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ng
October 2018

Raising a new Generation of Leaders

VECTOR FIELDS
LECTURE 1

INTRODUCTION VECTOR ANALYSIS

OUTLINE
• Vectors and Scalars
• Sum of products
• Product of Vectors
• Differentiation of Vectors
• Integration of Vectors
• Applications of Vector Analysis

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VECTOR FIELDS
VECTORS AND SCALARS
A VECTOR is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction while a SCALAR is
a quantity that has only magnitude but no direction.
Provided a 3 dimensional vector field given as (x,y,z) as shown;

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Where A is the vector and 𝑖 , 𝑗, and 𝑘 are the unit vectors along the directions x, y
and z respectively.
That is; 𝑨 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 where 𝐴𝑥 , 𝐴𝑦 and 𝐴𝑧 are the components of the
vector A along directions x, y and z respectively.
The magnitude of vector A is a scalar given as: 𝐴 = 𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2
A unit vector 𝑎𝐴 along A is defined as a vector whose magnitude is 1 and has its
direction along A. That is;
𝑨 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘
𝑎𝐴 = =
𝐴
𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧2

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Thus, vector A can be written as 𝑨 = 𝐴 𝑎𝐴 which completely describes A in terms of its
magnitude 𝐴 and its direction 𝑎𝐴 . Note that (x, y, z) represents a rectangular or cartesian
coordinate system. There are two other coordinate systems namely cylindrical (𝜌, 𝜙, 𝑧) and
spherical (𝑟, 𝜃, 𝜙) coordinate systems.
NOTE: Any one coordinate system can be transformed into another.
SUM OF VECTORS
For A, B and C vectors, the algebra of these vectors is obeyed by the following basic laws where
𝑘 and 𝑙 are scalars.

LAW ADDITION MULTIPLICATION

Commutative law 𝐴+𝐵 =𝐵+𝐴 𝑘𝐴 = 𝐴𝑘
Associative law 𝐴+ 𝐵+𝐶 = 𝐴+𝐵 +𝐶 𝑘𝐴 = 𝐴𝑘
Distributive law 𝑘(𝐴 + 𝐵) = 𝑘𝐴 + 𝑘𝐵 𝑘(𝑙𝐴) = (𝑘𝑙)𝐴

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• EXAMPLE 1: If 𝐴 = 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 , 𝐵 = 2𝑖 + 𝑗 and 𝐶 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 𝑘
(a) Find the component of A along 𝑗
(b) Find the unit vector along A and its magnitude
(c) Find the distance vector 𝑟𝐴𝐵 between A and B and its displacement
(d) The magnitude of 2𝐴 − 𝐵 + 𝐶
(e) The unit vector parallel to the plane 𝐴 + 2𝐵 and its magnitude
(f) Verify that 𝐴 + 𝐵 = 𝐵 + 𝐴
(g) Verify that 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶
• SOLUTION
(a) The component of A along 𝑗 is −𝟐 as highlighted in 𝐴 = 5𝑖 − 𝟐𝐣 + 3𝑘
(b) The unit vector along A is

𝑨 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘
𝑎𝐴 = = = = 0.811𝑖 − 0.32𝑗 + 0.49𝑘
𝐴 52 + (−2)2 +32 38
𝑎𝐴 = 0.8112 + (−0.32)2 +0.492 = 1

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(c) 𝑟𝐴𝐵 = 𝐵 − 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 𝑗 − 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 = −3𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 3𝑘
(d) Displacement of 𝑟𝐴𝐵 is 𝑟𝐴𝐵 = (−3)2 +32 + (−3)2 = 27 = 5.2
(e) The magnitude of
2𝐴 − 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 2(5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘) − (2𝑖 + 𝑗) + (𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 𝑘)
2𝐴 − 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 10𝑖 − 4𝑗 + 6𝑘 − 2𝑖 − 𝑗 + 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 𝑘
9𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 7𝑘 = (9)2 +(−3)2 +(7)2 = 11.8
(f) 𝐴 + 2𝐵 = 5𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 + 2 2𝑖 + 𝑗 = 9𝑖 + 3𝑘
𝑨 + 𝟐𝑩 9𝑖 + 3𝑘 9𝑖 + 3𝑘
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝐴 + 2𝐵 = = =
𝐴 + 2𝐵 2
9 + 3 2 90
𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝐴 + 2𝐵 = 0.95𝑖 + 0.32𝑘
𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒 = 0.95𝑖 + 0.32𝑘 = (0.95)2 +(0.32)2 =1
(g) 𝐴 + 𝐵 = 𝐵 + 𝐴 correct!
(h) 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 correct!

