Question

What does a dot vector operation tells about the 2 vectors? Say vector a dot vector b, if it doesn't give zero, what does the result of the dot operation tells about the 2 vectors [\a\] and [\b\]?

Answer 1

If it is not zero the two vectors are not perpendicular

Answer 2

Other than not being perpendicular, what does the result of the dot operation tells?

Answer 3

the dot product = product of the magnitude * cos angle between vectors

Answer 4

so we can calculate angle between directions of vactors

Answer 5

It is in a sense a measure of the angle, but along with the product of the magnitudes.

Answer 6

So the scalar result, which is a number, tells nothing unless it is zero?

Answer 7

No... As stated above in euclidean space
a dot b = |a||b| cos theta
where theta is the angle between the two vectors.

Answer 8

I see...thanks! :)

Answer 9

Dotting unit vectors gives cos of angle between.