃗⃗&⃗⃗⃗
When the vectors 𝑎 𝑏 are in straight line & in same direction, then
|𝑎⃗⃗⃗⃗ − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 |=||a| −|b||
Thus, in general, |a−b| ≥ ||a| − |b||
Polygon law of addition of vectors: If a number of vectors, are represented both in
magnitude & direction by the sides of a polygon taken in same order, then their
resultant is represented completely both in magnitude & direction by the closing side of
the polygon taken in opposite order.

RESOLUTION OF VECTOR: It is a process of splitting of a vector into two or more vectors

in desired direction. The vectors into which the given vector is splited are called
component vectors.
Rectangular component of a vector:
Consider a vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴 that lies in 𝑥 − 𝑦 plane as shown in Fig.1 We draw lines from the
head of 𝐴 perpendicular to the coordinate axes as in Fig. 2, and get vectors ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴 1 and ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴2
such that 𝐴 ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 + 𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗2 = 𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗. Since 𝐴⃗⃗⃗⃗1 is parallel to 𝑖̂ and 𝐴
⃗⃗⃗⃗2 is parallel to 𝑗̂ , we have:
⃗⃗⃗⃗1= 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂
𝐴 &𝐴 ⃗⃗⃗⃗2 = 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂
where 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 are real numbers & are called x-, and y- components of the vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐴.
⃗⃗⃗⃗=𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂
𝐴

Using simple trigonometry, we can express 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 in terms of the magnitude of A

and the angle q it makes with the x-axis:
𝐴𝑥 = A cos𝜃 ...........(1)
𝐴𝑦 = Asin𝜃 .............(2)
The component of a vector can be positive, negative or zero depending on the value of
q. If A and 𝜃 are given, 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 can be obtained.
If component of a vectors are given, how to get 𝐴 ⃗⃗⃗⃗
If 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 are given, A and 𝜃 can be obtained as follows:
Square ….(1) & ……(2) & add
 𝐴2𝑥 = 𝐴2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 θ
𝐴2𝑦 = 𝐴2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ

𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 = 𝐴2 (𝑐𝑜𝑠 2 θ + 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 θ)

𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 = 𝐴2

∴ 𝐴 = √𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦

𝐴𝑦
Divide …(2) by …..(1) 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 = 𝐴
𝑥

The same procedure can be used to resolve a general vector 𝐴⃗ into three
components along x-, y-, and z-axes in three dimensions. If 𝛼, 𝛽, and 𝛾 are the angles
between 𝐴⃗ and the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively [Fig. 4.9(d)], we have:
𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼
𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽
𝐴𝑧 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛾
A general vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 can be resolved into three components along x-, y-, and z-axes in
three dimensions.
⃗⃗⃗⃗=𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂
𝐴
Magnitude of vector is 𝐴 = √𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴2𝑧 .

Addition & subtraction of two vectors:

Given vectors:
𝐴 =𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂ & ⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝐵 =𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐴
𝑅 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ + 𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 )𝑖̂ + (𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 )𝑗̂ + (𝐴𝑧 + 𝐵𝑍 )𝑘̂
𝑅

⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑅𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝑅𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑅𝑧 𝑘̂
𝑅
𝑅𝑥 = (𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑥 )
𝑅𝑦 = (𝐴𝑦 + 𝐵𝑦 )
 𝑅𝑧 = (𝐴𝑧 + 𝐵𝑧 )
Similarly:
⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑅 = ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐴 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐵
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 − 𝐵𝑥 )𝑖̂ + (𝐴𝑦 − 𝐵𝑦 )𝑗̂ + (𝐴𝑧 − 𝐵𝑍 )𝑘̂
𝑅
SINE RULE (LAAMI’S THEOREM)

In ∆ OSN, SN =OS𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 =R𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼,

and in ∆PSN, SN =PS 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =B𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃.
Therefore, R𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 = B𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 or,

R B
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 ……………..(i)
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
In ∆ OPM, PM =OP𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 =A𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼

and in ∆PSM, PM =PS𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 =B𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽

Similarly, PM = A𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 = B𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 or,

A B
= …………….(ii)
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼
From the ……(i) &……(ii) we get
R B A
= =
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛼 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝛽
 PRODUCT OF VECTORS

Scalar or Dot product Vector or Cross product

𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
The scalar product of two vectors is The vector product of two vectors is equal to
equal to the product of magnitude of one the product of magnitude of one vector & the
vector & the magnitude of component of magnitude of component of other vector
other vector in the direction of first perpendicular to the first vector. Direction is
vector. given by right hand rule as:
If one curls up the fingers of right hand
around a line perpendicular to the plane of
the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵 ⃗⃗ and if the fingers are
curled up in the direction from 𝐴⃗ to 𝐵 ⃗⃗, then
the stretched thumb points in the direction
of 𝐶⃗. Thus 𝐶⃗ is perpendicular to both 𝐴⃗ & 𝐵 ⃗⃗
𝐶 = 𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ = |𝐴||𝐵|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝐶⃗ = 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 ⃗⃗ = |𝐴||𝐵|𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
C is a scalar quantity. 𝐶⃗ is a vector quantity

Given two vectors: Given two vectors:

𝐴⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂. 𝐴⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂.
⃗⃗ = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂.
𝐵 𝐵⃗⃗ = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂ .
𝐶 = 𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧 𝐶⃗ = 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵⃗⃗ = (𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦 )𝑖̂
− (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑥 )𝑗̂
Magnitude of vector is + (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦 − 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑥 )𝑘̂
OR
|𝐴| = √𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2 . ⃗ ⃗⃗
𝐴 × 𝐵 can be put in a determinant form:
 𝑖̂ −𝑗̂ 𝑘̂
⃗ ⃗ ⃗⃗ 𝐴
𝐶 =𝐴×𝐵 = | 𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧 |
|𝐵| = √𝐵𝑥2 + 𝐵𝑦2 + 𝐵𝑧2
𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧

𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
|𝐴||𝐵| |𝐴||𝐵|

If 𝐴⃗ ⊥ 𝐵
⃗⃗, 𝜃 = 900 & 𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 0 If 𝐴⃗ ∥ 𝐵⃗⃗, 𝜃 = 00 & 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵⃗⃗ = 0
(i) A unit vector perpendicular to the
plane of two vectors
𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗
𝑛̂ =
|𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗ |

(ii) If two vectors 𝐴⃗ & 𝐵

⃗⃗ represents
the adjacent sides of a
parallelogram the area of
parallelogram is given by |𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗ |.
Scalar product of two vectors is Vector product of two vectors is anti-
commutative. commutative.
𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐵
⃗⃗ . 𝐴⃗ 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗ = −(𝐵
⃗⃗ × 𝐴⃗)