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• EXAMPLE 2: If 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 5𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 are vectors
(a) Find the resultant of the two vectors
(b) Find the unit vector parallel to the resultant.
(c) Find the magnitude of the unit vector in (b)
• SOLUTION:
(a) Resultant 𝑅 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 = 2𝑖 + 4𝑗 − 5𝑘 + 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 = 3𝑖 + 6𝑗 − 2𝑘
(b) Unit vector parallel to R: 𝑎𝑟 = 𝑅ൗ|𝑅| = (3𝑖 + 6𝑗 − 2𝑘)/ 32 + 62 + (−2)2

3𝑖+6𝑗−2𝑘 3𝑖+6𝑗−2𝑘 3𝑖+6𝑗−2𝑘 3 6 2

𝑎𝑟 = = = = 𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘
32 +62 + −2 2 49 7 7 7 7

3 2 6 2 2 2
(c) 𝑎𝑟 = ( ) +( ) +( ) = 1
7 7 7

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• CLASSWORK 1: Given vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 + 3𝑘 and 𝐵 = 5𝑖 + 2j − 6𝑘.
Determine:
(a) The resultant of the two vectors
(b) 𝐴 + 𝐵
(c) 5𝐴 − 𝐵
(d) The component of 𝐴 along j
(e) A unit vector parallel to 3𝐴 + 𝐵

• ANSWERS: (a) 𝟔𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 − 𝟑𝒌 (b) 7 (b) −𝟐𝐣 + 𝟐𝟏𝒌 (c) 0

(d) 𝟎. 𝟗𝟏𝟏𝟕𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟐𝟐𝟕𝟗𝒋 + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟒𝟏𝟗𝒌

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• HOME WORK 1: Given vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 + 4j + 3𝑘 , 𝐵 = 2𝑖 − j + 2𝑘 and
𝐶 = −2𝑖 + 3j − 3𝑘
(a) Find the component of 𝐶 along 𝑘
(b) Find the unit vector along 𝐶
(c) Find the distance vector 𝑟𝐴𝐶 between A and C
(d) Find the displacement in (c) above
(e) The resultant 𝑅 of 𝐴, 𝐵 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶
(f) The magnitude of 𝑅
(g) The unit vector parallel to 𝑅
(h) The magnitude of the unit vector in (g) above
(i) Verify that 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 = (𝐴 + 𝐵) + 𝐶
• ANSWERS: (a) -3 (b) −𝟎. 𝟒𝟑𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝐣 − 𝟎. 𝟔𝟒𝒌 (c) −𝟑𝒊 − 𝐣 − 𝟔𝒌 (d) 6.78
(e) 𝒊 + 𝟔𝒋 + 𝟐𝒌 (f) 6.4 (g) 𝟎. 𝟏𝟔𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝐣 + 𝟎. 𝟑𝟏𝒌 (h) 1 (one) (i) proof

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 LINEAR DEPENDENCY
• For vectors 𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘 and 𝐶 = 𝐶𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐶𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐶𝑧 𝑘 to be

𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
linearly dependent, the determinant 𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧 = 0.
𝐶𝑥 𝐶𝑦 𝐶𝑧
𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
• And for the vectors to be linearly independent, the determinant 𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧 ≠ 0
𝐶𝑥 𝐶𝑦 𝐶𝑧

• EXAMPLE 3: Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + j − 3𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝑖 − 4𝑘 and

𝐶 = 4𝑖 + 3j − 𝑘. Verify if the vectors are linearly dependent or independent
• SOLUTION:
2 1 −3
0 −4 1 −4 1 0
1 0 −4 = 2 − −3 = 0 (linearly dependent)
3 −1 4 −1 4 3
4 3 −1

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• EXAMPLE 4: Given vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 − 3j + 2𝑘 , 𝐵 = 2𝑖 − 4𝑗 − 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 3𝑖 + 2j − 𝑘.
Verify if the vectors are linearly dependent or independent
• SOLUTION:
1 −3 2
−4 −1 2 −1 2 −4
2 −4 −1 = 1 +3 +2 = 41 (linearly
2 −1 3 −1 3 2
3 2 −1
independent)

