Republic of the Philippines

Bulacan State University

City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

Module 2
Vector Field,
Dot Product and
Cross Product

Overview
This module will tackle
about vector fields, and the two
types of vector multiplication.
Vector fields are vector
function of position vector. These
will be important concept since
electromagnetics has so many
variating fields.
Dot product and cross
product may be challenging to
understand at first, but, if
mastered, can really help to the
understanding of deeper
mathematics of this subject. The
author recommends the reader to
practice many problems involving
these special vector operations.

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 1 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department
 Republic of the Philippines
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

2.1 The Vector Field Sample Problem

Vector field – a vector function of a position A vector field S is expressed in cartesian
vector. coordinates as S = {125/[(x-1)2 + (y-2)2 +
The magnitude and direction of a given (z+1)2]} {(x-1)ax + (y-2)ay + (z+1)az} .
vector function is dependent on the (a) Evaluate S at P(2,4,3).
coordinates of the point where we are (b) Determine a unit vector that gives the
analyzing the said function. direction of S at P.
Notation:

Take note that in the example above, there

is a hat symbol above G when we are talking
about vector field, while the hat is removed
above G when we talked about scalar field.
Example
• Velocity of water in the ocean
Given a particular point P (x,y,z) in that
ocean, there is a specific vector of the
velocity of water on that particular point.
2.2 The Dot Product
As we move to the different points of the
ocean (varying x, y, z), the vector is changing Given two vectors A and B, the dot product
according to the function based on x, y, z or scalar product is defined as the product of
coordinated given. the magnitude of A, the magnitude of B, and
the cosine of the smaller angle between
them. This is now the basis for the first
formula:
Formula 1

As you can see in the formula above, the dot

for the dot product operation should be

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 2 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department
 Republic of the Philippines
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

clearly seen, and it should be emphasized. distributive law, the terms that will have the
The result for this kind of multiplication is opposite axis such ax and ay, ay and az, and
scalar, as the name implies. ax and az will have 0 values, since the angle
The expression follows the commutative law between any of the is 90 and the cosine of 90
that is: degrees is zero. The remaining terms
involves dot products of unit vectors
multiplied to itself, which will result to a
value of 1. That is the reason for the
derivation of formula no. 2.
The expression is read as “A dot B”.
Other Handy Formulas
Example
A vector dotted with itself will result to a
The work done when a force F is applied to a value of its magnitude squared, that is:
distance L.
The formula will be Work = Fcosø x L since
the work done is dependent on the force
exerted along the direction of L, that is why
we use the component along L. A unit vector dotted to itself is unity that is:
This can then be written as FLcosø which can
be shortened as F • L which is the dot
product definition.
Formula 2
Component (or scalar) of a Vector in a Given
Another formula can be used to know the Direction
dot product of two vectors. It is by using the
Suppose we want to know the scalar
distributive law of multiplication. That is, if
component of a vector, for example vector
you have two vectors whose cartesian
B, along a given direction specified by a unit
components are given, such as A = Axax +
vector a. We can write the formula as
Ayay + Azaz and B = Bxbx + Byby + Bzbz, we
follows:
can multiply it using distributive property of
multiplication and will end up to the formula • Scalar component of B along a
no. 2:

You may ask yourselves the unit vector along

x, y and z have been gone. The reason is, if
we try to multiply each term using

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 3 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department
 Republic of the Philippines
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

• Vector Component of B along a

The first formula above is for the scalar
component only. If we need to have a vector
component along a, we just multiply the
(B•a) to vector a. We just do the following
operation:

The term projection is sometimes used with

the dot product. Thus, B•a is the projection
of B in the a direction.

Sample Problem
1. Let us consider a vector field G = yax –
2.5xay + 3az and the point Q(4,5,2).
Find (a) G at Q
2.3 The Cross Product
(b) the scalar component of G at Q in
the direction of aN = (1/3)(2ax + ay -2az) We shall now the define the cross product or
vector product, written with a cross between
(c) the vector component of G at Q in
two vectors such as A x B and is read as “A
the direction of aN
cross B”. As a formula, A x B is:
(d) the angle øGa between G(rQ) and aN
Formula 1

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 4 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department
 Republic of the Philippines
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

Where aN (N stands for normal) only exists to this: Each unit vector has unit magnitude.
explain that the vector produced is The two vectors are perpendicular and the
normal/perpendicular to the two original rotation of ax to ay indicates the positive z
vectors, A and B. direction by the definition of the right-hand
To further illustrate: rule.
Hence you should just follow the alphabet
symmetry here. Thus:
ax x ay = az
az x ax = ay
ay x az = ax
Tip: To know the vector product, just follow
the alphabet symmetry (x, y, z) and you
should very well know that ax follows az in
any order.

Application to Area of Parallelogram

To find the area of a parallelogram, the
product of the lengths of two adjacent sides
is multiplied by the sine of the angle
between them. That is:
You can see in the figure above that the
result of the operation of A x B is a vector
which is normal/perpendicular to both A and
B. Note: For you to get the area, you should
Note: The cross product does not follow find the magnitude of A x B.
commutative rule. A x B is not equal to B x A.
Because the direction of B x A is opposite to
that of A x B.

Cross Product of Unit Vectors

If we want to know the vector product of ax
and ay, that is, ax x ay, we find that the
answer would be ax x ay = az. The reason is

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 5 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department
 Republic of the Philippines
Bulacan State University
City of Malolos, Bulacan
Tel/Fax (044) 791-0153

Hyper Accelerated Module for EE 213 – Engineering Electromagnetics

Modern CDIO Learning Series for the New Normal on EE Topics

Cross Product
Formula 2
Using the expanded formula for
multiplication, leaving to you to review its
derivation, the following second formula can
be used to get the cross product between
two vectors, written as a determinant:

To give you an example for this formula 2:

Sample Problem
The three vertices of a triangle are located at
A(6, -1, 2), B(-2, 3, -4) and C(-3, 1, 5). Find:
(a) RAB x RAC
(b) the area of the triangle
(c) a unit vector perpendicular to the plane
in which the triangle is located

© Ronan Cadmiel C. Castro, REE, MSEE Page 6 of 6

Electrical Engineering Department