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Physics Notes Class 11 CHAPTER 4

MOTION IN A PLANE part 1
Those physical quantities which require magnitude as well as direction for their complete
representation and follows vector laws are called vectors.

Vector can be divided into two types

1. Polar Vectors

These are those vectors which have a starting point or a point of application as a displacement,
force etc.

2. Axial Vectors

ry
These are those vectors which represent rotational effect and act along the axis of rotation in
accordance with right hand screw rule as angular velocity, torque, angular momentum etc.
to
Scalars
ac

Those physical quantities which require only magnitude but no direction for their complete
tF

representation, are called scalars.

en

Distance, speed, work, mass, density, etc are the examples of scalars. Scalars can be added,
subtracted, multiplied or divided by simple algebraic laws.
ud

Tensors
St

Tensors are those physical quantities which have different values in different directions at the
same point.

Moment of inertia, radius of gyration, modulus of elasticity, pressure, stress, conductivity,

resistivity, refractive index, wave velocity and density, etc are the examples of tensors.
Magnitude of tensor is not unique.

Different Types of Vectors

(i) Equal Vectors Two vectors of equal magnitude, in same direction are called equal vectors.
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(ii) Negative Vectors Two vectors of equal magnitude but in opposite directions are called
negative vectors.

(iii) Zero Vector or Null Vector A vector whose magnitude is zero is known as a zero or null
vector. Its direction is not defined. It is denoted by 0.

Velocity of a stationary object, acceleration of an object moving with uniform velocity and
resultant of two equal and opposite vectors are the examples of null vector.

(iv) Unit Vector A vector having unit magnitude is called a unit vector.

A unit vector in the direction of vector A is given by

ry
Â=A/A to
A unit vector is unitless and dimensionless vector and represents direction only.
ac

(v) Orthogonal Unit Vectors The unit vectors along the direction of orthogonal axis, i.e., X –
axis, Y – axis and Z – axis are called orthogonal unit vectors. They are represented
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by
en
ud
St

(vi) Co-initial Vectors Vectors having a common initial point, are called co-initial vectors.

(vii) Collinear Vectors Vectors having equal or unequal magnitudes but acting along the same
or Ab parallel lines are called collinear vectors.

(viii) Coplanar Vectors Vectors acting in the same plane are called coplanar vectors.
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(ix) Localised Vector A vector whose initial point is fixed, is called a localised vector.

(x) Non-localised or Free Vector A vector whose initial point is not fixed is called a non-
localised or a free vector.

(xi) Position Vector A vector representing the straight line distance and the direction of any
point or object with respect to the origin, is called position vector.

Addition of Vectors

1. Triangle Law of Vectors

If two vectors acting at a point are represented in magnitude and direction by the two sides of a
triangle taken in one order, then their resultant is represented by the third side of the triangle
taken in the opposite order.

If two vectors A and B acting at a point are inclined at an angle θ, then their resultant

R = √A2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ

ry
to
ac
tF
en

If the resultant vector R subtends an angle β with vector A, then

ud

tan β = B sin θ / A + B cos θ

St

2. Parallelogram Law of Vectors

If two vectors acting at a point are represented in magnitude and direction by the two adjacent
sides of a parallelogram draw from a point, then their resultant is represented in magnitude and
direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram draw from the same point.

Resultant of vectors A and B is given by

√A2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ

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If the resultant vector R subtends an angle β with vector A, then

tan β = B sin θ / A + B cos θ

Polygon Law of Vectors

It states that if number of vectors acting on a particle at a time are represented in magnitude and
– direction by the various sides of an open polygon taken in same order, their resultant vector E
is represented in magnitude and direction by the closing side of polygon taken in opposite
order. In fact, polygon law of vectors is the outcome of triangle law of vectors.

