- Parameters
-
vector1 | - input 3D vectors. |
vector2 | - input 3D vectors. |
out_vector | - output 3D vector returned to the caller. Can point to the same place as vector1 or vector2 |
DETAILS
Compute_Cross_Product() takes two 3-D vectors and computes their vector cross-product.
NOTES
For a bit of linear algebra review, the way to compute a cross product is to calculate the determinant of the following matrix:
| i j k |
| x1 y1 z1 |
| x2 y2 z2 |
Where i,j and k are the unit vectors along the X, Y and Z axes, respectively. That works out to be equal to
i*(y1*z2 - z1*y2) - j*(x1*z2 - z1*x2) + k*(x1*y2 - y1*x2)
The result is always perpendicular to both inputs, and of length equal to the length(vector1) * length(vector2) * sin(angle between vector1 and vector2). The order of the inputs matters. Switching the inputs will reverse the result.
RESTRICTIONS
- See also
- Compute_Coordinates, Compute_Dot_Product