Rotate vector by a random little amount Suppose there is a vector v = ( v x

Bailee Short

Bailee Short

Answered question

2022-06-25

Rotate vector by a random little amount
Suppose there is a vector v = ( v x , v y , v z )
I want to rotate this vector by a random little amount (let's say at most 10 º ). How can I do that?

Answer & Explanation

Quinn Everett

Quinn Everett

Beginner2022-06-26Added 23 answers

Step 1
Find two mutually perpendicular unit vectors u 1 and u 2 that are also perpendicular to your vector v
Thus the vectors u 1 , u 2 , v v form an orthonormal basis for R 3 . Let the rotation matrix R be defined as follows:
R = [ u 1 , u 2 , v v ]
Then vectors x in R 3 are expressed in this basis as y as follows
x = R y
Note that the y corresponding to your vector v is
y = [ 0 0 v ]
Now using spherical coordinates, we can express your desired vector as
y = r [ sin θ cos ϕ sin θ sin ϕ cos θ ]
where from the conditions of the problem 0 θ 10 and ϕ is arbitrary. And r = v .
And finally the new vector in the world coordinates is given by
x = R y

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