Phys101, Quiz 1 SOLUTION 28 September 2020

Solve the following question on an A4 paper, take a picture, convert into PDF and upload to
MOODLE as the assignment of the week on PHYS 101 course of your section. Make sure that your
solution is readable. Display an outline of your work, do not write answer only.

(a) (80 pts.) If a vector "𝑪⃗ is perpendicular to both "𝑨⃗ and "𝑩
"⃗ then, "𝑪⃗ ∙ "𝑨⃗ = 0 and "𝑪⃗ ∙ "𝑩
"⃗ = 0.
Given,
"⃗ = √3,̂ + 𝒌
𝑨 0
""⃗ = −2,̂ + 3̂ − √3𝒌
𝑩 0

"𝑪⃗ ∙ "𝑨⃗ = 𝐶5 𝐴5 + 𝐶7 𝐴7 + 𝐶8 𝐴8 = √3𝐶5 + 𝐶8 = 0

"⃗ ∙ 𝑩
𝑪 ""⃗ = 𝐶5 𝐵5 + 𝐶7 𝐵7 + 𝐶8 𝐵8 = −2𝐶5 + 𝐶7 − √3𝐶8 = 0

The first equation gives √3𝐶5 = −𝐶8 and using this in the second equation we get:
1
𝐶5 = −𝐶7 = − 𝐶8
√3
Since "𝑪⃗ should be a unit vector:
𝐶5 ; + 𝐶7 ; + 𝐶8 ; = 1

Combining these last two equations:

𝐶5 ; + 𝐶5 ; + 3𝐶5 ; = 1

< < √>

If you choose the positive solution, 𝐶5 = and it gives 𝐶7 = − and 𝐶8 = − . Then,
√= √= √=

1 1 √3 0
"⃗ =
𝑪 ,̂ − 3̂ − 𝒌
√5 √5 √5

A second unit vector perpendicular to both "𝑨⃗ and "𝑩"⃗ would simply be "𝑪⃗@ = − "𝑪⃗ :
1 1 √3 0
"⃗@ = −
𝑪 ,̂ + 3̂ + 𝒌
√5 √5 √5

""⃗ and 𝑩
(b) (20 pts.) The vector product of 𝑨 ""⃗ is:

,̂ 3̂ 0
𝒌
""⃗ × 𝑩
𝑨 ""⃗ = B √30 0 = −,̂ + 3̂ + √3𝒌
1 B = (0 − 1),̂ − (−3 + 2)3̂ + E√3 − 0F𝒌 0
−2 1 −√3

The resultant of a vector product is perpendicular to both of the vectors involved in the
product, hence any vector that is parallel (or anti-parallel) to the resultant is also
perpendicular to these vectors. Since √5(−𝑪 "⃗) = −,̂ + 3̂ + √3𝒌 0 , "𝑪⃗ is anti-parallel to "𝑨⃗ × "𝑩
"⃗
and since √5(𝑪 0 , "𝑪⃗@ is parallel to "𝑨⃗ × "𝑩
"⃗′) = −,̂ + 3̂ + √3𝒌 "⃗. Then both are perpendicular to
"𝑨⃗ and "𝑩
"⃗ .