Cross product Definition and 465 Threads

In order to prove that two of the means to calculate the magnitude of an arbitrary cross product are equivalent, I tried a direct approach, which I outline below. Any hint as to where I am going wrong would be appreciated. So I hope this is the right section-- although this may look like HW...

Hi, it is my first post here so please dont mind any mistakes if you see them. I am currently learning vectors and one thing that I do not understand is if there will always be a vector product for 2 vectors when they have components in all 3 plane. I mean if they are in xy plane we just take...

I thought this was too easy $$a+(b\times c)=0\implies a=-(b\times c)=(c\times b)$$ Then $$3(c.a)=3(c.(c\times b))=0$$ Since cross product of vectors is perpendicular to both vectors and dot product of perpendicular vectors is zero. Now here's the problem, correct answer given is 10. But how do...

Suppose ##A = A_i\mathbf{\hat{e}}_i## and ##B = B_i\mathbf{\hat{e}}_i## are vectors in ##\mathbb{R}^3##. Then \begin{align} \Delta\left(A\times B\right) &= \epsilon_{ijk}\Delta\left(A_jB_k\right)\mathbf{\hat{e}}_i \\ &= \epsilon_{ijk}\left[A_j\Delta B_k + 2\partial_mA_j\partial_mB_k + B_k\Delta...

So I do know that there does exist a generalization of the cross product (the exterior product), but this question does not concern that (and I would prefer it not ) I know that the cross product (that Theodore Frankel, for example, calls "the most toxic operation in math") works in 3D only...

So far, I have got the equations, ##u \cdot (\vec u \times \vec v) = 0## ##u_1a + u_2b + u_3c = 0## ##v_1a + v_2b + v_3c = 0## Could some please give me some guidance? Many thanks!

Hi! For example, how do you tell whether to use the scalar or cross product for an problem such as, However, I do know that instantaneous angular momentum = cross product of the instantaneous position vector and instantaneous momentum. However, what about if I didn't know whether I'm meant to...

Hi! For this problem, The solution is, However, I don't understand their solution at all. Can somebody please explain their reasoning in more detail. Many thanks!

Could anyone explain the reasoning from step 2 to step 3? Specifically, I don't understand how to find the product of a cross product and a vector - like (v1 · v2)v1 and (v1 · v3)v1. I'm also confused by v1 × v3 + (v1 · v3)v1 -- is v1 × v3 = v1v3? How would this be added to (v1 · v3)v1? Thank you.

The magnitude of cross product is defined of vector A⃗ and B⃗ as |A⃗×B⃗|=|A⃗||B⃗|sinθ where θ is defined as the angle between the two vector and 0≤θ≤π.the domain of θ is defined 0≤θ≤π so that the value of sinθ remains positive and thus the value of the magnitude |A⃗||B⃗|sinθ also remain positive...

I am sure you are all familiar with the cross product in 3D space. i cross into j gives k. Cyclic Negative, if reversed, etc. I am sure you are all familiar with the definition as: norm of the first vector, norm of the second, sine of the angle, perpendicular (but direction using right hand...

Dear PF, so we know that cross product of two vectors can be permutated like this: ## \vec{ \alpha } \times \vec{ \beta }=-\vec{ \alpha} \times \vec{ \beta} ## But in a specific case, like ## \vec{p} \times \vec{A} = \frac{ \hbar }{ i } \vec{ \nabla } \times \vec{A} ## the cyclic permutation of...

Although it is considered unwise to judge a book by its cover, a book's cover is still useful for finding the direction of the cross product ##\mathbf{A}\times \mathbf{B}## between two given vectors. Being able to read is all that is needed. Here is a detailed procedure. Step 1. Move one...

I tried to find the components of the vectors. ##a_y =2.60 sin 63.0 = 2.32## and assuming the z axis would behave the same as an x-axis ##a_z =2.60 cos 63.0 = 1.18## ##b_z =1.30 sin 51.0 = 1.01## making the same assumption ##b_x =1.3 cos 51.0 = 0.82## I now think I should have switched these...

I am trying to find the equations of motion of the angular momentum ##\boldsymbol L## for a system consisting of a particle of mass ##m## and magnetic moment ##\boldsymbol{\mu} \equiv \gamma \boldsymbol{L}## in a magnetic field ##\boldsymbol B##. The Hamiltonian of the system is therefore...

Hi If i calculate the vector product of a and b in cartesian coordinates i write it as a determinant with i , j , k in the top row. The 2nd row is the 3 components of a and the 3rd row is the components of b. Does this work for sphericals or cylindricals eg . can i put er , eθ , eφ in the top...

