Vectors dot product and cross product help

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves vector operations in the xy plane, specifically the dot product and cross product of two vectors, A and B. Vector A has a specified magnitude and angle, while vector B is defined by its components. The tasks include calculating the dot product of a scaled vector A with vector B and the cross product of scaled vectors A and B in different notations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of vector magnitudes and components, particularly how to apply the dot product formula. There is uncertainty about the correct approach to scaling vector A and converting results into different notations. Questions arise regarding the notation of unit vectors and the source of these notations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different aspects of vector representation and calculations. Some guidance has been offered regarding the calculation of components, but there is no explicit consensus on the methods to be used for the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can share or the methods they can use. There is also a mention of varying notations for unit vectors, indicating a potential source of confusion.

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Homework Statement


Vectors A and B (both with the lines over it) lie in an xy plane. Vector A has magnitude 8 and angle 130 degrees, Vector B has components Bx=-7.72 and By=-9.2.
a)What is 5(vector A) dot vector B?
b)What is 4(Vector A) cross 3(vector B) in unit vector notation and magnitude angle notation with spherical coordinates?

Homework Equations


Vector A dot Vector B=abcos(phi)
Other vector equations that can apply to this that I don't know maybe...

The Attempt at a Solution


I figured that I try to find the vector B by doing the Pythagorean theorem with the two components of B and I get -12 as magnitude. After that I'm not even sure what to do, like for the 5(vector A) do I multiply the angle and magnitude by 5 then do the Vector A dot Vector B=abcos(phi) equation? Same question applies to b and how do I turn the magnitude and the angle into unit vector notation and magnitude angle notation? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Forget A, I solved it
 
Last edited:
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maximade said:

Homework Statement


Vectors A and B (both with the lines over it) lie in an xy plane. Vector A has magnitude 8 and angle 130 degrees, Vector B has components Bx=-7.72 and By=-9.2.
a)What is 5(vector A) dot vector B?
b)What is 4(Vector A) cross 3(vector B) in unit vector notation and magnitude angle notation with spherical coordinates?


Homework Equations


Vector A dot Vector B=abcos(phi)
Other vector equations that can apply to this that I don't know maybe...

The Attempt at a Solution


I figured that I try to find the vector B by doing the Pythagorean theorem with the two components of B and I get -12 as magnitude. After that I'm not even sure what to do, like for the 5(vector A) do I multiply the angle and magnitude by 5 then do the Vector A dot Vector B=abcos(phi) equation? Same question applies to b and how do I turn the magnitude and the angle into unit vector notation and magnitude angle notation? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Forget A, I solved it

The easiest way to do part b) is to start by finding [tex]A_x[/itex] and [tex]A_y[/itex]. As a hint on finding those components, consider [tex]\vec{A}\cdot\vec{e}_x[/itex] and [tex]\vec{A}\cdot\vec{e}_y[/itex] <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":wink:" title="Wink :wink:" data-smilie="2"data-shortname=":wink:" />[/tex][/tex][/tex][/tex]
 
Where does the ex and ey come from?
 
maximade said:
Where does the ex and ey come from?

I'm using them to represent the Cartesian unit vectors. You might be more used to seeing i and j...different authors use different notations for the same quantities, so it's worth familiarizing yourself with common notations.
 

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