1.A quantity which has magnitude as well as direction is called a vector.
2.A directed line segment is called a vector.
The point X from where the vector starts is called the initial point and the point Y where it ends is called the terminal point.
3.For vector XY,––––– magnitude = distance between X and Y, denoted by |XY|––––––, and is greater than or equal to zero.
4.The distance between the initial point and the terminal point is called the magnitude of the vector.
5.The position vector of point P = (x1. y1. z1) with respect to the origin is given by OP––––=→r=√x21+y21+z21.
6.If the position vector OP–––– of a point P makes angles α, β and γ with the x, y and z axes, respectively, then α, β and γ are called the direction angles and cos α, cos β and cos γ are called the direction cosines of the position vector OP––––.
7.λ = cos α, m = cos β and n = cos γ are called the direction cosines of→r.
8.The numbers Ir, mr and nr, proportional to I, m and n, are called the direction ratios of the vector →r and are denoted by a, b and c.
In general, l2 + m2 + n2 = 1, but a2 + b2 + c2 ≠ 1.
9.Vectors can be classified on the basis of position and magnitude. On the basis of magnitude, vectors are classified as zero vectors and unit vectors. On the basis of position, vectors are classified as co- initial vectors, parallel vectors, free vectors and collinear vectors.
10.A zero vector is a vector whose initial and terminal points coincide and is denoted by →0 . →0 is called the additive identity.
11.A unit vector has a magnitude equal to 1. A unit vectorin the direction of the given vector →a is denoted by ˆa.
12.For a given vector →a , the vector ˆa=→a∣∣→a∣∣.. gives the unit vector in the direction of →a.
13.Co-initial vectors are vectors with the same initial point.
14.Collinear vectors are parallel to the same line irrespective of their magnitudes and directions.
15.Two vectors are said to be parallel if they are non-zero scalar multiples of one another.
16.Equal vectors, as the name suggests, are vectors which have the same magnitude and direction irrespective of their initial points.
17.The negative vector of a given vector →a is a vector which has the same magnitude as →a but its direction is the opposite of →a .
18.A system of vectors is said to be coplanar, if the vectors lie in the same plane.
19.Reciprocal of a vector: A vector with the same direction as that of the given vector →a but magnitude equal to the reciprocal of the given vector is known as the reciprocal of →a and is denoted by a−1––––.
Thus, if →a is a vector with magnitude a, then ∣∣a−1––––∣∣=1a...
20.A vector whose initial position is not fixed is called a free vector.
21.Two vectors can be added using the triangle law and parallelogram law of vector addition.
22.Triangle Law of Vector Addition: Suppose two vectors are represented by two sides of a triangle in sequence, then the third closing side of the triangle represents the sum of the two vectors.
23.Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition: If two vectors →a and →b are represented by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram in magnitude and direction, then their sum →a + →b is represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram.
24.Vector addition is both commutative as well as associative.
Thus, (i) Commutative: For any two vectors →a and →b , we have
→a+→b=→b+→a
(ii) Associativity: For any three vectors, →a, →b, and →c , we have
(→a + →b) + →c = →a + (→b + →c)
25.Difference of vectors: To subtract a vector BC–––– from vector AB–––– , its negative is added to AB––––.
.
29.If →a is any vector and k is any scalar, then the scalar product of →a and k is k→a. k →a is also a vector, collinear to the vector→a.
k > 0 ⇒ k →ahas the same direction as →a.
k < 0 ⇒ k →a has the opposite direction as →a.
Magnitude of k →a is |k| times the magnitude of vector k→a.
30.Unit vectors along OX, OY and OZ are denoted by ˆi,ˆj and ˆk, respectively.
Vector −−→OP = →r = xˆi+ yˆj + zˆk is called the component form of vector r.
Here, x, y and z are called the scalar components of →r in the directions of and ˆi,ˆj and ˆk, and
xˆi, yˆj and zˆk are called the vector components of the vector r along the respective axes.
31.Two vectors →a and →b are collinear ⇔→b = k →a, where k is a non-zero scalar. Vectors→a and k →a are always collinear.
