<p>Unfortunately for me, I can't seem to figure out this vector problem in my Physics C summer assignment. I'm hoping that someone here, with better talents in math than any I will ever have, could help me. =]</p>
<p>Basically, it asks to find the vector product of A times B, expressed in units vectors.
A= 4.00i + 3.00j<br>
B = 5.00i - 2.00 j
And also find the magnitude of the vector product. </p>
<p>I always seem to have trouble finding the vector product. Scalar [dot] products never irk me though. </p>
<p>If someone knows how to figure this one out, could you please post the steps to how you found it?</p>
<p>wait... dot product's that crazy thing with the scalars, right? And this "vector product" is just the cross product?</p>
<p>in that case, </p>
<p>a x b= magnitude of a times magnitude of b times the sin of the angle between a and b.</p>
<p>a x b= |a||b|sin(angle between vector a and vector b)</p>
<p>I forgot that stuff a while ago, your post brought it all back.</p>
<p>Vector product = cross product?</p>
<p>First use pythagorean theorem to find magnitude of vector A and vector B (right now you only have the components of the vector...if you draw it on paper, you have the "legs" of the triangle and the magnitude = length of the hypotenuse).</p>
<p>After finding the length of both hypotenuses (hypoteni?), you multiply those together and then by the sine of the angle between them. </p>
<p>I don't know if you need direction, but you can use the right-hand rule to figure out direction if you need to.</p>
<p>If you post your work here, I can help verify it. I just finished a class on vector calc, and feel pretty comfortable with dot product, cross product, etc.</p>
<p>I just reread your post and realized you need to find the vector product in individual components also.</p>
<p>An easy way to do this is: A x B = i(AyBz-AzBy) - j(AxBz-AzBx) + k(AxBy-AyBx).</p>