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Explain cross product of two vectors.
Solution
Defination : The vector product or cross product of two vector $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ is another vector $\vec{c}$, whose magnitude is equal to product of magnitude of the two vectors and sine of the smaller angle between them. $OR$
If the product of two vector gives resultant vector quantity then this product is vector product. Suppose two vectors $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ and angle between them is $\theta$
$\therefore \text { Vector product } \vec{a} \times \vec{b}=|\vec{a}||\vec{b}| \sin \theta \hat{n}$ $=a b \sin \theta \hat{n}$
where $|\vec{a}|=a$ and $|\vec{b}|=b$
and $\hat{n}$ is a unit vector perpendicular to the plane form by $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$
The product is known as cross ${~ }\times$ product also.
Suppose $\vec{a} \times \vec{b}$ is denoted by $\vec{c}$ then
$\vec{c}=a b \sin \theta \hat{n}$
and magnitude of $c=a b \sin \theta$
Direction of $\vec{c}$ is perpendicular to the plane form by $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ and its direction is given by right hand screw rule.
Similar Questions
Vector $A$ is pointing eastwards and vector $B$ northwards. Then, match the following two columns.
Colum $I$ | Colum $II$ |
$(A)$ $(A+B)$ | $(p)$ North-east |
$(B)$ $(A-B)$ | $(q)$ Vertically upwards |
$(C)$ $(A \times B)$ | $(r)$ Vertically downwards |
$(D)$ $(A \times B) \times(A \times B)$ | $(s)$ None |