Using the definitions in Eqs. 1.1 and 1.4, and appropriate | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Introduction to Electrodynamics

Chapter 1 Problem 1P

Question

Using the definitions in Eqs. 1.1 and 1.4, and appropriate diagrams, show that the dot product and cross product are distributive,

a) when the three vectors are coplanar;

b) in the general case.

References:

Eq 1.1 : \(\mathbf{A} \cdot \mathbf{B} \equiv A B \cos \theta\)

Eq 1.4: \(\mathbf{A} \times \mathbf{B} \equiv A B \sin \theta \hat{\mathbf{n}}\)

Solution

Step 1 of 6

(a)  When three vectors are coplanar:

                           

Dot product:

From definition:

\(\vec{A} \cdot \vec{B}=A B \cos \theta\)

In the above diagram, three coplanar vectors are shown:

\(\begin{array}{l}
(\vec{B}+\vec{C}) \cos \theta=B \cos \theta+C \cos \theta \ldots \ldots(1) \\
\vec{A} \cdot(\vec{B}+\vec{C})=A(B+C) \cos \theta
\end{array}\)

From (1)

\(\begin{array}{l}
A(B+C) \cos \theta=A[B \cos \theta+C \cos \theta] \\
\vec{A} \cdot(\vec{B}+\vec{C})=A B \cos \theta+A C \cos \theta
\end{array}\)

Hence

\(\vec{A} \cdot(\vec{B}+\vec{C})=\vec{A} \cdot \vec{B}+\vec{A} \cdot \vec{C}\)

Therefore it is distributive.

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full solution

Title Introduction to Electrodynamics  4 
Author David J. Griffiths
ISBN 9780321856562

Using the definitions in Eqs. 1.1 and 1.4, and appropriate

Chapter 1 textbook questions

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