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# Scalar (dot) product

Module by: Sunil Kumar Singh. E-mail the author

Summary: Vector multiplication provides concise and accurate representation of natural laws, which involve vectors.

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In physics, we require to multiply a vector with other scalar and vector quantities. The vector multiplication, however, is not an unique mathematical construct like scalar multiplication. The multiplication depends on the nature of quantities (vector or scalar) and on the physical process, necessitating scalar or vector multiplication.

The rules of vector multiplication have been formulated to encapsulate physical processes in their completeness. This is the core consideration. In order to explore this aspect, let us find out the direction of acceleration in the case of parabolic motion of a particle. There may be two ways to deal with the requirement. We may observe the directions of velocities at two points along the path and find out the direction of the change of velocities. Since we know that the direction of change of velocity is the direction of acceleration, we draw the vector diagram and find out the direction of acceleration. We can see that the direction of acceleration turns out to act in vertically downward direction.

The conceptualization of physical laws in vector form, however, provides us with powerful means to arrive at the result in relatively simpler manner. If we look at the flight of particle in parabolic motion, then we observe that the motion of particle is under the force of gravity, which is acting vertically downward. There is no other force (neglecting air resistance). Now, from second law of motion, we know that :

F Resultant = m a F Resultant = m a

This equation reveals that the direction of acceleration is same as that of the resultant force acting on the particle. Thus, acceleration of the particle in parabolic motion is acting vertically downward. We see that this second approach is more elegant of the two methods. We could arrive at the correct answer in a very concise manner, without getting into the details of the motion. It is possible, because Newton's second law in vector form states that net force on the body is product of acceleration vector with scalar mass. As multiplication of scalar with a vector does not change the direction of resultant vector, we conclude that direction of acceleration is same as that of net force acting on the projectile.

## Multiplication with scalar

Multiplication of a vector, A, with another scalar quantity, a, results in another vector, B. The magnitude of the resulting vector is equal to the product of the magnitude of vector with the scalar quantity. The direction of the resulting vector, however, is same as that of the original vector (See Figures below).

B = a A B = a A
(1)

We have already made use of this type of multiplication intuitively in expressing a vector in component form.

A = A x i + A y j + A z k A = A x i + A y j + A z k

In this vector representation, each component vector is obtained by multiplying the scalar component with the unit vector. As the unit vector has the magnitude of 1 with a specific direction, the resulting component vector retains the magnitude of the scalar component, but acquires the direction of unit vector.

A x = A x i A x = A x i
(2)

## Products of vectors

Some physical quantities are itself a scalar quantity, but composed from the product of vector quantities. One such example is “work”. On the other hand, there are physical quantities like torque and magnetic force on a moving charge, which are themselves vectors and are also composed from vector quantities.

Thus, products of vectors are defined in two distinct manner – one resulting in a scalar quantity and the other resulting in a vector quantity. The product that results in scalar value is known scalar product also known as dot product as a "dot" (.) is the symbol of operator for this product. On the other hand, the product that results in vector value is known vector product also known as cross product as a "cross" (x) is the symbol of operator for this product. We shall discuss scalar product only in this module. We shall cover vector product in a separate module.

## Scalar product (dot product)

Scalar product of two vectors a and b is a scalar quantity defined as :

a . b = a b cos θ a . b = a b cos θ
(3)

where “a” and “b” are the magnitudes of two vectors and “θ” is the angle between the direction of two vectors. It is important to note that vectors have two angles θ and 2π - θ. We can use either of them as cosine of both “θ” and “2π - θ” are same. However, it is suggested to use the smaller of the enclosed angles to be consistent with cross product in which it is required to use the smaller of the enclosed angles. This approach will maintain consistency with regard to enclosed angle in two types of vector multiplications.

The notation “a.b” is important and should be mentally noted to represent a scalar quantity – even though it involves bold faced vectors. It should be noted that the quantity on the right hand side of the equation is a scalar.

### Meaning of scalar product

We can read the definition of scalar product in either of the following manners :

a . b = a ( b cos θ ) a . b = b ( a cos θ ) a . b = a ( b cos θ ) a . b = b ( a cos θ )
(4)

Recall that “bcos θ” is the scalar component of vector b along the direction of vector a and “a cos θ” is the scalar component of vector a along the direction of vector b. Thus, we may consider the scalar product of vectors a and b as the product of the magnitude of one vector and the scalar component of other vector along the first vector.

The figure below shows drawing of scalar components. The scalar component of vector in figure (i) is obtained by drawing perpendicular from the tip of the vector, b, on the direction of vector, a. Similarly, the scalar component of vector in figure (ii) is obtained by drawing perpendicular from the tip of the vector, a, on the direction of vector, b.

The two alternate ways of evaluating dot product of two vectors indicate that the product is commutative i.e. independent of the order of two vectors :

a . b = b . a a . b = b . a
(5)

### Values of scalar product

The value of dot product is maximum for the maximum value of cosθ. Now, the maximum value of cosine is cos 0 ° = 1 cos 0 ° = 1 . For this value, dot product simply evaluates to the product of the magnitudes of two vectors.

