1

DIMENTIONS OF HEADER

NOTE
P H Y S I C S

MATHEMATICAL TOOLS
VECTORS: CROSS PRODUCT

What you already know What you will learn

• Basics of vectors. • Vector cross product

• Laws of vector addition • Properties of cross product
• Vector subtraction • Determinant method
• Position and displacement vectors • Applications of cross product
• Dot product- properties and applications • Scalar Triple product or Box product

BOARDS
Cross Product

Multiplication of two coplanar vector gives a vector that has magnitude equal to the product of the
magnitudes of two vectors, with the sine of angle between them and direction perpendicular to the
plane containing the two vectors.

→ → →

A×B B

→ → → → v v 𝜽
A × B = |A| × |B| sin 𝜽 n = AB sin 𝜽 n →
A
→ →
B×A

Cross product of two vectors gives area of the

parallelogram formed by taking them along two B
→

adjacent sides.
Area of the parallelogram = (base)(height) = AB sin 𝜽 𝜽
→
A

→
n is the unit normal vector perpendicular to the Area is a vector quantity and its
→ →
plane containing a and b that gives the direction direction is outwards, towards a
→ →
of A × B. unit normal to the plane.

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 02

MAIN → →
Methods to find Direction of A × B

Left-hand rule
→ →
If the middle finger and the fore finger of left hand point in the direction of 𝑨 and 𝑩 respectively,
→ → →
the thumb points in the direction of the vector 𝑪  =𝑨  × 𝑩
→ → →
𝑪  =𝑨  × 𝑩 →
C

→
B
→
𝜽 B
→
A →
A

Screw rule
→ →
𝑨×𝑩

If a screw rotates in the direction corresponding to

→ →
𝑩  from 𝑨, the direction in which it moves (upwards or
→ →
downwards) gives the direction of the 𝑨 × 𝑩.
→
𝑩
→
A

Right-hand thumb rule

→ →
To find the direction of 𝒂×𝒃 
→
→ → → C
• Draw 𝒂  and 𝒃  tail to tail C

• Place the stretched right palm perpendicular to the →

→ → → A
plane of 𝒂  and 𝒃,  such that the fingers are along 𝒂, → → →
→ B A B
and when the fingers are closed, they go towards 𝒃.

• The direction in which the thumb points gives the

→ → →
direction of 𝒄  =𝒂×𝒃.

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 03

y
→
A

→ → → →
Find the magnitude and direction of 𝐴 × 𝐵 and 𝐵 × 𝐴, 5
→ →
where 𝐴  & 𝐵 lies in 𝑥−𝑦 plane.
30o
4 → x
O B

Solution
→ → → → → →
|𝐴|= 5, |𝐵| = 4 and the angle between them 𝜃 = 30° |𝐵 × 𝐴| = |𝐵||𝐴| sin 𝜃
→ → → →
|𝐴 × 𝐵| = |𝐴||𝐵| sin 𝜃 = 4 × 5 × sin 30° = 10
= 5 × 4 × sin 30° = 10 Using the right-hand thumb rule, the direction of
→ →
|𝐵 × 𝐴| is along + 𝑧 direction.
Using the right-hand thumb rule, the direction of
→ → → →→
v
|𝐴 × 𝐵| is along − 𝑧 direction. (B × A) = + 10𝑘
v
→ →
(𝐴 × 𝐵) = - 10𝑘

BOARDS

Cross product when vectors are in unit vector form

→ v v v → v v v → →
Let 𝑨 = 𝑨𝒙 𝒊  + 𝑨𝒚 𝒋  + 𝑨𝒛 𝒌, and 𝑩  = 𝑩𝒙 𝒊  + 𝑩𝒚 𝒋  + 𝑩𝒛 𝒌. Then, cross product of 𝐴  and 𝐵 can be given as:

→ → v v v v v v v v v
𝑨 × 𝑩=(𝐴𝑥𝑖  + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧𝑘) × (𝐵𝑥𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗  + 𝐵𝑧𝑘) = (𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦) 𝑖 − (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧− 𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑧)𝑗  + (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦− 𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑦)𝑘

