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Vector Differentiation: 3.1 Ordinary Derivatives of Vectors

The document discusses vector differentiation. It defines the derivative of a vector R with respect to a scalar u. The derivative of R with respect to u is represented as dR/du. It also discusses properties of vector derivatives including derivatives of sums, scalar multiples, and dot and cross products of vectors. An example is provided to demonstrate finding the velocity and acceleration of a particle moving along a parametric curve.

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samwel kiwale
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649 views5 pages

Vector Differentiation: 3.1 Ordinary Derivatives of Vectors

The document discusses vector differentiation. It defines the derivative of a vector R with respect to a scalar u. The derivative of R with respect to u is represented as dR/du. It also discusses properties of vector derivatives including derivatives of sums, scalar multiples, and dot and cross products of vectors. An example is provided to demonstrate finding the velocity and acceleration of a particle moving along a parametric curve.

Uploaded by

samwel kiwale
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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3.

VECTOR DIFFERENTIATION

3.1 Ordinary derivatives of vectors

Let R(u)  R1 (u)iˆ  R2 (u) ˆj  R3 (u)kˆ be a vector depending on a single scalar

variable u where R1 (u), R2 (u), R3 (u) are supposed to be continuous in a

specified interval, then,

R R (u  u  R (u )

u u

Where u denotes an increment in u

The ordinary derivative of the vector R (u ) with respect to the scalar u is

given by

dR  R   R(u  u )  R(u ) 
 lim    lim   If the limit exists.
du u  0
 u  u  0
 u

Notes By JD Madasi
dR
Since is itself a vector depending on u , we can consider its derivative
du

d 2R
with respect to u .If this derivative exist it is denoted by .In like
du 2

manner higher order derivatives are described.

3.2 Properties of vector derivatives

If u , v are differentiable vector functions of scalar a scalar u , and  is

differentiable scalar function of u , then

d du dv
(i) u  v   
dt dt dt

d du
(ii)  cu   c where c is a constant
dt dt

d du d
(iii)  u     u where  is a scalar function
dt dt dt

d du dv
(iv) u  v   u    v
dt dt dt

d dv du
(v) u  v   u    v
dt dt dt

Notes By JD Madasi
Example

Find the velocity and acceleration of a particle which moves along the

curve x  2sin 3t , y  2 cos 3t , z  8t at any time t. Find the magnitude of

velocity and acceleration.

Solution:

From the values given we have the displacement r  2sin 3tiˆ  cos 3tjˆ  8tkˆ

By differentiating r with respect to t we get

dr
 6 cos 3tiˆ  6sin 3tjˆ  8kˆ which is the velocity of a particle
dt

Hence

v  6 cos 3tiˆ  6sin 3tjˆ  8kˆ

Where v is the velocity in displacement r .

In finding acceleration, it is easier to get by taking

dv
a  a  18sin 3tiˆ  18sin 3tjˆ
dt

Notes By JD Madasi
Where a is the acceleration for the velocity v

Having the values of r and v , we thus determine the magnitude of

velocity as

v   6cos3t    6sin 3t   82  10
2 2
and magnitude of

acceleration is

a   18sin 3t    18cos3t   18
2 2

Exercise 3

1. (a) Define the velocity and acceleration of a particle covered a

displacement of

𝑟⃗(𝑡) = 𝑥⃗(𝑡)𝑖 + 𝑦⃗(𝑡)𝑗 + 𝑧⃗(𝑡)𝑘

(b) A particle moves along a curve whose curve parametric

equations are

𝑥 = 𝑒 −𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡, 𝑧 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡

Notes By JD Madasi
` Determine its velocity and acceleration at any time and t=0

2. If 𝐴⃗ = 5𝑖 + 4𝑡𝑗 − 5𝑡 2 𝑘 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵
⃗⃗=𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑖 + 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑡𝑗 Find

𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
(a) (𝐴⃗·𝐵
⃗⃗) (b) ⃗⃗˄𝐵
(𝐵 ⃗⃗) (c) ⃗⃗·𝐵
(𝐵 ⃗⃗) + (𝐴⃗·𝐵
⃗⃗)
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

3. If 𝑅(𝑢) = 𝑥(𝑢)𝑖 + 𝑦(𝑢)𝑗 + 𝑧(𝑢)𝑘 where 𝑥, 𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑧 are

𝑑𝑅 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
differentiable function of a scalar 𝑢. Prove that = 𝑖+ 𝑗+
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢

𝑑𝑧
𝑘
𝑑𝑢

Notes By JD Madasi

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