32.If →a and →b are equal, then |→a| = |→b|.
33.If P(x1, y1, z1) and Q (x2, y2, z2) are any two points, then the vector joining P and Q is −−→PQ = position vector of Q — position vector of P, i.e.,
34.Components of a vector in two dimensions: If Q is a point X(a, b), then
iii.The components of −−→OOalong the x-axis is a vector aˆi whose magnitude is |a| and whose direction is along OX or OX’ as a is positive or negative.
iv.The components of −−→OQ along the y-axis is a vector bˆj whose magnitude is |b| and whose direction is along OY or OY’ as b is positive or negative.
35. Components of a vector in three dimensions: If Q is a point X(a, b, c), then
iii.The components of −−→OQ along the x-axis is a vector aˆi whose magnitude is |a| and whose direction is along OX or OX’ as a is positive or negative.
iv.The components of −−→OQ along the y-axis is a vector bˆj whose magnitude is |b| and whose direction is along OY or OY’ as b is positive or negative.
v.The components of −−→OQ along the z-axis is a vector cˆk whose magnitude is |c| and whose direction is along OZ or OZ’ as c is positive or negative.
36.Collinearity of vectors: If →a and →b are two collinear or parallel vectors, then there exists a scalar k such that →a = k→b.
37.Two non-zero vectors →a and →b are collinear if and only if there exists scalars x and y, not both zero, such that x→a + y→b = →0.
38.If →a and →b are any two non-zero non-collinear vectors and x and y are scalars, then
39.Three points with position vectors →a, →b and →c care collinear if and only if there exists three scalars x, y and z, not all zero simultaneously, such that x→a + y→b + z→c = 0 and x + y + z = 0.
40.Let →a and →b be two given non-zero non-collinear vectors. Then any vector →r coplanar with →a and →b can be uniquely expressed as →r = m→a + n→b for scalars m and n.
41.Three vectors →a, →b and →c are coplanar if and only if
l→a + m→b + n→c = →0, where I, m and n are scalars not all zero simultaneously.
42.If →a, →b and →c are any three non-zero non-coplanar vectors, and x, y and z are scalars, then x→a + y→b + z→c = →0⇒ x = y = z = 0.
43.Geometrical interpretation of the scalar product: scalar product of two vectors →a and →b is the product of modulus of either →a or →b , and the projection of the other in its direction.
44.Projection of vector AB, making an angle of θ with the line L, on line L is vector →P = |−−→AB| cosθ.
ii.Distributive property of a scalar product over addition:
iii.If the scalar product →a . →b = 0, then →a and →b are perpendicular to each other.
iv.If →a and →b are perpendicular to each other, then the scalar product
v.If →a is any vector, then →a.→a |→a|-2.
vi.If →a and →b are two vectors, then (m→a).→b = m(→a.→b) = →a . m→b, where m is a scalar.
vii.If →a and →b are two vectors, then
viii.If →a and →b are two vectors, then
46.The vector product of two non-zero vectors →a and →bdenoted by →a×→b is defined as →a×→b =|→a∣∣∣∣∣∣→b∣∣∣sinsinθˆn, where θ is the angle between →a and →b, 0 ≤θ≤π,andˆn is a unit vector perpendicular to both →a and →b. Here, →a, →b and ˆn, form a right handed system.
47.Properties of a vector product:
i.→a × →b is a vector.
ii.Vector product is not commutative.
48.Let →a and →b be two vectors. Then the vectors perpendicular to →a and →b with magnitude ’k’ are given by
49.The area of a parallelogram is equal to the modulus of the cross product of the vectors representing its adjacent sides.
50.The area of a parallelogram with diagonals →c and →d is 12..∣∣∣→c×→d∣∣∣.
51.The area of a triangle is equal to half of the modulus of the cross product of the vectors representing its adjacent sides.
53.The area of a Δ ABC with position vectors of the vertices A, B and C is area of
54.The length of the perpendicular from C on AB
55.The length of the perpendicular from A on BC
56.The length of the perpendicular from B on AC
57.The area of a quadrilateral ABCD is
58. The vector sum of the sides of a triangle taken in order is zero.
Top Formulae
.
