Mathematics for Engineers and Technologists

2

Vectors, phasors and complex numbers

Summary

Vectors are means by which engineers describe quantities which need both a direction and a magnitude specified if their effects are to be ascertained. Vectors play a strong part in the formulation and analysis of mechanical systems, both static and dynamic. Phasors are a means by which sinusoidal alternating voltages and currents can be specified in terms of a rotating radius and an angle, they behaving like vectors. This chapter looks at how we can work with such quantities, considering both vector algebra and complex numbers.

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, the reader should be able to:

• add and subtract vector quantities;

• use vector components to add and subtract vectors;

• use ...