( a . b ) max = a b ( a . b ) max = a b

For θ = 180 ° , cos 180 ° = - 1 θ = 180 ° , cos 180 ° = - 1 and

a . b = - a b a . b = - a b

Thus, we see that dot product can evaluate to negative value as well. This is a significant result as many scalar quantities in physics are given negative value. The work done, for example, can be negative, when displacement is in the opposite direction to the component of force along that direction.

The scalar product evaluates to zero for θ = 90° and 270° as cosine of these angles are zero. These results have important implication for unit vectors. The dot products of same unit vector evaluates to 1.

i . i = j . j = k . k = 1 i . i = j . j = k . k = 1

The dot products of combination of different unit vectors evaluate to zero.

i . j = j . k = k . i = 0 i . j = j . k = k . i = 0

#### Exercise 1

A block of mass “m” moves from point A to B along a smooth plane surface under the action of force as shown in the figure. Find the work done if it is defined as :

W = F. Δx

where F and Δx are force and displacement vectors.

##### Solution

Expanding the expression of work, we have :

W = F . Δ x = F Δ x cos θ W = F . Δ x = F Δ x cos θ

Here, F = 10 N, Δx = 10 m and cosθ = cos60° = 0.5.

W = 10 x 10 x 0.5 = 50 J W = 10 x 10 x 0.5 = 50 J

### Scalar product in component form

Two vectors in component forms are written as :

a = a x i + a y j + a z k b = b x i + b y j + b z k a = a x i + a y j + a z k b = b x i + b y j + b z k

In evaluating the product, we make use of the fact that multiplication of the same unit vectors is 1, while multiplication of different unit vectors is zero. The dot product evaluates to scalar terms as :

a . b = ( a x i + a y j + a z k ) . ( b x i + b y j + b z k ) a . b = a x i . b x i + a y j . b y j + a z k . b z k a . b = a x b x + a y b y + a z b z a . b = ( a x i + a y j + a z k ) . ( b x i + b y j + b z k ) a . b = a x i . b x i + a y j . b y j + a z k . b z k a . b = a x b x + a y b y + a z b z
(6)

## Component as scalar (dot) product

A closer look at the expansion of dot product of two vectors reveals that the expression is very similar to the expression for a component of a vector. The expression of the dot product is :

a . b = a b cos θ a . b = a b cos θ

On the other hand, the component of a vector in a given direction is :

a x = a cos θ a x = a cos θ

Comparing two equations, we can define component of a vector in a direction given by unit vector "n as :

a x = a . n = a cos θ a x = a . n = a cos θ
(7)

This is a very general and useful relation to determine component of a vector in any direction. Only requirement is that we should know the unit vector in the direction in which component is to be determined.

## Attributes of scalar (dot) product

In this section, we summarize the properties of dot product as discussed above. Besides, some additional derived attributes are included for reference.

1: Dot product is commutative

This means that the dot product of vectors is not dependent on the sequence of vectors :

a . b = b . a a . b = b . a

We must, however, be careful while writing sequence of dot product. For example writing a sequence involving three vectors like a.b.c is incorrect. For, dot product of any two vectors is a scalar. As dot product is defined for two vectors (not one vector and one scalar), the resulting dot product of a scalar (a.b) and that of third vector c has no meaning.

2: Distributive property of dot product :

a . ( b + c ) = a . b + a . c a . ( b + c ) = a . b + a . c

3: The dot product of a vector with itself is equal to the square of the magnitude of the vector.

a . a = a x a cosθ = a 2 cos 0 ° = a 2 a . a = a x a cosθ = a 2 cos 0 ° = a 2

4: The magnitude of dot product of two vectors can be obtained in either of the following manner :

a . b = a b cos θ a . b = a b cos θ = a x ( b cos θ ) = a x component of b along a a . b = a b cos θ = ( a cos θ ) x b = b x component of a along b a . b = a b cos θ a . b = a b cos θ = a x ( b cos θ ) = a x component of b along a a . b = a b cos θ = ( a cos θ ) x b = b x component of a along b

The dot product of two vectors is equal to the arithmetic product of magnitude of one vector and component of second vector in the direction of first vector.

5: The cosine of the angle between two vectors can be obtained in terms of dot product as :

a . b = a b cosθ a . b = a b cosθ

cosθ = a . b a b cosθ = a . b a b

6: The condition of two perpendicular vectors in terms of dot product is given by :

a . b = a b cos 90 ° = 0 a . b = a b cos 90 ° = 0

7: Properties of dot product with respect to unit vectors along the axes of rectangular coordinate system are :

i . i = j . j = k . k = 1 i . j = j . k = k . i = 0 i . i = j . j = k . k = 1 i . j = j . k = k . i = 0

8: Dot product in component form is :

a . b = a x b x + a y b y + a z b z a . b = a x b x + a y b y + a z b z

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