Chapter 11: Problem 1
Use the given pair of vectors \(\vec{v}\) and \(\vec{w}\) to find the following quantities. State whether the result is a vector or a scalar. $$ \begin{array}{lllll} \bullet \vec{v}+\vec{w} & \bullet \vec{w}-2 \vec{v} & \bullet\|\vec{v}+\vec{w}\| & \bullet\|\vec{v}\|+\|\vec{w}\| & \bullet\|\vec{v}\| \vec{w}-\|\vec{w}\| \vec{v} & \bullet\|\vec{w}\| \hat{v} \end{array} $$ Finally, verify that the vectors satisfy the Parallelogram Law $$\|\vec{v}\|^{2}+\|\vec{w}\|^{2}=\frac{1}{2}\left[\|\vec{v}+\vec{w}\|^{2}+\|\vec{v}-\vec{w}\|^{2}\right]$$ $$ \vec{v}=\langle 12,-5\rangle, \vec{w}=\langle 3,4\rangle $$
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Calculate \( \vec{v} + \vec{w} \)
Calculate \( \vec{w} - 2\vec{v} \)
Calculate \( \|\vec{v} + \vec{w}\| \)
Calculate \( \|\vec{v}\| + \|\vec{w}\| \)
Calculate \( \|\vec{v}\|\vec{w} - \|\vec{w}\|\vec{v} \)
Calculate \( \|\vec{w}\| \hat{v} \)
Verify Parallelogram Law
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Magnitude of a Vector
- This calculation results in a scalar that represents distance or size without direction. This can be particularly useful when comparing the lengths of different vectors or understanding the size of one vector in real-world contexts.
- For example, the magnitude of the vector \( \vec{v} = \langle 12, -5 \rangle \) is computed as \( \sqrt{12^2 + (-5)^2} = \sqrt{144 + 25} = \sqrt{169} = 13 \).
Parallelogram Law
- The associated formula \( \|\vec{v}\|^2 + \|\vec{w}\|^2 = \frac{1}{2} \left[ \|\vec{v}+\vec{w}\|^2 + \|\vec{v}-\vec{w}\|^2 \right] \) is about verifying that the sum of the squares of the magnitudes of two vectors equals half the sum of the squares of the magnitudes of their sums and differences.
- This law arises naturally in physics, for example, in scenarios where forces apply concurrently but not collinearly, allowing for the effective calculation of resultant vectors.
Unit Vector
- Unit vectors are crucial in defining coordinate system directions, such as \( \hat{i} \), \( \hat{j} \), and \( \hat{k} \) for the x, y, and z directions in three-dimensional space.
- In navigation and computer graphics, they help direct vectors along desired axes without scaling them—merely indicating orientation.