V5 Projection of Vectors

There are two types of vector projection:

1. Scalar projection

2. Vector projection

For scalar projection, we calculate the length (a scalar quantity) of a

vector in a particular direction.
For vector projection we calculate the vector component of a vector
in a given direction.
Often, in Physics, Engineering and Mathematics courses you are
asked to resolve a vector into two component vectors that are per-
pendicular to one another. As an example, in the diagram below a
−
→
vector ~a is the projection of F in the horizontal direction while ~b is
−
→
the projection of F in the vertical direction.

You can project a vector in any direction, not only horizontally and
vertically.
This module discusses both scalar and vector projections.

Scalar Projection

Consider the following diagram:

2

−→ −→
Let PQ = ~a and PS = ~b. The scalar projection of the vector ~a
in the direction of vector ~b is the length of the straight line PR or
−→
PR where 1 1
Remember that the magnitude (or
length) of a vector ~v = v1~i + v2~j + v3~k is
denoted by
adjacent q
cos (θ ) = |~v| = v21 + v22 + v23
hypotenuse
−→ For example, if ~v = 2~i − 3~j +~k then
PR
= .
q
|~a| |~v| = 22 + (−3)2 + 12
√
= 4+9+1
Rearranging gives, √
= 14
−→
PR = |~a| cos (θ ) . (1)

This may be written in terms of the dot product 2 . 2

The dot product (or scalar product) of
We know two vectors
~a = a1~i + a2~j + a3~k
~a · ~b = |~a| ~b cos (θ ) ~b = b1~i + b2~j + b3~k

is defined to be
and so
~a · ~b = |~a| ~b cos (θ )
~a · ~b
cos (θ ) = . An alternate definition is
|~a| ~b ~a · ~b = a1 b1 + a2 b2 + a3 b3 .

Substituting this expression for cos (θ ) into eqn(1) above gives:

−→
PR = |~a| cos (θ )

−→ ~a · ~b
PR = |~a|
|~a| · ~b
~a · b
=
~b
~b
= ~a ·
~b

= ~a · b̂

~b
where b̂ = is the unit vector3 in the direction of ~b. 3
A unit vector for the vector ~b is de-
|~b| noted by b̂ and is the vector ~b divided
by it’s length ~b . That is

~b
b̂ = .
~b

A unit vector is a vector of length one

in the direction of the original vector.
 3

The scalar projection of a vector ~a in the direction of vector ~b is

given by:

~a · ~b
= ~a · b̂
~b

= |~a| cos θ

Example
Find the scalar projection of the vector ~a = (2, 3, 1) in the direction of
vector ~b = (5, −2, 2).
Solution:
The magnitude of ~b is

q
~b = 52 + (−2)2 + 22
√
= 25 + 4 + 4
√
= 33

therefore
~b
b̂ =
~b
(5, −2, 2)
= √
33
1
= √ (5, −2, 2)
33

so the scalar projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is:

(5, −2, 2)
√
~a · b̂ = (2, 3, 1) ·
33
(2 × 5) + (3 × (−2)) + (1 × 2)
= √
33
10 − 6 + 2
= √
33
6
= √ .
33

Vector Projection

The vector projection of a vector ~a in the direction of vector ~b is a

vector in the direction of ~b with magnitude equal to the length of the
4

−→
straight line PR or PR as shown below.

Therefore the vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is the

scalar projection multiplied by a unit vector in the direction of ~b.
The vector projection of vector ~a in the direction of vector ~b is:

 
  ~a · ~b ~b
~a · b̂ b̂ = 2
~b

Example 1
Find the vector projection of vector ~a = (2, 3, 1) in the direction of
vector ~b = (5, −2, 2).
Solution:
The vector projection ~a in the direction of ~b equals:4 4
Remember that
q
~b = 52 + (−2)2 + 22
  √
  ~a·~b ~b = 33
~a · b̂ b̂ = 2
~b
((2, 3, 1) · (5, −2, 2)) (5, −2, 2)
=  √ 2
33
(2 × 5 + 3 × (−2) + 1 × 2) (5, −2, 2)
=
33
(10 − 6 + 2) (5, −2, 2)
=
33
(6) (5, −2, 2)
=
33
The vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is

6 (5, −2, 2) 6
= (5, −2, 2)
33 33
2  
= 5î − 2 ĵ + 2k̂ .
11

Example 2

If ~a = (1, −2, 2) and ~b = (5, −2, 2) find:

 5

( a) The scalar projection of ~a in the direction of ~b.

(b) The vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b.

Solution:
( a) The scalar projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is ~a · b̂.
If
~b = (5, −2, 2)

then
√
~b = 33
and
~b
b̂ =
~b
(5, −2, 2)
= √
33
1
= √ (5, −2, 2) .
33
Therefore
(5, −2, 2)
~a · b̂ = (1, −2, 2) ·√
33
((1 × 5) + ((−2) × (−2)) + (2 × 2))
= √
33
( 5 + 4 + 4 )
= √
33
13
= √ .
33
√
The scalar projection is 13/ 33.
 
(b) The vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is ~a · b̂ b̂
from part ( a)
13
~a · b̂ = √
33
so that the vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b is
(5, −2, 2)
 
  13
~a · b̂ b̂ = √ √
33 33
13(5, −2, 2)
=
33
13
= (5, −2, 2)
33
13  
= 5î − 2 ĵ + 2k̂
33
 
The vector projection is 33 (5, −2, 2) or 13
13
33 5î − 2 ĵ + 2k̂
6

Exercise 1

For ~a = (2, 3, 1) , ~b = (5, 0, 3) , ~c = (0, 0, 3) and d~ = (−2, 2, −1) find:

1. The scalar projection of ~a in the direction of ~b.

13
Answer: 34

2. The vector projection of ~a in the direction of ~b.

Answer: 13
34 (5, 0, 3)

3. The scalar projection of ~c in the direction of ~b.

Answer: √9
34

4. The vector projection of ~c in the direction of ~a.

3
Answer: 14 (2, 3, 1)

5. The vector projection of d~ in the direction of ~a.

1
Answer: 14 (2, 3, 1)

6. The vector projection of ~b in the direction of d.

~
− 13
Answer: 9 (−2, 2, −1)

Exercise 2

For ~a = (2, 0, −1) , ~b = (3, 5, 6) find:

1. Find the scalar projection of ~a in the direction of ~b.

Answer: 0

2. What can you say about the relationship between ~a and ~b?
Answer: ~a and ~b are perpendicular. Remember cos 90◦ = 0 and see
equation (1) above.