Different point of view (vectorial resolution)

This lesson introduced the vector product or cross product of two vectors. In the problems presented below, the vector product can be used to calculate the momentum of a force with respect to a point and also, the vector product can be used to determine the perpendicular distance from a point to a line. The momentum of a force F with respect to the point O of a rigid body was defined as M0= r x F

where r is the position vector from O to any point on the line of action of F. Since the vector product is non-commutative when calculating a product of this type it is absolutely necessary to place the vectors in the appropriate order and that each of these vectors has the correct direction.

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