MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 1 – Vectors as Forces

PART A: Resolution of a Vector into Vertical and Horizontal Components

The resolution of vectors into components is the exact opposite of composition of

components to determine a resultant. The resolution of vectors into horizontal and vertical
components (two components at right angles to one another) can be very useful when trying
to determine the combined effect of multiple forces on an object.

The force 𝐹⃗ can be resolved into its horizontal component 𝐹

⃗⃗⃗⃗𝑥 and its
vertical component ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝐹𝑦 as follows:

⃗⃗⃗⃗𝑥 | = |𝐹⃗ |𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

|𝐹

⃗⃗⃗⃗
|𝐹 ⃗
𝑦 | = |𝐹 |𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Where 𝜃 represents the angle between the force and the x-axis.

Resultant of Forces: is the single force that can be used to represent the combined effect of
all the forces.

Equilibrant of Forces: the single force that opposes the resultant. When the equilibrant is
applied, the object remains in a state of equilibrium.

Example 1: Forces in equilibrium

Section 7.1 Page 1 of 5

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

Example 2: Resolving a force into its horizontal and vertical components

A tow truck is pulling a car from a ditch. The Aside:

tension in the cable is 15 000 N at an angle of In metric measurements, force is measured
40° to the horizontal. in Newtons (N). A force is the product of
mass and acceleration. For example, a
a) Draw a diagram showing the resolution of person with a mass of 100 kg standing on a
the force into its rectangular components. platform is exerting a force on that platform
caused by the acceleration due to gravity.
The magnitude of that force is equal to
100 𝑘𝑔 × 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 = 980 𝑘𝑔 ∙ 𝑚⁄𝑠 2 = 980 𝑁

b) Determine the magnitude of the horizontal and vertical vector components of the force.

Section 7.1 Page 2 of 5

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

PART B: Combined effect of multiple forces on an object

Example 3: Consider two forces acting at a point as shown in the figure below. Determine
⃗⃗⃗⃗1 | = 80𝑁, |𝐹
the magnitude and direction of the resultant force vector |𝐹 ⃗⃗⃗⃗2 | = 90𝑁.

Section 7.1 Page 3 of 5

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

Example 4: A mass of 20 𝑘𝑔 is suspended from a ceiling by two lengths of rope that

make angles of 60° and 45° with the ceiling. Determine the tension in each of the ropes.

Section 7.1 Page 4 of 5

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

PART C: Find rectangular vector components that are not horizontal and vertical

Example 5: A box weighing 140 N is resting on a ramp that is inclined at an angle of 20° .
Resolve the weight into rectangular vector components that keep the box at rest.

Aside:
The normal force is the component perpendicular to the
surface of contact, of the contact force exerted on an
object by the surface that the object is sitting on.

Section 7.1 Page 5 of 5

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 2 - Velocity

PART A: Distinctions to note about velocity

Velocity of wind: measured relative to a fixed point (the ground)

Velocity of a Plane: referring to air speed

Resultant Velocity of Plane: velocity of plane relative to ground (ground velocity)

PART B: Examples of relative velocity

Example 1: A river is 2 𝑘𝑚 wide and flows at 6 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ. Anna is driving a motorboat, which
has a speed of 20 𝑘𝑚⁄ℎ in still water and she heads out from one bank in a direction
perpendicular to the current. A marina lies directly across the river from the starting point
on the opposite bank.
a) How far downstream from the marina will the current push the boat?

Section 7.2 Page 1 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

b) How long will it take for the boat to cross the river?

c) If Anna decides that she wants to end up directly across the river at the marina, in
what direction should she head? What is the resultant velocity of the boat?

Section 7.2 Page 2 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

Example 2: A ship’s course is set at a heading of 143° at 18 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑠. A 10 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑡 current

flows at a bearing of 112° . What is the ground velocity of the ship?

Section 7.2 Page 3 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 3 – Dot Product of Two Geometric Vectors

PART A: What is work?

If a constant force, 𝐹⃑ , moves an object through a distance 𝑑, in the same direction of the
force, then the work done by the force is 𝑊 = |𝐹⃑ |𝑑. Work is only done if motion occurs!

Figure 1: Doing work Figure 2: Dreaming of doing work

Work is a scalar quantity (it does not have units of direction)

If the constant force, 𝐹⃑ , is not in the same direction as the movement, then we have to
determine the component of it that is.

