Re: Non-calculus vector math
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg75699] Re: Non-calculus vector math
- From: dh <dh at metrohm.ch>
- Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 04:19:19 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <f1pht0$iou$1@smc.vnet.net>
Hi David,
if you want to algebraically calculate with base vectors, nothing
prevents you doing it. However, it would probably make life easier if
you define some properties of your base vectors, depending on your
application E.g. metric properties, like:
i^2=1, i.j=0, ..
You can change from base vectors to components by substitution:
expression /. {i->{1,0,0},j->{0,1,0},k->{0,0,1}}
and back:
expression /. {x_,y_,z_}->x i+ y j + k z
hope this helps, Daniel
David Rees wrote:
> Ahoy,
>
> How can I perform elementary vector math in Mathematica? From what I've
> found, it's all Vector Calculus, but what about trivial/elementary vector
> math?
>
> Things like: "Particle A with position unit-vector of (3i+6j-1k) and
> velocity vector (1i-4j+5k)ms^-1 collides with Particle B 35 seconds after
> moving off from its initial position, where did it collide?"
>
> Thanks
>
>
>