Talk:Unit vector

message: @ Charles Matthews: You are of course right if you say that the unit vector is not an identity of the multiplication, however it should be mentioned that it plays such a important role as does the null vector (which seems superflous for newcomers) because the unit vector is required to satisfy the rules of a mathemtical group and thus makes it an algebra in the first place. The same goes for the null vector.
I would really appreciate it, if you could add this to both entries in terms that satisfy the otherwise strong mathemtical context, and i suppose you as a mathematican could do so best.--Slicky 11:40, Sep 17, 2004 (UTC)
Sorry, this really doesn't add up. There is no such thing as the unit vector, for one thing.
Charles Matthews 11:57, 17 Sep 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Significance of unit vector 

message: I think it would be benificial to include unit vectors in the different coordinate systems (cylindrical, spherical, etc.). I'm not sure if this would be better suited for the coordinates page or not. 
I think having a reference of curvilinear unit vectors and their properties (e.g. derivatives) would be especially helpful for those applying them to fields like electrodynamics and fluid mechanics.
I don't have a Ph.D, but I'm fairly fluent in vector calculus and could probably contribute more to the page. I just wanted to get some opinions and feedback first. RyanC. 19:46, 27 April 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Request for Expansion 

message: I'm actually kinda missing the \hat{e}_x notation (or \hat{e}_r, \hat{e}_\phi, etc). Especially in physics where changes of coordinate system and the use of i and j for the imaginary unit (and/or current) can cause ambuguity, this is often used. I might add this myself (but feedback is appreciated of course) -- what I was actually wondering about is if it's not possible to make a dotless i, j, k to put the hat over.
--CompuChip 09:54, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: On a related subject, I've seen in some (physics) books a-notation, where say the unit vector corresponding to the vector r becomes \hat{a}_r. Is there any information on this subject somewhere? I can't find it in the article. Eudoxie (talk) 21:22, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Notation 

message: While I understand the geometrical meaning of \boldsymbol{\hat{s}} and \boldsymbol{\hat{z}}, I don't understand \boldsymbol{\hat \phi} = -\sin \phi\boldsymbol{\hat{x}} + \cos \phi\boldsymbol{\hat{y}}. 
\boldsymbol{\hat{s}} and \boldsymbol{\hat{z}} relate to the length of their components, but an angle does not have a length. \boldsymbol{\hat{\phi}} seems to be "90° ahead" of the angle it is describing. So what is it good for? --Abdull 10:10, 12 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Answer to myself: all three vectors form a orthogonal system. --Abdull 10:51, 12 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: To clarify, the base vectors point in the direction of change. If you increase \phi, the point will move in the direction indicated by \hat\phi, likewise, if you increase r, the point will move in the direction indicated by \hat{r} Eudoxie (talk) 21:26, 13 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  cylindrical coordinates 

message: How do you draw k-hat in unicode? kthx bye Deeejazzy (talk) 04:54, 21 November 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  how to draw in unicode

message: The article seems to describe the concept of coordinates instead of unit vectors. Where is the unit in the cylindrical and spherical case? 217.229.29.146 (talk) 17:42, 30 March 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Unit Vector vs. Coordinate 

message: The article mentions, "To minimize degeneracy".  The interpretation is unclear.  What would the alternative have been, and what sort of "degeneracy" could that lead to?  —DIV (120.17.163.66 (talk) 05:59, 13 June 2018 (UTC)
replies: text: I think the intended word is "redundancy" and I have changed the text.  (Also, sorry for the erroneous revert of your edit to the body.) --JBL (talk) 11:58, 13 June 2018 (UTC)
thread_title:  Spherical co-ordinates — "degeneracy" 

message: The redirect Unit normal vector has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at  until a consensus is reached.  1234qwer1234qwer4 12:37, 12 November 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  "[[:Unit normal vector]]" listed at [[Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion|Redirects for discussion]]