MCQ
Let $\vec{\text{a}}=\text{a}_1\hat{\text{i}}+\text{a}_2\hat{\text{j}}+\text{a}_3\hat{\text{k}},\vec{\text{b}}=\text{b}_1\hat{\text{i}}+\text{b}_2\hat{\text{j}}+\text{b}_3\hat{\text{k}}$ and $\vec{\text{c}}=\text{c}_1\hat{\text{i}}+\text{c}_2\hat{\text{j}}+\text{c}_3\hat{\text{k}}$ be three zero vectors such that $\vec{\text{c}}$ is a unit vector perpendicular to both $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}.$ If the angle between $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}$ is $\frac{\pi}{6},$ then $\begin{vmatrix}\text{a}_1&\text{a}_2&\text{a}_3\\\text{b}_1&\text{b}_2&\text{b}_3\\\text{c}_1&\text{c}_2&\text{c}_3 \end{vmatrix}^2$ is equal to:
  • A
    $0$
  • B
    $1$
  • $\frac{1}{4}\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|^2\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2$
  • D
    $\frac{3}{4}\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|^2\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2$

Answer

Correct option: C.
$\frac{1}{4}\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|^2\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2$
We have
$\begin{vmatrix}\text{a}_1&\text{a}_2&\text{a}_3\\\text{b}_1&\text{b}_2&\text{b}_3\\\text{c}_1&\text{c}_2&\text{c}_3 \end{vmatrix}^2$
$=\big[\big(\vec{\text{a}}\times\vec{\text{b}}\big).\vec{\text{c}}\big]^2 ($By definition of scalar triple product$)$
$=\big[\big|\big(\vec{\text{a}}\times\vec{\text{b}}\big)\big|\big|\vec{\text{c}}\big|\cos0^\circ\big]^2$ $\big(\therefore\vec{\text{a}}\times\vec{\text{b}}$ is parallel to vector $\vec{\text{c}}$ as $\vec{\text{c}}$ is perpendicular to both $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}\big)$
$=\big(\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|\sin\frac{\pi}{6}\big)^2$ $\big(\therefore\big|\vec{\text{c}}\big|=1$ and angle between $\vec{\text{a}}$ and $\vec{\text{b}}$ is $\frac{\pi}{6}\big)$
$=\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|^2\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2\big(\frac{1}{2}\big)^2$
$=\frac{1}{4}\big|\vec{\text{a}}\big|^2\big|\vec{\text{b}}\big|^2$

Need a full question paper?

Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.

Start Generating Free