Determinant method v v v
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
→ → v v v v v v
𝐴 × 𝐵 = (𝐴𝑥 𝑖  + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗  + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘) × (𝐵𝑥 𝑖  + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗  +𝐵𝑧 𝑘) = 𝐴𝑥 𝐴y 𝐴z
B𝑥 By Bz

→ → v v v
𝐴  × 𝐵 = (𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 − By Az) 𝑖 − (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧−𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑧)𝑗  + (𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦− 𝐵𝑥 𝐴𝑦)𝑘
vvv
Vector product of orthogonal unit vectors (𝒊, 𝒋, 𝒌)
v v v v v v
𝑖  × 𝑗  = 𝑘, 𝑗 × 𝑖 = −𝑘
In the right-handed coordinate system, the v v v v v v
coordinate axes 𝑋, 𝑌, and 𝑍 are chosen such 𝑗  × 𝑘 = 𝑖, 𝑘 × 𝑗 = −𝑖
v v v v v v
that, the bending the fingers of the right hand 𝑘 × 𝑖 = 𝑗, 𝑖 × 𝑘 = −𝑗
from 𝑋 to 𝑌 will lead the thumb along the 𝑍-axis. v v v v v v
𝑖  × 𝑖 =𝑗 × 𝑗 =𝑘 × 𝑘 =0

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 04

→ v v v v v v
→ → →
Find 𝐴 × 𝐵, where 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 5𝑗  + 3𝑘  and 𝐵  = 3𝑖  + 4𝑗  − 9𝑘.

Solution
→ v v v v v v
→
𝐴 × 𝐵 =(2𝑖  − 5𝑗  + 3𝑘) × (3𝑖  + 4𝑗  − 9𝑘)
v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v
=6(𝑖  × 𝑖  ) − 15(𝑗  × 𝑖  ) + 9(𝑘 × 𝑖  ) +8(𝑖  × 𝑗  ) − 20(𝑗  × 𝑗  ) + 12(𝑘 × 𝑗  ) − 18 (𝑖  × 𝑘 ) + 45(𝑗  × 𝑘) − 27 (𝑘 × 𝑘)
→ → v v v
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝑖 (45 − 12) −𝑗  (−18 −9) + 𝑘  (8 + 15)

→ v v v
→
𝐴 × 𝐵  = 33𝑖  + 27𝑗  + 23𝑘 

v v v v v v
→ → → →
Determinant method, find 𝐴 × 𝐵, where 𝐴 = 2𝑖  − 5𝑗 + 3𝑘  and 𝐵 = 3𝑖  + 4𝑗  − 9𝑘.

Solution

v v v
→ → 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝐴 × 𝐵 =
2 -5 3 → v v v
→
𝐴  ×𝐵  = 33𝑖  + 27𝑗  + 23𝑘 
3 4 -9
→ → v v v
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝑖 (45 − 12) −𝑗  (−18 −9) + 𝑘  (8 + 15)

MAIN
Properties of Cross Product Applications of Cross Product

• Vector product of two vectors is not → →

→ → → → → → |𝐴 × B|=𝐴𝐵 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜽
commutative, i.e., 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠𝐵 × 𝐴. But |𝐴 × 𝐵| Area of paralellogram
→ → = (Base)(height)
= |𝐵 × 𝐴| = 𝐴𝐵 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝜽.
• The vector product is distributive, when
→ → 1
1 |𝐴
the order of vectors is strictly maintained, × 𝐵|= 𝐴𝐵 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝜽= 1
→ → → → → → → Area of triangle 2 2 2
i.e., 𝐴 × (𝐵 + C) = 𝐴 × 𝐵 + 𝐴 × C. (Base)(height)
• The vector product of two vectors will
be maximum when the vectors are v → → →
Unit vector perpendicular C 𝐴×𝐵
orthogonal. C= → = → →
to two vectors |C| |𝐴 × 𝐵|
• The vector product of two non-zero
vectors will be minimum when they are →
Moment of force → →
parallel or anti-parallel to each other. 𝝉 = 𝒓 × 𝑭

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 05

Area of Parallelogram and Triangle

Calculate the area of

v the parallelogramv v when adjacent sides are given by the
→ v v → v
vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗  + 3𝑘  and 𝐵 = 2𝑖  − 3𝑗  + 𝑘.

