To solve the given vector expression, let's break it down step by step. We need to find the value of:
\((\vec{r} \cdot \hat{i})(\vec{r} \times \hat{i}) + (\vec{r} \cdot \hat{j})(\vec{r} \times \hat{j}) + (\vec{r} \cdot \hat{k})(\vec{r} \times \hat{k})\)
where \(\vec{r}\) is any vector in 3D space, and \(\hat{i}, \hat{j}, \hat{k}\) are the unit vectors along the x, y, and z axes, respectively.
- Consider the term \((\vec{r} \cdot \hat{i})(\vec{r} \times \hat{i})\). Here,:
- \(\vec{r} \cdot \hat{i}\) represents the component of \(\vec{r}\) along the x-axis, which is \(x\), if \(\vec{r} = x\hat{i} + y\hat{j} + z\hat{k}\).
- \(\vec{r} \times \hat{i}\) is the cross product of \(\vec{r}\) and \(\hat{i}\). For any vector cross product with itself or its unit vector, the result will include only the orthogonal components. Thus, we get:
- \(\vec{r} \times \hat{i} = (x\hat{i} + y\hat{j} + z\hat{k}) \times \hat{i} = y(\hat{j} \times \hat{i}) + z(\hat{k} \times \hat{i}) = -y\hat{k} + z\hat{j}\)
- Since \(\vec{r} \cdot \hat{i} = x\), we have \((\vec{r} \cdot \hat{i})(\vec{r} \times \hat{i}) = x(-y\hat{k} + z\hat{j}) = -xy\hat{k} + xz\hat{j}\).
- The same logic applies to the remaining terms:
- \((\vec{r} \cdot \hat{j})(\vec{r} \times \hat{j})\):
- \(\vec{r} \cdot \hat{j} = y\)
- \(\vec{r} \times \hat{j} = (z\hat{i} - x\hat{k})\)
- Thus, \(y(z\hat{i} - x\hat{k}) = yz\hat{i} - yx\hat{k}\)
- \((\vec{r} \cdot \hat{k})(\vec{r} \times \hat{k})\):
- \(\vec{r} \cdot \hat{k} = z\)
- \(\vec{r} \times \hat{k} = (x\hat{j} - y\hat{i})\)
- Thus, \(z(x\hat{j} - y\hat{i}) = zx\hat{j} - zy\hat{i}\)
- Combine all the terms:
- Summing these vector products:
- \(-xy\hat{k} + xz\hat{j} + yz\hat{i} - yx\hat{k} + zx\hat{j} - zy\hat{i}\) results in:
- Terms involving \(\hat{i}\): \(yz\hat{i} - zy\hat{i} = 0\)
- Terms involving \(\hat{j}\): \(xz\hat{j} + zx\hat{j} = 2xz\hat{j} - 2xz\hat{j} = 0\)
- Terms involving \(\hat{k}\): \(-xy\hat{k} - yx\hat{k} = -2xy\hat{k} + 2xy\hat{k} = 0\)
- Hence, the entire expression sums up to the zero vector: \(\vec{0}\).
Based on the detailed calculations, the correct answer is the zero vector, denoted by \(\vec{0}\).