Community of Physics

Classical Mechanics
Homework Problems
Course Code: CM03/2017
Question Set: CM03HW002
Full Credits: 0.5
1. Consider a vector, as in fig-01-01, making certain angles with
each of the coordinate axes: let the angles made with the x, y and
Z

Z
B

Fig- 01-01

Fig- 01-02

z- axes be , and . The quantities of interest here are direction

cosines of the vector: cos , cos and cos . Prove the identity
cos2 + cos2 + cos2 = 1.
[0.1]

2. Now prove that, if two vectors with direction cosines cos , cos ,
cos and cos ', cos ', cos ', then the cosine of angle between
these lines is given by
cos = cos cos ' + cos cos '+ cos cos '.
[0.2]
3. i. Let a vector (x, y, z) be first rotated about x axis by an angle
and then about y axis by an angle . Determine the combined
transformation matrix of the operations.
[0.03]
ii. A two-dimensional vector (x, y) is reflected about the line
y = m x. Find the transformation matrix for this operation.
[0.03]
iii. Now find the transformation matrix for reflection about the line
y = m x.
[0.04]
4. Find the following (both i and j range from 1 to 3)
i. 3i=1 ij
[0.05]
ii. 3i=13j=1 ij
[0.05]