MZUMBE UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

(FSS)
PROGRAMME NAME : BAED-EM3
COURSE NAME : VECTOR MECHANICS
COURSE CODE : MSS 312
LECTURER’S NAME : DR. MALIMA
STUDENT’S NAME : BARAKA AUGUSTINO LUTUMO
REGISTRATION NUMBEER : 133272/T.21
TASK : INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT
DATE OF SUBMISSION : 05.02.2024
QUESTION 01:
Given vertices of quadrilateral A (2, 1, 3), B (6, 5, 3), C (6, 1,-1) and D (2,-3,-1)

[ ] []
6 1
And vector equation of line L1 given by; r = 1 + λ 1
−1 0

(a) (i) find vector ⃗

AB

Now, A (2, 1, 3) and B (6, 5, 3)

[][][]
6 2 4
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
Then; AB= B − A = 5 − 1 = 4
3 3 0

[]
4
⇒⃗AB= 4
0

(ii)Show that the line AB is parallel to L1

To show that the line AB is parallel to L1, we can check if the direction vector of AB is a
scalar multiple of the direction vector of L1

[] []
4 1
Remember, ⃗
AB= 4 and the direction vector of L1 is given by 1
0 0

If ⃗
AB is a scalar multiple of the direction vector of L1, then there exist a scalar k such that

[]
1
⃗
AB=K . 1 Satisfied when k=4
0

Therefore, the line AB is parallel to L1.

(iii) To verify that point D lies on L1, we substitute coordinates of D into the vector equation
of L1.

[ ] []
6 1
Given, D (2,-3,-1) and r = 1 + λ 1
−1 0

Let’s verify if the coordinates of D satisfy this equation

[ ][] []
2 6 1
−3 = 1 + λ 1 This equation holds when λ=−4
−1 1 0

Therefore, point D lies on line L1

(b) Given, D (2, -3, -1) and M (4, 1, 1) which are points passed by line L2
(i) Find vector equation of L2
We can use the point direction form of a line equation
r =D+t ( M −D ) Where r, M and D are points on the line and t is a parameter

[ ] [( ) ( )]
2 4 2
⇒r = −3 +t 1 − −3
−1 1 −1

[ ] []
2 2
⇒r = −3 +t 4 this is a required vector equation of L2
−1 2

(ii) Find the angle between L2 and AC

Given points A (2, 1, 3) and C (6, 1,-1)

[ ][][ ]
6 2 4
Then, ⃗
AC = ⃗
C − ⃗
A= 1 − 1 = 0
−1 3 −4

[ ] []
2 2
The vector equation of L2 is given by, r = −3 +t 4
−1 2

Then the line L2 has a vector let say q⃗ given by,

[]
1
q⃗ = 2 Where parameter t=2
1

Therefore,

[ ][ ]
1 4
AC ∙ ⃗q =|⃗
⃗ AC||q⃗|cos θ ⇒ 2 ∙ 0 =0
1 −4

Therefore, the dot product of two vectors is perpendicular hence, the angle between L2 and
AC is 90° .
QUESTION 02:
Given points A (2, 4, 1) and B (3, 2,-1)

[]
0
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
¿ OC=2 OB ; Where O is the origin ⇒ O= 0
0

(a) Find the vectors:

(i) ⃗
OC
⃗
OC=2 ⃗ OB

[( ) ( )]
3 0
⃗
OC=2 2 − 0
−1 0

[] []
3 6
⃗
OC=2 2 ⃗
⇒ OC= 4
−1 −2
(ii) ⃗
AB

[ ][]
3 2
⃗
AB= ⃗
B −⃗A= 2 − 4
−1 1

[]
1
⃗
⇒ AB= −2
−2

(b) (i) Given points A (2,4,1) and C (6,4, -2)

Required to show that distance between points A and C is 5

[ ][] []
6 2 4
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
AC =C − A= 4 − 4 ⃗
⇒ AC = 0
−2 1 −3

