Q. Let $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}\ and\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ be non-zero vectors such that $\left( \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right) \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} = \frac{1}{3}|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}|\ |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$ If θ is the acute angle between the vectors $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$ then $\sin\theta\$equals

A) $\frac{1}{3}$
B) $\frac{\sqrt{2}}{3}$
C) $\frac{2}{3}$
D) $\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}$
Explanation

(d)
Given,
$\frac{1}{3}|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} = (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}) \times \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}$
$\therefore\ \frac{1}{3}|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} = (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} - (\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}})\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$
On comparing the coefficient of $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}}$ and $\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}$, we get
$\frac{1}{2}\left| \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \right|\left| \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} \right| = - \overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}\ and\ \overrightarrow{\mathbf{a}} \bullet \overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}} = 0$
$\Longrightarrow \frac{1}{3}|\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}| = - |\overrightarrow{\mathbf{b}}||\overrightarrow{\mathbf{c}}|cos\ \theta \Longrightarrow \cos{\theta = - \frac{1}{3}}$
$\Longrightarrow 1 - \sin^{2}\theta = \frac{1}{9} \Longrightarrow \sin\theta = \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}$

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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