Perpendicular Vectors Transcript

Force F is applied perpendicular to the handle of this wrench.

A horizontally oriented wrench turns a bolt. Point A is labeled at the end of the handle
and point P is labeled at the center of the bolt. The vector along the wrench is labeled
vector A P. Force F is labeled as a force acting perpendicular to the wrench.
The wrench can be considered a vector because it has a magnitude, the length of the
handle, as well as a direction where the handle is pointing. The measure of how effective
the force is in turning the bolt around point P is called torque, a Latin word meaning to
twist.
Today you will learn how to determine if two vectors are perpendicular, and how to find
the torque when a force is applied to turn an object.
In this diagram, vector a and vector b are perpendicular to each other.
A coordinate plane shows vector a which originates at the origin and terminates at point
A, left-parenthesis a Subscript 1 Baseline comma a Subscript 2 Baseline rightparenthesis on the x axis. Vector b originates at the origin and terminates at point B, leftparenthesis b Subscript 1 Baseline comma b Subscript 2 Baseline right-parenthesis on
the y axis.
The x and y coordinates of the terminal point of vector a are a Subscript 1 Baseline and
a Subscript 2 Baseline and the coordinates of the terminal point of vector b are b
Subscript 1 Baseline and b Subscript 2 Baseline. Since the two vectors are
perpendicular, the magnitude of vector A B drawn between point A and point B, can be
found using the Pythagorean Theorem.
On the coordinate plane vector A B connects the terminal ends of vectors a and b to
form a right triangle.
The magnitude of vector A B squared is equal to the magnitude of vector a squared plus
the magnitude of vector b squared.
Text reads:
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals
StartAbsoluteValue vector a EndAbsoluteValue squared plus StartAbsoluteValue
vector b EndAbsoluteValue squared

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The magnitude of vector a can be written as the difference between the two x
coordinates a Subscript 1 Baseline and b Subscript 1 Baseline and the magnitude of
vector b can be written as the difference between the two y coordinates a Subscript 2
Baseline and b Subscript 2 Baseline.
Text reads:
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals left-parenthesis
a Subscript 1 Baseline minus b Subscript 1 Baseline right-parenthesis squared
plus left-parenthesis a Subscript 2 Baseline minus b Subscript 2 Baseline rightparenthesis squared
To begin the process of determining if two vectors are perpendicular, you will expand the
two terms representing the magnitudes of vectors a and b. Next, group the squared
terms.
Text reads:
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals left-parenthesis
a Subscript 1 Baseline minus b Subscript 1 Baseline right-parenthesis squared
plus left-parenthesis a Subscript 2 Baseline minus b Subscript 2 Baseline rightparenthesis squared
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals a Subscript 1
Baseline squared minus 2 a Subscript 1 Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus b
Subscript 1 Baseline squared plus a Subscript 2 Baseline squared minus 2 a
Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2 Baseline plus b Subscript 2 Baseline squared
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals left-parenthesis
a Subscript 1 Baseline squared plus a Subscript 2 Baseline squared rightparenthesis plus left-parenthesis b Subscript 1 Baseline squared plus b Subscript
2 Baseline squared right-parenthesis minus 2 left-parenthesis a Subscript 1
Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus a Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2
Baseline right-parenthesis
StartAbsoluteValue vector A B EndAbsoluteValue squared equals
StartAbsoluteValue vector a EndAbsoluteValue squared plus StartAbsoluteValue
vector b EndAbsoluteValue squared minus 2 left-parenthesis a Subscript 1
Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus a Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2
Baseline right-parenthesis
The a squared terms represent the magnitude of vector a and the b squared terms
represent the magnitude of vector b.
Now compare the final equation with the original one. The only way they could be equal
is if a Subscript 1 Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus a Subscript 2 Baseline b
Subscript 2 Baseline term is equal to zero. The term that results when the magnitude of
the two vectors are multiplied is called the inner product of vectors a and b. The inner
product of vectors a and b is written in this form and is often called the dot product.
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Text reads: vector a dot vector b equals a Subscript 1 Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline
plus a Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2 Baseline
If the dot product of two vectors is zero, then the two vectors are perpendicular.
Text reads: If vector a dot vector b equals 0, then vector a perpendicular vector b.
Now examine the dot products of these two sets of vectors to determine if the vectors
are perpendicular.
Text reads:
Set A:
o Vector p equals left-angle-bracket negative 3 comma 6 right-anglebracket
o Vector q equals left-angle-bracket 5 comma negative 1 right-anglebracket
Set B:
o Vector s equals left-angle-bracket 6 comma negative 3 right-anglebracket
o Vector t equals left-angle-bracket 4 comma 8 right-angle-bracket
The dot products of the vectors in set A equal negative 21, so the two vectors are not
perpendicular.
Text reads:
Vector p dot vector q equals p Subscript 1 Baseline q Subscript 1 Baseline plus p
Subscript 2 Baseline q Subscript 2 Baseline
Vector p dot vector q equals left-parenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis leftparenthesis 5 right-parenthesis plus left-parenthesis 6 right-parenthesis leftparenthesis negative 1 right-parenthesis
Vector p dot vector q equals left-parenthesis negative 15 right-parenthesis plus
left-parenthesis negative 6 right-parenthesis
Vector p dot vector q equals negative 21
The dot products of the vectors in set B equal 0, so the two vectors are perpendicular.
Text reads:
Vector s dot vector t equals s Subscript 1 Baseline t Subscript 1 Baseline plus s
Subscript 2 Baseline t Subscript 2 Baseline
Vector s dot vector t equals left-parenthesis 6 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 4
right-parenthesis plus left-parenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis leftparenthesis 8 right-parenthesis
Vector s dot vector t equals 24 plus left-parenthesis negative 24 right-parenthesis
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Vector s dot vector t equals 0

