Vector Differentiation

Definition:

Vector differentiation formulas

Rule: If a vector is expressed in terms of its components i.e.,

𝑨(𝑡) = 𝐴1 (𝑡)𝒊 + 𝐴2 (𝑡)𝒋 + 𝐴3 (𝑡)𝒌, then

𝑑𝑨 𝑑𝐴1 (𝑡) 𝑑𝐴2 (𝑡) 𝑑𝐴3 (𝑡)

= 𝒊+ 𝒋+ 𝒌.
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

Example 1.

Solution.
Example 2.

Solution.

𝑑𝒓 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
Then the velocity is 𝒗 = 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑡 (𝑒 −𝑡 )𝒊 + 𝑑𝑡 (2 cos 3𝑡)𝒋 + 𝑑𝑡 (2𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑡)𝒌

= −𝑒 −𝑡 𝒊 − 6𝑠𝑖𝑛 3𝑡𝒋 + 6𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑡𝒌

𝑑𝒗 𝑑2 𝒓 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
The acceleration is 𝒂 = 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑑𝑡 2 = 𝑑𝑡 (−𝑒 −𝑡 )𝒊 − 𝑑𝑡 (6𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑡)𝒋 + 𝑑𝑡 (6𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑡)𝒌

= 𝑒 −𝑡 𝑖 − 18𝑐𝑜𝑠3𝑡𝒋 − 18𝑠𝑖𝑛3𝑡𝒌

Example 3.

Solution: The position vector is

𝒓 = 𝑥𝑖 + 𝑦𝑗 + 𝑧𝑘
= (𝑡 2 + 1)𝒊 + (4𝑡 − 3)𝒋 + (2𝑡 2 − 6𝑡)𝒌