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Eigen Values&Vectors

The document discusses the physical significance of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Eigenvalues represent factors by which a matrix scales the magnitude of eigenvectors without changing their direction. Eigenvectors are vectors that a matrix can act on by only changing the magnitude and not the direction. For physical systems like a solid body, eigenvalues correspond to the inertia moments about the eigenvector axes, which represent the main axes of inertia. Knocking on a wine glass produces sounds that represent the eigen-frequencies, and the deformations needed to generate these frequencies are the eigenvectors.

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Raghul Ravi
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32 views1 page

Eigen Values&Vectors

The document discusses the physical significance of eigenvalues and eigenvectors. Eigenvalues represent factors by which a matrix scales the magnitude of eigenvectors without changing their direction. Eigenvectors are vectors that a matrix can act on by only changing the magnitude and not the direction. For physical systems like a solid body, eigenvalues correspond to the inertia moments about the eigenvector axes, which represent the main axes of inertia. Knocking on a wine glass produces sounds that represent the eigen-frequencies, and the deformations needed to generate these frequencies are the eigenvectors.

Uploaded by

Raghul Ravi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as ODP, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physical significance of eigenvalues and

eigenvectors
Eigen Values Eigen Vectors
In general,a matrix acts on an A matrix acts on a vector by changing
eigenvector by multiplying its both its magnitude and its direction.
magnitude by a factor, which is However, a matrix may act on certain
positive if its direction is unchanged vectors by changing only their
and negative if its direction is magnitude, and leaving their direction
reversed. This factor is the eigenvalue unchanged (or, possibly, reversing it).
associated with that eigenvector These vectors are the eigenvectors of
the matrix.

In Physical, the inertial properties of The inertial properties of the solid


the solid body regarding the rotations body regarding the rotations the
the physical significance of the physical significance of eigenvectors
eigenvalues are the inertia moment is they are the main axes of inertria.
regarding these axes.

Consider a wine glass of standard The deformations of the glass needed


shape and size. With your index, to generate the eigen-frequencies are
knock on the side of the glass. The the eigen-vectors
sound you hear are the Eigen Values

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