Now respond to the following.

Review
Question is displayed.
Question text: Determine if vector x is perpendicular to vector y. Explain your
answer.
Vector a dot vector b equals a Subscript 1 Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus a
Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2 Baseline
Vector x equals left-angle-bracket 2 comma 4 right-angle-bracket
Vector y equals left-angle-bracket 8 comma 4 right-angle-bracket
Pause your reader to answer the question.
Correct answer: Not perpendicular
Feedback: The two vectors are not perpendicular because their dot product does
not equal zero.
Question is displayed.
Question text: Use the dot product method to determine if vector v is
perpendicular to vector w. Explain your answer.
Vector a dot vector b equals a Subscript 1 Baseline b Subscript 1 Baseline plus a
Subscript 2 Baseline b Subscript 2 Baseline plus a Subscript 3 Baseline b
Subscript 3 Baseline
Vector v equals left-angle-bracket 3 comma 8 comma 1 right-angle-bracket
Vector w equals left-angle-bracket 7 comma negative 2 comma 4 right-anglebracket
Pause your reader to answer the question.
Correct answer: Not perpendicular
Feedback: The two vectors are not perpendicular because their dot product does
not equal zero.
In this diagram, vectors v and w lie in plane M. A vector that is perpendicular to the plane
in which vectors v and w lie is found by determining what is called the cross product of
vectors v and w.
Vectors v and w are perpendicular to one another in a coordinate plane M. A third vector
labeled vector v times vector w is perpendicular to plane M.
A cross product of vectors v and w is written like this.
Text reads: vector v cross vector w

