12.

PRODUCT OF TWO VECTORS

There are two ways of multiplying two vectors. One of the ways yields a scalar result and hence it is
called SCALAR PRODUCT. It is denoted by a dot (.) and hence it is also known as DOT product. The
other method yields a vector result and hence it is called VECTOR PRODUCT. It is denoted by a cross
(X) and hence it is also known as CROSS product. We now look into the properties of both.

12.1 Scalar product/ dot product

The DOT product of two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ is defined as

𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

Here a represents the magnitude of vector 𝑎⃗

b represents the magnitude of vector 𝑏⃗⃗

and θ represents the angle between them.

From above definitions, following points can be concluded:

1. Dot product is commutative ,i.e., 𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑏⃗⃗. 𝑎⃗

2. DOT product of a vector with itself will give us square of magnitude of vector,i.e., 𝑎⃗. 𝑎⃗ = 𝑎2

3. From the above point, it is also evident that

𝑖̂. 𝑖̂ = 1

𝑗̂. 𝑗̂ = 1

𝑘̂ . 𝑘̂ = 1

4. DOT product of two non null vectors will be zero whenever the two vectors are perpendicular to
each other (as θ is 90o , cos θ will become zero)

5. From above point, it can be confirmed that

𝑖̂. 𝑗̂ = 𝑗̂. 𝑖̂ = 0

𝑗̂. 𝑘̂ = 𝑘̂ . 𝑗̂ = 0

𝑖̂. 𝑘̂ = 𝑘̂ . 𝑖̂ = 0

6. Point 3 and 5 also enable us to form an expression for DOT product of two vectors 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗ when
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗
the vectors are given in form 𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂
𝑎 𝑏⃗⃗ = (𝑎𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ). (𝑏𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )
⃗⃗⃗⃗.

Now expand the RHS using usual rules of algebra. We have two bracketed terms and each bracket
contains 3 quantities. So on expansion, we will get 3X3 = 9 terms on RHS. These terms are given
below.

= (𝑎𝑥 ̂)
𝑖 (𝑏𝑥 ̂) 𝑖 ( 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )
𝑖 (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + (𝑎𝑥 ̂).
𝑖 + (𝑎𝑥 ̂).

𝑖 + (𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ ). (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + ( 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂). (𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )

+ (𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ ). (𝑏𝑥 ̂)

+ (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ). (𝑏𝑥 ̂)
𝑖 + (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ). (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ). (𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )

Use properties 3 and 5 now. We get

𝑎 𝑏⃗⃗ = (𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧 )
⃗⃗⃗⃗.

The above should be memorized to be used as a standard formula for taking DOT product of two
vectors given in terms of x.y and z components.

7. From point 6 and the definition of DOT product, we now have a means to find angle between two
vectors 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗ when the vectors are given in form 𝑎
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ +
𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂

𝑎⃗. 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = (𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧 )

(𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑧 )
∴ cos 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑏
The above expression should be memorized to be used whenever angle between two vectors is
asked.

Example : Find the angle between two vectors A = 2iˆ − ˆj − kˆ , B = ˆi − kˆ .

A = 6
Solution: A.B = 3
B = 2

A.B 3
cos  = =   = 30o
A B 2

8. Component of a vector 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑏⃗⃗.

Suppose 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗ are two given vectors .

Now when we say “Component of a vector 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑏⃗⃗ “, we need to understand
what we are talking about. Let us try to understand this. We are required to resolve 𝑎⃗ into two
perpendicular components and we need to make sure that the two perpendicular directions
chosen are parallel and perpendicular to 𝑏⃗⃗. See figure below.

The two blue colored arrows represent the two components mentioned in previous paragraph. The
Component of a vector 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑏⃗⃗ means the length of blue colored arrow lying
along 𝑏⃗⃗. This length will be equal to 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃. So we can now understand that

⃗⃗
𝑎⃗⃗.𝑏
Component of a vector 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑏

⃗⃗
𝑎⃗⃗.𝑏
Similarly, Component of a vector 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎⃗ = 𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
𝑎

12.2 Cross product/vector product

The CROSS Product of two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ is defined as

𝑎⃗ 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑛̂
Here a represents the magnitude of vector 𝑎⃗

b represents the magnitude of vector 𝑏⃗⃗

θ represents the angle between them and most importantly 𝑛̂ is a unit vector the direction of which
is to be found using right hand rule. We must now first understand this rule.

Stretch out fingers and thumb of your right palm so that thumb is perpendicular to fingers. See figure.

