NEET Physics Vectors NEET PYQ-Vectors

  • question_answer
    If a vector \[2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+8\hat{k}\] is perpendicular to the vector \[4\hat{j}-4\hat{i}+\alpha \hat{k},\] then the value of a is: [AIPMT (S) 2005]

    A) -1

    B) \[\frac{1}{2}\]

    C) \[-\frac{1}{2}\]

    D) 1

    Correct Answer: C

    Solution :

    Key Idea: Two vectors must be perpendicular if their dot product is zero.
                Let        \[\vec{a}=2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+8\hat{k}\] 
                            \[\vec{b}=4\hat{j}-4\hat{i}+\alpha \hat{k}\]
                            \[=-4\hat{i}+4\hat{j}+\alpha \hat{k}\]
                According to the above hypothesis:
                            \[\vec{a}\bot \,\vec{b}\]
                \[\Rightarrow \]   \[\vec{a}\,.\vec{b}=0\]
                \[\Rightarrow \]   \[(2\hat{i}+3\hat{j}+8\hat{k})\,(-4\hat{k}+4\hat{j}+\alpha \hat{k})=0\]
                \[\Rightarrow \]   \[-8+12+8\alpha =0\]
                \[\Rightarrow \]   \[8\alpha =-4\]
                \[\therefore \]      \[\alpha =-\frac{4}{8}=-\frac{1}{2}\]
                Note:    \[\vec{a}.\vec{b}=ab\,\cos \theta \]. Here, a and b are always positive as they are the magnitudes of \[\vec{a}\] and \[\vec{b}\].


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