Cross Product: Simple Cross Product

[jhicks]

(This is part of a much larger problem)

Homework Statement

Find \hat{r} \times \hat{z} \times \hat{y}

Homework Equations

x=rsin(\theta)cos(\phi), y=rsin(\theta)sin(\phi),z=rcos(\theta) (cartesian->spherical)

The Attempt at a Solution

I decided \hat{r}=\hat{x}sin(\theta)cos(\phi)+\hat{y}sin(\theta)sin(\phi)+\hat{z}cos(\theta). Evaluating the cross product right to left, I got:

\hat{r} \times \hat{z} \times \hat{y}=\hat{r} \times (-\hat{x}) = -cos(\theta)\hat{y}+sin(\theta)sin(\phi)\hat{z}, but the solution to the problem suggests this is not true. Am I wrong?

 

[tiny-tim]

Find \hat{r} \times \hat{z} \times \hat{y}

Hi jhicks!

Do you mean r x (z x y) or (r x z) x y?

 

[jhicks]

Hi tiny-tim,

Well there're no parentheses in the problem, but somehow when I did this last night I concluded you evaluate cross products right to left, but I see the error of my ways.

Thanks!