GENERAL PHYSICS 1

LEARNING MATERIAL 4

LESSON 3: VECTOR OPERATIONS – PART 2

For the second part of vector operations, we’ll be dealing with multiplying vectors using
three methods.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

perform three ways of vector multiplication

Kindly read the description of the following icons used for you to better understand this
learning material.

This icon means to read and study carefully the concepts and principles as well
as the given examples in computations.

This icon indicates an activity to assess your learning about the lesson. It can
also indicate a practice exercise for the lesson.

This icon entails a warm-up activity that will test the knowledge you have before
studying the lessons.

During discussion you will find this icon. It signifies additional or important
information to remember.

WARM-UP

A good background in vectors is needed in the job of atmospheric scientists.

atmospheric scientists forecast weather, investigate and study atmospheric phenomena,
interpret meteorological data gathered by surface and air stations, satellites, and radars, and
analyzes computer simulations. they study Earth’s atmosphere, climate, and weather, and their
impact on the environment, agriculture, industries, and the public in general. they may also be
part of the government’s disaster risk reduction and management team. (Silverio, 2017)

1. From the feature above, what do you think is the importance of having a good
background on vectors?
2. Create a poster about the impact of vectors in our life. Use a short bondpaper (8.5 in by
11 in), scan/picture it and submit it to our google drive. Rubrics will be given on the
submission post.

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LET’S STUDY

This lesson specifically includes on how to get the product of a scalar and a vector,
dot product of two vectors, cross product of two vectors and unit vectors.

PRODUCT OF A SCALAR AND A VECTOR

Suppose we have to find the force F applied by Rachel in pushing 50 kg Bam causing
him to accelerate at 5 m/s2 to the east direction. First, the mass m (50 kg) of Bam is a scalar
quantity whereas his acceleration a (5 m/s2, east) is a vector quantity. That means we have
to get the product of a scalar and a vector.
The formula for finding the force is given as, F = ma. Thus,
F = (50 kg) (5 m/s2) = 250 kg m/s2 or 250 N, east
As you can see, the magnitude of the force vector F is computed by multiplying the
magnitude of the mass m and the magnitude of the acceleration a. The product then follows
the direction of the vector (acceleration a) being multiplied by a scalar (mass m). Thus, the
product of a scalar and a vector is a vector quantity.

PRACTICE YOURSELF 1

Find the momentum p of a child having a mass of 25 kg and is moving to the west
direction at a velocity v of 2 m/s.

DOT PRODUCT
The dot product of two vectors A and B, for example, is called scalar product. It is written
and defined as,

A ∙ B = ABcosθ

wherein  is the angle (0 to 180 ) between vector A and B.

Since the dot product of two vectors is scalar, the dot product is
commutative, that is:
A∙B=B∙A

EXAMPLE – Work
Peter pushes a cart by a force of 200 N due west at a distance of 10 m. Find the work
done by Peter in pushing the cart.
Formula: W = F ∙ d
Solution: W = Fdcos = (200 N) (10 m) cos 0 = 2000 N∙m or 2000 joules or 2000 J

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PRACTICE YOURSELF 2

A trolley bag is being pulled by Jennie with a force of 8.0 N, 63 with the horizontal
frictionless surface at a distance of 6.8 m to the left. Find the work done by Jennie on the
trolley bag.

CROSS PRODUCT
The cross product of two vectors on the other hand is a vector product and is written and
defined as:

A × B = ABsinθ

wherein  is the angle (0 to 180 ) between vector A and B.

From the figure on the left, sin is the component of vector

B that is perpendicular to vector A. Hence, the magnitude
of the cross product is the product of the magnitude of
vector A and the component of vector B perpendicular to
vector A.

The Right-Hand Rule

It is used to determine the direction of the vector. With
your right hand, point your index finger along vector A,
and point your middle finger along vector B. Move your
index finger in the direction of B. The direction of the
thumb will give you the direction of the cross product.

The cross product of is not commutative. Reversing the order of the

vectors gives the same magnitude but in the opposite direction, that is,
A×B≠B×A

EXAMPLE – Torque
Torque is the ability of force to produce rotation. Torque, represented by τ (Greek letter
tau), is defined as the cross product of position vector r from the axis of rotation to where the
force F is applied and the force vector F itself: τ = r × F
A pole that is 4.2 m long is positioned
horizontally and is being acted upon by an upward
force of 5.0 N at one end. Find the torque
produced by this force if the pole is free to rotate
about the other end.
Formula: τ = r × F
Solution: τ = r × F = rFsinθ = (4.2 m) (5.0 N) sin 90 = 21 Nm
The torque is pointing out of the page (of the paper) as given by the right-hand rule.