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 PRODUCT OF VECTORS
• SCALAR (or DOT) PRODUCT
• If A and B are vectors, the scalar product between the two vectors is
given as;
𝑨. 𝑩 = 𝑨 𝑩 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
where θ is the small angle between the two vectors.
• For scalar or dot products, the following laws are valid:
(i) 𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝐵. 𝐴 (Commutative law)
(ii) 𝐴. 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 𝐴. 𝐵 + 𝐴. 𝐶 (Distributive law)
(iii) 𝑚 𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 . 𝐵 = 𝐴. 𝑚𝐵 = 𝐴. 𝐵 𝑚 (where 𝑚 is a scalar)
(iv) 𝑖. 𝑖 = 𝑗. 𝑗 = 𝑘. 𝑘 = 1 and 𝑖. 𝑗 = 𝑗. 𝑘 = 𝑘. 𝑖 = 0

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(v) If 𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘. Then,
𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧
𝐴. 𝐴 = 𝐴2𝑥 + 𝐴2𝑦 + 𝐴2𝑧
𝐵. 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥2 + 𝐵𝑦2 + 𝐵𝑧2
(vi) If 𝐴. 𝐵 = 0 (the vectors are said to be perpendicular or orthogonal to each other)
These two vectors are said to be orthogonal (perpendicular to each other) when
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0 i.e 𝜃 = 900
𝐴. 𝐵 = 0
Therefore, for any unit vector scalar products;
𝑖. 𝑗 = 𝑖. 𝑘 = 𝑗. 𝑘 = 𝑗. 𝑖 = 𝑘. 𝑖 = 𝑘. 𝑗 = 1 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠90 = 0 (⊥ or orthogonal condition)
𝑖. 𝑖 = 𝑗. 𝑗 = 𝑘. 𝑘 = 1 1 𝑐𝑜𝑠0 = 1
NOTE: the scalar product of two vectors is a SCALAR

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• EXAMPLE 5: Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 4𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 5𝑘
(a) Find the scalar product of the two vectors
(b) The angle between the two vectors
(c) Are the two vectors orthogonal?
• SOLUTION
(a) 𝐴. 𝐵 = 2 × 1 + −3 × 2 + 4 × 5 = 2 − 6 + 20 = 16
(b) 𝐴. 𝐵 = 𝐴 𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 where 𝐴 = 22 + (−3)2 +42 = 29 ;
𝐵 = 12 + 22 + 52 = 30
Therefore,
𝐴.𝐵 16
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = = = 0.5425
𝐴 𝐵 29. 30
𝜃= 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 0.5425 =
57.14𝑂
(c) The two vectors are not orthogonal because 𝜃 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 90𝑂

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• CLASSWORK 2: show that vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 3𝑘 and 𝐵 = −𝑖 + j + 𝑘
are orthogonal (⊥)

• CLASSWORK 3: If vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 6𝑖 − 3j + 2𝑘.

Determine the angle between the two vectors and verify if they are
perpendicular to each other. (𝟕𝟗𝟎 )

• HOME WORK 2: If vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 𝑎𝑗 + 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 4𝑖 − 2j − 2𝑘.

Determine 𝑎 such that 𝐴 and 𝐵 are orthogonal. (3)

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 VECTOR OR CROSS PRODUCT
• If A and B are vectors, the vector or cross product between the two vectors is given as;
𝒊 𝒋 𝒌
• 𝑨 × 𝑩 = 𝑨𝒙 𝑨𝒚 𝑨𝒛 and
𝑩𝒙 𝑩𝒚 𝑩𝒛
𝑨 × 𝑩 = 𝑨 𝑩 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽. 𝒏
where θ is the small angle between the two vectors and 𝒏 is a unit vector perpendicular to
the plane of A and B.

• NOTE: the result of a cross or vector product will give a vector

• To find the angle between two vectors 𝐴 and 𝐵 using the vector product, we use:
𝐴×𝐵
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
𝐴 𝐵
Where 𝐴 × 𝐵 is the magnitude of the cross product of the two vectors.