Solution
→ →
We know that the area of parallelogram =|𝐴 × 𝐵|
→ → v v v v v v
𝐴 × 𝐵 = (1𝑖 + 2𝑗  + 3𝑘) × (2𝑖  − 3𝑗  + 1𝑘)
→ → v v v
→ →
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝑖  (2 + 9) −𝑗  (1 − 6) + 𝑘 (−3 −4) |𝐴 ×𝐵| =√195 sq.unit
v v v
=11𝑖  + 5𝑗  − 7𝑘
→ →
Area of parallelogram = |𝐴  × 𝐵|=√(112 + 52 + (−7)2

→ v v → v v
Calculate the area of the triangle determined by the two vectors 𝐴 = 3𝑖 + 4𝑗 and 𝐵  = -3𝑖  +7𝑗.

Solution
→ →
We know that the area of triangle = 1 |𝐴 × 𝐵|
2
v v v
→ → 𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝐴 × 𝐵 =
3 4 0

-3 7 0
→ → v v v
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝑖 (0 − 0) − 𝑗 (0 − 0) + 𝑘 (21 + 12)
→ →
v
→ →
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 33𝑘  Area of triangle = 1 |𝐴 × 𝐵| = 33
2
sq. unit
2
→ →
|𝐴 × 𝐵| = √332 = 33

Unit vector perpendicular to two vectors

→ v v v v v v
→
Determine unit vector which is perpendicular to both 𝐴 = 2𝑖  + 𝑗 + 𝑘  and 𝐵  = 𝑖  − 𝑗  + 2𝑘  ?

Solution
→ → →
→ → → |𝐶 | = |𝐴× 𝐵|= √(32) + (−3)2 + (−3)2 = √27 = 3√3
Let 𝐶  be a vector perpendicular to both 𝐴 and 𝐵. → → →
by using determinant method Unit vector perpendicular to 𝐴 and 𝐵 is 𝐶.
→ → → → v v v
𝐶=𝐴 ×𝐵 v v
C 3𝑖  − 3𝑗  − 3𝑘 
→ v v
𝐶= 𝑖  v(2 + 1)
v −𝑗  (4−1)
v + 𝑘  (−2−1) C= → =
|C| 3√3
= 3𝑖  − 3𝑗  − 3𝑘  v v
1 v v
C= ( 𝑖 ) − ( 𝑗 ) − ( 𝑘 ) 
√3
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 06

Moment of force or Torque

→
v v v → v v v
A particle, whose position vector, 𝑟 = 𝑖  − 𝑗  + 𝑘 (in m) has a force 𝐹= 2𝑖  − 4𝑗  + 𝑘 (in N) acting
on it. Calculate the torque (in N-m) about the origin.
v v v v v v v v v v v v
→
a. 𝝉 = 3𝑖  + 2𝑗  − 2𝑘  b. → 𝝉 = 3𝑖  + 𝑗  − 2𝑘  d. →
𝝉 = 2𝑖  + 3𝑗  − 2𝑘  c. → 𝝉 = 𝑖  + 3𝑗  − 2𝑘 

Solution
→ → v v v v v v
𝝉  = →
𝒓  × 𝑭  = (𝑖  − 𝑗  + 𝑘) × (2𝑖  − 4𝑗  + 𝑘)
v v v v v v v v v v v v
= 2 (𝑖  × 𝑖  ) − 2(𝑗  × 𝑖  ) + 2(𝑘  × 𝑖  ) − 4(𝑖  × 𝑗  ) + 4(𝑗  × 𝑗  ) − 4(𝑘  × 𝑗  ) + v v v
→
v v v v v v 𝝉 = 3𝑖  + 𝑗 −2𝑘
1 (𝑖  × 𝑘  ) − 1(𝑗  × 𝑘  ) + 1(𝑘  × 𝑘  )
v v v
= 𝑖  (4 − 1) + 𝑗  (2 − 1) + 𝑘  (2 − 4)

→ → → → → →
If 𝑎  and 𝑏  are two vectors such that |𝑎| = 4, |𝑏| = 3 and |𝑎 × 𝑏| = 6, find the angle between
→ →
𝑎 and 𝑏.

