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Physics XI Notes for Physics Notes

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Commutative Law And Associative Law Of Vector Addition

Properties of vector addition

Commutative law of vector addition
Consider two vectors image1
and image2
Let these two vectors represent two adjacent sides of a parallelogram. We construct a parallelogram OACB as shown in the diagram. The diagonal OC represents the resultant vector image3

image4

Commutative law of vector addition
From above figure it is clear that:
This fact is referred to as the commutative law of vector addition.

Associative law of vector addition
The law states that the sum of vectors remains same irrespective of their order or grouping in which they are arranged.
Consider three vectors: image4
image6
image7

Applying “head to tail rule” to obtain the resultant of:
image8

Then finally again find the resultant of these three vectors :
This fact is known as the associative law of vector addition.

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