CLASS NOTES · PHYSICS / MATHEMATICS
Vector Analysis
A complete lecture notebook
Reference: M. R. Spiegel — Vector Analysis
☰ Syllabus / Chapters
A N A LY S I S Ch 1 Vectors & Scalars
VECTOR
Ch 2 Dot & Cross Product
Ch 3 Vector Differentiation
NOTES
CLASS Ch 4 Gradient, Divergence & Curl
Ch 5 Vector Integration
Ch 6 Theorems
1 Vector Algebra
① Equal Vectors
Two vectors A⃗ and B⃗ are equal if they have the same
magnitude and the same direction.
A⃗ = B⃗ ⟺ |A⃗| = |B⃗| and
direction(A⃗) = direction(B⃗)
② Negative of a Vector
The negative of a vector A⃗ is written −A⃗. It has the same
magnitude but opposite direction .
A ⃗
−A ⃗
Same length, opposite arrow direction
③ Sum of Vectors (Triangle Law)
The resultant S⃗ of two vectors is their vector sum:
S⃗ = A⃗ + B⃗
⃗
A
B
⃗
S ⃗=A ⃗+B ⃗
Tip-to-tail rule: place B⃗ at the tip of A⃗; the resultant goes
from the tail of A⃗ to the tip of B⃗.
④ Vector Difference
Vector subtraction is addition of the negative:
A⃗ − B⃗ = A⃗ + (−B⃗)
⑤ Product of a Scalar and a Vector
Multiplying vector A⃗ by scalar m gives a new vector mA⃗
with the same direction but scaled magnitude.
Vector → A⃗ , Scalar → m
Result → m·A⃗
2
Component Form &
Magnitude
A vector in 3D Cartesian coordinates with unit vectors î,
ĵ, k̂ along x, y, z axes:
̂
A⃗ = A₁î + A₂ĵ + A₃k
î
k ̂ X
Z
Right-handed coordinate system. î, ĵ, k̂ are unit vectors
along x, y, z respectively.
Magnitude
|A⃗| = √(A₁² + A₂² + A₃²)
3 Unit Vector
D EFINITION
A unit vector is a vector having unit magnitude (|
A| = 1).
The unit vector in the direction of A⃗ is:
 = A⃗ / |A⃗|
4 Worked Examples
EXAMPLE 1
Q UESTION
Find a unit vector parallel to the resultant of
vectors
r₁ = 2î + 4ĵ − 5k̂ and r₂ = î + 2ĵ + 3k̂.
SOLUTION
Step 1: Find the resultant R⃗:
R⃗ = r₁ + r₂
̂
= (2+1)î + (4+2)ĵ + (−5+3)k
̂
= 3î + 6ĵ − 2k
Step 2: Find the magnitude of R⃗:
|R⃗| = √(3² + 6² + (−2)²)
= √(9 + 36 + 4)
= √49
= 7
Step 3: Unit vector parallel to R⃗:
̂
R = R⃗ / |R⃗| = ̂) / 7
(3î + 6ĵ − 2k
̂
= (3/7)î + (6/7)ĵ − (2/7)k
Verification:
̂|
|(3/7)î + (6/7)ĵ − (2/7)k
= √((3/7)² + (6/7)² + (−2/7)²)
= √(9/49 + 36/49 + 4/49)
= √(49/49)
= 1 ✓
̂
∴ Unit vector = (3/7)î + (6/7)ĵ − (2/7)k
EXAMPLE 2
Q UESTION
Given: r₁ = 3î − 2ĵ + k̂, r₂ = 2î − 4ĵ − 3k̂, r₃ =
−î + 2ĵ + 2k̂
Find the magnitude of: (i) r₃ (ii) r₁ + r₂ + r₃ (iii)
2r₁ − 3r₂ − 5r₃
SOLUTION
(i) |r₃|:
̂
r₃ = −î + 2ĵ + 2k
|r₃| = √((-1)² + 2² + 2²)
= √(1 + 4 + 4)
= √9
= 3
|r₃| = 3
(ii) |r₁ + r₂ + r₃|:
r₁ + r₂ + r₃ = (3+2−1)î + (−2−4+2)ĵ +
̂
(1−3+2)k
̂
= 4î − 4ĵ + 0k
= 4î − 4ĵ
|r₁ + r₂ + r₃| = √(4² + (−4)²)
= √(16 + 16)
= √32
= 4√2
|r₁ + r₂ + r₃| = 4√2
EXAMPLE 3
Q UESTION
Given r₁ = 2î − ĵ + k̂, r₂ = î + 3ĵ − 2k̂, r₃ = −2î
+ ĵ − 3k̂,
and r₄ = 3î + 2ĵ + 5k̂.
Find scalars a, b, c such that r₄ = a·r₁ + b·r₂ +
c·r₃.
SOLUTION
Substitute:
̂ = a(2î − ĵ + k
3î + 2ĵ + 5k ̂) + b(î +
̂) + c(−2î + ĵ − 3k
3ĵ − 2k ̂)
Equating components (î, ĵ, k̂):
3 = 2a + b − 2c … (i)
2 = −a + 3b + c … (ii)
5 = a − 2b − 3c … (iii)
Solving the system:
a = −2, b = 1, c = −3
∴ r₄ = −2r₁ + r₂ − 3r₃
★ Key Formulas Summary
Vector: ̂
A⃗ = A₁î + A₂ĵ + A₃k
Magnitude: |A⃗| = √(A₁² + A₂² + A₃²)
Unit vector: Â = A⃗ / |A⃗|
Sum: A⃗ + B⃗ = (A₁+B₁)î +
̂
(A₂+B₂)ĵ + (A₃+B₃)k
Difference: A⃗ − B⃗ = A⃗ + (−B⃗)
Scalar mult: ̂
m·A⃗ = mA₁î + mA₂ĵ + mA₃k
— End of Chapter 1 Notes — · Reference: M. R. Spiegel,
Vector Analysis