Classical Mechanics (Kibble & Berkshire) · Problem 1.9

Velocity, acceleration and scalar angular velocity — T.W.B. Kibble, F.H. Berkshire

Physics — Mechanics · vector-algebra-triple-scalar-product

Problem

If a1=λ1i+μ1j+ν1k\boldsymbol{a}_1 = \lambda_1 \boldsymbol{i} + \mu_1 \boldsymbol{j} + \nu_1 \boldsymbol{k}, a2=λ2i+μ2j+ν2k\boldsymbol{a}_2 = \lambda_2 \boldsymbol{i} + \mu_2 \boldsymbol{j} + \nu_2 \boldsymbol{k}, a3=λ3i+μ3j+ν3k\boldsymbol{a}_3 = \lambda_3 \boldsymbol{i} + \mu_3 \boldsymbol{j} + \nu_3 \boldsymbol{k}, where {i,j,k}\{\boldsymbol{i}, \boldsymbol{j}, \boldsymbol{k}\} is a standard basis, show that a1⋅(a2×a3)=∣λ1μ1ν1λ2μ2ν2λ3μ3ν3∣.\boldsymbol{a}_1 \cdot (\boldsymbol{a}_2 \times \boldsymbol{a}_3) = \begin{vmatrix} \lambda_1 & \mu_1 & \nu_1 \\ \lambda_2 & \mu_2 & \nu_2 \\ \lambda_3 & \mu_3 & \nu_3 \end{vmatrix}. Deduce that cyclic rotation of the vectors in a triple scalar product leaves the value of the product unchanged.

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