Vector Algebra

Electromagnetics
ELE 311 Fall 2015
Amer S. Zakaria
Department of Electrical Engineering
College of Engineering
American University of Sharjah

Based on Sadiku 6th edition book

supplementary material and class notes

Learning Objectives
Understand the difference between scalar
and vector quantities.
Calculate unit
magnitudes.

vectors

and

vector

Perform algebraic operations on vectors.

Perform dot and cross products on vectors.

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Vector Algebra

Scalars and Vectors

Scalar
A quantity that has only a
magnitude.
Examples: Mass, speed,
population.
Represented by simply a
letter e.g. A.

Vector
A quantity that has both a
magnitude and direction.
Examples: Weight,
velocity, force.
Represented as either a
bold letter () or a letter
with an arrow on top ().

Both scalar and vector quantities can be either constant values or

multivariable functions.
Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Magnitudes and Unit Vectors (1/2)

Vector

The magnitude of a vector is a scalar quantity written as or .

A unit vector along is a vector whose magnitude is unity.

Direction of a unit vector is in the vector direction. Thus

Example: In Cartesian coordinates, a vector can be written as

The magnitude of is

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Vector components
Unit vectors

Magnitudes and Unit Vectors (2/2)

Vector

Example: In Cartesian coordinates, a vector can be written as

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Example
Find magnitude and unit vector of

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

between Vectors
Relationships

Given two vectors and , they can be related to each other in

different ways.

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Addition
Vector

Two vectors and can be added together to give another vector .

Vector addition obeys the following laws:

Commutative Law:
Associative Law:

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Subtraction
Vector

Similarly two vectors and can subtracted from each other.

Commutative law doesnt apply:

However, the magnitudes of the subtracts are equal:

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Scalar Multiplication
If a vector is multiplied with a positive scalar: magnitude
changes but not the direction.

If a vector is multiplied with a negative scalar: both magnitude

and direction changes.

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Position and Distance Vectors

A point P in Cartesian coordinate may be represented as (x, y, z).
The position vector of point P is defined as the directed distance
from the origin O(0,0,0) to P(x, y, z).
A distance vector is the displacement from one point to another.

Electromagnetics | Vector Algebra

Vector Multiplication

Vector Multiplication
When two vectors are multiplied, the result is either a scalar or a
vector quantity depending on multiplication type.
In this course, we are interested in two types of vector
multiplications:
Dot (or scalar) product:
Cross (or vector) product:

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Dot
or Scalar Product
Given two vectors, their dot product is given as

Here is smaller angle between vectors.

If the two vectors are perpendicular () to each, their dot
product is zero .
If two vectors are parallel (), the dot product of their unit vectors
is equal 1 OR equal to scalar multiplication of vectors magnitudes.
Using dot products, we can define the projection of a vector onto
another:
Scalar Projection of onto is
Vector Projection of onto is

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Dot Product Laws

The following laws apply for dot product multiplication:
Commutative Law:
Distributive Law:
Self Multiplication:

To find the scalar component of a vector in a certain direction:

Find its scalar projection in that direction

To find the vector component in a certain direction:

Find its vector projection in that direction.

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Example

Given two vectors and , find the scalar and vector components of in
the direction of .

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Cross
or Vector Product
Given two vectors, their cross product is given as

Again here is smaller angle between vectors.

Unit vector is to plane

containing and .
Direction of unit vector can be
determined using the righthand rule.

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Rule
Right-Hand

Using the right-hand rule (or right-hand screw rule):

The fingers of the right-hand rotate from to
The right thumb is direction of .

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Cross Product Laws

Not Commutative:
Anti-Commutative:
Not Associative:
Distributive:
Scalar Triple Product

Vector Triple Product (BAC-CAB rule)

Self Cross-Product:

Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Cross Product using Cyclic Permutation

Using cross-products, we can show:

Moving clockwise leads to

positive results.
Electromagnetics | Vector Multiplication

Moving counterclockwise leads to

negative results.

End of Vector Algebra