Chapter 2: Problem 96
Let the unit vectors a and \(\mathrm{b}\) be perpendicular and unit vector \(\mathrm{c}\) is inclined at angle \(\alpha\) to \(\mathrm{a}\) and \(\mathrm{b}\). If \(\mathrm{c}=l \mathrm{a}+m \mathbf{b}+n(\mathrm{a} \times \mathbf{b})\), then (a) \(l=m\) (b) \(n^{2}=1-2 l^{2}\) (c) \(n^{2}=-\cos 2 \alpha\) (d) \(m^{2}=\frac{1+\cos 2 \alpha}{2}\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Expressing Vector Magnitude
Angle Relationship
Simplifying the Magnitude Equation
Evaluating Trigonometric Identities
Identifying the Solution
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Unit Vectors
In the given exercise, vectors \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) are unit vectors. This implies that their magnitudes are both equal to 1: \(|\mathbf{a}| = 1\) and \(|\mathbf{b}| = 1\). Moreover, unit vectors are often used to define high-level concepts like axes in the Cartesian coordinate system, represented by \(\mathbf{i}\), \(\mathbf{j}\), and \(\mathbf{k}\).
- Because unit vectors have a magnitude of 1, they simplify calculations involving direction.
- They are essential when performing operations like dot and cross products as they provide a base measurement.
Dot Product
In the context of the exercise, the vectors \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) are perpendicular, so \(\mathbf{a} \cdot \mathbf{b} = 0\).
- The dot product results in a scalar value (a single number), not another vector.
- When two vectors are perpendicular, their dot product is zero, reflecting their perpendicular nature.
- In the exercise, the relationship \(\mathbf{c} \cdot \mathbf{a} = \cos \alpha\) and \(\mathbf{c} \cdot \mathbf{b} = \cos \alpha\) helped solve for the components \(l\) and \(m\).
Vector Magnitude
In the problem, the magnitude of vector \(\mathbf{c}\) was given as 1 since it is a unit vector: \(|\mathbf{c}| = 1\). This leads to the equation \(l^2 + m^2 + n^2 = 1\) since \(\mathbf{c} = l \mathbf{a} + m \mathbf{b} + n(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b})\).
- Knowing a vector’s magnitude is crucial for normalization—converting a vector to a unit vector.
- Magnitude helps in understanding a vector’s scale relative to other vectors.
- In this exercise, equating the components of \(\mathbf{c}\) to 1 helped determine relationships between \(l, m,\) and \(n\).
Cross Product
In this exercise, \(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b}\) generates a vector that is perpendicular to both \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\).
- The magnitude of the cross product gives the area of the parallelogram formed by the two vectors.
- The direction of the cross product vector is determined by the right-hand rule.
- In the exercise, adding \(n(\mathbf{a} \times \mathbf{b})\) to the expression of \(\mathbf{c}\) contributes to the angle \(\alpha\) the vector makes with \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\).