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Our basic unit types (dimensions) are length (L), time (T) and mass (M). When we do dimensional analysis we focus on the units of a physics equation without worrying about the numerical values.
A unit vector (sometimes called versor) is a vector with magnitude equal to one. e.g. Three unit vectors defined by orthogonal components of the Cartesian coordinate system: z. k. i = (1,0,0), obviously jij = 1. j = (0,1,0), jjj = 1. k = (0,0,1), jkj = 1. O.
these units can be used to describe other physical quantities such as velocity (m/s), and acceleration (m/s2). Sometimes the string of units gets to be so long that we contract them into a new unit called a derived unit. For example, A unit of force has base units of kg m s2! newton or N where the newton (N) is a derived unit. 3.1 Physical ...
A unit vector is denoted by a small “carrot” or “hat” above the symbol. For example, represents the unit vector associated with the vector . To calculate the unit vector associated with a particular vector, we take the original vector and divide it by its magnitude. In mathematical terms, this process is written as: Definition: A unit ...
A unit vector is a dimensionless vector one unit in length used only to specify a given direction. Unit vectors have no other physical significance. In Physics 2110 and 2120 we will use the symbols i, j, and k (if there is a third dimension, i.e a “z” direction), although in many texts the symbols x^, y^, and z^ are often used.
The mathematicians have come up with a special kind of vector called a unit vector which comes in very handy in physics. By definition a unit vector has magnitude 1, with no units.
At this stage it is convenient to introduce unit vectors along each of the coordinate axes. Let xˆ be a vector of unit magnitude pointing in the positive x-direction, yˆ, a vector of unit magnitude in the positive y-direction, and zˆ a vector of unit magnitude in the positive z-direction.
