Question 63 of 68advanced🔍 AnalyzeLong Answer6 marks

If a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c} are mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitudes, show that the vector a⃗+b⃗+c⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} is equally inclined to a⃗,b⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b} and c⃗\vec{c}.

Correct Answer

Let a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c} be three mutually perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude. We define a new vector r⃗=a⃗+b⃗+c⃗\vec{r} = \vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}. To show that r⃗\vec{r} is equally inclined to a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c}, we must prove that the angle between r⃗\vec{r} and each vector is the same.

Since the vectors are mutually perpendicular, their dot products are zero:

a⃗⋅b⃗=b⃗⋅c⃗=c⃗⋅a⃗=0\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \vec{b} \cdot \vec{c} = \vec{c} \cdot \vec{a} = 0

Also, let the equal magnitudes be ∣a⃗∣=∣b⃗∣=∣c⃗∣=x|\vec{a}| = |\vec{b}| = |\vec{c}| = x. We first find the dot product of r⃗\vec{r} with a⃗\vec{a}:

r⃗⋅a⃗=(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)⋅a⃗=a⃗⋅a⃗+b⃗⋅a⃗+c⃗⋅a⃗=∣a⃗∣2+0+0=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{a} = (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) \cdot \vec{a} = \vec{a} \cdot \vec{a} + \vec{b} \cdot \vec{a} + \vec{c} \cdot \vec{a} = |\vec{a}|^2 + 0 + 0 = x^2

Similarly, calculating for the other vectors, we get r⃗⋅b⃗=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{b} = x^2 and r⃗⋅c⃗=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{c} = x^2. Next, we find the magnitude of the vector r⃗\vec{r}. We have:

∣r⃗∣2=(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)⋅(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)=∣a⃗∣2+∣b⃗∣2+∣c⃗∣2=x2+x2+x2=3x2|\vec{r}|^2 = (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) \cdot (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) = |\vec{a}|^2 + |\vec{b}|^2 + |\vec{c}|^2 = x^2 + x^2 + x^2 = 3x^2

Thus, ∣r⃗∣=3x|\vec{r}| = \sqrt{3}x.

Using the formula for the angle θ\theta between two vectors,

cos⁡θ=u⃗⋅v⃗∣u⃗∣∣v⃗∣\cos \theta = \frac{\vec{u} \cdot \vec{v}}{|\vec{u}| |\vec{v}|}

we find the cosine of the angle between r⃗\vec{r} and a⃗\vec{a}. Let α\alpha be the angle between r⃗\vec{r} and a⃗\vec{a}. Then,

cos⁡α=x2(3x)(x)=13\cos \alpha = \frac{x^2}{(\sqrt{3}x)(x)} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}

Similarly, the cosines of the angles between r⃗\vec{r} and b⃗\vec{b}, and r⃗\vec{r} and c⃗\vec{c} are also 13\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}. Since the cosine values are equal, the angles are equal.

∴ The vector a⃗+b⃗+c⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} is equally inclined to a⃗,b⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b} and c⃗\vec{c}.

Exercise: MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE ON CHAPTER 10 | Q: 14 | (Page 35)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The solution relies on the properties of mutually perpendicular vectors (dot product is zero) and the formula for the angle between two vectors derived from the provided context. By calculating the dot product of the resultant vector with each individual vector and comparing their magnitudes, we establish that the cosine of the angles is identical, proving the vectors are equally inclined.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Define the resultant vector r⃗=a⃗+b⃗+c⃗\vec{r} = \vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} and state the given conditions: a⃗⋅b⃗=b⃗⋅c⃗=c⃗⋅a⃗=0\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \vec{b} \cdot \vec{c} = \vec{c} \cdot \vec{a} = 0 and ∣a⃗∣=∣b⃗∣=∣c⃗∣=x|\vec{a}| = |\vec{b}| = |\vec{c}| = x.

  2. Step 2: Calculate the dot product of r⃗\vec{r} with a⃗\vec{a}, b⃗\vec{b}, and c⃗\vec{c}. For example, r⃗⋅a⃗=∣a⃗∣2=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{a} = |\vec{a}|^2 = x^2. Similarly, r⃗⋅b⃗=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{b} = x^2 and r⃗⋅c⃗=x2\vec{r} \cdot \vec{c} = x^2.

  3. Step 3: Calculate the magnitude of r⃗\vec{r}: ∣r⃗∣=∣a⃗∣2+∣b⃗∣2+∣c⃗∣2=3x2=x3|\vec{r}| = \sqrt{|\vec{a}|^2 + |\vec{b}|^2 + |\vec{c}|^2} = \sqrt{3x^2} = x\sqrt{3}.

  4. Step 4: Apply the angle formula cos⁡θ=r⃗⋅v⃗∣r⃗∣∣v⃗∣\cos \theta = \frac{\vec{r} \cdot \vec{v}}{|\vec{r}| |\vec{v}|} for each vector v⃗∈{a⃗,b⃗,c⃗}\vec{v} \in \{\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c}\}.

  5. Step 5: Show that cos⁡θ\cos \theta is 13\frac{1}{\sqrt{3}} in all three cases, concluding that the angles are equal.