Find a unit vector perpendicular to the vectors A = 3i^-4j^ 5k^ and B ...
Finding a Unit Vector Perpendicular to Two Given Vectors
To find a unit vector that is perpendicular to two given vectors A and B, we need to use the cross product of the two vectors. The cross product of two vectors gives us a vector that is perpendicular to both of them.
Cross Product of Two Vectors
The cross product of two vectors A and B is given by:
A ⨯ B = |A| |B| sin θ n
where:
- A and B are the two vectors
- |A| and |B| are the magnitudes of the two vectors
- θ is the angle between the two vectors
- n is the unit vector perpendicular to both A and B
Finding the Cross Product of A and B
Let's find the cross product of the two given vectors A and B:
A ⨯ B = (3i^-4j^ 5k^) ⨯ (i^-j^ k^)
= (5i^ - 3j^ - 7k^)
So the vector (5i^ - 3j^ - 7k^) is perpendicular to both A and B.
Find the Unit Vector Perpendicular to A and B
Now we need to find the unit vector perpendicular to both A and B. We can do that by dividing the vector (5i^ - 3j^ - 7k^) by its magnitude:
|n| = √(5^2 + (-3)^2 + (-7)^2) = √83
n = (5i^ - 3j^ - 7k^) / √83
So the unit vector perpendicular to both A and B is:
n = (5/√83)i^ - (3/√83)j^ - (7/√83)k^
This is the required unit vector.