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 𝐴×𝐵 𝐴.𝐵
• NOTE: 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 −1 ( )
𝐴 𝐵 𝐴 𝐵
𝐴×𝐵
• Confirm classwork 3 using 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1
𝐴 𝐵
• For vector or cross products, the following laws are valid:
(i) 𝐴 × 𝐵 = −(𝐵 × 𝐴) (Commutative law)
(ii) 𝐴 × 𝐵 + 𝐶 = 𝐴 × 𝐵 + 𝐴 × 𝐶 (Distributive law)
(iii) 𝑚 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝑚𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴 × 𝑚𝐵 = 𝐴 × 𝐵 𝑚 (where 𝑚 is a scalar)
(iv) 𝑖 × 𝑖 = 𝑗 × 𝑗 = 𝑘 × 𝑘 = 0 and 𝑖 × 𝑗 = 𝑘 , 𝑗 × 𝑘 = 𝑖 , 𝑘 × 𝑖 = 𝑗
(v) If 𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘. Then,
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧
(vi) If 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 0 ( the two vectors are said to be parallel to each other)
That is, from 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 𝐴 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃. 𝑛 , 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 0 when 𝜃 = 0

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• EXAMPLE 6: Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 4𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 5𝑘. Find:
(a) the vector product of the two vectors
(b) the angle between the two vectors
(c) the unit vector perpendicular to the plane of 𝐴 and 𝐵
(d) Are the two vectors parallel?

• SOLUTION
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
−3 4 2 4 2 −3
(a) 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 2 −3 4 =𝑖 −𝑗 +𝑘 = −23𝑖 − 6𝑗 + 7𝑘
2 5 1 5 1 2
1 2 5

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 𝐴×𝐵
(b) 𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛−1 where 𝐴 × 𝐵 = (−23)2 +(−6)2 +72 = 24.78
𝐴 𝐵
And 𝐴 = 22 + (−3)2 +42 = 5.385 , 𝐵 = 12 + 22 + 52 = 5.477
−1
24.78
𝜃 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 = 57.140
5.385 5.477

(c) The unit vector

𝐴×𝐵 −23𝑖 − 6𝑗 + 7𝑘
𝒏= = = 0.93𝑖 + 0.24𝑗 + 0.28𝑘
𝐴×𝐵 24.78
(d) The two vectors are not parallel since 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠ 0 i.e 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≠ 0

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• CLASSWORK 4: If 𝐴 = 3𝑖 − 2𝑗 + 4𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 5𝑗 − 3𝑘 are
vectors. Calculate:
(a) the vector product of 𝐴 and 𝐵 ( −𝟏𝟒𝒊 + 𝟏𝟑𝒋 + 𝟏𝟕𝒌 )
(b) the angle between 𝐴 and 𝐵 (𝟓𝟑. 𝟒𝟎 )
(c) the unit vector perpendicular to the plane of 𝐴 × 𝐵
(−𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟓𝟏𝒋 + 𝟎. 𝟔𝟔𝒌)
(d) Then, verify that 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠ 𝐵 × 𝐴 but 𝐴 × 𝐵 = −(𝐵 × 𝐴)

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• HOME WORK 3: If vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 − 𝑘 and 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 4j − 2𝑘.
Determine:
(a) 𝐴 × 𝐵 (𝟏𝟎𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 + 𝟏𝟏𝒌)
(b) 𝐵 × 𝐴 (−𝟏𝟎𝒊 − 𝟑𝒋 − 𝟏𝟏𝒌)
(c) (𝐴 + 𝐵) × (𝐴 − 𝐵) (−𝟐𝟎𝒊 − 𝟔𝒋 − 𝟐𝟐𝒌)
(d) Then, verify that 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠ 𝐵 × 𝐴 but 𝐴 × 𝐵 = −(𝐵 × 𝐴)

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• HOME WORK 4: If vectors 𝐴 = 3𝑖 − 𝑗 + 3𝑘, 𝐵 = 2𝑖 + j − 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 𝑖 − 2j + 2𝑘.
Determine:
𝑎 (𝐴 × 𝐵) × 𝐶 (𝟐𝟖𝒊 + 𝟗𝒋 − 𝟓𝒌)
𝑏 𝐴 × (𝐵 × 𝐶) (20𝒊 + 𝟏𝟓𝒋 − 𝟏𝟓𝒌)
(c) Then, verify that (𝐴 × 𝐵) × 𝐶 ≠ 𝐴 × (𝐵 × 𝐶)

