Is it a scalar product? I'm kind of lost

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around determining the angle Vector B makes with the positive x-axis, given that Vector A is at 17° counterclockwise from the x-axis and the magnitudes of the cross product and dot product of the two vectors are equal. Participants clarify that the dot product and scalar product are the same, and they derive that the angle θ between the two vectors is 45°. They conclude that since Vector A is at 17°, adding 45° results in an angle of 62° for Vector B. The conversation emphasizes understanding the relationship between the angles and the vectors in the first quadrant of the xy plane.
Dan350
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The Vector A points 17° counterclockwise from the positive x axis. Vector B lues in the first cuadrant of the xy plane. The magnitudes of the cross product and the dot product are the same:
i.e, |AXB|= |A(times)B|
What Angle does B make with the positive x axis?



2. Is ti a scalar product? I'm kind of lost



3. I was thinking of using cos(σ)= (AtimesB)/ (|A||B|)
 
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Hi Dan350! :smile:

The dot product and the scalar product (of two vectors) are the same thing. :wink:

(and are both written A.B not AtimesB)
 
The magnitude of the cross product is |AxB| = |A| |B| sin(theta)
The magnitude of the dot product is |A.B| = |A| |B| cos (theta).

What does this tell you when they are equal?
 
CompuChip said:
The magnitude of the cross product is |AxB| = |A| |B| sin(theta)
The magnitude of the dot product is |A.B| = |A| |B| cos (theta).

What does this tell you when they are equal?

Is A condition given in the problem,
How do I reach this problem?
 
Look at what CompuChip is saying.

The magnitude of the cross product is |A||B|sin(theta). The scalar yielded by the dot product is |A||B|cos(theta).

You know they are equal. So what does that say about theta?
 
1MileCrash said:
Look at what CompuChip is saying.

The magnitude of the cross product is |A||B|sin(theta). The scalar yielded by the dot product is |A||B|cos(theta).

You know they are equal. So what does that say about theta?

I'm not quite sure, does that mean that they are 90° apart?

or that I can substitute vector "A" bye sin(17)??
 
Dan350 said:
I'm not quite sure, does that mean that they are 90° apart?

solve the equations! :rolleyes:

show us how you do it :smile:
 
tiny-tim said:
solve the equations! :rolleyes:

show us how you do it :smile:

So I have

|AxB|sinθ= |A*B|cosθ

Well since they are giving that Vector A is 17 counter clockwise form the x-axis that meas is Acos(17) and vector B is , well I'm stuck there,, wouldn't that be vector Bsin(73)?
 
Dan350 said:
|AxB|sinθ= |A*B|cosθ

no, it's …
CompuChip said:
|A| |B| sin(theta)
|A| |B| cos (theta).

ok, you have two equations, and you want to solve for one unknown (the angle, θ) …

show us how you do it​
 
  • #10
tiny-tim said:
no, it's …


ok, you have two equations, and you want to solve for one unknown (the angle, θ) …

show us how you do it​

|A| |B| sin(theta)= |A| |B| cos(theta)

sinθ=cosθ
sin^-1(cosθ)=θ

We know cosθ=cos(17)
so θ= 73
Am I right?
 
  • #11
Dan350 said:
We know cosθ=cos(17)

where does that come from?? :confused:
sinθ=cosθ
sin^-1(cosθ)=θ

how does that help?

sinθ=cosθ … if you can't think of a way of solving it, draw a diagram or a graph
 
  • #12
tiny-tim said:
where does that come from?? :confused:


how does that help?

sinθ=cosθ … if you can't think of a way of solving it, draw a diagram or a graph

I thought that since is counterclockwise form the x axis,, is going to be cos(17)
and I solved for theta in "sin^-1(cosθ)=θ"

I drew it, i only have my Vector A 17 raising counterclockwise form the x axis,, the vector B is inthe same cuadrant

Any clue?

Thanks
 
  • #13
no, just draw sinθ = cosθ, and then solve it
 
  • #14
At what angle does sinθ = cosθ, you know that at cos(0) = 1 and sin(0) = 0, and cos(90) = 0, sin(90) = 1, so since they are continuous functions, you can estimate at what θ they will be =.
 
  • #15
Dan350 said:
|A| |B| sin(theta)= |A| |B| cos(theta)

sinθ=cosθ
sin^-1(cosθ)=θ

We know cosθ=cos(17)
so θ= 73
Am I right?

You're confusing two angles.
The question asks you to find the angle B makes with the positive x axis. The angle θ in |A.B| = |A| |B| cos(θ) and |AxB| = |A| |B| sin(θ) is the angle between A and B. So, first find θ (which will not involve the 17 degrees), then use θ and the 17 degrees to find the angle B makes with the positive x axis.
 
  • #16
haruspex said:
You're confusing two angles.
The question asks you to find the angle B makes with the positive x axis. The angle θ in |A.B| = |A| |B| cos(θ) and |AxB| = |A| |B| sin(θ) is the angle between A and B. So, first find θ (which will not involve the 17 degrees), then use θ and the 17 degrees to find the angle B makes with the positive x axis.


So for sinθ=cosθ the angle will be 45°
Now how do I find angle B using the 17°??
 
  • #17
tiny-tim said:
no, just draw sinθ = cosθ, and then solve it

that's equal to 45°
 
  • #18
Dan350 said:
that's equal to 45°

correct :smile:

(btw, the quickest way of solving that would be sinθ = cosθ, so tanθ = 1, so θ = 45°)

ok, so the angle θ is 45° …

between what and what is θ the angle?​
 
  • #19
tiny-tim said:
correct :smile:

(btw, the quickest way of solving that would be sinθ = cosθ, so tanθ = 1, so θ = 45°)

ok, so the angle θ is 45° …

between what and what is θ the angle?​

How did I miss that! haha

and for the other part, isn't between 45° and 17° ?? we are know looking for VEctor B
 
  • #20
Dan350 said:
… isn't between 45° and 17° ?? we are know looking for VEctor B

i think i know what you mean, but that doesn't actually make sense, does it? :redface:

an angle is between two lines

what are the lines? :smile:
 
  • #21
tiny-tim said:
i think i know what you mean, but that doesn't actually make sense, does it? :redface:

an angle is between two lines

what are the lines? :smile:

Vector A and B ?
 
  • #22
Dan350 said:
and for the other part, isn't between 45° and 17° ?? we are know looking for VEctor B

You are told:
The Vector A points 17° counterclockwise from the positive x axis.
So 17° is the angle between which two lines?
You have found that 45° is the angle between A and B. So what possibilities are there for the angle B makes to the positive x axis?

You are also told
Vector B lies in the first quadrant of the xy plane.
Which of the possibilities does that select?
 
  • #23
haruspex said:
You are told:

So 17° is the angle between which two lines?
You have found that 45° is the angle between A and B. So what possibilities are there for the angle B makes to the positive x axis?

You are also told

Which of the possibilities does that select?

So,, if we add 45° to the 17° we get 62° for vector B, and 45° will be between vectors A & B,,

am I right?
 
  • #24
Dan350 said:
So,, if we add 45° to the 17° we get 62° for vector B, and 45° will be between vectors A & B,,

am I right?

Yes!
 
  • #25
(just got up :zzz:)

yes :smile:

but suppose it didn't say …

Vector B lies in the first quadrant of the xy plane.

… do you then know how to show that it must be 62° (and not minus 28°) ? :wink:
 
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