Introducing vectors for engineering applications

Applied mathematics is a key skill for practicing engineers and mathematical modelling is an ever-increasing field within engineering. This free course, Introducing vectors for engineering applications, covers one aspect of a Level 1 engineering module, the application of vectors and vector algebra, using examples inspired by engineering applications.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• Background
• 1 Modelling with vectors
• 1 Modelling with vectors
• 1.1 Modelling motion with perpendicular vectors
• 1.2 Models of motion
• 1.3 Modelling motion with non-perpendicular vectors
• 2 Vectors in component form
• 2 Vectors in component form
• 2.1 Horizontal and vertical components
• 2.2 Cartesian unit vectors
• 2.3 Converting between vector forms
• 2.4 Position vectors
• 3 Vector algebra with components
• 3 Vector algebra with components
• 3.1 Vector addition in component form
• 3.2 Scalar multiplication of vectors in component form
• 3.3 Vector subtraction in component form
• 3.4 Combining vector operations
• 3.5 Vector algebra
• 4 Scalar product of vectors
• 4 Scalar product of vectors
• 4.1 Scalar product of a vector from components
• 4.2 Scalar product of a vector from magnitude and direction
• 4.3 Properties of the scalar product
• 4.4 Finding the angle between two vectors
• Conclusion
• Solutions to activities
• References
• Acknowledgements