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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.
INTRODUCING VECTORS. 1.1 Scalars. 1.2 Vectors. 1.3 Unit vectors. 1.4 Vector algebra. 1.5 Simple examples. 1.1 Scalars. A scalar is a quantity with magnitude but no direction, any mathematical entity that can be represented by a number. Examples: Mass, temperature, energy, charge ...
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 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.
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.
A vector is a quantity that has both a magnitude (or size) and a direction. Both of these properties must be given in order to specify a vector completely. In this unit we describe how to write down vectors, how to add and subtract them, and how to use them in geometry.
Three numbers are needed to represent the magnitude and direction of a vector quantity in a three dimensional space. These quantities are called vector quantities. Vector quantities also satisfy two distinct operations, vector addition and multiplication of a vector by a scalar.
