If $\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = \vec{0}$, $|\vec{a}| = 3$, $|\vec{b}| = 5$ and $|\vec{c}| = 7$, then find the angle between $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$. |
$\frac{\pi}{2}$ $\frac{\pi}{4}$ $\frac{\pi}{3}$ $\frac{\pi}{5}$ |
$\frac{\pi}{3}$ |
The correct answer is Option (3) → $\frac{\pi}{3}$ ## $\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = \vec{0} ⇒\vec{a} + \vec{b} = -\vec{c}$ Taking dot product with itself: $(\vec{a} + \vec{b}) \cdot (\vec{a} + \vec{b}) = (-\vec{c}) \cdot (-\vec{c})$ $|\vec{a}|^2 + 2\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b} + |\vec{b}|^2 = |\vec{c}|^2$ $9 + 2\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b} + 25 = 49$ $2\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b} = 49 - 34 = 15 ⇒\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b} = \frac{15}{2}$ $\cos\theta = \frac{\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b}}{|\vec{a}||\vec{b}|} = \frac{15/2}{3 \times 5} = \frac{15}{30} = \frac{1}{2}$ $\theta = \cos^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{2}\right) = \frac{\pi}{3}$ |