SCALARS

&
VECTORS
INTRODUCTION SCALARS AND VECTORS

Course Teacher: Mr. Md. Motiur Rahman

Assistant Professor,
Department of Mathematics
Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur
B.S (Hon’s) in Mathematics (RU)
M.S in Applied and computational Mathematics (RU)
Mob. : +8801740382039
E-mail: [email protected]
 Contents
• Introduction
• What is Scalar?
• What is Vector?
• Application of Vector in Engineering
• Graphical Representation of Vector
• Analytical Representation of Vector
• Types of Vectors
• Vector Algebra (Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication)
• Zero Vector
• Unit Vector
• Rectangular Unit Vector
• Components of a Vector
• Scalar Field
• Vector Field
 Introduction
Early Beginnings: The Notion of Direction and Magnitude
• Euclid and Archimedes laid the groundwork for vector concepts, though they didn't
formalize vectors as we know them today.
Vector Algebra
•17th Century: René Descartes and Isaac Newton

The Development of Vector Calculus

• Gibbs is one of the key figures who formalized modern
vector analysis in the late 19th century.

• He introduced the notations for the dot product and

cross product, which are still used today in vector
calculus and physics.

• His work was instrumental in making vector calculus a

practical tool for physicists and engineers, particularly Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839–1903)
in electromagnetism and mechanics.
 What
is Scalar?
 Length of a car is 4.5 m

physical quantity magnitude

 Mass of gold bar is 1 kg

physical quantity magnitude

 Time is 12.76 s

physical quantity magnitude

A scalar is a physical quantity that
has only a magnitude.
Examples:
• Mass • Temperature
• Length • Volume
• Time • Density
 What
is Vector?
 California North
Carolina

Position of California from North Carolina is 3600 km

in west
physical quantity magnitude
direction
 USA China

Displacement from USA to China is 11600 km

in east
physical quantity magnitude
direction
A vector is a physical quantity that has
both a magnitude and a direction.
Examples:
• Position • Acceleration
• Displacement • Momentum
• Velocity • Force
 Application of Vectors in Engineering
Vectors play a crucial role in solving complex engineering problems. They are
used to describe quantities with both magnitude and direction, essential for
understanding various physical phenomena.
Applications of vectors span multiple fields of engineering including
mechanical, civil, electrical, and aerospace engineering.
•Physics:
Vectors are used to describe forces, velocities, and accelerations.
• Mechanical Engineering
Vectors describe forces acting on structures and mechanical systems.
Analysis of stresses, strains, and moments requires vector operations.
Used in calculating torque, velocity, and acceleration in dynamic systems.
• Civil Engineering
Used to model forces acting on buildings, bridges, and roads.
Important in the analysis of load distribution, tension, and compression.
Helps in understanding the equilibrium of forces in static structures.
 Application of Vectors in Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
Electrical fields and magnetic fields are described using vectors.
Vector calculus is used in analyzing electromagnetic waves and fields.
Used in circuit analysis, especially when dealing with alternating current (AC).
Electric Fields and Forces: 𝐹 = qE
current and voltage in AC circuit:
Voltage: v 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃𝑣
Current: i 𝑡 = 𝑉𝑚 sin 𝜔𝑡 + 𝜃𝑖

• Aerospace Engineering
Vectors are used to describe velocity, thrust, and aerodynamic forces.
Flight dynamics and navigation are modeled using vector quantities.
Key in trajectory analysis and satellite navigation.
 Application of Vectors in Engineering
• Textile Engineering

• Fiber Orientation: Determines fabric strength and stiffness based on yarn/fiber

directions.
• Stress & Strain: Analyzes force distribution in fabrics during stretching or compression.
• Yarn Mechanics: Studies twist, tension, and force balance in yarn production.
• Machine Dynamics: Optimizes motion of weaving/knitting machine parts using velocity
and force vectors.
• Air/Water Jet Looms: Analyzes jet flow direction and force for efficient yarn insertion.
• Heat & Mass Transfer: Models heat and moisture movement in functional fabrics.
Graphical Representation of a vector

terminus or
terminal point

origin or
initial point

Symbolically it is represented as AB
 Analytical Representation of a vector
They are also represented by a single capital
letter with an arrow above it as A or
bold faced type such as A and its
magnitude is denoted by A or A .
A B P
 Representation of a vector

Some vector quantities are represented by their

respective symbols with an arrow above it.

r v F

Position velocity Force

 Types
of Vectors
(on the basis of orientation)
 Parallel Vectors

Two vectors are said to be parallel vectors, if

they have same direction.

