Vector Cross and

Dot Product
Episode 5
 At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1.Gain a better understanding of the effect of a force on a rigid
body;
2.Apply the concept of vector product and dot product as
mathematical tools for easily solving problems;
3.Apply the knowledge of such two important trigonometric
functions, the sine and cosine functions
 
Vector (or Cross) Product of Two Vectors
Concept of the moment of a force about a
point is more easily understood through
applications of the vector product or cross
product.
 Vector product of two vectors P and Q is
defined as the vector V which satisfies the
following conditions:
1. Line of action of V is perpendicular to plane
containing P and Q.
2. Magnitude of V is
3. Direction of V is obtained from the right-
hand rule.

 
Vector products:
 are not commutative,
 are distributive,
 are not associative,
 
 Vector products of Cartesian unit
vectors,
 
We can now easily express the vector product V of
two given vectors P and Q in terms of rectangular
components of theses vectors:

Vector products in terms of rectangular coordinates,

 
Example. Let us compute the vector product where the vector P is of
magnitude 6 and lies in zx plane at an angle of with the , and where
vector Q is of magnitude 4 and lies along the .

 
It follows immediately from the definition
of the vector product that the vector V must
lie along the y – axis, have magnitude:
and be directed upward.
 
Example. Find the shortest distance from the origin to the line
passing through points
 Let the directed line segments AB, OB and OA be
denoted by F, r and p, respectively. Then:
 

 
As shown in the figure, the required distance is , and is part of magnitude of
i.e. , our procedure is clear.
First, we evaluate as explained to obtain:
 
Computing its magnitude as the square root of the sum of the squares of its
orthogonal components, we have:

Whence:

The distance could also be found from which suggests the use of . Thus, we
obtain:
 
Observe the somewhat surprising result here that is identical with .
Continuing the solution, it is evident that the magnitude of is

Whence:

 
 Scalar (or Dot)Product of Two Vectors

 
The scalar product or dot product between two
vectors P and Q is defined as
scalar result)
 
 Scalar products:
 are commutative,
 are distributive,
 are not associative,
  Scalar products with Cartesian unit components,

Scalar Product of Two Vectors: Applications

Applications:
1. Angle between two vectors:

2. Projection of a vector on a given axis:

 For an axis defined by a unit vector:
 D
Example. In the tripod shown in
figure, forces F and P act as shown
the legs DC and DB. In terms of
its force multiplier, determine the
component of F along the
direction of P and also the angle B
between F and P. Note that the C
points B and C are in the same A
vertical plane and that C is located
2 ft above the horizontal plane
containing B and A.
 
The components of F and P, acting as
shown, have been expressed as the D

product of their respective force

multipliers and the components of the
distances travelled in moving along
coordinate directions from D to C and B
from D to B. On comparing the directions C
of these components with the positive A
directions of the coordinate axes, we
obtain

And
 
The component of F along the direction of DB (i.e., along P) may now
be found by applying the rule deduced that the component of a vector in
any direction is the dot product of the vector in the desired direction. The
unit vector along P being

The component of F along P is

ans.
 D
 

Whence:
B
ans. C

A
Homework
1. Find the length of the common perpendicular between two
non-intersecting vectors F and P.