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A First Course in Linear Algebra, 2017a

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4.12. Applications 257<br />

4.12 Applications<br />

Outcomes<br />

A. Apply the concepts of vectors <strong>in</strong> R n to the applications of physics and work.<br />

4.12.1 Vectors and Physics<br />

Suppose you push on someth<strong>in</strong>g. Then, your push is made up of two components, how hard you push and<br />

the direction you push. This illustrates the concept of force.<br />

Def<strong>in</strong>ition 4.156: Force<br />

Force is a vector. The magnitude of this vector is a measure of how hard it is push<strong>in</strong>g. It is measured<br />

<strong>in</strong> units such as Newtons or pounds or tons. The direction of this vector is the direction <strong>in</strong> which<br />

the push is tak<strong>in</strong>g place.<br />

Vectors are used to model force and other physical vectors like velocity. As with all vectors, a vector<br />

model<strong>in</strong>g force has two essential <strong>in</strong>gredients, its magnitude and its direction.<br />

Recall the special vectors which po<strong>in</strong>t along the coord<strong>in</strong>ate axes. These are given by<br />

⃗e i =[0···010···0] T<br />

wherethe1is<strong>in</strong>thei th slot and there are zeros <strong>in</strong> all the other spaces. The direction of⃗e i is referred to as<br />

the i th direction.<br />

Consider the follow<strong>in</strong>g picture which illustrates the case of R 3 . Recall that <strong>in</strong> R 3 , we may refer to these<br />

vectors as⃗i,⃗j, and ⃗ k.<br />

z<br />

⃗e 3<br />

⃗e 1 ⃗e 2<br />

x<br />

y<br />

Given a vector ⃗u =[u 1 ···u n ] T ,itfollowsthat<br />

⃗u = u 1 ⃗e 1 + ···+ u n ⃗e n =<br />

n<br />

∑ u i ⃗e i<br />

k=1

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