Q. Magnitude of vectors $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}},\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}},\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ are 3,4,5 respectively. If $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}},\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}},\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ are mutually perpendicular, then magnitude of $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ is

A) $4\sqrt{2}$
B) $3\sqrt{2}$
C) $5\sqrt{2}$
D) $3\sqrt{3}$
Explanation

(c)
Since, $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right) = 0$
$\Longrightarrow \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} = 0\ \ \$….(i)
Similarly, $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} = 0\ \ \$…..(ii)
and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} = 0$ ….(iii)
On adding Eqs. (i),(ii) and (iii), we get
$2\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \right) = 0$
Now, $|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}|^{2} = |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}|^{2} + |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}|^{2} + |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}|^{2} + 2(\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}})$
$= |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}|^{2} + |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}|^{2} + |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}|^{2}$
$= 9 + 16 + 25 = 50$
$\Longrightarrow \left| \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} + \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right| = 5\sqrt{2}$

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.

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