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Improving the answer with more information. Typo correction.
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The Doctor
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You're correct, if the orientational vector is unitary. Otherwise you must calculate the unitary vector in the direction of $\vec{O}_1$ and then perform the projection (just divide by the norm of the orientational vector). The perpendicular component is just the rejection vector of $\Delta \vec{R}$, given by the definition: $\Delta\vec{R}_{\perp} = \Delta\vec{R} - \Delta\vec{R}_{\parallel} $.

If you draw the vectors you will be able to visualize that this is correct and then convince yourself. Take a look:

enter image description here

You can determine straight forward the rotation by the internal product between the two orientational vectors $\vec{O}_1$ and $\vec{O}_2$.

$\theta = \arccos{\left( \frac{\vec{O}_1 \cdot \vec{O}_2}{|\vec{O}_1||\vec{O}_2|}\right)} $

You can determine straight forward the rotation by the internal product between the two orientational vectors $\vec{O}_1$ and $\vec{O}_2$.

$\theta = \arccos{\left( \frac{\vec{O}_1 \cdot \vec{O}_2}{|\vec{O}_1||\vec{O}_2|}\right)} $

You're correct, if the orientational vector is unitary. Otherwise you must calculate the unitary vector in the direction of $\vec{O}_1$ and then perform the projection (just divide by the norm of the orientational vector). The perpendicular component is just the rejection vector of $\Delta \vec{R}$, given by the definition: $\Delta\vec{R}_{\perp} = \Delta\vec{R} - \Delta\vec{R}_{\parallel} $.

If you draw the vectors you will be able to visualize that this is correct and then convince yourself. Take a look:

enter image description here

You can determine straight forward the rotation by the internal product between the two orientational vectors $\vec{O}_1$ and $\vec{O}_2$.

$\theta = \arccos{\left( \frac{\vec{O}_1 \cdot \vec{O}_2}{|\vec{O}_1||\vec{O}_2|}\right)} $

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The Doctor
  • 226
  • 3
  • 7

You can determine straight forward the rotation by the internal product between the two orientational vectors $\vec{O}_1$ and $\vec{O}_2$.

$\theta = \arccos{\left( \frac{\vec{O}_1 \cdot \vec{O}_2}{|\vec{O}_1||\vec{O}_2|}\right)} $