Practical Examples:

𝐹⃑

𝑑⃑
The man is pulling the block with a constant force so that it moves along the horizontal
ground. The work done in moving the block is then given by the distance moved, 𝑑,
multiplied by the magnitude of the force in the direction of the motion (the acting force).

𝑊 = |𝐹⃑ ||𝑑| Where:

⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑊 = |𝐹 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ||𝑑|
▪ 𝜃 is the angle between the two vectors
▪ The vectors 𝐹⃑ and 𝑑⃑ are arranged tail to tail
𝑊 = |𝐹⃑ |𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃|𝑑|
▪ The angle between the vectors 𝐹⃑ and 𝑑⃑ is 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 180
𝑊 = |𝐹⃑ ||𝑑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Section 7.3 Page 1 of 3

 MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

Example 1: Ms. Creede is pulling her niece along on a sled with a force of 120 𝑁 at an
angle of 070° . The path she is on, is 100 𝑚 long. Find the work that she performed to pull
her niece down the path.

Note: Work is usually described in units of Joules

1 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒 = 1 𝑛𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒 =1 watt second

Interesting facts about joules in everyday life:

▪ The energy required to lift a small apple one metre straight up
▪ The energy released when that same apple falls one metre to the ground
▪ The amount of energy, as heat, that a quiet person generates every hundredth of
a second
▪ The energy required to heat one gram of dry, cool air by 1 degree celcius

▪ The kinetic energy of an adult human moving 17 𝑐𝑚 every second

Let us now formally introduce the DOT PRODUCT:

The dot product for any two geometric vectors (vectors without a coordinate system
attached to them) is defined as the product of their magnitudes multiplied by the cosine
of the angle between the two vectors when the two vectors are placed tail to tail.

⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃, 0° ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 180°
For two vectors 𝑎⃑, and 𝑏⃑⃑, the dot product is defined as 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏

Therefore, the dot product can be used to calculate work!

Properties of the dot product

I. The dot product is commutative 𝑢

⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑ = 𝑣⃑ ∙ 𝑢
⃑⃑

II. ⃑⃑ ∙ (𝑣⃑ + 𝑤
The dot product is distributive 𝑢 ⃑⃑⃑) = 𝑢
⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑ + 𝑢
⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑤
⃑⃑⃑

III. The dot product is associative: where 𝑘 is a scalar, (𝑘𝑢 ⃑⃑ ∙ (𝑘𝑣⃑)

⃑⃑) ∙ 𝑣⃑ = 𝑢

IV. For any vector, 𝑢 ⃑⃑|2

⃑⃑ = |𝑢
⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑢

V. Two vectors are perpendicular if and only if 𝑢

⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑ = 0 and 𝑣⃑ ∙ 𝑢
⃑⃑ = 0

VI. If given 𝑢
⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑ = 0 and that 𝑢
⃑⃑ and 𝑣⃑ are non-zero vectors, then we can say that 𝑢
⃑⃑
and 𝑣⃑ are perpendicular

Section 7.3 Page 2 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

The dot product (sometimes referred to as the scalar product) can be positive, negative,
or zero, depending on the size of the angle between the two vectors.

Sign of the Dot Product

▪ for 0 ≤ 𝜃 < 90° , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 > 0, so 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ > 0

▪ for 𝜃 = 90° , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 0, so 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = 0

▪ for 90° < 𝜃 ≤ 180° , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 < 0, so 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ < 0

Expanding on the final property of dot product (if 𝑢⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑ = 0, the vectors are perpendicular),
the dot product is a very efficient method of determining if two vectors are perpendicular
(also called “orthogonal”). If two vectors are orthogonal, it is known that the angle
between them is 90° .

⃑⃑| = 4 and |𝑣⃑| = 7 and 𝜃 = 50° .

⃑⃑ and 𝑣⃑, if |𝑢
Example 2: Find the dot product of 𝑢

Example 3: If the magnitude of vector 𝑢 ⃑⃑ = 7 and the magnitude of vector 𝑣⃑ = 12 and the
dot product is 42, find the angle between the two vectors.