I study from Gourgoulhon's text 'special relativity in general frames', I have some difficulty to understanding Chapter 3 Page 84. I already learn that there exist a orthogonal projection mapping ##\bot_{u}:E \rightarrow E_u(P)## from the vector space ##E \cong R^4## to the subspace ##E_u(P)##...

I understand that dot product gives us a number and cross product gives a vector. Why is this vector orthogonal to the others two, and why it has magnitude |a|*|b|*sinΘ? How to use cross product? What does it give to us?

That may sound really silly, and that may be due to my lack of understanding of the operations itself, but: if ##|\vec{a}\times\vec{b}|=|\vec{a}|\cdot|\vec{b}|sin\theta##, being ##\theta## the angle between the two vectors, how could ##\vec{b}\times\vec{a}## be different? Wouldn't it be just the...

Writing both ##\vec{U}## and ##\vec{B}## with magnitude in all the three spatial coordinates: $$ \vec{U}\times \vec{B}= (U_{x}\cdot \widehat{i}+U_{y}\cdot \widehat{j}+U_{z}\cdot \widehat{k})\times (B_{x}\cdot \widehat{i}+B_{y}\cdot \widehat{j}+B_{z}\cdot \widehat{k})$$ From this point on, I...

Given that the normal vector cross product is rotational invariant, that is $$\mathbf R(a\times b) = (\mathbf R a)\times(\mathbf R b),$$ where ##a, b \in \mathbb{R}^3## are two arbitrary (column) vectors and ##\mathbf R## is a 3x3 rotation matrix, and given the cross product matrix operator...

I am beginning this new general physics course and I have encountered a question involved with what I assume to be cross products, a topic that I have very little experience with. I am not looking for a direct answer to the problem but advice on what steps should be taken in order to learn how...

i) I approximate the solenoid as a cylinder with height L and radius R. I am not sure how I am supposed to place the solenoid in the coordinate system but I think it must be like this, right? The surface occupied by the cylinder can be described by all vectors ##\vec x =(x,y,z)## so that...

I've tried with this work in attachment. i&m not sure of my answer is correct.

About this figure, the current in the opposite wires are parallel (and not anti-parallel). So, for instance for the first option the torque is zero; but I wanted to know what is the magnetic moment of this loop. Since I rely only on formula I've have no idea how to compute for this one.

Prove that for a 2 sphere in R3 the Lie bracket is the same as the cross product using the vector: X = (y,-x,0); Y = (0,z-y) [X,Y] = JYX - JXY where the J's are the Jacobean matrices. I computed JYX - JXY to get (-z,0,x). I computed (y,-x,0) ^ (0,z,-y) and obtained (xy,y2,yz) = (z,0,x)...

Starting with LHS: êi εijk Aj (∇xA)k êi εijk εlmk Aj (d/dxl) Am (δil δjm - δim δjl) Aj (d/dxl) Am êi δil δjm Aj (d/dxl) Am êi - δim δjl Aj (d/dxl) Am êi Aj (d/dxi) Aj êi - Aj (d/dxj) Ai êi At this point, the LHS should equal the RHS in the problem statement, but I have no clue where...

I'm stuck on a few Vector homework problems. I don't quite understand how to write vectors A+B and A-B for questions 1b and 2b. I tried starting with calculating the magnitude for vector A+B on question 1b and then followed by finding theta, but I'm not sure if that's what I'm supposed to do...

Hi I have used cross products thousands of time without really knowing what it actually does; I know how to compute it, but I don't feel like I understand it. Also, when it shows up in physics/kinematics contexts, it's only because the magnitudes of the vectors involved have to be multiplied...

Do we really need concept of cross product at all? I always believed cross product to be sort of simplification of exterior product concept tailored for the 3D case. However, recently I encountered the following sentence «...but, unlike the cross product, the exterior product is associative»...

Homework Statement Calculate |u+v+w|, knowing that u, v, and w are vectors in space such that |u|=√2, |v|=√3, u is perpendicular to v, w=u×v. Homework Equations |w|=|u×v|=|u|*|v|*sinΘ The Attempt at a Solution [/B] Θ=90° |w|=(√2)*(√3)*sin(90°)=√(6) Then I tried to use u={√2,0,0}...

Looking into the infinitesimal view of rotations from Lie, I noticed that the vector cross product can be written in terms of the generators of the rotation group SO(3). For example: $$\vec{\mathbf{A}} \times \vec{\mathbf{B}} = (A^T \cdot J_x \cdot B) \>\> \hat{i} + (A^T \cdot J_y \cdot B)...

