1.1. If 𝐀 represents a vector two units in length directed due west, 𝐁 represents a vector three units in length
directed due north, and 𝐀 + 𝐁 = 𝐂 − 𝐃 and 2𝐁 − 𝐀 = 𝐂 + 𝐃, find the magnitudes and directions of
𝐂 and 𝐃. Take north as the positive 𝑦 direction:
With north as positive 𝑦, west will be -𝑥. We may therefore set up:
𝐂 + 𝐃 = 2𝐁 − 𝐀 = 6𝐚𝑦 + 2𝐚𝑥 and
𝐂 − 𝐃 = 𝐀 + 𝐁 = −2𝐚𝑥 + 3𝐚𝑦
Add the equations to find 𝐂 = 4.5𝐚𝑦 (north), and then 𝐃 = 2𝐚𝑥 + 1.5𝐚𝑦 (east of northeast).
1.2. Vector 𝐀 extends from the origin to (1,2,3) and vector 𝐁 from the origin to (2,3,-2).
a) Find the unit vector in the direction of (𝐀 − 𝐁): First
b) find the unit vector in the direction of the line extending from the origin to the midpoint of the
line joining the ends of 𝐀 and 𝐁:
The midpoint is located at
The unit vector is then
(1.5𝐚𝑥 + 2.5𝐚𝑦 + 0.5𝐚𝑧 )
𝐚𝑚𝑝 = √ = (1.5𝐚𝑥 + 2.5𝐚𝑦 + 0.5𝐚𝑧 )∕2.96
(1.5)2 + (2.5)2 + (0.5)2
1.3. The vector from the origin to the point 𝐴 is given as (6, −2, −4), and the unit vector directed from the
origin toward point 𝐵 is (2, −2, 1)∕3. If points 𝐴 and 𝐵 are ten units apart, find the coordinates of
point 𝐵.
With 𝐀 = (6, −2, −4) and 𝐁 = 13 𝐵(2, −2, 1), we use the fact that |𝐁 − 𝐀| = 10, or
|(6 − 23 𝐵)𝐚𝑥 − (2 − 32 𝐵)𝐚𝑦 − (4 + 13 𝐵)𝐚𝑧 | = 10
Expanding, obtain
36 − 8𝐵 + 94 𝐵 2 + 4 − 38 𝐵 + 49 𝐵 2 + 16 + 83 𝐵 + 19 𝐵 2 = 100
√
or 𝐵 2 − 8𝐵 − 44 = 0. Thus 𝐵 = 8± 64−176
2
= 11.75 (taking positive option) and so
, 1.4. A circle, centered at the origin with a radius of 2 units, lies in the 𝑥𝑦 plane. Determine
√ the unit vector
in rectangular components that lies in the 𝑥𝑦 plane, is tangent to the circle at ( 3, −1, 0), and is in the
general direction of increasing values of 𝑥:
A unit vector tangent to this circle in the general increasing 𝑥 direction is 𝐭 = +𝐚𝜙 . Its 𝑥 and
√
𝑦 components are 𝐭𝑥 = 𝐚𝜙 ⋅ 𝐚𝑥 = − sin 𝜙, and 𝐭𝑦 = 𝐚𝜙 ⋅ 𝐚𝑦 = cos 𝜙. At the point ( 3, −1),
√
𝜙 = 330◦ , and so 𝐭 = − sin 330◦ 𝐚𝑥 + cos 330◦ 𝐚𝑦 = 0.5(𝐚𝑥 + 3𝐚𝑦 ).
1.5. An equilateral triangle lies in the 𝑥𝑦 plane with its centroid at the origin. One vertex lies on the positive
𝑦 axis.
y
a) Find unit vectors that are directed from the origin to
the three vertices: Referring to the figure,the easy a1
one is 𝐚1 = 𝐚𝑦 . Then, 𝐚2 will have negative 𝑥 and 𝑦
components, and can be constructed as 𝐚2 = 𝐺(−𝐚𝑥 a5 a6
− tan 30◦ 𝐚𝑦 ) where 𝐺 = (1 + tan 30◦ )1∕2 = 0.87.
So finally 𝐚2 = −0.87(𝐚𝑥 + 0.58𝐚𝑦 ). Then, 𝐚3 is the
x
same as 𝐚2 , but with the 𝑥 component reversed:
30°
𝐚3 = 0.87(𝐚𝑥 − 0.58𝐚𝑦 ).
a a3
b) Find unit vectors that are directed from the origin 2
to the three sides, intersecting these at right angles: a4
These will be 𝐚4 , 𝐚5 , and 𝐚6 in the figure, which are in turn just the part 𝑎 results, oppositely
directed:
𝐚4 = −𝐚1 = −𝐚𝑦 , 𝐚5 = −𝐚3 = −0.87(𝐚𝑥 − 0.58𝐚𝑦 ), and 𝐚6 = −𝐚2 = +0.87(𝐚𝑥 + 0.58𝐚𝑦 ).
1.6. Find the acute angle between the two vectors 𝐀 = 2𝐚𝑥 + 𝐚𝑦 + 3𝐚𝑧 and 𝐁 = 𝐚𝑥 − 3𝐚𝑦 + 2𝐚𝑧 by using
the definition of:
√ √
a) the dot product:√First, 𝐀 ⋅ 𝐁 = 2 −
√ 3 + 6 = 5 = 𝐴𝐵 cos 𝜃, where 𝐴 = 2 2 + 1 2 + 32 = 14,
and where 𝐵 = 1 + 3 + 2 = 14. Therefore cos 𝜃 = 5∕14, so that 𝜃 = 69.1 .
2 2 2 ◦
b) the cross product: Begin with
|𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 |
| 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧|
| |
𝐀 × 𝐁 = | 2 1 3 | = 11𝐚𝑥 − 𝐚𝑦 − 7𝐚𝑧
| |
| 1 −3 2 |
| |
√ √ √
and then |𝐀 × 𝐁|
(√= 11 )+ 1 + 7 = 171. So now, with |𝐀 × 𝐁| = 𝐴𝐵 sin 𝜃 = 171,
2 2 2
find 𝜃 = sin−1 171∕14 = 69.1◦
1.7. Given the field 𝐅 = 𝑥𝐚𝑥 + 𝑦𝐚𝑦 . If 𝐅 ⋅ 𝐆 = 2𝑥𝑦 and 𝐅 × 𝐆 = (𝑥2 − 𝑦2 ) 𝐚𝑧 , find 𝐆:
Let 𝐆 = 𝑔1 𝐚𝑥 + 𝑔2 𝐚𝑦 + 𝑔3 𝐚𝑧 Then 𝐅 ⋅ 𝐆 = 𝑔1 𝑥 + 𝑔2 𝑦 = 2𝑥𝑦, and
|𝐚 𝐚 𝐚 |
| 𝑥 𝑦 𝑧|
| |
𝐅 × 𝐆 = | 𝑥 𝑦 0 | = 𝑔3 𝑦 𝐚𝑥 − 𝑔3 𝑥 𝐚𝑦 + (𝑔2 𝑥 − 𝑔1 𝑦) 𝐚𝑧 = (𝑥2 − 𝑦2 ) 𝐚𝑧
| |
|𝑔1 𝑔2 𝑔3 |
| |
From the last equation, it is clear that 𝑔3 = 0, and that 𝑔1 = 𝑦 and 𝑔2 = 𝑥. This is confirmed in the
𝐅 ⋅ 𝐆 equation. So finally 𝐆 = 𝑦𝐚𝑥 + 𝑥𝐚𝑦 .
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller premiumbiz379. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $34.11. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.