What are the different types of vectors?
Types of
Vectors
Zero Vector
We know that all vectors have initial and terminal
points. A Zero vector or a null vector is one in which these two points
coincide. It is denoted as →0. Since the magnitude is zero, we cannot assign a direction to these
vectors. Alternatively, zero vectors can have any direction. Some examples of
zero vectors are →AA, →BB, etc.
Unit Vector
A Unit vector is a vector having a magnitude of unity or
1 unit. A unit vector in the direction of a given vector →a is
denoted as ^a.
Coinitial Vectors
Coinitial vectors are two or more vectors which have the
same initial point. For example, →AB and →AC are
coinitial vectors since they have the same initial point ‘A’.
Collinear Vectors
Collinear vectors are two or more vectors which are parallel
to the same line irrespective of their magnitudes and direction.
Equal Vectors
If two vectors →a and →b have the same magnitude and direction regardless of the
positions of their initial points, then they are Equal vectors. These vectors
are written as →a = →b.
Negative of a Vector
Let’s say that there is a vector →AB having
a certain magnitude and direction. Now, if there is a vector whose magnitude is
same as that of vector →AB but the direction is opposite,
then it is called negative of the given vector →AB. For
example, vector →BA is the negative of vector →AB. It is written as →BA = – →AB.
Types of Vectors
Zero Vector
We know that all vectors have initial and terminal points. A Zero vector or a null vector is one in which these two points coincide. It is denoted as →0. Since the magnitude is zero, we cannot assign a direction to these vectors. Alternatively, zero vectors can have any direction. Some examples of zero vectors are →AA, →BB, etc.
Unit Vector
A Unit vector is a vector having a magnitude of unity or 1 unit. A unit vector in the direction of a given vector →a is denoted as ^a.
Coinitial Vectors
Coinitial vectors are two or more vectors which have the same initial point. For example, →AB and →AC are coinitial vectors since they have the same initial point ‘A’.
Collinear Vectors
Collinear vectors are two or more vectors which are parallel to the same line irrespective of their magnitudes and direction.
Equal Vectors
If two vectors →a and →b have the same magnitude and direction regardless of the positions of their initial points, then they are Equal vectors. These vectors are written as →a = →b.
Negative of a Vector
Let’s say that there is a vector →AB having a certain magnitude and direction. Now, if there is a vector whose magnitude is same as that of vector →AB but the direction is opposite, then it is called negative of the given vector →AB. For example, vector →BA is the negative of vector →AB. It is written as →BA = – →AB.
