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
Made by
Davneet Singh
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 and Computer Science at Teachoo
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