CBSEJEEClass 12
What is a unit vector?
Answer
A unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of exactly 1, used to indicate direction.
The working
Definition
A unit vector has a magnitude of one unit and is denoted with a cap, such as â (read as a-hat).
Formula
The unit vector along any vector a is found by dividing it by its magnitude: â = a/|a|.
Standard unit vectors
In three dimensions, î, ĵ and k̂ are the unit vectors along the x, y and z axes respectively.
Purpose
A unit vector carries only direction information, so any vector can be written as (magnitude) × (unit vector).
Searched about 1,100 times a month in IndiaSolve a similar doubt →
Stuck on something else?
Type your own doubt into the solver and get the full working in seconds — free, for physics, chemistry, maths and biology.
Open the solverRelated doubts