Vectors

A VECTOR?
Describes the motion of an object
A Vector comprises
Direction
Magnitude Size
We will consider
Column Vectors
General Vectors
Vector Geometry
 Column Vectors
NOTE!
Vector a
Label is in BOLD.

2 up When handwritten,
a draw a wavy line
under the label

4 RIGHT i.e.
a
~

4

2
COLUMN Vector
 Column Vectors
Vector b

2 up b

3 LEFT

-3
2

COLUMN Vector?
 Column Vectors
Vector u

n 2 down

4 LEFT

-4

-2

COLUMN Vector?
Describe these vectors
4
1

c
b

a 1 -2
3

3

d
-4
-3

 Alternative labelling
B F
D EF
E

AB CD
G
A C

GH
H
 General Vectors
A Vector has BOTH a Length & a Direction

All 4 Vectors here are EQUAL in Length and

Travel in SAME Direction. All called k

k can be in any position

 General Vectors

Line CD is Parallel to AB
B
CD is TWICE length of AB
k
A D

2k Line EF is Parallel to AB
E EF is equal in length to AB
C
-k EF is opposite direction to AB
F
Write these Vectors in terms of k

k B

2k F G
1k k

A C -2k

H
Combining Column Vectors
2
k =
B 1
CD = 2k
k D
2
CD = 2
1

CD = 4
A 2
C
 Simple combinations
C 4
AB =
1
1
BC =
3

5
B AC =
4
A

a c a + c
+ =
b d b + d
 Vector Geometry
Consider this parallelogram
Q
OP = a = RQ
P OR = b = PQ
a R Opposite sides are Parallel

b OQ = OP + PQ = a +b
O
OQ = OR + RQ = b+a

a +b = b + a
OQ is known as the resultant of a and b
 Resultant of Two Vectors
Is the same, no matter which route is
followed
Use this to find vectors in geometrical
figures
 Example
S is the Midpoint of PQ.

.
Q
S
Work out the vector OS
P
OS = OP + ? PQ
a R
= a + b
b
O
 Alternatively
S is the Midpoint of PQ.

.
Q
S
Work out the vector OS
P
OS = OR + RQ + QS
a R

b
= b + a - b
O
= b + a
= a + b
 C
Example
AC= p, AB = q
p M M is the Midpoint of BC

A q B

Find BC BC = BA + AC
= -q + p
=p-q
 C
Example
AC= p, AB = q
p M M is the Midpoint of BC

A q B

Find BM BM = BC

= (p q)
 C
Example
AC= p, AB = q
p M M is the Midpoint of BC

A q B

Find AM AM = AB + BC

= q + (p q)
= q +p - q
= q +p = (q + p) = (p + q)
 Alternatively
C

AC= p, AB = q
p M M is the Midpoint of BC

A q B

Find AM AM = AC + CB

= p + (q p)
= p +q - p
= p +q = (p + q)