Dot Product

⃗
Given ⃗a =⟨a1 , a 2 , a3 ⟩ and b=⟨b1 ,b2 ,b 3 ⟩ then
3
⃗a⋅⃗b=⟨ a1 , a 2 , a3 ⟩⋅⟨ b1 , b 2 , b3 ⟩=∑ ai bi
1. i=1

2. a⃗⋅⃗b=‖⃗a‖‖⃗b‖cosθ , if a⋅⃗
⃗ b=0 then θ=90 (or a⃗ perpendicular ⃗b ).
0

⃗a⋅⃗b
cosθ=
3. ‖⃗a‖‖⃗b‖
Cross Product Vector
⃗
Given ⃗a =⟨a1 , a 2 , a3 ⟩ and b=⟨b1 ,b2 ,b 3 ⟩ then

i j k
⃗ a a a a a a
⃗a ×b=|a1 a2 a 3 |=| 2 3 |i−| 1 3 |j+| 1 2 |k
b1 b 2 b 1 b 3 b 1 b 2
1. b 1 b 2 b 3

2. ⃗a ×⃗b=‖⃗a‖‖⃗b‖sinθ
3. ⃗a ×⃗b=0 then a⃗ paralel ⃗b

4.

5.

APPLICATION OF VECTORS

A. WORK DONE
1. Work Done as a Scalar Product
2. Work Done as a Line Integral of Scalar Field
3. Work Done as a Line Integral of Vector Field
B. Hooke’s Law
C. Moment of a Force
A. Work Done

1. Work Done as a Scalar Product

If a constant force ⃗F acting on a particle displace it from A to B , then work

done W is given by

W= F⃗ . ⃗
AB
Work Done = Force . Displacement

⃗F = 5 ( 6 i+2 j+3 k ) ⃗F = 5 ( 3 i−2 j+6 k )

1 2
Example 1. Constant forces 7 and 7 act on a
particle which is displaced from the point A (2, 2, −1) to B (4 , 3 , 1) . Find the work
done by the forces.

Solution
5 5 5 45
T⃗ = ⃗
F1 + ⃗
F2 = ( 6 i +2 j +3 k ) + ( 3 i−2 j+6 k )= ( 9 i+9 k )= ( i+k )
Total Forces, 7 7 7 7

⃗
Displacement, AB = ( 4 i+ 3 j+k )−(2 i+ 2 j −k )=2i+ j+2k .

Work Done = Force . Displacement

45 45 5
Work done =T⃗ . ⃗
AB= (i+ k ). ( 2i+ j+2 k ) = ( 2+0+ 2 )=25
7 7 7 Nm.

2. Work Done as a Line Integral of Scalar field

Let force fields F( x , y, z)=P (x , y ,z)i+Q( x, y ,z ) j+R ( x, y ,z )k field act on a

particle displaces along curve C given by ⃗r =xi+ yj+zk , then work done by
force F is given by

W =∫ F⋅dr
C

W=∫ ⟨P , Q, R⟩⋅⟨dx ,dy , dz⟩

C
 W =∫ ( Pdx +Qdy+Rdz )
C

b
W=∫ F ( x) dx
⃗
In case of F ( x , y, z)=⟨F( x), 0, 0⟩ and ⃗r =⟨ x, 0, 0⟩ , a≤x≤b , then a .

Example 1:

Suppose that an object moves in the positive direction along coordinate line over
the interval [a , b ] while subjected to variable force F( x) that is applied in the
dorection of motion. Then we define the work W performed by the force on the
object to be
b
W=∫ F ( x) dx
a

3. Work Done as a Line Integral of Vector Field

⃗
Let force field F ( x , y, z)=P (x , y ,z)i+Q( x, y ,z ) j+R ( x, y ,z )k act on a particle
displaces along curve which is represented by vector valued function
⃗r (t )=x(t )i+ y(t ) j+z(t )k , c≤t≤d , then work done by force ⃗F is given by

