Cross product "matrix", then it can be generalized in an arbitrary number of dimensions. In mechanics, for example, the angular velocity can be interpreted either as a pseudovector formula_167 or as a anti-symmetric matrix or skew-symmetric tensor formula_168. In the latter case, the velocity law for a rigid body looks: where Ω is formally defined from the rotation matrix formula_170 associated to body's frame: formula_171 In three-dimensions holds: In quantum mechanics the angular momentum formula_173 is often represented as an anti-symmetric matrix or tensor. More precisely, it is the result of cross product involving position formula_174 and linear momentum formula_111: Since both
Cross product formula_123 is its velocity and formula_124 is the body's angular velocity. Since position formula_110 and velocity formula_123 are "true" vectors, the angular velocity formula_124 is a "pseudovector" or "axial vector". The cross product is used to describe the Lorentz force experienced by a moving electric charge formula_128: Since velocity formula_123, force formula_118 and electric field formula_132 are all "true" vectors, the magnetic field formula_133 is a "pseudovector". In vector calculus, the cross product is used to define the formula for the vector operator curl. The trick of rewriting a cross product in terms of a matrix multiplication appears frequently in