Example 4: If the vectors 𝑎⃑ + 3𝑏⃑⃑ and 4𝑎⃑ − 𝑏⃑⃑ are perpendicular, and |𝑎⃑| = 2|𝑏⃑⃑|, determine
the angle (to the nearest degree) between the nonzero vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑.

Section 7.3 Page 3 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 4 - Dot Product of Two Algebraic Vectors

PART A: Definition of the Dot Product for Algebraic Vectors

The dot product defined in the previous lesson for geometric vectors, can be extended to
algebraic vectors (of the form 𝑣⃑ = [4,3, −10]) in both 𝑅 2 and 𝑅 3 .

In 𝑅 2 , for two vectors 𝑎⃑ = [𝑎1 , 𝑎2 ], and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [𝑏1 , 𝑏2 ], the dot product is defined as

𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑎1 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2
,
In 𝑅 3 , for two vectors 𝑎⃑ = [𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ], and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 ], the dot product is defined as

𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝑎1 𝑏1 + 𝑎2 𝑏2 + 𝑎3 𝑏3
,
The dot product formula can also be useful when solving for the angle between two vectors. To
solve for the angle between two vectors, we simply rearrange the formula to get the following:

When two vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ are placed tail to tail, the angle between them can be found using:

𝑎⃑ ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
∙𝑏
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
|𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|

⃑⃑ = [2, −3] and 𝑣⃑ = [5,1] determine 𝑢

Example 1: Given 𝑢 ⃑⃑ ∙ 𝑣⃑.

Example 2: Determine the angle between the vectors 𝑎⃑ = [3, −4, −1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [0,5,2].

Section 7.4 Page 1 of 2

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
Example 3: Determine if the following vectors are parallel, orthogonal or neither.
1 1
a) 𝑎⃑ = [6, −2, −1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [2,5,2] b) 𝑢
⃑⃑ = 2𝑖⃑ − 𝑗⃑ and 𝑣⃑ = − 2 𝑖⃑ + 4 𝑗⃑

Example 4: For what values of 𝑘 are the vectors 𝑎⃑ = [−1,3, −4] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [3, 𝑘, −2] perpendicular?

Example 5: A parallelogram has its sides determined by 𝑎⃑ = [6,1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [−1,3]. Determine
the obtuse angle between the diagonals of the parallelogram formed by these vectors.

Note: The properties of dot products listed in the previous lesson for geometric vectors
apply to algebraic vectors as well.

Section 7.4 Page 2 of 2

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 5 - Scalar and Vector Projections

PART A: Scalar Projection

A projection can be thought of as a shadow. To simplify the idea, think of the projection of a
vector 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ as the shadow that 𝑎⃑ casts on 𝑏⃑⃑.

Lets see what this looks like with a few diagrams:

If the angle between 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ is less than 90° , then the projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ is the vector
component of 𝑎⃑ in the direction of 𝑏⃑⃑.

0 ≤ 𝜃 < 90°

If the angle between 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ is between 90° and 180° then the projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ is the
vector component of 𝑎⃑ in the opposite direction of 𝑏⃑⃑.
𝑎⃑

90° < 𝜃 ≤ 180°

𝑏⃑⃑

If the angle between 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ is 90° , then the projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ is zero.

𝜃 = 90°

Section 7.5 Page 1 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors

To arrive at the formula for a scalar projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑, let’s begin with the dot product:

(1) 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Note that if we are looking for the component of the vector 𝑎⃑ along 𝑏⃑⃑, we would multiply the
magnitude of 𝑎⃑ by 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃.

(2) 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑎⃑ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑏⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

The component of 𝑎⃑ along 𝑏⃑⃑ is known as the projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ and is denoted by: 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑.

So, (2) can be rewritten as:

𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑ = |𝑎⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

With this in mind, let’s go back to (1) and rearrange the equation to get an expression for
the projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑:

𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ = (|𝑎⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)|𝑏⃑⃑|
𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑
= |𝑎⃑|𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
|𝑏⃑⃑|

𝑎⃑⃑∙𝑏⃑⃑
or |𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑| = ⃑⃑
|𝑏 |

The scalar projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑, which is denoted by 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑, is given by:

𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑
|𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑| =
|𝑏⃑⃑|
Note that the result is a scalar quantity (real number).

Example 1: If 𝑎⃑ = [2,4, −1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [3,3,4], find the scalar projection of 𝑎⃑ on 𝑏⃑⃑.