Solution
→ → → →
Given |𝑎| = 4, |𝑏| = 3 and |𝑎 x 𝑏| = 6
Angle between the vectors:
→ →
|𝑎 x 𝑏|
sin 𝜃 = → →
|𝑎||b|

6
sin 𝜃 = = 1
4×3 2
1
𝜃 = sin-1 2 ((
𝜋
𝜃=
6

→ → → → → → → →
For any two vectors 𝑎  and 𝑏, show that (𝑎  +𝑏). (𝑎  − 𝑏)=0 ⟺ |𝑎| = |𝑏|.

Solution
→ →
→ → → → Let |𝑎| = |𝑏|
Let (𝑎 + 𝑏).(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 0
→2 → Squaring on both sides,
|𝑎| − |𝑏|2 = 0 →2 →
→2 →2 |𝑎| = |𝑏|2
|𝑎| = |𝑏| →2 →
→ |𝑎| - |𝑏|2 = 0
→
|𝑎| = |𝑏| → → → →
(𝑎 + 𝑏).(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 0

→ → → → → →
(𝑎 + 𝑏).(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 0 ⟺ |𝑎| = |𝑏|

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 07

Scalar Triple product

The scalar triple product (also known as the mixed product, box product, or triple scalar product)
is defined as the dot product of one of the vectors with the cross product of the other two.
→ → → → →→ → → →
(𝒂 × 𝒃).𝒄 = [a b c] (𝒂. 𝒃.) × 𝒄)
→ →
axb

Scalar triple product of three vectors gives

the volume of the parallelepiped →
→ → → → →
c
→
Volume = |𝒂 × 𝒃| |𝒄| |𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝝓| = |(𝒂 × 𝒃).𝒄| →
b
→
Properties of scalar triple product a

→→ → →→ → →→ →
• For any three vectors [𝑨 𝑩 𝑪] = [𝑩 𝑪 𝑨] = [𝑪 𝑨 𝑩]
→→ → →→ →
• [𝑨 𝑩 𝑪] = - [𝑩 𝑨 𝑪]
→→ →
• If the vectors are coplanar, [𝑨 𝑩 𝑪] = 0

→ → → → → →
For any three vectors 𝑎, 𝑏,  and →
𝑐, Prove that [𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑏 + →
𝑐  →
𝑐 + → →
𝑎] = 2[𝑎  𝑏  𝑐→ ].

Solution
→ → → → → →
We know, [𝐴  𝐵  𝐶 ] = 𝐴  .(𝐵 × 𝐶  )
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
[𝑎  + 𝑏  𝑏 + 𝑐  𝑐 + 𝑎 ]=(𝑎  + 𝑏 ).[(𝑏 + 𝑐)×(𝑐 + 𝑎)]
→ → → → → → → → → →
=(𝑎  + 𝑏 ).[(𝑏 × 𝑐 )+(𝑏 × 𝑎 )+(𝑐 × 𝑐)+(𝑐 × 𝑎)]
→ → → → → → → →
=(𝑎  + 𝑏 ).[(𝑏 × 𝑐 )+(𝑏 × 𝑎 )+(𝑐 × 𝑎)]
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
=[𝑎 𝑏  𝑐 ]+[𝑎  𝑏 𝑎 ]+[𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 ]+[𝑏 𝑏  𝑐 ]+[𝑏 𝑏 𝑎 ]+[𝑏  𝑐 𝑎]
→→ → → → →
=[𝑎  𝑏  𝑐 ]+[𝑏 𝑐 𝑎]
→ → →
=2[𝑎  𝑏  𝑐 ]
→ → → → → → → → →
Hence, [𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑏 + 𝑐 𝑐 + 𝑎]= 2[𝑎 𝑏 c]

→ →
What is the component of a vector 𝒂 along and perpendicular to the non-zero vector 𝒃
respectively?
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
a. 𝑎 . →𝑏 , | 𝑎  →× 𝑏| b. 𝑎 . →𝑏 , | 𝑎  →× 𝑏| c. 𝑎 . →𝑏 , 𝑎 . →𝑏 d. | 𝑎  →× 𝑏| , | 𝑎  →× 𝑏|
|a| |a| |b| |b| |a| |a| |a| |b|

