Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields

Technical Engineering College Third Year

Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Chapter One
Vector Analysis

1.1 Scalars and Vectors.

A scalar is a quantity that has only magnitude at any location in space for a given
time. It refers to a quantity whose value may be represented by a single (positive or
negative) real number. To describe the mass of a body, all we need is the magnitude
of its mass. Quantities such as time, mass, distance, temperature, electric potential,
and population are scalars. Symbolically, a scalar is represented by either lower- or
upper-case letters.
A vector is described by two quantities: a magnitude and a direction in space at any
point and for any given time. Therefore, vectors may be space and time-dependent.
Vector quantities include velocity, force, acceleration, and electric field intensity.
Graphically, a vector is represented by a directed line segment in the direction of the
vector, with its length proportional to its magnitude. Symbolically, a vector is
represented by a letter in boldface type, such as 𝐀 and 𝐁.
G=2ax−2ay−az

1.2 Vector Algebra

To begin, the addition of vectors follows the parallelogram law. Figure shows the
sum of two vectors, A and B. It is easily seen that A+B = B+A, or that vector addition
obeys the commutative law. Vector addition also obeys the associative law,
A + (B + C) = (A + B) + C

The rule for the subtraction of vectors follows easily from that for addition, for we
may always express A−B as A+(−B); the sign, or direction, of the second vector is
reversed, and this vector is then added to the first by the rule for vector addition.
Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Vectors may be multiplied by scalars. The magnitude of the vector changes, but its
direction does not when the scalar is positive, although it reverses direction when
multiplied by a negative scalar. Multiplication of a vector by a scalar also obeys the
associative and distributive laws of algebra, leading to
(r + s)(A + B) = r (A + B) + s(A + B) = rA + rB + sA + sB
Two vectors are said to be equal if their difference is zero, or A = B if A − B = 0.

1.3 The Rectangular Coordinate System

In the rectangular coordinate system, we set up three coordinate axes mutually at
right angles to each other and call them the x, y, and z axes. It is customary to choose
a right-handed coordinate system.
Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

1. Differential displacement is given by dL= dxax+ dyay +dzaz

dL= | dL| =√𝑑𝑥 2 + 𝑑𝑦 2 + 𝑑𝑧 2
2. Differential volume is given by dv= dxdydz
3. Differential normal area is given by ds =dydz ax = dxdz ay =dxdy az
1.4 Vector Components and Unit Vectors
The component vectors have magnitudes that depend on the given vector (such as
r), but they each have a known and constant direction. This suggests the use of unit
vectors, which by definition have a unit magnitude; these are parallel to the
coordinate axes and point in the direction of increasing coordinate values.
We reserve the symbol a for a unit vector and identify its direction by an appropriate
subscript. Thus 𝑎𝑥 , 𝑎𝑦 and 𝑎𝑧 are the unit vectors in the rectangular coordinate
system. They are directed along the x, y, and z axes, respectively, as shown in the
Figure.

(a) The component vectors x, y, and z of vector r. (b) The unit

vectors of the rectangular coordinate system have unit magnitude and are
directed toward increasing values of their respective variables.
Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Any vector B then may be described by B = 𝐵𝑥 𝒂𝑥 +𝐵𝑦 𝒂𝑦 +𝐵𝑧 𝒂𝑧 . The magnitude

of B written |B| or simply B, is given by

And a unit vector in the direction of the vector B is:

A vector 𝑟𝑃 pointing from the origin to point P(1, 2, 3) is written 𝒓𝑝 = ax + 2ay +

3az. The vector from P to Q may be obtained by applying the rule of vector addition.
This rule shows that the vector from the origin to P plus the vector from P to Q is
equal to the vector from the origin to Q. The desired vector from P(1, 2, 3) to Q(2,−
2, 1) is therefore
𝐑 𝑃𝑄 = 𝐫𝑄 − 𝐫𝑃 = (2 − 1)ax + (−2 − 2)ay + (1 − 3)az
= ax − 4ay − 2az

EXAMPLE 1.1
Specify the unit vector extending from the origin toward the point G(2,−2,−1).
Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Solution:
We first construct the vector extending from the origin to point G,
G = 2ax − 2ay − az
We continue by finding the magnitude of G,

|G| =√(2)2 + (−2)2 + (−1)2 = 3

and finally expressing the desired unit vector as the quotient,
𝐺 2 2 1
𝑎𝐺 =|𝐺| = 𝑎𝑥 − 𝑎𝑦 − 𝑎𝑧
3 3 3