P
A
B Q
 Equal Vectors
Two parallel vectors are said to be equal vectors,
if they have same magnitude.

P
A
B
Q

A=B P=Q
 Anti-parallel Vectors

Two vectors are said to be anti-parallel vectors,

if they are in opposite directions.

P
A
B Q
 Negative Vectors

Two anti-parallel vectors are said to be negative

vectors, if they have same magnitude.

P
A
B
Q

A = −B P = −Q
 Collinear Vectors
Two vectors are said to be collinear vectors,
if they act along a same line.

B
Q

A P
 Co-initial Vectors
Two or more vectors are said to be co-initial
vectors, if they have common initial point.

A B
C
D
 Co-terminus Vectors
Two or more vectors are said to be co-terminus
vectors, if they have common terminal point.

B
A

C
D
 Coplanar Vectors
Three or more vectors are said to be coplanar
vectors, if they lie in the same plane.
C
A

B D
 Non-coplanar Vectors
Three or more vectors are said to be non-coplanar
vectors, if they are distributed in space.

A B
C
 Types
of Vectors
(on the basis of effect)
 Polar Vectors

Vectors having straight line effect are

called polar vectors.
Examples:

• Displacement • Acceleration
• Velocity • Force
 Axial Vectors

Vectors having rotational effect are

called axial vectors.
Examples:

• Angular momentum • Angular acceleration

• Angular velocity • Torque
 Vector Algebra

The operation of addition, subtraction, multiplication

familiar in the algebra of numbers or scalars
are, with definition, capable of extension to
an algebra of vector.
 Vector
Addition
(Geometrical Method)
 Triangle Law
The sum or resultant of vectors A and B is a vector C formed
by placing the initial point of B on the initial point of A and
then joining the initial point of A to terminal point of B. C

B
A

B
A
C=A+B
 Parallelogram Law

B A

A B
A B

A B C=A+B
 Polygon Law
A B
A

D C
E
B
D
C
E=A+B+C+D
 Commutative Property
A
C
B B
C
A

C=A+B=B+A

Therefore, addition of vectors obey commutative law.

 Associative Property
C C

D D
B B

A A

D = (A + B) + C = A + (B + C)

Therefore, addition of vectors obey associative law.

 Zero vector
If A=B, A-B is defined as the null or zero vector and represented
by the symbol 0 or simply 0. It has zero magnitude and no specific
direction. A vector which is not null is a proper vector.

Generally a null vector is either equal to resultant

of two equal vectors acting in opposite directions
or multiple vectors in different directions.
 Vector
Addition
(Analytical Method)
 Magnitude of Resultant
B C OC2 = OA2 + 2OA × AM + AC2
Q R In ∆CAM,
θ
AM
θ cos θ = ⇒ AM = AC cos θ
O A M AC
P
In ∆OCM, OC2 = OA2 + 2OA × AC cos θ
+ AC2
OC2 = OM2 + CM2
R2 = P2 + 2P × Q cos θ + Q2
OC2 = (OA + AM)2 + CM2
OC2 = OA2 + 2OA × AM + AM2 R= P 2 + 2PQ cos θ + Q2
+ CM2
 Direction of Resultant
B C In ∆OCM,
Q R CM
tan α =
OM
α θ
O CM
P A M tan α =
OA+AM
In ∆CAM, AC sin θ
tan α =
CM OA+AC cos θ
sin θ = AC ⇒ CM = AC sin θ
Q sin θ
AM tan α =
cos θ ⇒ AM = AC cos θ P + Q cos θ
AC
 Case I – Vectors are parallel (𝜃 = 𝟎°)
P + Q = R

Magnitude: Direction:
Q sin 0°
R= P2 + 2PQ cos 0° + Q2 tan α =
P + Q cos 0°
R= P2 + 2PQ + Q2 0
tan α = =0
R= (P + Q)2 P +Q

R=P+Q α = 0°
Case II – Vectors are perpendicular (𝜃 = 𝟗𝟎°)
R
P + Q = Q
α
P
Magnitude: Direction:
R= P2 + 2PQ cos 90° + Q2 Q sin 90° Q
tan α = =
P + Q cos 90° P +0
R= P 2 + 0 + Q2
Q
α = tan−1
R= P 2 + Q2 P
Case III – Vectors are anti-parallel (𝜃 = 𝟏𝟖𝟎°)

