How Do Direction Cosines Relate to the Kronecker Delta in Matrix Multiplication?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sameershah23
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Direction
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between direction cosines and the Kronecker delta in the context of matrix multiplication. Participants are attempting to clarify the definitions and properties of direction cosine matrices and their multiplication, as well as the implications of the Kronecker delta in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks to prove a relationship involving direction cosine matrices and the Kronecker delta, indicating a need for clarification on the notation used.
  • Another participant expresses confusion over the nomenclature and suggests that the original poster's understanding may be lacking, questioning the nature of the matrix multiplication involved.
  • A subsequent reply attempts to clarify that the dot represents matrix multiplication and reiterates the indexing of the direction cosines, while also hinting at the meaning of the Kronecker delta.
  • A further response critiques the understanding of matrix multiplication involving direction cosine matrices, emphasizing that their product does not yield the identity matrix and questioning the relevance of identity matrices in this context.
  • Participants raise questions about the significance of columns and rows in direction cosine matrices and their relation to the problem, suggesting a deeper exploration of the topic is needed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the definitions and properties of direction cosine matrices and their multiplication. There are competing views on the understanding of the relationship between these matrices and the Kronecker delta.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the clarity of the nomenclature and definitions used, which may affect the understanding of the mathematical relationships being discussed. The discussion also highlights unresolved questions regarding the properties of direction cosine matrices and their products.

sameershah23
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
I have to prove the following.
lmj. lsj= delta ms m,j,s=1,2,3.
and lmj and lsj stands for direction cosine matrix. and (delta ms) is a Kronecker delta.


2. Cant think of any



The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
Your nomenclature is very confusing. Is this one transformation matrix L indexed by m and j on one hand and indexed by s and j on the other? What is that dot? I have a guess regarding what you are trying to prove here, but it is just a guess. Please clarify.
 
l`s denote direction cosines and the dot represents the multiplication of the two matrices. And m,s,j take the values 1,2,3.
I guess you know the Kronecker delta means,
 
You have not clarified thing much. This nomenclature problem, too me, reflects a lack of understanding. You are not talking about "the multiplication of two matrices" because the product of two random direction cosine matrices is not the identity matrix. The standard matrix product of a direction cosine matrix with itself is not the identity matrix. The matrix product of a direction cosine matrix and one other matrix is the identity matrix. Why all this talk about identity matrices? Because [itex]\delta_{i,j}[/itex] is just another way to write the identity matrix.

Some hints:
  • Each column (and each row, for that matter) of a direction cosine matrix represents something very important. What does a column in a direction cosine matrix represent?
  • What is the dot product of [itex]\hat {\boldsymbol i}[/itex] with itself? With [itex]{\boldsymbol j}[/itex] or [itex]{\boldsymbol k}[/itex]?
  • How do the above two questions relate to the problem at hand?

It is getting late. Could someone else take over helping this person?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K