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The cross product can be expressed in terms of the unit vectors bold i, bold j, and bold k,
with the coefficients of the unit vectors expressed as determinants.
Text reads:
vector v cross vector w perpendicular vector v
vector v cross vector w perpendicular vector w
A three dimensional coordinate plane is shown with vectors bold i, bold j, and bold k as
the axes.
For example, given the ordered triple that represents vectors v and w, the cross product
of v and w is represented this way.
Text reads: If vector v equals left-angle-bracket v Subscript 1 Baseline comma v
Subscript 2 Baseline comma v Subscript 3 Baseline right-angle-bracket and vector w
equals left-angle-bracket w Subscript 1 Baseline comma w Subscript 2 Baseline comma
w Subscript 3 Baseline right-angle-bracket, then vector v cross vector w equals Start 2
by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column v Subscript 2 Baseline 2nd Column v Subscript 3
Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w Subscript 2 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 3 Baseline
EndDeterminant vector bold i minus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column v
Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column v Subscript 3 Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w Subscript
1 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 3 Baseline EndDeterminant vector bold j plus Start 2
by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column v Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column v Subscript 2
Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w Subscript 1 baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 2 Baseline
EndDeterminant vector bold k
Each of the unit vector coefficients is determined by expanding the determinants by
minors.
Text reads: Start 3 by 3 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column vector bold i 2nd Column vector
bold j 3rd Column vector bold k 2nd Row 1st Column v Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column v
Subscript 2 Baseline 3rd Column v Subscript 3 Baseline 3rd Row 1st Column w Subscript
1 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 2 Baseline 3rd Column w Subscript 3 Baseline
EndDeterminant vector v cross vector w equals Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st
Column v Subscript 2 Baseline 2nd Column v Subscript 3 Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w
Subscript 2 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 3 Baseline EndDeterminant vector bold i
minus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column v Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column v
Subscript 3 Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript
3 Baseline EndDeterminant vector bold j plus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st
Column v Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column v Subscript 2 Baseline 2nd Row 1st Column w
Subscript 1 Baseline 2nd Column w Subscript 2 Baseline EndDeterminant vector bold k.
To find the cross product of vectors c and d, begin by setting up this determinant and
then expanding it by the minors.

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Text reads:
vector c equals left-angle-bracket 1 comma 2 comma 3 right-angle-bracket
vector d equals left-angle-bracket 4 comma 5 comma 6 right-angle-bracket
Start 3 by 3 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column vector bold i 2nd Column vector bold j
3rd Column vector bold k 2nd Row 1st Column 1 2nd Column 2 3rd Column 3 3rd Row
1st Column 4 2nd Column 5 3rd Column 6 EndDeterminant
Vector c cross vector d equals Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 2 2nd
Column 3 2nd Row 1st Column 5 2nd Column 6 EndDeterminant vector bold i
minus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 1 2nd Column 3 2nd Row 1st
Column 4 2nd Column 6 EndDeterminant vector bold j plus Start 2 by 2
Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 1 2nd Column 2 2nd Row 1st Column 4 2nd Column
5 EndDeterminant vector bold k.
Next, simplify each minor determinant.
Text reads:
Vector c cross vector d equals negative 3 vector bold i plus 6 vector bold j minus
3 vector bold k
Vector c cross vector d equals left-angle-bracket negative 3 comma 6 comma
negative 3 right-angle-bracket
The ordered triple of the cross product of vector c and vector d is negative 3, 6, negative
3.
You can verify that the cross product of vector c and vector d is perpendicular to both c
and d by finding the dot products.
Text reads:
vector c equals left-angle-bracket 1 comma 2 comma 3 right-angle-bracket
vector d equals left-angle-bracket 4 comma 5 comma 6 right-angle-bracket
ModifyingAbove vector c cross d with bar equals left-angle-bracket negative 3
comma 6 comma negative 3 right-angle-bracket
The dot product for the cross product vector and vector c equals zero and the dot
product for the cross product vector and vector d equals zero.
Text reads:
ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector c equals leftparenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 1 right-parenthesis plus
left-parenthesis 6 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 2 right-parenthesis plus leftparenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 3 right-parenthesis
o ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector c equals
negative 3 plus 12 minus 9
o ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector c equals 0
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ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector d equals leftparenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 4 right-parenthesis plus
left-parenthesis 6 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 5 right-parenthesis plus leftparenthesis negative 3 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis 6 right-parenthesis
o ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector d equals
negative 12 plus 30 minus 18
o ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar dot vector d equals 0

