Difference between revisions of "Cross product"
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(Not calculus) |
(important (thumbs are not always at right angles)) |
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</math> | </math> | ||
| − | where <math>\theta</math> is the angle between the two vectors. The direction of the cross product is defined by the right hand rule: with your right hand, point your fingers along the direction of the first vector and curl them towards the second vector. The direction your thumb points gives the direction of the cross product. | + | where <math>\theta</math> is the angle between the two vectors. The direction of the cross product is normal to both of the vectors '''a''' and '''b'''. Since there are two such directions the chosen one is defined by the right hand rule: with your right hand, point your fingers along the direction of the first vector and curl them towards the second vector. The direction your thumb points gives the direction of the cross product. |
===See also=== | ===See also=== | ||
[[Dot product]] | [[Dot product]] | ||
[[Category:Linear algebra]] | [[Category:Linear algebra]] | ||
Revision as of 21:53, June 24, 2008
The cross product (or vector product) of two vectors is itself a vector, and is written . The magnitude of the resulting vector is
where is the angle between the two vectors. The direction of the cross product is normal to both of the vectors a and b. Since there are two such directions the chosen one is defined by the right hand rule: with your right hand, point your fingers along the direction of the first vector and curl them towards the second vector. The direction your thumb points gives the direction of the cross product.
