Cross Product of Perpendicular Vectors

Theorem
Let $\mathbf a$ and $\mathbf b$ be vector quantities which are perpendicular.

Let $\mathbf a \times \mathbf b$ denote the cross product of $\mathbf a$ with $\mathbf b$.

Then:
 * $\mathbf a \times \mathbf b = \norm {\mathbf a} \norm {\mathbf b} \mathbf {\hat n}$

where:
 * $\norm {\mathbf a}$ denotes the length of $\mathbf a$
 * $\hat {\mathbf n}$ is the unit vector perpendicular to both $\mathbf a$ and $\mathbf b$ in the direction according to the right-hand rule.

Proof
By definition of cross product:


 * $\norm {\mathbf a} \norm {\mathbf b} \sin \theta \, \mathbf {\hat n}$

where:
 * $\norm {\mathbf a}$ denotes the length of $\mathbf a$
 * $\theta$ denotes the angle from $\mathbf a$ to $\mathbf b$, measured in the positive direction
 * $\hat {\mathbf n}$ is the unit vector perpendicular to both $\mathbf a$ and $\mathbf b$ in the direction according to the right-hand rule.

When $\mathbf a$ and $\mathbf b$ are perpendicular, $\theta = 90 \degrees$ by definition.

Hence from Sine of Right Angle, $\sin \theta = 1$.

Hence the result.