Question
Let $\vec{\text{a}},\vec{\text{b}},\vec{\text{c}}$ be three unit vectors, such that $\big|\vec{\text{a}}+\vec{\text{b}}+\vec{\text{c}}\big|=1$ and $\vec{\text{a}}$ is perpendicular to $\vec{\text{b}}.$ If $\vec{\text{c}}$ makes angle $\alpha$ and $\beta$ with $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}$ respectively, then $\cos\alpha+\cos\beta=$
  1. $-\frac{3}{2}$
  2. $\frac{3}{2}$
  3. $1$
  4. $-1$

Answer

  1. $-1$

Solution:

Given that $\vec{\text{a}},\vec{\text{b}}$ and $\vec{\text{c}}$ are unit vectors.

So, $|\vec{\text{a}}|=1,\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|=1$ and $\vec{\text{c}}=1.$

Since $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}$ are mutually perpendicular,

$\vec{\text{a}}.\vec{\text{b}}=0$

Now,

$\big|\vec{\text{a}}+\vec{\text{b}}+\vec{\text{c}}\big|=1$

$\Rightarrow\big|\vec{\text{a}}+\vec{\text{b}}+\vec{\text{c}}\big|^2=1$

$\Rightarrow|\vec{\text{a}}|^2+\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2+|\vec{\text{c}}|^2+2\vec{\text{a}}.\vec{\text{b}}+2\vec{\text{b}}.\vec{\text{c}}+2\vec{\text{c}}.\vec{\text{a}}=1$

$\Rightarrow1+1+1+2(0)+2|\vec{\text{a}}|\big|\vec{\text{b}\big|}\cos\beta+2|\vec{\text{c}}||\vec{\text{a}}|\cos\alpha=1$

$\Rightarrow3+2(\cos\alpha+\cos\beta)=1$

$\Rightarrow2(\cos\alpha+\cos\beta)=-2$

$\Rightarrow\cos\alpha+\cos\beta=-1$

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