1.Properties of addition of vectors
i.Vector addition is commutative
ii.Vector addition is associative.
iii.→0 is an additive identity for vector addition.
2.The position vector of the point C which divides AB internally in the ratio m : n is given by
3.The position vector of the point C which divides AB externally in the ratio m : n is given by
4.Linear combination of vectors →a, →b, and →c is of the form →r = x→a + y→b + z→c, where x, y and z are the scalars.
5.The position vector of the centroid is , where →a, →b and →c are the position vectors of the triangle.
6.Magnitude or length of the vector
12.The direction ratios of the line segment joining points (x1, y1, z1) and (x2, y2, z2) are proportional to x2 – x1, y2 – y1, z2 – z1.
13.If a vector →rhas direction ratios proportional to a, b and c, then
14.Let →a and →b be any two vectors and k and m be two scalars, then
i.k→a + m→a = (k + m) →a
ii.k(m →a ) = (km) →a
iii.k(→a + →b ) = k →a + k →b
16.The projections of a vector →r = x→i + y→j + z→k on the coordinate axes are l→r, m→r, n→r, where I, m and n are the direction cosines of the vector →r.
17.The scalar product of vectors a and b is →a.→b= |→a||→b|cos θ, where θ is the angie between vectors →a and→b.
18.The scalar product in terms of components: Let →a and →b be two vectors such that
19.The angle between two non-zero vectors →a and →b is given by
20.Let →a and →b be two vectors such that →a = a1ˆi+a2ˆj+a3ˆkand →b−b1ˆi+b2ˆj+b3ˆk, then the angle between the two non-zero vectors →a and →b is given by
21.Let →a and →b be two vectors. Then
i.→a .→b = 0 if and only if →a is perpendicular to →b.
ii.→a .→b> 0 if and only if θ is acute.
iii.→a .→b< 0 if and only if θ is obtuse.
22.Components of a vector along and perpendicular to vector: Let →a and →b be two vectors.
Then the components of →balong and perpendicular to →a are
23.The projection of →r on the X, Y and Z axes are x, y and z, respectively, where →r – xˆi + yˆj + zˆk.
24.If →r = xˆi + yˆj + zˆk, then x, y and z are called the components of →r along X, Y and Z axes, respectively.
25.If →r – xˆi + yˆj + zˆk is a vector making an angle α, β and γ with the X, Y and Z axes, respectively, then,
28.Projection of a vector →a on other vector →b is given by:
29.Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality:
30.Triangle Inequality:
31.The vector product of vectors a and b is
32.Geometrical meaning of vector product:
Let →a and b be two non-zero, non-parallel vectors.
Then the cross-product →a×→b is a vector with magnitude equal to the area of the parallelogram having →a and →b as its adjacent sides and direction ˆn is perpendicular to the plane of →a and →b.
Important Questions
Multiple Choice questions-
1. In ΔABC, which of the following is not true?
(a) −−→AB + −−→BC + −−→CA = →0
(b) −−→AB + −−→BC – −−→AC = →0
(c) −−→AB + −−→BC – −−→CA = →0
(d) −−→AB – −−→CB + −−→CA = →0
2. If →a and →b are two collinear vectors, then which of the following are incorrect:
(a) →b = λ→a tor some scalar λ.
(b) →a = ±→b
(c) the respective components of →a and →b are proportional
(d) both the vectors →a and →b have the same direction, but different magnitudes.
3. If a is a non-zero vector of magnitude ‘a’ and λa non-zero scalar, then λ→a is unit vector if:
(a) λ = 1
(b) λ = -1
(c) a = |λ|
(d) a = 1|λ|..
4. Let λ be any non-zero scalar. Then for what possible values of x, y and z given below, the vectors 2ˆi – 3ˆj + 4ˆk and xˆi – yˆj + zˆk are perpendicular:
(a) x = 2λ. y = λ, z = λ
(b) x = λ, y = 2λ, z = -λ
(c) x = -λ, y = 2λ, z = λ
(d) x = -λ, y = -2λ, z = λ.
