Physics > Basic Vectors > 1.0 Introduction
Basic Vectors
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Representation of vector
3.0 Basic definition related with vectors
3.1 Unit vector
3.2 Negative of a vector
3.3 Modulus of a vector
3.4 Multiplication and division of vectors by scalars
4.0 Types of vectors
4.1 Equal vectors
4.2 Parallel vectors
4.3 Anti-parallel vectors
4.4 Collinear vectors
4.5 Coplanar vectors
4.6 Zero or null vectors
5.0 Angle between the vectors
6.0 Addition of vectors
6.1 Triangle law of vector addition
6.2 Parallelogram law of vector addition
6.3 Relation between triangle and parallelogram law of vector addition
7.0 Subtraction of vectors
8.0 Cartesian co-ordinate system
8.1 Unit vector in cartesian co-ordinate system
8.2 Position vector of a point
8.3 Displacement vector
9.0 Resolving vector into its components
10.0 Dot product of two vectors
10.1 Properties of dot product
10.2 Condition when two vectors are perpendicular
10.3 Angle between two vectors
10.4 Geometrical meaning of scalar product
10.5 Application of dot product
11.0 Cross product of two vectors
1.3 Difference between scalar and vector quantities
3.2 Negative of a vector
3.3 Modulus of a vector
3.4 Multiplication and division of vectors by scalars
4.2 Parallel vectors
4.3 Anti-parallel vectors
4.4 Collinear vectors
4.5 Coplanar vectors
4.6 Zero or null vectors
6.2 Parallelogram law of vector addition
6.3 Relation between triangle and parallelogram law of vector addition
8.2 Position vector of a point
8.3 Displacement vector
10.2 Condition when two vectors are perpendicular
10.3 Angle between two vectors
10.4 Geometrical meaning of scalar product
10.5 Application of dot product
| Scalar quantities | Vector quantities | |
| 1. | It has only magnitude and no direction | It has both magnitude and direction |
| 2. | Examples: Mass, volume, length, distance | Examples: Displacement, velocity, acceleration |
Consider a particle has traveled along the path $ACB$ as shown in the figure.
Distance: It is the actual path length traveled by a body or a particle.
So, $ACB$ is the distance covered by the body.
Therefore, the red line shows the distance traveled by a body.
Displacement: It is the shortest distance between the initial and the final position.
So, $AB$ is the displacement of the body. Displacement only depends on the final and initial position. It is irrespective of the actual path covered by a body.
Therefore, the blue line represents the displacement.