Section 7.5 Page 2 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
PART B: Vector Projections
A vector projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑ is simply the scalar projection multiplied by the unit vector in
the direction of 𝑏⃑⃑:

⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑏⃑⃑

𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑ = ( )( )
|𝑏⃑⃑| |𝑏⃑⃑|

magnitude direction

The vector projection of 𝑎⃑ onto 𝑏⃑⃑, which is denoted by 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑, is given by:

⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑ ∙ 𝑏⃑⃑
𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑏⃑⃑ 𝑎⃑ = ⃑⃑
2 𝑏
⃑⃑
|𝑏|

Example 2: If 𝑎⃑ = [2,4, −1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [3,3,4], find the vector projection of 𝑎⃑ on 𝑏⃑⃑.

Section 7.5 Page 3 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
PART C: Direction Angles

By definition, direction angles are the angles that a position vector makes with each of the
positive axes.

⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ makes with the positive 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, positive 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, and

Let 𝛼, 𝛽, and 𝛾 be the angles that 𝑂𝑃
positive 𝑧 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠, respectively. Then, the angles can be found from the direction cosines:

𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼 = , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽 = , 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛾 =
√𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2 √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 + 𝑐 2

Example 3: Obtain the direction angles without a formula for the vector ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑂𝑃 = [2,1,4].

Section 7.5 Page 4 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________

Lesson 6 – The Cross Product

PART A: What is it and what is its purpose?

The cross product of two vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ will be a vector that is perpendicular to both 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑.
It helps us understand physical phenomena as well as geometry in 𝑅 3 . The cross product is
used to define torque and angular velocity and in electromagnetic theory as well. Sometimes
the cross product is called the vector product since the result is a vector and not a scalar like
the result of the dot product.

Important to note: the cross product is only defined in 𝑅 3 . If you think about it, two vectors
in 𝑅 2 cannot have a mutually perpendicular vector on the same plane. To find a vector
perpendicular to two vectors, you would have to extend into 3-space.

The cross product of two vectors, 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑, in 𝑅 3 , results in another vector which is
orthogonal to the plane containing the two input vectors. The result of a cross
product is thus a vector.

PART B: Determining direction of cross-product:

We can use the right hand rule, shown in Figure 2 below, which says that if we take our right
hand, start at 𝑎⃑ and rotate our fingers towards 𝑏⃑⃑ our thumb will point in the direction of the
cross product. Figure 1 below illustrates the fact that 𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑, does not equal 𝑏⃑⃑ × 𝑎⃑.

Figure 1 Figure 2

Section 7.6 Page 1 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
PART B: Calculating the cross product

The formula for calculating the cross product is given below.

The cross product of 𝑎⃑ = [𝑎1 , 𝑎2 , 𝑎3 ] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [𝑏1 , 𝑏2 , 𝑏3 ] is the vector:

𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑ = [𝑎2 𝑏3 − 𝑎3 𝑏2 , 𝑎3 𝑏1 − 𝑎1 𝑏3 , 𝑎1 𝑏2 − 𝑎2 𝑏1 ]

As you can see, it can be a little difficult to memorize. We will look at a method that should
make it a bit easier to remember. You can setup of the vectors as shown below in Figure 3.

       
a b = i j k i j k
Follow the arrows.
a1 a2 a3 a1 a2 a3 For example, to find the x-
b1 b2 b3 b1 b2 b3 component, take the down product
𝑎2 𝑏3 and subtract the up product 𝑎3 𝑏2
from it to get 𝑎2 𝑏3 − 𝑎3 𝑏2 .
Figure 3 – Cross Product Memory Tool

Example 1: If 𝑎⃑ = [2,1, −1] and 𝑏⃑⃑ = [−3,4,1] compute each of the following.
a) 𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑ b) 𝑏⃑⃑ × 𝑎⃑

Section 7.6 Page 2 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
Example 2: A plane is defined by any three points that are in the plane. If a plane contains the
points 𝑃 = (1,0,0), 𝑄 = (1,1,1) and 𝑅 = (2, −1,3) find a vector that is orthogonal to the plane.