P − Q = R

Magnitude: Direction:
Q sin 180°
R= P2 + 2PQ cos 180° + Q2 tan α = =0
P + Q cos 180°
R= P2 − 2PQ + Q2
If P > Q: α = 0°
R= (P − Q)2
R=P−Q If P < Q: α = 180°
 Unit vectors
A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of exactly 1 and
drawn in the direction of given vector. If A is a vector
with magnitude 𝐴 ≠ 0 the A/A is a unit vector of having
the same direction of A.

• It lacks both dimension and unit.

• Its only purpose is to specify a direction
in space.
• Any vector A can be represented by a a
unit vector a in the direction of A
multiplied by the magnitude of A. In
symbols, A=Aa
 Cartesian unit vectors
An important set of unit vectors are those
having the directions of the positive x, y 𝑦
and z axes of a three dimensional
rectangular coordinate system are known as −𝑧
rectangular or Cartesian unit vectors and 𝑗
denoted by i, j and k -k
-i i
−𝑥 𝑥
k

-𝑗
Z

−𝑦
 Resolution of a Vector
It is the process of splitting a vector into two or more vectors
in such a way that their combined effect is same as that of
the given vector.

A
A𝑛
𝑡
A𝑡
Rectangular Components of 2D Vectors

𝑦
A
A𝑦𝑗

A𝑦 A θ

θ 𝑥
O
A𝑥 A = A 𝑥 𝑖 + A𝑦 𝑗
Rectangular Components of 2D Vectors

A𝑦
sin θ = ⇒ A𝑦 = A sin θ
A A
A
θ A𝑥
A𝑥
cos θ = ⇒ A𝑥 = A cos θ
A
Magnitude & direction from components

A = A 𝑥 𝑖 + A𝑦 𝑗 Magnitude:

A=

A𝑦 A Direction:

θ A𝑦
θ = tan−1
A𝑥 A𝑥
 Rectangular Components of 3D Vectors
𝑦
A = A′ + A 𝑦
A
A𝑦 A = A𝑥 + A𝑧 + A 𝑦
A𝑥
𝑥 A = A𝑥 + A 𝑦 + A𝑧
A𝑧
A′
𝑧 A=
The vector Axi, Ayj and Azk are called the rectangular component vectors or simply component
vectors of A in the x, y and z directions respectively. Ax, Ay and Az are called rectangular
components or simply components of A in the x, y and z directions respectively.
 Position Vector
A position vector is defined as a vector that indicates either the position or the location of any
given point with respect to any arbitrary reference point like the origin. The direction of the
position vector always points from the origin of that vector towards the given point.

•In the cartesian coordinate system, if O is the

origin and P(x1, y1) is another point, then the
position vector that is being directed from the
point O to the point P can be represented as OP.

•In a three-dimensional space, if the origin O

(0,0,0) and P (x, y, z) then the position vector r of
point P can be represented as:
r xi yj zk
Rectangular Components of 3D Vectors

A𝑥
A cos 𝛼 =
A
𝛼
𝑥
A𝑥
A = A cos 𝛼
𝑧
Rectangular Components of 3D Vectors

A𝑦
cos 𝛽 =
A𝑦
𝛽 A A
𝑥
A𝑦 = A cos 𝛽
𝑧
Rectangular Components of 3D Vectors

A𝑧
cos 𝛾 =
𝛾 A
A
𝑥
A𝑧
A𝑧 = A cos 𝛾
𝑧
Magnitude & direction from components
Magnitude:

A𝑦 A= 𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2

A Direction:
A𝑥 A𝑦
𝛽 𝛼= cos−1 𝛽= cos−1
A A
𝛾 𝛼
A𝑥
A𝑧
A𝑧 𝛾 = cos−1
A
 Adding vectors by components

then
Multiplying
vectors
 Multiplying a vector by a scalar

• If we multiply a vector A by a scalar s, we get a

new vector.

• Its magnitude is the product of the magnitude

of A and the absolute value of s.

• Its direction is the direction of A if s is positive

but the opposite direction if s is negative.
 Multiplying a vector by a scalar
If s is positive:
A
2A

If s is negative:
A

−3A
Scalar and Vector Field
Thank
you