Question

The direction cosines of z-axis are-

  1. (0, 0, 0)
  2. (1, 0, 0)
  3. (0, 0, 1)
  4. (0, 1, 0)

Answer: (0, 0, 1)

Solution :-

The direction cosines are values of position vector in 3D plane which made by the position vector by angles α,βandγ with positive direction of x,yandz axis respectively.

Then, the direction cosine of any position vector in 3D plane is (cosα,cosβ,cosγ)

If position vector is on the z axis then angle α made by this vector with positive direction of x axis is π2 and also with positive direction of y axis is π2=β and angle with z axis is 0 = γ .

Therefore, the direction cosine ofzaxis=(cosα,cosβ,cosγ)=(cosπ2,cosπ2,cos0)=(0,0,1)

So, correct answer is option-3 , (0,0,1)