227k views
3 votes
You are given a vector A = 125i and an unknown vector B that is perpendicular to A. The cross-product of these two vectors is A × B = 98k.

What is the y-component of vector B?

User DownChapel
by
4.8k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

The y-component of vector B is found by dividing the k-component of the cross product (98) by the magnitude of vector A (125), yielding 0.784 m or 784 mm.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the y-component of vector B given that vector A = 125i and the cross-product of vectors A and B is A × B = 98k. Since vector A is along the x-axis and vector B is perpendicular to A, vector B will not have an x-component due to their orthogonal relationship. Furthermore, the z-component of vector B must be zero because the result of the cross product is entirely in the k direction (along the z-axis).

To find the y-component of vector B, we can use the definition of the cross product for vectors in component form, which states that for vectors A = Axî + Ayâ and B = Bxî + Byâ, their cross product A × B = (AyBz - AzBy)k among other components. Here, A = 125î and A × B = 98k, which implies that the product of the magnitude of A (125) and the y-component of B must equal 98.

Therefore, to solve for the y-component of B we set up the equation 125 * By = 98, which yields By = 98 / 125. Thus, the y-component of vector B is 0.784 meters or in SI units 784 millimeters.

User Leonardo Venoso
by
4.4k points
4 votes

Answer:

B_{y} = 0.784

Step-by-step explanation:

The vector product of two vectors is

A = Aₓ i ^ +
A_(y) j ^

B = Bₓ i ^ + B_{y} j ^

the cross product is

A xB =
\left[\begin{array}{ccc}i&j&k\\A_(x)&A_(y)&0\\B_(x)&B_(y)&0\end{array}\right]

A x B =i^ + j^ + k^ (Aₓ
B_(y) + A_{y} Bₓ)

is the result they give is

A x B = 98 k ^

tells us that Aₓ = 125, we substitute

98 = 125 B_{y} - Bₓ 0

B_{y} = 98/125

B_{y} = 0.784

User Glenn Pierce
by
4.6k points