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PHY 430 – Lecture 2. Scalars & Vectors. 3.1 Scalars & vectors. Scalars – quantities with only magnitudes Eg. Mass, time, temperature Mathematics - ordinary algebra Vectors – quantities with magnitudes & directions Eg. Displacement, velocity, acceleration Mathematics - vector algebra.
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PHY 430 – Lecture 2 Scalars & Vectors
3.1 Scalars & vectors • Scalars – quantities with only magnitudes • Eg. Mass, time, temperature • Mathematics - ordinary algebra • Vectors – quantities with magnitudes & directions • Eg. Displacement, velocity, acceleration • Mathematics - vector algebra
Two ways to specify a vector • 1. Give its componens, Vx and Vy • 2. Give its magnitud V and angle it makes with positive x – axis • We can shift from one description to the other by using theorem of Pythagoras and definition of tangent
Unit vectors • For 3-D Cartesian coordinate system • i = unit vector in the direction of x • j = unit vector in the direction of y • k = unit vector in the direction of z • Fig. 3-15
Products of vectors • Dot product: A B =IAIIBIcos A B = B A • Cross Product: A X B =IAIIBIsin n A x B = - B x A