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1.3 Unit vectors. 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.
Measurements are made by comparisons to well–defined standards which define the units for our measurements. The SI system (popularly known as the metric system) is the one used in physics. Its unit of length is the meter, its unit of time is the second and its unit of mass is the kilogram.
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 ...
Overview. Many of you will know a good deal already about Vector Algebra — how to add and subtract vectors, how to take scalar and vector products of vectors, and something of how to describe geometric and physical entities using vectors.
Example. Write the polar unit vectors r and θ in terms of the Cartesian unit vectors x and y . Unit Vectors. We are familiar with the unit vectors in Cartesian coordinates, where . points in the x-direction and . y-direction.
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. By convention, a unit vector is represented by a letter marked with a circumflex. The circumflex is an accent mark that appears above the letter.
Vectors. vector has direction and magnitude and is written in these notes in bold e.g. F or underlined. In written material I will use underlining, you may also use an over-arrow (just try to be consistent). unit vector has magnitude of one (unity), and is often represented with a hat e.g. ^t .