Properties of the Cross Product

Let 𝑝⃑, 𝑞⃑, and 𝑟⃑ be three vectors in 𝑅 3 , and let 𝑘 ∈ ℝ

➢ Vector multiplication is not commutative: 𝑝⃑ × 𝑞⃑ = −(𝑞⃑ × 𝑝⃑)

➢ Distributive law for vector multiplication: 𝑝⃑ × (𝑞⃑ + 𝑟⃑) = 𝑝⃑ × 𝑞⃑ + 𝑝⃑ × 𝑟⃑
➢ Scalar law for vector multiplication: 𝑘(𝑝⃑ × 𝑞⃑) = (𝑘𝑝⃑) × 𝑞⃑ = 𝑝⃑ × (𝑘𝑞⃑)

Section 7.6 Page 3 of 3

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors Date: ___________
Lesson 7 – Applications of The Dot and Cross Product

PART A: Geometric Application of the Cross Product

The cross product can be used to calculate the area of a parallelogram. Using Figure 1
below, we can show how to obtain an expression for the area of a parallelogram using two
vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑.

Figure 1

However, unless you would like to explore the proof for your own enjoyment (page 411 in
the textbook), take my word for it that the result we achieved above is equivalent to |𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑|.

The area of a parallelogram is equivalent to the magnitude of the cross product between
two vectors that define the parallelogram:

𝐴𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚 = |𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑| = |𝑎⃑||𝑏⃑⃑|𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Where 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ are vectors that define the parallelogram.

Example 1: Determine the area of the parallelogram ABCD defined by the vectors:
⃑⃑ = [4,5,2] and 𝑣⃑ = [3,2,7].
𝑢

Section 7.7 Page 1 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
PART B: Applications of the Cross Product - Torque

Torque can intuitively be thought about as a twist, just as a force is intuitively a push or a
pull. Torque is a force that makes an object turn, around an axis.

Almost everyone has at one time or another used

a wrench to loosen or tighten a nut. Intuitively, we
know, or have been taught, that the longer the
wrench (or lever arm), the easier it will be to
loosen the nut. What is also true, is that the closer
you are to applying the force perpendicular to the
wrench, the closer you will be to maximizing the
rotational force.

Torque is calculated using the following formula:

𝜏 = 𝑟⃑ × 𝐹⃑

|𝜏| = |𝑟⃑ × 𝐹⃑ | = |𝑟⃑||𝐹⃑ |𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃

Where,

• 𝑟⃑ is the position vector from 𝑂 (axis or pivot) to 𝑃 (point of application of force)

and is also known as the lever arm
• |𝐹⃑ |𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 represents the component of the force perpendicular to 𝑟⃑ (only this component is
effective at producing twist)
• 𝜃 is the angle between 𝐹⃑ and 𝑟⃑

A summary of Torque:

➢ Torque is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis or pivot point
➢ Just as a force is a push or pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist
➢ The symbol for torque is 𝜏, the Greek letter tau
➢ Torque is also called moment or moment of force. Torque is usually used to describe
a rotational force down a shaft, for example a turning screw-driver, whereas moment
is more often used to describe a bending force on a beam.
➢ The units for torque are 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚 (newton-metres)

Section 7.7 Page 2 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
PART C: Additional Torque related information

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Section 7.7 Page 3 of 4

MCV4U Unit 7 – Applications of Vectors
Example 2: Suppose a 10 𝑁 force is applied at the end of a 30 𝑐𝑚 wrench with which it
makes a 60° angle. Calculate the magnitude of the torque about the other end of the wrench.

PART D: Volume of a Parallelepiped

A parallelepiped is a box like shape with pairs of opposite faces being identical
parallelograms. We can use something called the TRIPLE SCALAR PRODUCT to calulate
the volume of this shape.

The volume of a parallelepiped is the magnitude of a triple scalar product:

𝑉𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑝𝑒𝑑 = |𝑐⃑ ∙ 𝑎⃑ × 𝑏⃑⃑ |

Where 𝑎⃑, 𝑏⃑⃑ and 𝑐⃑ are vectors that define the parallelepiped. Note: the cross product
must be performed first since the dot product is scalar.

Example 3: Find the volume of the parallelepiped defined by the vectors:

𝑎⃑ = [1,4,3], 𝑏⃑⃑ = [2,5,6] and 𝑐⃑ = [1,2,7].

Section 7.7 Page 4 of 4