W=∫ F
⃗⋅dr
C

d
W =∫ F⋅d r (t )
c

d
W=∫ ⟨P , Q , R ⟩⋅⟨ x , y , z ⟩dt
' ' '

Note:

1.
⃗
AB⇔ ⃗r (t )=(1−t )⃗
OA+t ⃗
OB

2. In case of
⃗F ( x , y, z)=⟨F( x), 0, 0⟩ , for a≤x≤b , then
b b
W=∫ ⟨F (x ), 0,0 ⟩⋅⟨dx , dy , dz ⟩=∫ F ( x )dx
a a
B. Hooke’s Law
Under appropriate conditiona a spring that is stretched x units beyond its natural
length pull back with a force

F( x )=kx

Where k is a constant (called the spring constant or spring stiffness). The value
of k depends on such factors as the thickness of the spring and the material used
in its composition.

Example 2

A spring exerts a force 5 N when stretched 1 m beyond its natural length.

(a) Find the spring constant k

(b) How much work is required to stretch the spring 1.8 m beyond its natural
length?

Solution

(b) Hooke’s Law, F( x )=kx ⇒ 5=k (1)⇒k =5 .

[ ]
b 1 .8 1. 8
5 x2
W=∫ F ( x) dx= ∫ 5 xdx= =8 .1
(c) a 0 2 0

C. MOMENT OF A FORCE

⃗
Let a force ⃗F ( PQ ) act at point P . Moment of ⃗F about O , denoted by M , is
given by
M=⃗
OP × ⃗
PQ=⃗r ×⃗F

where ⃗r =⃗
OP

Example 1
⃗
A force F =⟨3, 2, −4⟩ is applied at the point B (1, −1, 2 ) . Find the moment of the
force about the point A ( 2, −1 , 3 ) .

Solution

Moment of force, M=⃗

AB × ⃗F , where
⃗
AB =⟨1, −1, 2⟩−⟨2, −1, 3⟩=⟨−1, 0, −1⟩ .
 i j k
0 −1 −1 −1 −1 0
M=|−1 0 −1 |=| |i−| | j+| |k=⟨2, 7, −2⟩
2 −4 3 −4 3 2
3 2 −4

‖M‖=√2 2 +72 +(−2)2 =√ 4+49+4=√57

Problem

(i)    A wagon is pulled horizontally by exerting a constant force 10 N on the

handle at an angle of 600 the horizontal. How much work is done in moving
the wagon 50 m?

(ii) A force  ⃗F =3 i− j+2 k N is applied to a point that moves on a line from

P(−1, 1, 2) to Q (3,0,2). If the distance is measured in meter, how much work
is done?

Solution

(i) The magnitude of force, ‖F⃗ ‖=10 N , θ=600 and distance, S=50 m .
W=‖⃗F‖ S cosθ=10(50)cos60 =250 Nm.
0
Then
→
(ii) Given P(−1, 1, 2) and Q (3,0,2), then PQ=⟨3−(−1), 0−1, 2−2⟩=⟨4, −1, 0⟩ and
→
the work done by force ⃗F =3 i− j+2 k along PQ is given by
→
⃗
  W= F⋅PQ =⟨3, −1, 2⟩⋅⟨4, −1, 0⟩=12+1+0=13 Nm .

Or (Alternative solution) by Line Integrals

P(−1, 1, 2)
Line segment form to Q (3,0,2) is given by
⃗r (t )=(1−t )⟨−1, 1, 2⟩+t ⟨3, 0, 2⟩=⟨−1+t +3t ,1−t +0, 2−2t+2t ⟩
=⟨−1+4t , 1−t , 2⟩ , 0≤t≤1

d ⃗r (t )=⟨4, −1, 0⟩dt

.
 1 1 1
W=∫ F⃗⋅d r (t )=∫ ⟨3 , −1, 2⟩⋅⟨4 , −1 , 0⟩ dt=∫ (12+1+0 ) dt=13 [ t ] 0=13
1

0 0 0
Nm