Two vectors have magnitudes 3 unit and 4 unit respectively.

Question:

Two vectors have magnitudes 3 unit and 4 unit respectively. What should be the angle between them if the magnitude of the resultant is

(a) 1 unit,

(b) 5 unit and

(c) 7 unit.

Solution:

$|a|=3$ and $|b|=4$

Let $\theta$ be the angle between them.

Then, using the relation $R^{2}=A^{2}+B^{2}+2 A B \cos \theta$

(a)

We get for $R=1$,

$1=9+16+24 \operatorname{Cos} \theta$

Or, $\theta=180^{\circ}$

(b)

For, $\mathrm{R}=5$, we have

$25=9+16+24 \operatorname{Cos} \theta$

Or, $\cos \theta=0$;

$\theta=90^{\circ}$

(c) For $\mathrm{R}=7$,

$49=9+16+24 \operatorname{Cos} \theta$,

Or $\cos \theta=1$,

And $\theta=0^{\circ}$

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