Since both dot products equal zero, this verifies that the cross product vector is
perpendicular to vectors c and d.
Text reads:
vector c equals left-angle-bracket 1 comma 2 comma 3 right-angle-bracket
vector d equals left-angle-bracket 4 comma 5 comma 6 right-angle-bracket
ModifyingAbove vector c cross vector d with bar equals left-angle-bracket
negative 3 comma 6 comma negative 3 right-angle-bracket
A coordinate plane shows vector c and vector d perpendicular to each other. The two
vectors form plane M. A third vector, vector c cross vector d, is perpendicular to plane M.
The torque, vector T, on this wrench can be found by determining the cross product of
the force vector F and the wrench vector A P.
A horizontally oriented wrench turns a bolt. Point A is labeled at the end of the handle
and point P is labeled at the center of the bolt. The vector along the wrench is labeled
vector A P. Force F is labeled as a force acting perpendicular to the wrench. F is labeled
as 20 pounds. The distance from point A to point P is labeled 1.2 feet. The distance from
the edge of the wrench handle to point A is labeled 0.2 feet.
Text reads: Vector T equals vector F times vector A P
The force of the vector is 20 pounds acting downward along the z axis.
Text reads:
Vector F equals 0 vector bold i plus 0 vector bold j minus 20 vector bold k
Vector F equals left-angle-bracket 0 comma 0 comma negative 20 right-anglebracket
The force is acting on the wrench 1.2 feet from point P along the y axis and 0.2 feet
above the centerline of A and P along the z axis.
Text reads:
Vector A P equals 0 vector bold i minus 1.2 vector bold j plus 0.2 vector bold k

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Vector A P equals left-angle-bracket 0 comma negative 1.2 comma negative 0.2

right-angle-bracket

Now that the ordered triple for each vector has been determined, find the cross product
that represents the torque vector.
Text reads:
Vector F equals left-angle-bracket 0 comma 0 comma negative 20 right-anglebracket
Vector A P equals left-angle-bracket 0 comma negative 1.2 comma negative 0.2
right-angle-bracket
Vector T equals vector F cross vector A P
Set up the 3 by 3 determinant matrix and use it to determine the coefficient for each of
the unit vectors.
Text reads:
Start 3 by 3 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column vector bold i 2nd Column vector bold j
3rd Column vector bold k 2nd Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column 0 3rd Column negative
20 3rd Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column negative 1.2 3rd Column 0.2 EndDeterminant
Vector T equals Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column
negative 20 2nd Row 1st Column negative 1.2 2nd Column 0.2 EndDeterminant
vector bold i minus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column
negative 20 2nd Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column 0.2 EndDeterminant vector bold j
plus Start 2 by 2 Determinant 1st Row 1st Column 0 2nd Column 0 2nd Row 1st
Column 0 2nd Column negative 1.2 EndDeterminant vector bold k
Next, rewrite the torque vector as an ordered triple.
Text reads:
Vector T equals 24 vector bold i minus 0 vector bold j plus 0 vector bold k
Vector T equals left-angle-bracket 24 comma 0 comma 0 right-angle-bracket
Now calculate the magnitude of the torque vector.
Text reads:
StartAbsoluteValue vector T EndAbsoluteValue equals StartRoot left-parenthesis
24 right-parenthesis squared plus 0 squared plus 0 squared EndRoot
StartAbsoluteValue vector T EndAbsoluteValue equals StartRoot left-parenthesis
24 right-parenthesis squared EndRoot
StartAbsoluteValue vector T EndAbsoluteValue equals 24 feet slash pound
The magnitude of the vector represents the amount of torque on the wrench. In this
example, 24 foot pounds of torque is being applied to the wrench.
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Now respond to the following question.

Review
Question is displayed.
Question text: A force of 30 pounds is being applied perpendicular to the handle
of a wrench. The point of force is 2.4 feet from the center of the bolt, directly on
the centerline of the handle. What is the amount of torque on the handle?
Pause your reader to answer the question.
Correct answer: 72 foot pounds
Feedback: The ordered triple for the force vectors is left-angle-bracket 0 comma
30 comma 0 right-angle-bracket and the ordered triple for the wrench vector is
left-angle-bracket 0 comma 0 comma 2.4 right-angle-bracket. Calculate the cross
product, and then determining the magnitude gives a torque value of 72 foot
pounds.
The Perpendicular Vectors activity has concluded. Please continue with the rest of
todays lesson.

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