= 0.667ax − 0.667ay − 0.333az

D1.1. Given points M(−1, 2, 1), N(3,−3, 0), and P(−2,−3,−4), find:
(a) 𝑹𝑀𝑁 ; (b) 𝑹𝑀𝑁 + 𝑹𝑀𝑃 ; (c) |𝒓𝑀 |; (d) 𝒂𝑀𝑃 ; (e) |2𝒓𝑃 − 3𝒓𝑁 |.
Ans. 4ax − 5ay − az; 3ax − 10ay − 6az ; 2.45; −0.14ax − 0.7ay − 0.7az ; 15.56

Example: Three vectors are given by A=4𝒂𝑥 -3𝒂𝑦 +𝒂𝑧 , B=2𝒂𝑥 -5𝒂𝑦 -4𝒂𝑧 , and C=-
𝒂𝑥 + 3𝒂𝑦 +6𝒂𝑧 , respectively. Determine the magnitude of (1) 𝑹𝑎 = 𝑨 + 𝑩 and (2)
𝑹𝑠 = 𝑩 − 𝑪.
Solution:
1. The magnitude of 𝑹𝑎 can be determined as:
𝑹𝑎 =4𝒂𝑥 -3𝒂𝑦 +𝒂𝑧 + (2𝒂𝑥 -5𝒂𝑦 -4𝒂𝑧 ) =6𝒂𝑥 -8𝒂𝑦 -3𝒂𝑧

|𝑹𝑎 |=√(6)2 + (−8)2 + (−3)2 =10.44

2. The magnitude of 𝑹𝑠 can be calculated as:
𝑹𝑠 =2𝒂𝑥 -5𝒂𝑦 -4𝒂𝑧 − (−𝒂𝑥 + 3𝒂𝑦 + 6𝒂𝑧 ) =2𝒂𝑥 -5𝒂𝑦 -4𝒂𝑧 + 𝒂𝑥 − 3𝒂𝑦 − 6𝒂𝑧
=3 𝒂𝑥 − 8𝒂𝑦 − 10𝒂𝑧

|𝑹𝑠 |=√(3)2 + (−8)2 + (−10)2 =13.15

Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Example: A unit vector is parallel to the resultant (addition)vector of A=

2𝒂𝑥 +3𝒂𝑦 + 6𝒂𝑧 and B = 5−𝒂𝑦 − 2𝒂𝑧 . Determine the unit vector.
Solution:
The resultant vector can be determined as:
𝑹𝑎 = 𝑨 + 𝑩 =7𝒂𝑥 + 2𝒂𝑦 + 4𝒂𝑧
The unit vector can be calculated as:
𝑹 7𝒂𝑥 +2𝒂𝑦 +4𝒂𝑧
𝑎𝑢 =|𝑹𝑎| = = 0.84 𝒂𝑥 + 0.24𝒂𝑦 + 0.48𝒂𝑧
𝑎 √(7)2 +(2)2 +(4)2

1.5 The Vector Field

A vector field is defined as a vector function of a position vector. In general, the
magnitude and direction of the function will change as we move throughout the
region, and the value of the vector function must be determined using the coordinate
values of the point in question. the velocity field of the particle in space, the electric
field intensity, and the magnetic field are examples of vector fields.
Example: A vector field is given by F=4x2y ax – (7x+2z) ay (4xy+2z2) az (a)
Evaluate |F| at p(2,-3,4); (b) find a unit vector specifying the direction of F at p (c)
describe the locus of all points on the z- axis for which |F| =1

Solution:
(a) at p ; F= -48 ax -22 ay + 8 az; |F| = 53.4
(b) aF = F/|F| = -0.8988 ax – 0.4119 ay + 0.1498 az
(c) on z- axis ,x=0, y=0, then F = -2z ay + 2z2 az

|F| =1= √4𝑧 2 + (2)2 +≫ z= ∓ 0.455 ( two points)

D1.2. A vector field S is expressed in rectangular coordinates as S = {125/ [(x −

1)2+(y−2)2+(z+1)2]}{(x −1)ax +(y−2)ay +(z+1)az}. (a) Evaluate S at P(2, 4, 3). (b)
Determine a unit vector that gives the direction of S at P. (c) Specify the surface f
(x, y, z) on which |S| = 1.
Shatt Al-Arab University Electromagnetic Fields
Technical Engineering College Third Year
Dept. of Medical Instrumentation Techniques Alyaa Ghazi

Ans. 5.95ax + 11.90ay + 23.8az; 0.218ax + 0.436ay + 0.873az ;

√(𝑥 − 1)2 + (𝑦 − 2)2 + (𝑧 + 1)2 = 125