Physics help

jetsetter

jetsetter

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I'm working on a Physics problem and I could use some help.

Right triangle

http://img222.imageshack.**/img222/6853/problem1hw2.gif

Vector a=4
Vector b=3
Vector c=5

What is the magnitude and direction of vector a x vector b?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Vectors are magnitude and direction. We need to know the direction of the three vectors to solve this.
 
It says "For the vectors in the figure, with a=4, b=3, and c=5, what is the magnitude and the direction of a x b"

The "a" and "b" in the "a x b" bit have arrows above them.

"a x b"=vector product
 
Here we go, problem number 37.

http://img294.imageshack.**/img294/4021/problemqy2.th.jpg
 
jetsetter said:
I'm working on a Physics problem and I could use some help.

Right triangle

http://img222.imageshack.**/img222/6853/problem1hw2.gif

Vector a=4
Vector b=3
Vector c=5

What is the magnitude and direction of vector a x vector b?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Since your two vectors are perpendicular to each other, the simple way to do it is using the right hand rule.

So AxB would be a vector of magnitude 12, heading out of the page (ie. the plane of those two vectors) towards you.

The proper way to do it, though, would be to rewrite the vectors in their component form:
A = 4i + 0j + 0k
B = 0i + 3j + 0k

and just plug and chug using the cross product formula.
 
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