DefinitionIntermediate
How are direction cosines defined for a position vector OP in vector analysis?
Direction cosines for a position vector OP are defined as the cosines of the angles that OP makes with the three coordinate axes. Specifically, if OP is represented as OP = r = ai + aj + ak, the direction cosines are given by cos(α), cos(β), and cos(γ), where α, β, and γ are the angles between OP and the x, y, and z axes, respectively.
Key points
- Direction cosines are the cosines of the angles made by the vector with the coordinate axes.
- For a position vector OP represented as OP = ai + aj + ak, the direction cosines are cos(α), cos(β), and cos(γ).
- These angles correspond to the x, y, and z axes respectively.
Advanced Engineering Mathematics
Stroud, K. A, Booth, Dexter J Stroud etc.
4th ed. · Industrial Press, Inc.