R=A+B+C+D+E

OE = OA + AB + BC + CD + DE

ry
to
ac

Properties of Vector Addition

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(i) Vector addition is commutative, i.e., A + B = B + A

en

(ii) Vector addition is associative, i.e.,

ud

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

St

(iii) Vector addition is distributive, i.e., m (A + B) = m A + m B

Rotation of a Vector

(i) If a vector is rotated through an angle 0, which is not an integral multiple of 2 π, the vector
changes.

(ii) If the frame of reference is rotated or translated, the given vector does not change. The
components of the vector may, however, change.

Resolution of a Vector into Rectangular Components

If any vector A subtends an angle θ with x-axis, then its

Horizontal component Ax = A cos θ

Vertical component Ay = A sin θ

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Magnitude of vector A = √Ax2 + Ay2

tan θ = Ay / Ax

Direction Cosines of a Vector

If any vector A subtend angles α, β and γ with x – axis, y – axis and z – axis respectively and
its components along these axes are Ax, Ay and Az, then

cos α= Ax / A, cos β = Ay / A, cos γ = Az / A

ry
and cos2 α + cos2 β + cos2 γ = 1 to
Subtraction of Vectors
ac

Subtraction of a vector B from a vector A is defined as the addition of vector -B (negative of

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vector B) to vector A

Thus, A – B = A + (-B)
en

Multiplication of a Vector
ud

1. By a Real Number
St

When a vector A is multiplied by a real number n, then its magnitude becomes n times but
direction and unit remains unchanged.

2. By a Scalar

When a vector A is multiplied by a scalar S, then its magnitude becomes S times, and unit is
the product of units of A and S but direction remains same as that of vector A.

Scalar or Dot Product of Two Vectors

The scalar product of two vectors is equal to the product of their magnitudes and the cosine of
the smaller angle between them. It is denoted by . (dot).

A * B = AB cos θ
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The scalar or dot product of two vectors is a scalar.

Properties of Scalar Product

(i) Scalar product is commutative, i.e., A * B= B * A

(ii) Scalar product is distributive, i.e., A * (B + C) = A * B + A * C

(iii) Scalar product of two perpendicular vectors is zero.

A * B = AB cos 90° = O

(iv) Scalar product of two parallel vectors is equal to the product of their magnitudes, i.e., A *

ry
B = AB cos 0° = AB to
(v) Scalar product of a vector with itself is equal to the square of its magnitude, i.e.,
ac

A * A = AA cos 0° = A2
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(vi) Scalar product of orthogonal unit vectors

en
ud

and
St

(vii) Scalar product in cartesian coordinates

= AxBx + AyBy + AzBz

Vector or Cross Product of Two Vectors

The vector product of two vectors is equal to the product of their magnitudes and the sine of the
smaller angle between them. It is denoted by * (cross).
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A * B = AB sin θ n

The direction of unit vector n can be obtained from right hand thumb rule.

If fingers of right hand are curled from A to B through smaller angle between them, then thumb
will represent the direction of vector (A * B).

The vector or cross product of two vectors is also a vector.

ry
Properties of Vector Product
to
(i) Vector product is not commutative, i.e.,
ac
A * B ≠ B * A [∴ (A * B) = — (B * A)]
tF

(ii) Vector product is distributive, i.e.,

en

A * (B + C) = A * B + A * C
ud

(iii) Vector product of two parallel vectors is zero, i.e.,

A * B = AB sin O° = 0
St

(iv) Vector product of any vector with itself is zero.

A * A = AA sin O° = 0

(v) Vector product of orthogonal unit vectors

(vi) Vector product in cartesian coordinates

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Direction of Vector Cross Product

When C = A * B, the direction of C is at right angles to the plane containing the vectors A and
B. The direction is determined by the right hand screw rule and right hand thumb rule.

ry
to
(i) Right Hand Screw Rule Rotate a right handed screw from first vector (A) towards second
ac
vector (B). The direction in which the right handed screw moves gives the direction of vector
(C).
tF

(ii) Right Hand Thumb Rule Curl the fingers of your right hand from A to B. Then, the
en

direction of the erect thumb will point in the direction of A * B.

ud
St