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• HOME WORK 5: If vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 6𝑗 − 3𝑘 and 𝐵 = 4𝑖 + 𝟑j − 𝑘.
Determine:
(a) 𝐴 × 𝐵 (𝟏𝟓𝒊 − 𝟏𝟎𝒋 + 𝟑𝟎𝒌)
(b) 𝐵 × 𝐴 (−𝟏𝟓𝒊 + 𝟏𝟎𝒋 − 𝟑𝟎𝒌)
(c) The unit vector perpendicular to the plane of 𝐴 and 𝐵
( 𝟑Τ𝟕 𝒊 − 𝟐Τ𝟕 𝒋 + 𝟔Τ𝟕 𝒌 )
(d) The magnitude of the unit vector in (c) (1)
(e) Then, verify that 𝐴 × 𝐵 ≠ 𝐵 × 𝐴

24
 TRIPLE PRODUCTS OF VECTORS
• Scalar triple products of three vectors and
their properties
• Vector triple products of three vectors and
their properties
• Coplanar Vectors

25
Scalar Triple Products of three Vectors
• The Scalar triple product of the three vectors
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 𝐶𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐶𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐶𝑧 𝑘 is given as:
𝐴𝑥 𝐴𝑦 𝐴𝑧
𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐶 = 𝐵𝑥 𝐵𝑦 𝐵𝑧
𝐶𝑥 𝐶𝑦 𝐶𝑧
• The result of a scalar triple product is a SCALAR.

26
 Properties of scalar triple product
• 𝐴. 𝐵×𝐶 =𝐵. 𝐶×𝐴 =𝐶. 𝐴×𝐵

• For any identical rows:

𝐴. 𝐵×𝐴 =𝐵. 𝐶×𝐵 =𝐶. 𝐴×𝐶 =0

• Vectors 𝐴 , 𝐵 and C are said to be COPLANAR if:

𝐴. 𝐵×𝐶 =0
Hence, when 𝑨 . 𝑩 × 𝑪 ≠ 𝟎, the three vectors are not coplanar

27
• EXAMPLE 7: Given three vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 4𝑘 ,
𝐵 = 𝑖 − 2𝑗 − 3𝑘 and 𝐶 = 2𝑖 + 𝑗 + 2𝑘. Find:
(a) 𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐶
(b) 𝐵 . 𝐶 × 𝐴
(c) 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐵
(d) 𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐴
(e) 𝐵 . 𝐶 × 𝐵
(f) 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐶
(g) Are the vectors coplanar?

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 Solution to Example 7
2 −3 4
−2 −3 1 −3 1 −2
• 𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐶 = 1 −2 −3 = 2 +3 +4
1 2 2 2 2 1
2 1 2
= 2 −4 + 3 + 3 2 + 6 + 4 1 + 4 = −2 + 24 + 20 = 42
1 −2 −3
1 2 2 2 2 1
• 𝐵. 𝐶×𝐴 = 2 1 2 =1 +2 −3
−3 4 2 4 2 −3
2 −3 4
= 1 4 + 6 + 2 8 − 4 − 3 −6 − 2 = 10 + 8 + 24 = 42
2 1 2
−3 4 2 4 2 −3
• 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐵 = 2 −3 4 = 2 −1 +2
−2 −3 1 −3 1 −2
1 −2 −3
= 2 9 + 8 − 1 −6 − 4 + 2 −4 + 3 = 34 + 10 − 2 = 42

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 Solution to Example 7 Contd.
2 −3 4
−2 −3 1 −3 1 −2
• 𝐴. 𝐵×𝐴 = 1 −2 −3 = 2 +3 +4
−3 4 2 4 2 −3
2 −3 4
= 2 −8 − 9 + 3 4 + 6 + 4 −3 + 4 = −34 + 30 + 4 = 0
1 −2 −3
1 2 2 2 2 1
• 𝐵. 𝐶×𝐵 = 2 1 2 =1 +2 −3
−2 −3 1 −3 1 −2
1 −2 −3
= 1 −3 + 4 + 2 −6 − 2 − 3 −4 − 1 = 1 − 16 + 15 = 0
2 1 2
−3 4 2 4 2 −3
• 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐶 = 2 −3 4 = 2 −1 +2
1 2 2 2 2 1
2 1 2

