MA230 Engineering Mathematics III Problem set 4

These problems are intended to provide a basic understanding about topics covered in the lesson
4; cross product, scalar triple product, vector triple product, vector functions, their properties and
applications.
Answer ALL the questions. Show your work where applicable. Submit solutions in your tutorial
class in the week of Mar 9-13. Final day to submit solutions is Mar 13.

[1] (3.1) Let ~u, ~v and w

~ R3 .
(a) If ~u ~v = 2~u what can you conclude about ~u and ~v ?
(b) If ~u ~v = ~0 and ~u ~v = 0 what can you conclude about ~u and ~v ?
(c) If ~u ~v = w
~ and ~u ~v = 0 what can you conclude about ~u, ~v and w?
~
~
(Hint: Think about 0 and orthogonal vectors as needed.)

[2] (3.1) Find ~u ~v and k~u ~v k. State whether

~u ~v is directed into the page or out of the page.

[3] (3.1/3.2) Let ~u = 2~i ~j + ~k, ~v = ~i 3~j ~k, and w

~ = 3~i 4~k. Calculate (a) ~u ~v (b) k~u ~v k
(c) ~u (2~v w)
~ (d) k~u (2~v w)k.
~
[4] (3.1/3.2) Suppose a plane contains the points P (1, 0, 0), Q(1, 1, 1), and R(2, 1, 3). Find a
nonzero vector that is orthogonal to the plane.
Note 1: Three non-collinear points (points not on a single line) define a plane.
~ = (b1 a1 , b2 a2 , b3 a3 ).
Note 2: Given two points A(a1 , a2 , a3 ) and B(b1 , b2 , b3 ), the vector AB
[5] (3.2) Find the area of the triangle with vertices P (1, 4, 6), Q(2, 5, 1), and R(1, 1, 1).

[6] (3.2) A bolt is tightened by applying a 40-N

force to a 0.25m wrench as shown in the figure.
Find the magnitude of the torque about the center
of the bolt.
[7] (3.2) Consider the three forces; F~1 = 2~i + ~k with its tail at (2,1,-1), F~2 = ~i ~j + ~k with its tail
~ about (a) (0,0,0) and
at (0,0,0), and F~3 = ~i + 4~j with its tail at (1,1,1). Find the total moment M
(b) (1,1,0).
[8] (3.3) State each of the following is a scalar, vector or neither. (a) ~u ~v w
~ (b) ~u (~v w)
~ (c)
~u(~v w)
~ (d) ~u ~v w
~

[9] (3.3.1) Let ~u = 2~i 3~j + ~k, ~v = ~i ~j + ~k, and w

~ = 2~i + ~k. Calculate the scalar triple product
~u ~v w
~ and ~u ~v w.
~
[10] (3.3.1) Find the volume of the parallelepiped with adjacent edges P Q, P R, and P S where
P, Q, R, S are the points P (2, 1, 0), Q(2, 3, 2), R(1, 4, 1), and S(3, 6, 1).
[11] (3.3.1) Determine if the three vectors ~u = ~i + 4~j 7~k, ~v = 2~i ~j + 4~k, and w
~ = 9~j + 18~k, lie
in the same plane or not.
[12] (3.3.2) Let ~u = 2~i 3~j + ~k, ~v = ~i 2~j + ~k, and w
~ = ~i + 2~k. Calculate vector triple product
~u (~v w)
~ and (~u ~v ) w,
~ and k~u (~v w)k
~ and k(~u ~v ) wk.
~
[13] (3.4) Let ~r(t) = (sin 2t)~i + et~j
(a) Give the domain of ~r(t).
(b) Find lim ~r(t).

t 1~k.

d
d
0
0
(c) Find dt
R ~r(t), dt2 ~r(t), ~r (), and k~r (t)k.
(d) Find ~r(t).
R
R
R
R
Note 1: If ~r(t) = (r1 (t), r2 (t), r3 (t)) then ~r(t) = ( r1 (t), r2 (t), r3 (t)) + ~c where ~c is a constant
vector.
Rb
Rb
Rb
Rb
Note 2: If ~r(t) = (r1 (t), r2 (t), r3 (t)) then a ~r(t) = ( a r1 (t), a r2 (t), a r3 (t)) where a < t < b.

[14] (3.4) Sketch the position vector ~r(t) and the tangent vector ~r 0 (t) where ~r(t) = t2~i + t3~j when
t = 1.

[15] (3.4) Find the position vector ~r(t) if the velocity vector ~r 0 (t) = (2t, 3t2 , t) and ~r(1) = (1, 1, 0).