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A vector of arbitrary length can be divided by its length to create a unit vector. [14] This is known as normalizing a vector. A unit vector is often indicated with a hat as in â. To normalize a vector a = (a 1, a 2, a 3), scale the vector by the reciprocal of its length ‖a‖. That is:
A vector space is finite-dimensional if its dimension is a natural number. Otherwise, it is infinite-dimensional, and its dimension is an infinite cardinal. Finite-dimensional vector spaces occur naturally in geometry and related areas. Infinite-dimensional vector spaces occur in many areas of mathematics.
A free vector is a vector quantity having an undefined support or region of application; it can be freely translated with no consequences; a displacement vector is a prototypical example of free vector. Aside from the notion of units and support, physical vector quantities may also differ from Euclidean vectors in terms of metric.
In mathematics, physics, and engineering, a Euclidean vector (sometimes called a geometric vector [1] or spatial vector, [2] or – as here – simply a vector) is a geometric object that has both a magnitude (or length) and direction. A vector is what is needed to "carry" the point A to the point B; the Latin word vector means "one who carries ...
The coordinate-independent definition of the square of the line element ds in an n-dimensional Riemannian or Pseudo Riemannian manifold (in physics usually a Lorentzian manifold) is the "square of the length" of an infinitesimal displacement [2] (in pseudo Riemannian manifolds possibly negative) whose square root should be used for computing curve length: = = (,) where g is the metric tensor ...
The first Frenet-Serret formula holds by the definition of the normal N and the curvature κ, and the third Frenet-Serret formula holds by the definition of the torsion τ. Thus what is needed is to show the second Frenet-Serret formula. Since T, N, B are orthogonal unit vectors with B = T × N, one also has T = N × B and N = B × T.
Finally, introduce the dot and cross products of screws by the formulas: = (,) (,) = (, +), which is a dual scalar, and = (,) (,) = (, +), which is a screw. The dot and cross products of screws satisfy the identities of vector algebra, and allow computations that directly parallel computations in the algebra of vectors.
In geometry and mechanics, a displacement is a vector whose length is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point P undergoing motion. [1] It quantifies both the distance and direction of the net or total motion along a straight line from the initial position to the final position of the point trajectory.