⇒⃗
AC =4 i+ 0 j−3 k
From,

Distance(d)=√ x 2 + y 2 + z 2

Distance(d)=√ 42 +0 2+−3 2
Distance (d) = 5 units hence shown
(i) Find the size of the angle ABC
 [ ][] []
3 2 1
⃗
AB= ⃗
B −⃗
A= 2 − 4 ⇒ ⃗
AB= −2
−1 1 −2

[ ][] []
6 2 4
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
AC =C − A= 4 − 4 ⇒ ⃗
AC= 0
−2 1 −3

From;
⃗ AB||⃗
AC =|⃗
AB ∙ ⃗ AC |cos θ

[ ][ ]
1 4
−2 ∙ 0 = (3 × 5 ) cos θ
−2 −3
2
10=15 cos θ ⇒ cos θ=
3
° °
θ=48.189 ≈ 48
(C) Given points A (2, 4, 1), B (3, 2,-1), C (6, 4,-2) and P (α , β , γ )
Such that: BP ⊥ AC
Show that; 4 α −3 γ =15

[ ]
α−3
⃗
BP= ⃗
P −⃗
B = β−2 And ⃗
AC =[ 4 ,0 ,−3 ]
γ +1

For perpendicular vectors;

⃗
BP ∙ ⃗
AC =0

[ ][ ]
α −3 4
β−2 ∙ 0 =0
γ +1 −3

4 ( α −3 ) +0 ( β−2 ) −3 ( γ +1 )=0
4 α −12−3 γ −3=0
4 α −3 γ −15=0
⇒ 4 α −3 γ =15 Hence shown

QUESTION 03:
The points A, B and C have coordinates (3,-2, 4), (5, 4, 0) and (11, 6,-4) respectively.
(a)
(i) Find vector ⃗
BA
Given points A (3,-2, 4) and B (5, 4, 0)

[ ][]
3 5
⃗ ⃗ ⃗
BA= A − B = −2 − 4
4 0

[]
−2
⇒ ⃗
B A= −6
4

(ii) Show that the size of angle ABC is cos

−1
( −57 )
[]
−2
Remember that; ⃗
BA= −6
4

[ ][] []
11 5 6
And, ⃗
BC = ⃗
C − ⃗
B = 6 − 4 ⇒ ⃗
B C = 2
−4 0 −4

From:
⃗ BA||⃗
BC =|⃗
BA ∙ ⃗ BC|cos ABC

[ ][ ]
−2 6
−6 ∙ 2 =√56 √56 cos ABC
4 −4
−40
−40=√ 56 √ 56 cos ABC ⇒ cos ABC =
√ 56 √ 56
−5
cos ABC =
7

Therefore, ¿ ABC=cos
−1
( −57 ) hence shown

[][]
8 1
(b) The line L has equation given by: r = −3 + λ 3
2 −2
(i) Verify that point C lies on L
 To verify that C lies on L we substitute the coordinates of C into the vector equation
of L
 [][]
8 1
We have point C (11, 6,-4) and r = −3 + λ 3
2 −2
Then;

[ ][ ] [ ]
11 8 1
6 = −3 + λ 3
−4 2 −2

{
λ+8=11
⇒ 3 λ−3=6 ⇒ λ=3
−2 λ−2=−4
Therefore, the point C lies on line L and holds when λ=3
(ii)
Show that AB is parallel to L

[][ ]
5 3
⃗
AB= ⃗
B −⃗A = 4 − −2
0 4

[]
2
⃗
AB= 6
−4

[][]
8 1
And the vector equation on line L is given by: r = −3 + λ 3
2 −2
 To show that AB is parallel to line L, we can check if the direction vector of AB is a
scalar multiple of the direction vector of L
Then,

[] []
2 1
⃗AB= 6 ⇒ ⃗AB=2 3
−4 −2
Satisfied at k=2, where k is a scalar
Therefore, AB is parallel to line L
(C) The quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram, find the coordinates of D

