Call Now
1800-102-2727
Scalars and Vectors are two rudimentary concepts in maths and physics. They define the type of quality of any physical or mathematical object. A scalar quantity is the one that contains only a magnitude value, whereas a vector quantity is the one that contains a magnitude as well as a direction. Let us imagine vectors as a line, the measurement of the line is the magnitude, and the arrow on this line is the direction in which it is travelling. The classic example of a vector quantity is force. The force has a magnitude with a direction in which the force acts. In mathematics, a total of 11 different types of vectors are studied. They are:
When the starting point and the finish point of a vector coincide with each other, it is known as a zero vector or null vector. The magnitude of such vectors is zero, and they, in particular, do not represent any direction.
Vectors having a value of exactly one are known as a unit vector. Unit vectors are very important, and note that if two vectors are unit vectors, they are not specifically equal. They might have the same magnitude but can differ in their direction.
Position vectors are known to determine the position of any vector. A position vector is nothing but a point on any vector which tells the position of that vector in a plane
Vectors are expressed as co-initial vectors if they have the same origin point. This implies that the point of origin is common for these types of vectors, and then they may scatter in different directions. For example, let us consider two vectors PQ and PR; they are called co- initial vectors due to the fact they have the same beginning point, i.e., P.
When two or more vectors share the same direction, they are known as like vectors.
When two or more vectors travel in different directions, they are termed as unlike vectors.
Coplanar vectors are vectors (three or more) that lie in the same plane.
These are also referred to as parallel vectors because they lie in the parallel line concerning their magnitude and direction.
Vectors having the same magnitude and the same directions are known as equal vectors.
The vector KL represents a displacement vector if a point is moved (displaced) from the position K to L.
Let us assume that vector K has a magnitude ‘p’ and is in a certain direction, now let us suppose that another vector L is present having the same magnitude ‘p’ but travels in exactly the opposite direction of K. Thus, L is referred to as the negative of a vector K. K = -L Therefore, the negative of any vector is another vector with the same magnitude but opposite in direction.