Misc 17 - Let a and b be two unit vectors. Then a + b is a unit vector

Misc 17 - Chapter 10 Class 12 Vector Algebra - Part 2
Misc 17 - Chapter 10 Class 12 Vector Algebra - Part 3


Transcript

Misc 17 Let 𝑎 ⃗ and 𝑏 ⃗ be two unit vectors and θ is the angle between them. Then 𝑎 ⃗ + 𝑏 ⃗ is a unit vector if (A) θ = 𝜋/4 (B) θ = 𝜋/3 (C) θ = 𝜋/2 (D) θ = 2𝜋/3 Given 𝑎 ⃗ & 𝑏 ⃗ are unit vectors, So, |𝒂 ⃗ | = 1 & |𝒃 ⃗ | = 1 We need to find θ if 𝒂 ⃗ + 𝒃 ⃗ is a unit vector Assuming 𝑎 ⃗ + 𝑏 ⃗ is a unit vector Magnitude of 𝒂 ⃗ + 𝒃 ⃗ = 1 |𝑎 ⃗+𝑏 ⃗ |=1 |𝒂 ⃗+𝒃 ⃗ |^𝟐=1^2 (𝒂 ⃗+𝒃 ⃗ ).(𝒂 ⃗+𝒃 ⃗ ) = 1 𝑎 ⃗. (𝑎 ⃗+𝑏 ⃗ ) + 𝑏 ⃗. (𝑎 ⃗+𝑏 ⃗ ) = 1 𝒂 ⃗ . 𝒂 ⃗ + 𝑎 ⃗ . 𝑏 ⃗ + 𝑏 ⃗.𝑎 ⃗ + 𝒃 ⃗.𝒃 ⃗ = 1 |𝒂 ⃗ |^𝟐 + 𝑎 ⃗.𝑏 ⃗ + 𝑏 ⃗.𝑎 ⃗ + |𝒃 ⃗ |^𝟐=1 12 + 𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ + 𝑏 ⃗.𝑎 ⃗ + 12 = 1 2 + 𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ + 𝒃 ⃗.𝒂 ⃗ = 1 2 + 𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ + 𝒂 ⃗. 𝒃 ⃗ = 1 2 + 2 𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ = 1 2𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ = 1 − 2 𝑎 ⃗. 𝑏 ⃗ = (−1)/2 |𝑎 ⃗ ||𝑏 ⃗ | cos⁡ θ = (−1)/2 1 × 1 × cos θ = (−1)/2 cos θ = (−𝟏)/𝟐 So, θ = 𝟐𝝅/𝟑 Hence, option (D) is correct Rough We know that cos 60° = 1/2 & cos is negative in 2nd quadrant, So, θ = 180 − 60° θ = 120° θ = 120 × 𝜋/180 θ = 2𝜋/3

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Davneet Singh has done his B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. He has been teaching from the past 14 years. He provides courses for Maths, Science, Social Science, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science at Teachoo.