Homework Statement Force F⃗ =−11j^N is exerted on a particle at r⃗ = (8i^+5j^)m. What is the torque on the particle about the origin? Express your answer using two significant figures. Enter coordinates numerically separated by commas.Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution F: 0i, -11j...

Homework Statement [/B] Hopefully this is in the correct section I looked around for others but this seemed like the right one. Find the scalar, vector, and parametric equations of the plane that passes through the points P(1,0,4), Q(3,1,-6), and R(-2,3,5). Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a...

We all know that the area of a triangle having consecutive sides as ##\vec { a }## and ##\vec { b }## has the area ##\frac { 1 } { 2 } | \vec { a } \times \vec { b } |## but what is the direction of that area vector? I mean if we consider ##\vec { a } \times \vec { b }## that will be one...

Homework Statement A 2.4 kg particle-like object moves in a plane with velocity components vx = 25 m/s and vy = 80 m/s as it passes through the point with (x, y)coordinates of (3.0, −4.0) m. (Express your answers in vector form.) (a) What is its angular momentum relative to the origin at this...

This is more of a general question, but I've encountered this kind of exercises a lot in my current preperations for my exam: There are two cases but the excercise is pretty much the same: Compute $$(1) \space \operatorname{div}\vec{A}(\vec{r}) \qquad , where \thinspace...

(First, I am aware there is no cross product in higher dimensions. I am aware of differential forms. I am aware of the problems with the cross product. I know enough to know what I don't know. but set all that aside.) With that, could someone help me, by properly phrasing the cross product...

Homework Statement Given that vector a = (1, 2, -5), b = (-12, 41, 75) and c = a + 2b, explain why (without doing any calculations whatsoever) the value of a•(b x c) = 0 Homework Equations No specific equations, as the question asks for the value without making any calculations. This problem...

Hello people, I'm a little bit confused about how to define the polarization direction for TM/TE mode. Take a look at the TE mode picture I found in some place. Picture1 The Cartesian system of coordinate (XYZ) here is chosen by the right hand rule. Picture2 But how we chose the direction...

Could someone tell me if this 4-Vector cross product is correct: i j k t dx dy dz 1/c*dt Ex Ey Ez Et =[(dy(Ez)-dz(Ey))-(dy(Et)-1/c*dt(Ey))+(dz(Et)-1/c*dt(Ez))]*i -[(d(E)-d(E))-(d(E)-d(E))+(d(E)-d(E))]*j...

Is there a spatial derivative that uses the del operator and the double cross product? If so, is it used in physics?

Today, my teacher asked us what is the real life utility of the dot product and cross product of vectors. Many of us said that one gives a scalar product, and one gives a vector product. But he said that, that was not the real life utility of the dot and cross product. He asked us, "Students...

If given a position vector defined for a orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system HOW would the matrices that make up the Levi Civita 3x3x3 matrix remain the same? "Levi Civita 3x3x3 is said to be independent of any coordinate system or metric...

Hello I need help to explain the affect of the cross product without the its current symbolism, but for angular momentum. I can explain angular momentum in terms of the cross product of 3D space formulated like this: |r| |v| * sin(angler.v) e-perp to r and v Eq.1 (I can explain this to...

Okay so, I am wondering if it is possible to find the actual cross product (not the magnitude of the cross product) from this information 1. magnitude of both vectors 2.angle between vectors 3.plane the vectors lie in Is there any way to calculate that cross product vector? Thank you very much...

Hi, hopefully a quick question here...how do you calculate the angle between two vectors if the only information you have is the value of their scalar product and the magnitude of their cross product? Thanks! Andy

Can anybody give me a list of all cross products in physics. I have the following in my list: Torque $$\vec{\tau}=\vec{F}\times\vec{r}$$ Angular momentum $$\vec{L}=\vec{r}\times\vec{p}$$ Velocity $$\vec{v}=\vec{\omega}\times\vec{r}$$ Biot-Savart law $$\vec{dB}=\dfrac{\vec{i...

Hello, I apologize in advance for the way this post looks. I am new to this forum and I've never used LaTeX Primer. I noticed that someone has prevoiusly asked the same question, but I still do not understand how to get to the answer. Also, I tried posting an image but I could not; and this...

Hi everyone, Given a vector-valued function ##\vec{A}##, how do I show that: $$\vec{\nabla} \times \left(\frac{\partial \vec{A}}{\partial x}\right) = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}(\vec{\nabla} \times \vec{A})$$ In other words, are the cross product and derivative commutative w/ each other? I...