Now arrange your fingers parallel to the vector written first in the cross product ( vector 𝑎⃗ in our
case) and prepare to curl fingers towards the vector written second ( vector 𝑏⃗⃗ in our case) keeping
the thumb outstretched. Whiling you are curling the fingers, the direction in which thumb points is
the direction of 𝑛̂.
In the current example, 𝑛̂ will point into the plane of paper. Note that 𝑛̂ will always be perpendicular
to the plane containing 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗.

Take your time to soak in this rule. It is a bit tricky for the fresh learners. Try to work out the direction
of 𝑛̂ in case of 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑋 𝑎⃗. If you have concluded that the direction should be outward from plane of
paper, then you are absolutely right!

Also notice from above that 𝑎⃗ 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ is not same as 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑋 𝑎⃗. The difference lies in direction. As seen in
above example, these point in opposite direction and this is always the case. Also note that
magnitudes of both mentioned cross products will be same ( = absinθ )

Thus we are now in position to look at some properties of CROSS Product:

1. Cross product is not commutative. In fact,

𝑎⃗ 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ = - 𝑏⃗⃗ 𝑋 𝑎⃗

2. Cross product of any vector with itself will be zero , as θ will be 0o

3. From above rule, we can conclude that

𝑖̂ 𝑋 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ 𝑋 𝑗 = 𝑘̂ 𝑋 𝑘̂ = 0

4. Cross product of two parallel or antiparallel vectors will be zero. (As θ will be 0o or 180o)

5. From definition of cross product, it can be confirmed that

𝑖̂ 𝑋 𝑗⃗ = −𝑗̂ 𝑋 𝑖⃗ = 𝑘̂

𝑗̂ 𝑋 𝑘⃗⃗ = -𝑘̂ 𝑋 𝑗̂ = 𝑖̂
 𝑘̂ 𝑋 𝑖⃗ = - 𝑖̂ 𝑋 𝑘̂ = 𝑗̂

6. Point 3 and 5 also enable us to form an expression for cross product of two vectors 𝑎⃗ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏⃗⃗ when
⃗⃗⃗⃗ = 𝑎𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ and ⃗⃗⃗⃗
the vectors are given in form 𝑎 𝑏 = 𝑏𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂

𝑎 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ = (𝑎𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ) X (𝑏𝑥 ̂𝑖 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )

⃗⃗⃗⃗

Now expand the RHS using usual rules of algebra. We have two bracketed terms and each bracket
contains 3 quantities. So on expansion, we will get 3X3 = 9 terms on RHS. These terms are given
below.

= (𝑎𝑥 ̂)
𝑖 X (𝑏𝑥 ̂) 𝑖 X ( 𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )
𝑖 X (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + (𝑎𝑥 ̂)
𝑖 + (𝑎𝑥 ̂)

𝑖 + (𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ ) X (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + ( 𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂) X (𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )

+ (𝑎𝑦 𝑗̂ ) X (𝑏𝑥 ̂)

+ (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ) X (𝑏𝑥 ̂)
𝑖 + (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ) X (𝑏𝑦 𝑗̂ ) + (𝑎𝑧 𝑘̂ ) X (𝑏𝑧 𝑘̂ )

The highlighted terms will be non zero. Use properties 3 and 5 now. We get

𝑎 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ = (𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑧 − 𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑦 )𝑖̂ + (𝑎𝑧 𝑏𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑧 )𝑗̂ + (𝑎𝑥 𝑏𝑦 − 𝑎𝑦 𝑏𝑥 )𝑘̂

⃗⃗⃗⃗

The above should be memorized to be used as a standard formula for taking CROSS product of two
vectors given in terms of x.y and z components. We would also like to mention here that the above
expression is obviously not so suitable to remember, hence there is an alternative way to
remember the result. By way of determinants. But to be able to use this method, one should be
sufficiently acquainted with determinants. We recommend that you learn expanding a determinant
from basis mathematics chapter of our course and then you can verify that the below written
expression represents the afore mentioned cross product.

𝑖̂ 𝑗̂ 𝑘̂
𝑎 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ =
⃗⃗⃗⃗ |𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑧 |
𝑏𝑥 𝑏𝑦 𝑏𝑧

13. OPTIONAL READ :

13.1 Uses of DOT product:

1. Work (W) done by a constant force 𝐹⃗ in moving a particle by displacement 𝑆⃗ is given by

W = 𝐹⃗ . 𝑆⃗

13.2 Uses of Cross product:

 ⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ | gives the area of the parallelogram formed by
1. Magnitude of cross product of two vectors | 𝑎
the two vectors.

⃗⃗⃗⃗ 𝑋 𝑏⃗⃗ |
Area of shaded part = | 𝑎

2. Torque 𝜏⃗ about origin of a force 𝐹⃗ that acts at a point P with position vector 𝑟⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑝 is given by

𝜏⃗ = 𝑟⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑝X𝐹
⃗