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JEE Exam » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Unit Vector

Unit Vector

A unit vector is a vector with length one, which is frequently referred to as a direction vector.

Table of Content
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Varied geometric entities with magnitude and direction are known as vectors. 

There are two points in vectors: a starting point and a terminal point, the latter of which reflects the point’s end location in the equation; the former is the starting point.Vectors can be used to perform a wide range of arithmetic operations, including addition, subtraction, and multiplication. A unit vector is a vector that has a magnitude of one and has a length of one. If, for example, the vector v = (1, 3) is not a unit vector because the magnitude of the vector is not equal to 1, then the vector is not a unit vector. For example, |v| = (12+32) ≠1 is not a unit vector.

Unit Vector

A unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of one, which is the smallest possible. Cap represents the unit vectors, which are denoted by the symbol. 

The unit vectors are vectors with length one. Unit vectors are widely used to indicate the direction of a vector in mathematical notation, and they are also known as unit vectors.Although it has the same direction as an input vector, a unit vector has the same magnitude as an input vector; A unit vector for a vector A is represented by the symbols

^            ^                ^

A  and   A  = (1/|A|)A

In a 3-dimensional plane, the unit vectors I j, and k are the vectors pointing in the directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, respectively. i.e.,

|i| = 1

|j| = 1

|k| = 1

Magnitude of a vector

It is possible to calculate the magnitude of a vector by multiplying it by the number of elements in the vector. A vector is a two-dimensional object that has both a direction and a magnitude. It is the sum of the various measures of a vector along the x-, y-, and z-axes that is represented by the magnitude of the vector formula. The magnitude of a vector A is denoted by the symbol |A|. The magnitude of a vector with directions along the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis can be determined by calculating the square root of the sum of the squares of its direction ratios for the vector in question. Please see the magnitude of a vector formula in the following section for a better understanding.

This is the magnitude of a vector |A| = (ai+bj+ck) for which the coefficients are: |A| = (ai+bj+ck) for which the coefficients are:|A| = √(a2+ b2 + c2)

For example, if A = 1i + 2j + 3k, then |A| = √(12+22+32) = 9 = 3 units.

Unit Vector Notation 

Unit Vectors are denoted by the symbol “, which is also referred to as a cap or hat, for example, a. It can be calculated using the formula a = a/|a|, where |a| stands for the vector ‘s norm or magnitude. It can be determined with the use of a unit vector formula or by utilising a computer calculator.

Unit vector In three dimensions

When the unit vectors of i, j, and k are used, they are typically unit vectors along the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis. In three-dimensional space, any vector that exists may be described as a linear combination of the unit vectors that comprise it. The dot product of two unit vectors is always a scalar quantity, no matter how many units are involved. The cross-product of two given unit vectors, on the other hand, produces a third vector that is perpendicular (orthogonal) to both of the first two.

Unit Normal Vector

In mathematics, a “normal vector” is defined as a vector that is perpendicular to the surface at a specific position. It is also referred to as “normal” to the surface that contains the vector. The unit vector that is obtained after normalising the normal vector is referred to as the unit normal vector, which is also known as the “unit normal”. This is accomplished by dividing a non-zero normal vector by the vector norm.

Formula for Unit Vectors

Because vectors have both a magnitude (Value) and a direction (Direction), they are represented by an arrow a, which signifies a unit vector. If we wish to get the unit vector of any vector, we divide the vector’s magnitude by the unit vector of the vector. If you want to represent any vector, you usually use the three-dimensional coordinates x,y,z.

In mathematics, a vector can be represented in one of two ways:

1. a = (x, y, and z) is written in brackets.

2. a = xi plus yj plus zk

The following is the formula for the magnitude of a vector: |a|=√(x2+ y2+z2)

The following is the formula for a unit vector pointing in the direction of a specified vector:

Unit Vector = Vector/Vector’s magnitude

Uses of  Unit Vector 

The direction of a vector is specified by unit vectors. Unit vectors can exist on both two- and three-dimensional planes, depending on the situation. Every vector can be expressed with its unit vector in the form of its components, and every vector has a unit vector. Vectors have unit vectors that point in the same direction as the axes of the vector.

Three perpendicular axes will be used to identify the vector v in the three-dimensional plane (x, y, and z-axis). In mathematical notation, the unit vector along the x-axis is denoted by the symbol I (instead of the letter I In the y-axis, the unit vector is represented by the letter j, while in z-axis, the unit vector is represented by the letter k.

Conclusion

A unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of one, which is the smallest possible. Cap represents the unit vectors, which are denoted by the symbol. The unit vectors have a length of one. Unit vectors are commonly used to express the direction of a vector in mathematical notation.A vector is a two-dimensional object that has both a direction and a magnitude. It is the sum of the various measures of a vector along the x-, y-, and z-axes that is represented by the magnitude of the vector formula. The magnitude of a vector A is denoted by the symbol |A|.In mathematics, a “normal vector” is defined as a vector that is perpendicular to the surface at a specific position.Because vectors have both a magnitude (Value) and a direction (Direction), they are represented by an arrow a, which signifies a unit vector.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

Define Unit Vector

Ans. A vector with a magnitude of one is referred to as a unit vector. It is often referred to as a direction vector...Read full

Find the unit vector with the same direction as a given vector by following the steps below.

Ans. To discover a unit vector that has the same direction as a given vector, we divide the vector’s magnitude...Read full

What is the purpose of a unit vector?

Ans. Unit vectors are only used to describe the direction of a vector; they have no other function. Unit vectors can...Read full

What is a Unit Vector Formula?

Ans. It is possible to obtain the unit vector A by dividing the vector A by th...Read full

What is the definition of a Normal Unit Vector?

Ans. In the case of a two-dimensional curve, a unit normal vector is a vector with magnitude 1 that is perpendicular...Read full

Ans. A vector with a magnitude of one is referred to as a unit vector. It is often referred to as a direction vector because it is commonly employed to describe the direction of a vector in mathematical equations. The unit vectors along the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are represented by the vectors i, j, and k, respectively.

Ans. To discover a unit vector that has the same direction as a given vector, we divide the vector’s magnitude by the direction of the vector. Consider the case of a vector v = (1, 4) with a magnitude of |v|, as an illustration. Each component of vector v is divided by |v| to produce the unit vector v, which is oriented in the same direction as vector v.

Ans. Unit vectors are only used to describe the direction of a vector; they have no other function. Unit vectors can be found in both two- and three-dimensional planes, depending on the situation. The components of any vector create a unit vector, which is represented by the symbol u. Vectors have unit vectors that point in the same direction as the axes of the vector.

Ans. It is possible to obtain the unit vector A by dividing the vector A by the vector’s magnitude |A|. The unit vector has the same direction coordinates as the provided vector, indicating that it is the same vector.

^

A is equal to A/|A|.

Ans. In the case of a two-dimensional curve, a unit normal vector is a vector with magnitude 1 that is perpendicular to the curve at some point on the curve. Instead of looking for a single unit normal vector of a given curve, you should look for a function that returns all potential unit normal vectors of the curve.

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