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David McAfee, March 2014

THE VECTOR (CROSS) PRODUCT



The vector (cross) product is one method to multiply two vectors together. Unlike the scalar (dot) product, the
result of the vector product is a vector quantity, not just a scalar, as such the result of the vector (cross)
product would have both magnitude and some specified direction.

If we were to find the cross product of two vectors in three dimensional space, we would be finding a vector
that is mutually perpendicular (meaning that it would be perpendicular to both the vectors involved in the
calculation).

Conceptual Checkpoint

Sketch two vectors in three dimensional space, and hence draw the third vector showing the geometric
significance of cross product and what is meant by the term mutually perpendicular.

Worked Question

Two vectors, in unit vector notation, are given as follows:
a
!
= 5.0i " 2.0 j +1.0k b
!
= 4.0i " 3.0 j + 2.0k

From this, find 4 a
!
" b
!


// First, find 4a using scalar multiplication. This is quite simple, it is just a matter of writing a and then
multiplying each component by the number 4.

a
!
= 5.0i " 2.0 j +1.0k # a
!
= [5.0, " 2.0, 1.0]
4 a
!
= [20, " 8.0, 4.0]


// Now construct a 3x3 matrix. The cross product is simply the determinant of this 3x3 matrix. The
determinant can be calculated quite easily. For the 3x3 matrix, the first row is comprised of I, j and k.
The second row is comprised of the components of the vector 4a and the final row is comprised of the
components of vector b. Note that only square matrices can have a determinant and that the determinant
notation are two modulus bars around the square matrix, as below.

Our corresponding matrix appears as so:

4 a
!
" b
!
=
i j k
20 #8.0 4.0
4.0 #3.0 2.0
$
%
&
&
&
'
(
)
)
)


//To evaluate the determinant, take the element (1,1) the value in row 1, column 1, and multiply this by the
2x2 determinant that can be found by covering the row and column that element (1,1). This process is then
repeated for all values in the top row. Below is the result. Note the use of the subtraction operation with the
second term.

4 a
!
" b
!
= i
#8.0 4.0
#3.0 2.0
# j
20 4.0
4.0 2.0
+ k
20 #8.0
4.0 #3.0







David McAfee, March 2014
// To evaluate the three 2x2 determinants in the equation above, we simply take the product of the numbers
in the leading diagonal (this is the one that originates in the top left corner and spans to the bottom right
corner). The product of numbers in the other diagonal (the one that originates top right corner and spans to
the bottom left corner) is then determined. We then subtract the product of the other diagonal from the
leading diagonal. This leads to the expression below:

4 a
!
" b
!
= (#16.0 +12.0)i # (40 #16) j + (#60 + 32)k

//The numbers in brackets can then be simplified, leading to the following expression:

4 a
!
" b
!
= #4.0i # 24 j # 28k




Practice Questions

1. The following is a 3x3 matrix. Evaluate the determinant of this matrix.

a b c
!3.0 2.0 9.0
!5.0 5.0 !6.0
"
#
$
$
$
%
&
'
'
'


2. The following are pairs of vectors, find the cross product of the two vectors in each sub-question,
where a, b, c, d, e and f are all constants

a) a
!
= 2.5i " 3.0 j + 4.0k b
!
= "3.0 j +1.0k
b) a
!
= 2.0i " 3.5 j + 5.0k b
!
= 2.0i " 2.5 j +1.0k
c) x
!
= ai " bj + ck y
!
= di " ej + fk

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