= 2 −6 − 4 − 1 4 − 8 + 2 2 + 6 = −20 + 4 + 16 = 0
• The vectors are not coplanar since 𝐴. (𝐵 × 𝐶) ≠ 0

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 Example 8
• Show that vectors 𝐴 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 3𝑘 , 𝐵 = 2𝑖 − 𝑗 + 2𝑘 and 𝐶 =
3𝑖 + 𝑗 − 𝑘 are coplanar

• SOLUTION
1 2 −3
−1 2 2 2 2 −1
𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐶 = 2 −1 2 = 1 −2 −3
1 −1 3 −1 3 1
3 1 −1
= 1 1 − 2 − 2 −2 − 6 − 3 2 + 3 = −1 + 16 − 15 = 0

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 Example 9
• Find the value of m for which 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 𝑗 + 3𝑘 ,
𝐵 = 3𝑖 + 2𝑗 + 𝑘 and 𝐶 = 𝑖 + 𝑚𝑗 + 4𝑘 are
coplanar

32
 Solution to Example 9
2 −1 3
2 1 3 1 3 2
• 𝐴. 𝐵×𝐶 = 3 2 1 =2 +1 +3 =0
𝑚 4 1 4 1 𝑚
1 𝑚 4
= 2 8 − 𝑚 + 1 12 − 1 + 3 3𝑚 − 2 = 0
16 − 2𝑚 + 11 + 9𝑚 − 6 = 0
7𝑚 + 21 = 0
7𝑚 = −21
𝑚 = −3

33
 Class Work 5
• Given three vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 4𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 3𝑖 − 𝑗 + 2𝑘. Find:
(a) 𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐶 (-7)
(b) 𝐵 . 𝐶 × 𝐴 (-7)
(c) 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐵 (-7)
(d) 𝐴 . 𝐵 × 𝐴 (0)
(e) 𝐵 . 𝐶 × 𝐵 (0)
(f) 𝐶 . 𝐴 × 𝐶 (0)
(g) Are the vectors coplanar?
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 Class work 6
• Find the value of p for which 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 𝑗 + 𝑘 , 𝐵 =
𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 3𝑘 and 𝐶 = 3𝑖 + 𝑝𝑗 + 5𝑘 are coplanar.
( p = -4)

35
 Vector Triple Products of three Vectors
• The Vector triple product of the three vectors
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 𝐶𝑥 𝑖 + 𝐶𝑦 𝑗 + 𝐶𝑧 𝑘 is given as:
𝐴 × (𝐵 × 𝐶) ≠ (𝐴 × 𝐵)× 𝐶
• The result of a vector triple product is always a
VECTOR.

36
 Vector triple product contd.
• This vector triple products can be easily solved
by using the following bac-cab and bca-acb
identities:
• 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪 = 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
• 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪 = 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)

37
 Example 10
• Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 4𝑘 , 𝐵 = 𝑖 + 2𝑗 − 𝑘
and 𝐶 = 3𝑖 − 𝑗 + 2𝑘. Determine:
(a) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(b) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(c) 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
(d) 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)

38
 Solution to Example 10
(a) For 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪 ,
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
5 2 3 2 3 5
𝑩×𝑪= 3 5 2 =𝑖 −𝑗 +𝑘 = 19𝑖 − 7𝑗 − 11𝑘
−2 3 1 3 1 −2
1 −2 3
Therefore;
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
3 −4 2 −4 2 3
𝑨 × 𝑩×𝑪 = 2 3 −4 = 𝑖 −𝑗 +𝑘
−7 −11 19 −11 19 −7
19 −7 −11
= −61𝑖 − 54𝑗 − 71𝑘

39
 Solution to Example 10 contd.
(b) For (𝑨 × 𝑩) × 𝑪 ,
𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
3 −4 2 −4 2 3
𝑨 × 𝑩 = 2 3 −4 = 𝑖 −𝑗 +𝑘 = 26𝑖 − 16𝑗 + 𝑘
5 2 3 2 3 5
3 5 2