5. Let the vectors →a and →b be such that |→a| = 3 and |→b| = √23.., then →a×→b is a unit vector if the angle between →a and →b is:
(a) π6..
(b) π4..
(c) π3..
(d) π2..
6. Area of a rectangle having vertices
A (-ˆi + 12..ˆj + 4ˆk),
B (ˆi + 12..ˆj + 4ˆk),
C (ˆi – 12..ˆj + 4ˆk),
D (-ˆi – 12..ˆj + 4ˆk) is
(a) 12.. square unit
(b) 1 square unit
(c) 2 square units
(d) 4 square units.
7. If θ is the angle between two vectors →a, →b, then →a.→b≥ 0 only when
(a) 0 < θ <π2..
(b) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π2..
(c) 0 < θ < π
(d) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π
8. Let →a and →b be two unit vectors and 6 is the angle between them. Then →a + →b is a unit vector if:
(a) θ = π4..
(b) θ = π3..
(c) θ = π2..
(d) θ = 2π3..
9. If {ˆi, ˆj, ˆk} are the usual three perpendicular unit vectors, then the value of:
ˆi.(ˆj × ˆk) + ˆj.(ˆi × ˆk) + ˆk.(ˆi × ˆj) is
(a) 0
(b) -1
(c) 1
(d) 3
10. If θ is the angle between two vectors →a and →b, then |→a.→b| = |→a×→b| when θ is equal to:
(a) 0
(b) π4..
(c) π2..
(d) π
Very Short Questions:
1.Classify the following measures as scalar and vector quantities:
(i) 40°
(ii) 50 watt
(iii) 10gm/cm3
(iv) 20 m/sec towards north
(v) 5 seconds. (N.C.E.R.T.)
2.In the figure, which of the vectors are:
(i) Collinear
(ii) Equal
(iii) Co-initial. (N.C.E.R.T.)
3.Find the sum of the vectors:
4.Find the vector joining the points P (2,3,0) and Q (-1, – 2, – 4) directed from P to Q. (N.C.E.R.T.)
5.If →a = xˆi + 2ˆj− zˆk and b⃗ = 3ˆi− yˆj + ˆk are two equal vectors, then write the value of x + y + z. (C.B.S.E. 2013)
6.Find the unit vector in the direction of the sum of the vectors:
7.Find the value of ‘p’ for which the vectors: 3ˆi + 2ˆj + 9ˆk and ˆi − 2pˆj + 3ˆk are parallel. (A.I.C.B.S.E. 2014)
8.If →a and →b are perpendicular vectors, |→a + →b| = 13 and |→a| =5, find the value of |→b| (A.I.C.B.S.E. 2014)
9.Find the magnitude of each of the two vectors →a and →b, having the same magnitude such that the angle between them is 60° and their scalar product is 92.. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
10.Find the area of the parallelogram whose diagonals are represented by the vectors: →a =2ˆi− 3ˆj + 4ˆk and →b = 2ˆi− ˆj+ 2ˆk (C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2018-19)
Short Questions:
1.If θ is the angle between two vectors:
2.X and Y are two points with position vectors −→3a + →b and →a− →3b respectively. Write the po-sition vector of a point Z which divides the line segment XY in the ratio 2:1 externally. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi 2019)
3.Find the unit vector perpendicular to both →a and →b, where:
4.If →a = 2ˆi + 2ˆj + ˆk, →b = −ˆi+ 2ˆj+ ˆk and →c = 3ˆi + ˆj are such that →a + λ→b is perpendicular to →c , then find the value of λ. (C.B.S.E. 2019 C)
5.Let →a = ˆi + 2ˆj− 3ˆk and →b = 3ˆi− ˆj+ 2ˆk be two vectors. Show that the vectors (→a + →b) and
(→a− →b) are perpendicular to each other. (C.B.S.E. Outside Delhi 2019)
6.If the sum of two-unit vectors is a unit vector, prove that the magnitude of their difference
is √3. (C.B.S.E. 2019)
7.If →a + →b + →c = →0 and |→a| = 3, |→b| = 5 and |→a| = 7, then find the value of →a⋅→b+ →b⋅→c+ →c⋅→a
(C.B.S.E. Sample Paper 2019-20)
8.Find |→a− →b|, if two vectors a and b are such that |→a| = 2, |→b | = 3 and →a⋅→b = 4. (N.C.E.R.T.)