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PRACTICE YOURSELF 3

A pole 4.2 m long (along the +x-axis) is being acted upon by a force of 5.0 N along the
-x-axis. Find the torque produced by this force if the pole is free to rotate about the origin.
UNIT VECTORS
In a three-dimensional coordinate system, we have three axes: the x-axis, y-axis, and z-
axis. For example, let’s consider vector A. The components of vector A along these three
axes are usually written as Ax, Ay, and Az.
Any vector is the sum of the three components of a vector
and it can be expressed in a more compact form by using
unit vectors. A unit vector is a dimensionless vector with a
magnitude of 1. There are three unit vectors: î (for the x-
axis), ĵ (for the y-axis), and k̂ (for the z-axis). So. in unit
vectors,

A = Axî + Ay ĵ + Az k̂

The magnitude of vector A is computed using

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A =√(Ax )2 +(Ay ) +(Az )2

EXAMPLE
Express in unit vectors and find the magnitude of vector A if it has the following
coordinates in a three-dimensional system: (3.5, 2.7, 2.3) in inches.
Solution:
▪ Express in unit vectors: (3.5î, 2.7ĵ, 2.3k̂)
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▪ Magnitude: A =√(Ax )2 +(Ay ) +(Az )2 = √(3.5 in)2 +(2.7 in)2 +(2.3 in)2 = 6.3 m

Operations using Unit Vectors

Operation using unit vectors obey algebraic rules in which î , ĵ, and k̂ are treated as
variables.
̂i ∙ ̂i = ̂j ∙ ̂j = k̂ ∙ k̂ = (1)(1) cos 0 = 1
̂i ∙ ̂j = ̂i ∙ k̂ = ̂j ∙ k̂ = ̂j ∙ ̂i = k̂ ∙ ̂i = k̂ ∙ ̂j = (1)(1) cos 90°= 0
̂i × ̂i = ̂j × ̂j = k̂ × k̂ = (1)(1) sin 0 = 0
Using the right-hand rule,
̂i × ̂j = [(1)(1)sin 90°]k̂ = k̂ ̂j × ̂i = −k̂
̂j × k̂ = [(1)(1)sin 90°]î = ̂i k̂ × ̂j = −î
k̂ × ̂i = [(1)(1)sin 90°]ĵ = ̂j ̂i × k̂ = −ĵ
EXAMPLES
Given that 𝐴 = −𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ and 𝐵 = 3𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂.
▪ Addition (A + B) and Subtraction (A – B)
✓ A + B = (−𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ ) + (3𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ )

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A – B = = (−𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ ) − (3𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ )

When adding/subtracting, just add/subtract the similar terms only.
✓ A + B = (−𝑖̂ + 3𝑖̂) + (2𝑗̂ − 2𝑗̂) + (𝑘̂ + 4𝑘̂ ) = 2𝑖̂ + 0𝑗̂ + 5𝑘̂ = 𝟐𝒊̂ + 𝟓𝒌
̂

A – B = (−𝑖̂ − 3𝑖̂) + (2𝑗̂ + 2𝑗̂) + (𝑘̂ − 4𝑘̂ ) = −4𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ − 3𝑘̂

▪ Multiplying a Constant
Say we’re going find: -3A and 4B
When multiplying a constant, just multiply the constant using the distributive method.
✓ -3A = −3(−𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ + 𝑘̂ ) = 3𝑖̂ − 6𝑗̂ − 3𝑘̂
✓ 4B = 4(3𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ ) = 12𝑖̂ − 8𝑗̂ + 16𝑘̂
▪ Dot Product (A ∙ B)

▪ Cross Product (A × B)

▪ Finding the angle between A and B

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SELF-TEST

1. Given two vectors 𝑨 = 3𝑖̂ − 4𝑗̂ + 5𝑘̂ and 𝑩 = 4𝑖̂ − 2𝑗̂ + 3𝑘̂, find:
a. the magnitude of A and B
b. A + B
c. A – B
d. 0.5B
e. A ∙ B
f. A×B
2. A force 𝑭 = (3𝑖̂ + 2𝑗̂ − 4𝑘̂ )N acts on a particle. Because of this, the particle
undergoes a displacement 𝒅 = (5𝑖̂ + 4𝑗̂ − 8𝑘̂ )m. Find the work done by this force.

Good job! You’ve finished Chapter 2!

Keep up the good work!

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.”
1 Peter 5:7

REFERENCES

▪ Silverio, A.A. (2017). Exploring Life Through Sciene: General Physics 1. Phoenix
Publishing House, Inc.
▪ Giancoli, D. C. (2014). Physics: Principles with Applications (7th ed.). Pearson
Education, Inc.
▪ Serway, R. A., & Faughn, J. S. (2006). Physics. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
▪ Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. J. (2010). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with
Modern Physics (8th ed.). Brooks/Cole.