Vectors \[\vec{a},\vec{b}\] and \[\vec{c}\] are such that \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\] and \[\left| {\vec{a}} \right|=3\], $\left| {\vec{b}} \right|=5$ and $\left| {\vec{c}} \right|=7$. Find the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$.
Answer
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Hint: In order to solve this question, we have to manipulate the equation \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\] to get the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$. First shift the \[\vec{c}\] on the RHS side and then square both sides. Squaring of a vector means taking dot product with itself i.e. ${{\vec{m}}^{2}}=\vec{m}.\vec{m}$ (where $\vec{m}$ is any arbitrary vector). So, after squaring we will get the term $\vec{a}.\vec{b}$which according to dot products of vectors can also be written as $\left| {\vec{a}} \right|\left| {\vec{b}} \right|\cos \theta $ where $\theta $ indicates the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$. Hence, solve the equation and get the value of $\theta $.
Complete step by step answer:
It is given that \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\] and \[\left| {\vec{a}} \right|=3\], $\left| {\vec{b}} \right|=5$ and $\left| {\vec{c}} \right|=7$.
So, let us consider \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\]
Shifting \[\vec{c}\] to the RHS, we get
$\Rightarrow \vec{a}+\vec{b}=-\vec{c}$
Squaring both side, we get
\[\Rightarrow {{\left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right)}^{2}}={{\left( -\vec{c} \right)}^{2}}\]
\[\Rightarrow \left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right).\left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right)=\left( -\vec{c} \right).\left( -\vec{c} \right)\]
Expanding the dot product, we get
$\Rightarrow {{\left| {\vec{a}} \right|}^{2}}+{{\left| {\vec{b}} \right|}^{2}}+2\vec{a}.\vec{b}={{\left| {\vec{c}} \right|}^{2}}$
Now, we know that \[\left| {\vec{a}} \right|=3\], $\left| {\vec{b}} \right|=5$ and $\left| {\vec{c}} \right|=7$, substituting these values in the above equations, we get
$\Rightarrow {{3}^{2}}+{{5}^{2}}+2\vec{a}.\vec{b}={{7}^{2}}$
$\Rightarrow 2\vec{a}.\vec{b}=49-25-9=15$
As from dot product of vectors we know that $\vec{a}.\vec{b}=\left| {\vec{a}} \right|\left| {\vec{b}} \right|\cos \theta $ where $\theta $ indicates the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$, Substituting it in the above equation we get
\[\Rightarrow 2\left| {\vec{a}} \right|\left| {\vec{b}} \right|\cos \theta =15\]
$\Rightarrow 2\times 3\times 5\times \cos \theta =15$
$\Rightarrow \cos \theta =\dfrac{15}{30}=\dfrac{1}{2}=\cos \dfrac{\pi }{3}$
$\Rightarrow \theta =\dfrac{\pi }{3}$
So, the value of $\theta $ is equal to $\dfrac{\pi }{3}$.
Hence, the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$is $\dfrac{\pi }{3}$ i.e. ${{60}^{\circ }}$.
Note:
This a typical question of vectors where we have to manipulate the given equation in order to get the desired value. Students should take a note of two things here, first one is squaring a vector means taking dot product of that particular vector with itself. The second thing is shifting which vector to the RHS as in our case we need the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ which is possible only when we get the term $\vec{a}.\vec{b}$ and hence we shifted \[\vec{c}\] to the RHS. After taking note of these things we can easily get the answer. This procedure can be followed whenever we are faced with such questions.
Complete step by step answer:
It is given that \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\] and \[\left| {\vec{a}} \right|=3\], $\left| {\vec{b}} \right|=5$ and $\left| {\vec{c}} \right|=7$.
So, let us consider \[\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c}=0\]
Shifting \[\vec{c}\] to the RHS, we get
$\Rightarrow \vec{a}+\vec{b}=-\vec{c}$
Squaring both side, we get
\[\Rightarrow {{\left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right)}^{2}}={{\left( -\vec{c} \right)}^{2}}\]
\[\Rightarrow \left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right).\left( \vec{a}+\vec{b} \right)=\left( -\vec{c} \right).\left( -\vec{c} \right)\]
Expanding the dot product, we get
$\Rightarrow {{\left| {\vec{a}} \right|}^{2}}+{{\left| {\vec{b}} \right|}^{2}}+2\vec{a}.\vec{b}={{\left| {\vec{c}} \right|}^{2}}$
Now, we know that \[\left| {\vec{a}} \right|=3\], $\left| {\vec{b}} \right|=5$ and $\left| {\vec{c}} \right|=7$, substituting these values in the above equations, we get
$\Rightarrow {{3}^{2}}+{{5}^{2}}+2\vec{a}.\vec{b}={{7}^{2}}$
$\Rightarrow 2\vec{a}.\vec{b}=49-25-9=15$
As from dot product of vectors we know that $\vec{a}.\vec{b}=\left| {\vec{a}} \right|\left| {\vec{b}} \right|\cos \theta $ where $\theta $ indicates the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$, Substituting it in the above equation we get
\[\Rightarrow 2\left| {\vec{a}} \right|\left| {\vec{b}} \right|\cos \theta =15\]
$\Rightarrow 2\times 3\times 5\times \cos \theta =15$
$\Rightarrow \cos \theta =\dfrac{15}{30}=\dfrac{1}{2}=\cos \dfrac{\pi }{3}$
$\Rightarrow \theta =\dfrac{\pi }{3}$
So, the value of $\theta $ is equal to $\dfrac{\pi }{3}$.
Hence, the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$is $\dfrac{\pi }{3}$ i.e. ${{60}^{\circ }}$.
Note:
This a typical question of vectors where we have to manipulate the given equation in order to get the desired value. Students should take a note of two things here, first one is squaring a vector means taking dot product of that particular vector with itself. The second thing is shifting which vector to the RHS as in our case we need the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ which is possible only when we get the term $\vec{a}.\vec{b}$ and hence we shifted \[\vec{c}\] to the RHS. After taking note of these things we can easily get the answer. This procedure can be followed whenever we are faced with such questions.
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