 For a parallelogram opposite sides are parallel, therefore the vector representing
one side should be a scalar multiple of the vector representing the opposite side.
Given points A (3, -2, 4), B, (5, 4, 0), C (11, 6, -4) and D (x, y, z)
Let’s consider vector ⃗
AB∧⃗
CD
 [][ ] []
5 3 2
⃗
AB= ⃗
B −⃗
A = 4 − −2 ⇒ ⃗
AB= 6
0 4 −4

[][ ] [ ]
x 11 x−11
⃗ ⃗
CD= D −C = y − 6 ⇒ ⃗
CD= y−6
z −4 z+ 4

CDis parallel to⃗

Since ⃗ AB , it must be a scalar multiple of ⃗
AB therefore;
⃗
CD=K ∙ ⃗
AB Where, k is a scalar

[]
2
⃗
CD=K ∙ 6
−4

[ ][ ]
x−11 2k
x −11 y−6 z+ 4
y−6 = 6k ⇒ k= ,k= ∧k=
2 6 −4
z+4 −4 k
x−11 y−6 z +4
⇒ = = =k let say k=-1
2 6 −4
Therefore, x=9, y=0 and z=0
The coordinates of D are given by, D (9, 0, 0)
QUESTION 04:

[][] [][]
8 3 −4 1
The lines L1 and L2 have equations r = 6 + λ −3 and r = 0 + μ 2 respectively.
−9 −1 11 −3

(a) Show that L1 and L2 are perpendicular

[] []
3 1
Let; ⃗
P 1= −3 ∧ ⃗
P 2= 2
−1 −3

For perpendicular vectors;

⃗
P 1 ∙⃗
P 2=0

[ ][ ]
3 1
−3 ∙ 2 =3−6 +3 = 0
−1 −3

Therefore, lines L1 and L2 are perpendicular

(b) Show that L1 and L2 intersect and find the coordinates of the point of intersection P.
 Let the lines are;

[][]
8 3
M: r = 6 + λ −3 and
−9 −1

[][]
−4 1
N: r = 0 + μ 2
11 −3

Then, coordinates of any random point on M are s (3λ+8, -3λ+6, -λ-9) and on N are
t ( μ−4 , 2 μ ,−3 μ+11).
 if the lines M and N intersect then, they must have a common point on them such
that s and t must coincide for some values of λ and μ.
Now,
3 λ+ 8=μ−4 ___________________ (1)
−3 λ+ 6=2 μ ____________________ (2)
−λ−9=−3 μ +11 _______________ (3)
Solve for λ and μby verifying the third condition
We get, λ = -2 and μ=6
Substitute the values of λ and μ in any of the equations (1), (2) or (3)
−λ−9=−3 μ +11

−(−2 ) −9=−3 ( 6 ) +11

-7 = -7

So, the given lines L1 and L2 intersect each other.

The point of intersection is given by substituting the value of μ in the vector equation of line L2
given by;

[][]
−4 1
r= 0 +μ 2
11 −3

But, μ=6

[ ] [ ] [ ][ ]
−4 1 −4 6
r = 0 +6 2 ⇒ r = 0 + 12
11 −3 11 −18
Therefore, the point of intersection is P (2, 12, -7)

(C) The point A (-4, 0, 11) lies on L2

The point B on L1 is such that AP = BP

Find the length of AB

Given points A (-4, 0, 11) and P (2, 12,-7)

[ ][ ]
2 −4
Then, ⃗
AP= ⃗
P − ⃗
A = 12 − 0
−7 11

[ ]
6
⃗
⇒ AP= 12 ⃗
AP=6 i+12 j−18 k
−18

Length of AP=√ x 2+ y 2+ z 2

AP2=√ 62 +122+−182

AP
2
= √ 504 units
Then,

(AB) 2 = (AP) 2 + (BP) 2

Since AP = BP

Then, (AB) 2 = 2(AP) 2

√ ( AB ) =√2 ×504
2

Therefore , AB=12 √ 7

REFERENCES:

J. L Synge, B. A. Griffith. Principle of Mechanics. McGraw-Hill Book Company. 2nd Edition.

1949.

M. R Spiegel. Theoretical Mechanics. McGraw-Hill. 1967.