Antiparallel
Definition
Antiparallel vectors are vectors that have the same magnitude but point in opposite directions. They are important in understanding vector subtraction and relative motion.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- Antiparallel vectors have a dot product that is negative.
- The angle between antiparallel vectors is $180^\circ$ or $\pi$ radians.
- In vector addition, adding antiparallel vectors results in a vector whose magnitude is the difference of their magnitudes.
- If two forces are antiparallel, they produce a net force that is equal to the difference in their magnitudes.
- Antiparallel displacement vectors can describe objects moving in opposite directions along the same path.
Review Questions
- What is the angle between two antiparallel vectors?
- How does the dot product of two antiparallel vectors compare to zero?
- What happens to the magnitude of the resultant vector when you add two antiparallel vectors?
"Antiparallel" appears in:
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Related terms
Vector Addition: The process of combining two or more vectors to produce their sum.
Dot Product: A scalar value obtained by multiplying corresponding components of two vectors and summing those products.
Magnitude: \\text{The length or size of a vector, often denoted as } \\|\\vec{A}\\|.