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘
−16 1 26 1 26 −16
Therefore, (𝑨 × 𝑩) × 𝑪 = 26 −16 1 = 𝑖 −𝑗 +𝑘
−2 3 1 3 1 −2
1 −2 3
= −46𝑖 − 77𝑗 − 36𝑘

40
 Solution to Example 10 contd.
(c) 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
𝑨. 𝑪 = 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 − 𝟒𝒌 . 𝒊 − 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌
= 𝟐 × 𝟏 + 𝟑 × −𝟐 + −𝟒 × 𝟑 = 𝟐 − 𝟔 − 𝟏𝟐 = −𝟏𝟔
𝑨. 𝑩 = 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 − 𝟒𝒌 . 𝟑𝒊 + 𝟓𝒋 + 𝟐𝒌
= 𝟐 × 𝟑 + 𝟑 × 𝟓 + −𝟒 × 𝟐 = 𝟔 + 𝟏𝟓 − 𝟖 = 𝟏𝟑
Hence, 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
= 𝟑𝒊 + 𝟓𝒋 + 𝟐𝒌 −𝟏𝟔 − 𝒊 − 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌 𝟏𝟑
= −𝟒𝟖𝒊 − 𝟖𝟎𝒋 − 𝟑𝟐𝒌 − 𝟏𝟑𝒊 − 𝟐𝟔𝒋 + 𝟑𝟗𝒌 = −𝟔𝟏𝒊 − 𝟓𝟒𝒋 − 𝟕𝟏𝒌

41
 Solution to Example 10 contd.
(d) 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)
𝑪. 𝑨 = 𝒊 − 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌 . 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 − 𝟒𝒌 = 𝟏 × 𝟐 + −𝟐 × 𝟑 + 𝟑 × −𝟒
= 𝟐 − 𝟔 − 𝟏𝟐 = −𝟏𝟔
𝑪. 𝑩 = 𝒊 − 𝟐𝒋 + 𝟑𝒌 . 𝟑𝒊 + 𝟓𝒋 + 𝟐𝒌 = 𝟏 × 𝟑 + −𝟐 × 𝟓 + 𝟑 × 𝟐
= 𝟑 − 𝟏𝟎 + 𝟔 = −𝟏
• Hence, 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)
= 𝟑𝒊 + 𝟓𝒋 + 𝟐𝒌 −𝟏𝟔 − 𝟐𝒊 + 𝟑𝒋 − 𝟒𝒌 −𝟏
= −𝟒𝟖𝒊 − 𝟖𝟎𝒋 − 𝟑𝟐𝒌 − −𝟐𝒊 − 𝟑𝒋 + 𝟒𝒌 = −𝟒𝟔𝒊 − 𝟕𝟕𝒋 − 𝟑𝟔𝒌

42
 Class Work 7
• Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 5𝑘 , 𝐵 = 3𝑖 + 𝑗 + 2𝑘
and 𝐶 = 𝑖 − 𝑗 + 3𝑘. Determine:
(a) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(b) 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
(c) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(d) 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)

43
 Home Work 6
• Given vectors 𝐴 = 2𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 5𝑘 , 𝐵 = 3𝑖 + 𝑗 + 2𝑘 and
𝐶 = 𝑖 − 𝑗 + 3𝑘. Determine:
(a) 𝑨 . 𝑩 × 𝑪
(b) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(c) 𝑩 𝑨. 𝑪 − 𝑪(𝑨. 𝑩)
(d) 𝑨 × 𝑩 × 𝑪
(e) 𝑩 𝑪. 𝑨 − 𝑨(𝑪. 𝑩)
(f) Are the vectors coplanar?

44
 Home Work 7
• Given vectors 𝐴 = 𝑝𝑖 − 6𝑗 − 2𝑘 , 𝐵 = 4𝑖 + 3𝑗 − 𝑘 and
𝐶 = 𝑖 − 3𝑗 + 2𝑘. Determine:
(a) Find the values of 𝑝 for which:
(i) 𝐴 and 𝐵 are orthogonal (4)
(ii) 𝐴 , 𝐵 and 𝐶 are coplanar (-28)
(b) Determine the unit vector perpendicular to
both 𝐴 and 𝐵 when 𝑝 = 2. (𝟎. 𝟑𝟕𝒊 + 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝒋 − 𝟎. 𝟗𝟏𝒌)

45