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 08

Solution
→ → → →
Given 𝑎, 𝑏 Given 𝑎, 𝑏
→ →
→ → → 𝑎 . 𝑏 → → →
Component of 𝑎 along 𝑏 = |𝑎| cos 𝜃 and cos 𝜃 = → → Component of 𝑎 perpendicular 𝑏 = |𝑎| sin 𝜃
|a| |b| → →
→ →
|𝑎  × 𝑏|
→ → → 𝑎 . 𝑏 and sin 𝜃 = → →
∴ Component of 𝑎 along 𝑏 = |a| → → |a| |b| → →
|a| |b| → → → |𝑎  𝑏|
→ →
∴ Component of 𝑎 perpendicular 𝑏 = |a| → →
component of a along to 𝑎 . 𝑏 |a| |b|
= → →
b as a LHS for this result |b| →
component of a perpendicular to |𝑎  × 𝑏|
= →
b as a LHS for this result |b|

If the volume of parallelepiped whose edges are represented by the vectors

v v v v v v
-12𝑖  + ⍺𝑘, 3𝑗  − 𝑘 and 2𝑖  + 𝑗  − 15𝑘  is 546, then what is the value of ⍺?

Solution

If the volume of parallelepiped whose edges are represented by the vectors

v v v v v v
-12𝑖  + ⍺𝑘, 3𝑗  − 𝑘 and 2𝑖  + 𝑗  −1 5𝑘  is 546, then the value of ⍺ is
→ → → → → →
We know that the volume of parallelepiped =|(𝒂  × 𝒃).𝒄| = [𝒂 𝒃 𝒄]

-12 0 ⍺
→ → →
[𝒂 𝒃 𝒄] = 0 3 -1
2 1 -15

→ → →
[𝒂 𝒃 𝒄] = -12 (- 45 + 1) + ⍺ (-6)

546 = − 6⍺ + 528
⍺ = −3

→ → → → → → → → → →
Let 𝑎  and 𝑏 be two non-collinear unit vectors. If 𝑢 = 𝑎 − (𝑎. 𝑏) 𝑏 and 𝑣 = 𝑎  × 𝑏, then |𝑣| is
→ → → →
a. |𝑢| b. |𝑢| +→
𝑢. →
𝑎  →
c. |𝑢| +→
𝑢. 𝑏  →
d. |𝑢| → →
+ 𝑢. (𝑎+𝑏)

Solution

→ →
Given, |𝑎| = 1 , |𝑏| = 1,
→ →
Let angle between 𝑎 and 𝑏 be θ
→ → v
→ → →
𝑣 = 𝑎 × 𝑏 = |𝑎||𝑏| sin 𝜃 𝑛
→
|𝑣| = sin 𝜃

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 09

→ → →
𝑢 = → →
𝑎 − (𝑎.𝑏) 𝑏 → →
v (𝑎 × 𝑏) →
→ → →
= 𝑎 − (|𝑎||𝑏| cos 𝜃)𝑏
→
𝑛 = → → = 𝑣 →
→
|𝑎 × 𝑏| |𝑣|
→
𝑢 = →
𝑎 − cos 𝜃 𝑏
Now,
→→ →2
𝑢.𝑢 = |𝑢| = 1 + cos2 𝜃 −2 cos 𝜃 cos 𝜃 = sin2 𝜃
→ →
∴ |𝑢| = sin 𝜃 = |𝑣|
→→ →→ →
𝑢.𝑎 = 𝑎.𝑎 − cos 𝜃 →
𝑎.𝑏  = 1 − cos2 𝜃 = sin2 𝜃
→→ → → →→
𝑢.𝑏 = 𝑎.𝑏 − cos 𝜃 𝑏.𝑏 = cos 𝜃 − cos 𝜃 = 0
→ → → →
𝑢.(𝑎 + 𝑏) = → → →
𝑢.𝑎 + 𝑢.𝑏
= 1 − cos2 𝜃 + 0
= sin2 𝜃
→ → → → →
And |𝑣| = sin 𝜃 = |𝑢| + 0 = |𝑢|+ 𝑢.𝑏

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