Example 1 (Geometrical Representation)
P (x,y,z)
r
γ
β
y
α B
A
Determine the angle α, β and γ which the vector r = x i + y j + z k makes with
the positive direction of the coordinate axes and show that; cos² α + cos² β +
cos² γ = 1.
From figure above
𝑥
At OAP; cos 𝛼 =
│𝐫│
𝑦
At OBP; cos 𝛽 =
│𝐫│
𝑧
At OCP; cos 𝛾 =
│𝐫│
Also from │r│= r = √𝑥² + 𝑦² + 𝑧²
𝑥
Therefore cos 𝛼 =
r
𝑦
cos 𝛽 =
r
𝑧
cos 𝛾 =
r
From these it follows that
𝑥² + 𝑦² + 𝑧²
cos 2 𝛼 + cos 2 β + cos 2 𝛾 = =1
𝑟²
The numbers cos α , cos β and cos γ are called the direction cosines of the
vector OP.
Example 2
The position of the top corner of the lecture room was required. To find this
theodolite was set up as in Figure below. The distance to the side wall, along the
x-axis is 7 m and the following angles were measured: TOx = 60⁰ and TOy =
50⁰.
Calculate the coordinates of the corner relative to the position of the theodolite.
Provided information from question: α = 60⁰ , β = 50⁰ , x = 7 m
Solution:
Calculate the direction cosines:
𝑥
l = = cos α = cos 60⁰ = 0.5
𝑟
𝑦
m = = cos β = cos 50⁰ = 0.6428
𝑟
We need the third direction cosine, the formula required is l2 + m2 + n2 = 1
𝑧
Therefore; n = = cos γ = √1 − 𝑙 2 − 𝑚²
𝑟
cos γ = √1 − (0.5)2 − (0.6428)²
cos γ = 0.5803518
γ = 54.52⁰
The length of OT, (r) can be calculated as we know the x-coordinate, x = 7.0.
𝑥
l = = 0.5
𝑟
𝑥
Therefore, r =
0.5
7.0
r= = 14.0
0.5
𝑦 𝑧
From the other direction cosines formula; m = ;n=
𝑟 𝑟
y = 0.6428 x 14.0 = 8.9992 ≈ 9.0
z = 0.58035 x 14.0 = 8.1249
The coordinates of the corner are: (x, y, z) = (7.0, 9.0, 8.1249).
Example 3 (Vector Algebra)
Given that r1 = 3i – 2j + k ; r2 = 2i – 4j -3k and r3 = -i +2j +2k. Find the
magnitude of
(a) r3 (b) r1 + r2 + r3 (c) 2r1 – 3r2 – 5r3
(a) │r3│= │3i – 2j + k│
= √(−1)2 + (2)2 + (2)2 = 3
(b) r1 + r2 + r3 = (3i – 2j + k) + (2i – 4j – 3k) + (-i +2j +2k)
= (3 + 2 – 1)i + (– 2 – 4 + 2)j + (1 – 3 + 2)k
= 4i – 4j + 0k
The magnitude of │ r1 + r2 + r3│is given by;
│ r1 + r2 + r3│= │4i – 4j + 0k│
│ r1 + r2 + r3│= √(4)² + (4)² + (0)² = √32 = 5.656854
(c) 2r1 – 3r2 – 5r3 = 2(3i – 2j + k) – 3(2i – 4j – 3k) – 5(-i +2j +2k)
= 6i – 4j + 2k – 6i + 12j + 9k + 5i – 10j – 10k
= (6 – 6 + 5)i + (-4 + 12 – 10)j + (2 + 9 – 10)k
= 5i – 2j + k
Then the magnitude is given by;
│2r1 – 3r2 – 5r3│= │5i – 2j + k│
│2r1 – 3r2 – 5r3│= √(5)2 + (−2)2 + (1)² = √30 = 5.4772256
Example 4
If A = 3i – j – 4k, B = -2i + 4j – 3k, C = i + 2j – k. Determine:
a) 2A – B + 3B
b) │A + B + C│
c) │3A – 2B + 4C│
d) A unit vector parallel to 3A – 2B + 4C
Answer
a) 2A – B + 3C = 2(3i – j – 4k) – (-2i + 4j – 3k) + 3(i + 2j – k)
2A – B + 3C = 6i – 2j – 8k + 2i – 4j + 3k + 3i + 6j – 3k
2A – B + 3C = (6 + 2 + 3)i + (-2 – 4 + 6)j + (-8 + 3 – 3)k
2A – B + 3C =11i – 8k
b) A + B + C = (3i – j – 4k) + (-2i + 4j – 3k) + (i + 2j – k)
A + B + C = (3 – 2 + 1)i + (-1 + 4 + 2)j + (-4 – 3 – 1)k
A + B + C = 2i + 5j – 8k
│A + B + C│= √(2)2 + (5)² + (−8)² = √93
c) 3A – 2B + 4C = 3(3i – j – 4k) – 2(-2i + 4j – 3k) + 4(i + 2j – k)
3A – 2B + 4C = 9i – 3j – 12k + 4i – 8j + 6k + 4i + 8j – 4k
3A – 2B + 4C = (9 + 4 + 4)i + (-3 – 8 + 8)j + (-12 + 6 – 4)k
3A – 2B + 4C = 17i – 3j – 10k
│3A – 2B + 4C│= √(17)2 + (−3)² + (−10)² = √398
17 3 10
d) A unit vector parallel to 3A – 2B + 4C is given by: i– j– k
√398 √398 √398
Example 5
A vector a = (3, -1, 4) = 3i – j + 4k.
Find the magnitude (or modulus) and unit vector in the direction of a.
Solution:
The magnitude or length of the vector a is given by │a│
│a│= √(3)2 + (−1)2 + (4)² = √26
Therefore, unit vector in the direction of a is given by;
𝐚 3𝐢−𝐣+4𝐤 3 1 4
â= = = √26 𝐢 − √26 𝐣 + √26 𝐤
│𝐚│ √26
Example 6 (Scalar and Vector Fields)
Given a scalar field defined by ϕ(x,y,z) = 3x2z – xy3 + 5, find ϕ at the points:
(a) (0,0,0) (b) (1,-2,2) (c) (-1,-2,-3)
Solution:
(a) ϕ (0,0,0) = 3(0)2(0) – (0)(0)3 + 5 = 0 – 0 + 5 = 5
(b) ϕ (1,-2,2) = 3(1)2(2) – (1)(-2)3 + 5 = 6 – (-8) + 5 = 19
(c) ϕ (-1,-2,-3) = 3(-1)2(-3) – (-1)(-2)3 + 5 = -9 – (8) + 5 = -12
Example 7
Graph the vector fields defined by:
(a) V(x,y,z) = xi + yj (b) V(x,y) = -xi – yj (c) V(x,y,z) = xi + yj + zk
Solution:
(a) At each point (x,y), except (0,0) of the xy plane there is defined a unique
vector xi + yj of magnitude having direction passing through the origin
and outward from it. To simplify graphing procedures, note that all vectors
associated with points on the circles x2 + y2 = a2, a > 0 have magnitude a.
The field therefore appears as in Figure (a).
The field is called a
O x source field and O is
a source.
(b) Each vector is equal to, but opposite in direction to the corresponding one
in (a). The field therefore appears as in Figure (b).
The field is called a
O x sink field and O is a
sink.