Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

7.6 Cross Product A Right Hand System The Right Hand System is based on the position of first three fingers of the right hand as illustrated on the following figure: B Cork-Screw Rule The cork-screw rule describes a right hand system based on the cork-screw property:

If you rotate the x-axis towards the y-axis using the shortest path, the screw goes in the positive direction of the z-axis. C Cross Product r r The cross product between two vectors a and b is a r r vector quantity denoted by a b having the following properties: r r r r r r a) || a b ||=|| a || || b || sin where = (a , b ) r r r r b) a b is perpendicular to both a and b (is r r perpendicular to the plane determined by a and b ) r r r r c) the vectors a , b , and a b form a right-handed system D Specific Cases r r r r r 1. If a || b ( = 0 or = = 180 ), then a b = 0 . r r 2. If a b ( = / 2 = 90 ), then r r r r || a b ||=|| a || || b ||= maximum r r r r r 3. If a b then a a = 0 .

r r a b r b r a

r r r Ex 1. The magnitudes of two vectors a and b are || a ||= 2 r and || b ||= 3 respectively, and the angle between them is = 60 . Find the magnitude of the cross product of these vectors. r r r r || a b ||=|| a || || b || sin = (2)(3) sin 60 = 3 3

E Cross Product of Unit Vectors D Cross Product of two Algebraic Vectors The cross product of the standard unit vectors is given by: The cross product of two algebraic vectors r r r r a = (a x , a y , a z ) = a x i + a y j + a z k and r r r r r r r r r r r r r i i =0 j j =0 k k =0 b = (b x , b y , b z ) = b x i + b y j + b z k is given by: r r r r r r r r r i j =k jk =i k i = j r r r r r a b = i ( a y bz a z b y ) + j ( a z bx a x bz ) + k ( a x b y a y bx ) r r r i j k r a y az r az ax r ax a y =i +j +k = ax a y az bx b y b y bz bz bx bx b y bz

7.6 Cross Product 2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 2

Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

Ex 2. For each case, find the cross product of the vectors r r a and b .

r r a) a = (1,2,0) , b = (0,1,2) r r r r r i j k i j r r r r r ab =1 2 0 1 2 = i (4 0) + j (0 2) + k (1 0) 0 1 2 0 1 r c) a = (1,1,2) , r r r r a b = (4,2,1) i j r r a b = 1 1 2 1 r r a b = (1,7,3)

r r r r r r r b) a = i + 2 j , b = i 2 j k r r r r r i j k i j r r r r r a b = 1 2 0 1 2 = i (2 0) + j (0 1) + k (2 2) 1 2 1 1 2 r r a b = (2,1,0) r r r r b = 2i j + 3k r r r k i j r r r 2 1 1 = i (3 2) + j (4 + 3) + k (1 + 2) 3 2 1

E Properties of Cross Product The following properties apply for the cross product: r r r r 1. a b = b a (anti-commutative property) r r r r r r 2. (a b ) = (a ) b = a (b ) r r r r r r r 3. a (b + c ) = a b + a c (distributive property) r r r r r r r r 4. a b = 0 a = 0 or b = 0 or a || b r r r 5. a 0 = 0 r r r 6. a a = 0 Note: The dot and cross products have a higher priority in comparison to addition and subtraction operations.
r r r r r r r r r d) a (b c ) = (c a )b (b a )c (triple cross product) r r r r r r r [a (b c )] x = a y (b c ) z a z (b c ) y = a y (bx c y b y c x ) a z (bz c x bx c z ) = (c y a y + c z a z )bx (b y a y + bz a z )c x + a x c x bx a x c x bx r r r r = (c a )bx (b a )c x = RS

Ex 3. Use the cross product properties to prove the following relations:

r r r r r r a) (a b ) (a + b ) = 2(a b ) r r r r r r r r r r r r LS = (a b ) (a + b ) = a a + a b b a b b r r r r r r r r r r r r = 0 + a b b a 0 = a b + a b = 2(a b ) = RS

r r r r r r r r r r r r b) (a b ) (a b ) + (a b )(a b ) = (a a )(b b ) r r r r r r r r LS = (a b ) (a b ) + (a b )(a b ) r r r r r r r r =|| a b || 2 +(a b ) 2 =|| a || 2 || b || 2 cos 2 + || a ||2 || b ||2 sin 2 r r r r r r =|| a || 2 || b || 2 = (a a )(b b ) = RS

r r r r r r r r r c) a (b c ) = b (c a ) = c (a b ) (mixed product) r r r a (b c ) = a x (b y c z bz c y ) + a y (bz c x bx c z ) + a z (bx c y b y c x )

= b x ( c y a z c z a y ) + b y (c z a x c x a z ) + bz ( c x a y c y a x ) r r r = b (c a ) = RS

r Ex 4. Find an unit vector perpendicular to both a = (0,1,1) r and b = (1,1,0) . r r r a b The vector u = r r is an unit vector perpendicular to || a b || r r both a and b . So: r r r r r i j k i j r r r r r a b = 0 1 1 0 1 = i (0 1) + j (1 0) + k (0 1) 1 1 0 1 1 = (1,1,1)
r (1,1,1) 1 1 1 u= = , , 3 3 3 3

Ex 5. Classify as scalar, vector, or meaningless. a) b) c) d)

r r r a +b c (vector) r r r a + b c (meaningless) r r r r a b b c (vector) r r r (b c )a (vector) r r r (meaningless) e) (b c ) a r r r r f) (b c )(a b ) (vector) r r r r g) (b c )(a b ) (meaningless) r r r r r r r r h) (b c )(a b ) (b + c ) (c b ) (vector) r r r r r i) (b c ) a (b c ) (scalar)

Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 401-407 Homework: Nelson Textbook: Page 407 #3, 4ab, 5, 8a, 11, 13

7.6 Cross Product 2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 2