Long Questions:
1.Let →a = 4ˆi + 5ˆj− ˆk and →b = ˆi– 4ˆj + 5ˆk and →c = 3ˆi + ˆj− ˆk. Find a vector →a which is perpendicular to both →c and →b and →d⋅→a =21. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
2.If →p = ˆi + ˆj + ˆk and →q = ˆi– 2ˆj + ˆk, find a vector of magnitude 5√3 units perpendicular to the vector →q. and coplanar with vector →p and →q. (C.B.S.E. 2018)
3.If ˆi + ˆj + ˆk, 2ˆi + 5ˆj, 3ˆi + 2ˆj − 3ˆk and ˆi − 6ˆj − ˆk respectively are the position vectors of points A, B, C and D, then find the angle between the straight lines AB and CD. Find
4.If →a + →b + →c = →0 and |→a| = 3, |→b| = 5, and |→c| =7, find the angle between →a and →b. (C.B.S.E. 2014)
Case Study Questions:
1. A barge is pulled into harbour by two tug boats as shown in the figure.
Based on the above information, answer the following questions.
2. Three slogans on chart papers are to be placed on a school bulletin board at the points A, Band C displaying A (Hub of Learning), B (Creating a better world for tomorrow) and C (Education comes first). The coordinates of these points are (1, 4, 2), (3, -3, -2) and (-2, 2, 6) respectively.
Based on the above information, answer the following questions.
Answer Key-
Multiple Choice questions-
1.Answer: (c) −−→AB + −−→BC – −−→CA = →0
2.Answer: (d) both the vectors →a and →b have the same direction, but different magnitudes.
3.Answer: (d) a = 1|λ|..
4.Answer: (c) x = -λ, y = 2λ, z = λ
5.Answer: (b) π4..
6.Answer: (c) 2 square units
7.Answer: (b) 0 ≤ θ ≤ π2..
8.Answer: (d) θ = 2π3..
9.Answer: (d) 3
10.Answer: (b) π4..
Very Short Answer:
1.Solution:
(i) Angle-scalar
(ii) Power-scalar
(iii) Density-scalar
(iv) Velocity-vector
(v) Time-scalar.
2.Solution:
(i) →a, →c and →a are collinear vectors.
(ii) →a and →c are equal vectors.
(iii) →b, →c and →d are co-initial vectors.
3.Solution:
Sum of the vectors = ˆa + ˆb + ˆc
4.Solution:
Since the vector is directed from P to Q,
∴ P is the initial point and Q is the terminal point.
∴ Reqd. vector = −−→PQ
5.Solution:
Here
Comparing, A: = 3,2 = -y i.e. y = -2, ̴ z= 1 i.e. z = -1.
Hence, x + y + z = 3 – 2 – 1 = 0.
6.Solution:
7.Solution:
The given vectors 3ˆi + 2ˆj + 9ˆk and ˆi − 2pˆj + 3ˆk are parallel
8.Solution:
9.Solution:
10.Solution:
Short Answer:
1.Solution:
2.Solution:
Position vector of
3.Solution:
Hence, the unit vector perpendicular to both →a and →b
4.Solution:
We have:
⇒ (2 –λ) (3) + (2 + 2λ) (1) + (3 + λ)(0) = 0
⇒ 6 – 3λ + 2 + 2λ = 0
⇒ –λ, + 8 = 0.
Hence, λ, = 8.
5.Solution:
Now,
= (4) (- 2) + (1) (3) + (-1) (- 5)
= – 8 + 3 + 5 = 0.
6.Solution:
By the question,
⇒ΔABC is equilateral, each of its angles being 60°