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Show that the vectors a = 1/7(2i + 3j + 6k), b = 1/7(3i - 6j + 2k), and c = 1/7(6i + 2j - 3k) are mutually perpendicular unit vectors.

Physics

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Let the three given vectors be a⃗\vec{a}, b⃗\vec{b}, and c⃗\vec{c}.

a⃗=17(2i^+3j^+6k^)\vec{a} = \frac{1}{7}(2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 6\hat{k}) b⃗=17(3i^−6j^+2k^)\vec{b} = \frac{1}{7}(3\hat{i} - 6\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}) c⃗=17(6i^+2j^−3k^)\vec{c} = \frac{1}{7}(6\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - 3\hat{k})

To show that each vector is a unit vector, we must show its magnitude is 1. The magnitude of a vector xi^+yj^+zk^x\hat{i} + y\hat{j} + z\hat{k} is x2+y2+z2\sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + z^2}.

  1. Calculate the magnitude of a⃗\vec{a}.

    ∣a⃗∣=∣17(2i^+3j^+6k^)∣=1722+32+62|\vec{a}| = \left| \frac{1}{7}(2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 6\hat{k}) \right| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{2^2 + 3^2 + 6^2} ∣a⃗∣=174+9+36=1749=17×7=1|\vec{a}| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{4 + 9 + 36} = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{49} = \frac{1}{7} \times 7 = 1

    Thus, a⃗\vec{a} is a unit vector.

  2. Calculate the magnitude of b⃗\vec{b}.

    ∣b⃗∣=∣17(3i^−6j^+2k^)∣=1732+(−6)2+22|\vec{b}| = \left| \frac{1}{7}(3\hat{i} - 6\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}) \right| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{3^2 + (-6)^2 + 2^2} ∣b⃗∣=179+36+4=1749=17×7=1|\vec{b}| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{9 + 36 + 4} = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{49} = \frac{1}{7} \times 7 = 1

    Thus, b⃗\vec{b} is a unit vector.

  3. Calculate the magnitude of c⃗\vec{c}.

    ∣c⃗∣=∣17(6i^+2j^−3k^)∣=1762+22+(−3)2|\vec{c}| = \left| \frac{1}{7}(6\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - 3\hat{k}) \right| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{6^2 + 2^2 + (-3)^2} ∣c⃗∣=1736+4+9=1749=17×7=1|\vec{c}| = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{36 + 4 + 9} = \frac{1}{7} \sqrt{49} = \frac{1}{7} \times 7 = 1

    Thus, c⃗\vec{c} is a unit vector.
    All three vectors are unit vectors.

    To show that they are mutually perpendicular, we must show that the dot product of any two distinct vectors is 0. The dot product of u⃗=uxi^+uyj^+uzk^\vec{u} = u_x\hat{i} + u_y\hat{j} + u_z\hat{k} and v⃗=vxi^+vyj^+vzk^\vec{v} = v_x\hat{i} + v_y\hat{j} + v_z\hat{k} is u⃗⋅v⃗=uxvx+uyvy+uzvz\vec{u} \cdot \vec{v} = u_x v_x + u_y v_y + u_z v_z.

  4. Calculate the dot product of a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b}.

    a⃗⋅b⃗=(17(2i^+3j^+6k^))⋅(17(3i^−6j^+2k^))\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \left( \frac{1}{7}(2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 6\hat{k}) \right) \cdot \left( \frac{1}{7}(3\hat{i} - 6\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}) \right) a⃗⋅b⃗=149((2)(3)+(3)(−6)+(6)(2))\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \frac{1}{49} ((2)(3) + (3)(-6) + (6)(2)) a⃗⋅b⃗=149(6−18+12)=149(0)=0\vec{a} \cdot \vec{b} = \frac{1}{49} (6 - 18 + 12) = \frac{1}{49} (0) = 0

    Thus, a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} are perpendicular.

  5. Calculate the dot product of b⃗\vec{b} and c⃗\vec{c}.

    b⃗⋅c⃗=(17(3i^−6j^+2k^))⋅(17(6i^+2j^−3k^))\vec{b} \cdot \vec{c} = \left( \frac{1}{7}(3\hat{i} - 6\hat{j} + 2\hat{k}) \right) \cdot \left( \frac{1}{7}(6\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - 3\hat{k}) \right) b⃗⋅c⃗=149((3)(6)+(−6)(2)+(2)(−3))\vec{b} \cdot \vec{c} = \frac{1}{49} ((3)(6) + (-6)(2) + (2)(-3)) b⃗⋅c⃗=149(18−12−6)=149(0)=0\vec{b} \cdot \vec{c} = \frac{1}{49} (18 - 12 - 6) = \frac{1}{49} (0) = 0

    Thus, b⃗\vec{b} and c⃗\vec{c} are perpendicular.

  6. Calculate the dot product of a⃗\vec{a} and c⃗\vec{c}.

    a⃗⋅c⃗=(17(2i^+3j^+6k^))⋅(17(6i^+2j^−3k^))\vec{a} \cdot \vec{c} = \left( \frac{1}{7}(2\hat{i} + 3\hat{j} + 6\hat{k}) \right) \cdot \left( \frac{1}{7}(6\hat{i} + 2\hat{j} - 3\hat{k}) \right) a⃗⋅c⃗=149((2)(6)+(3)(2)+(6)(−3))\vec{a} \cdot \vec{c} = \frac{1}{49} ((2)(6) + (3)(2) + (6)(-3)) a⃗⋅c⃗=149(12+6−18)=149(0)=0\vec{a} \cdot \vec{c} = \frac{1}{49} (12 + 6 - 18) = \frac{1}{49} (0) = 0

    Thus, a⃗\vec{a} and c⃗\vec{c} are perpendicular.

    Since the dot product of every pair of distinct vectors is 0, the three vectors are mutually perpendicular to each other.

    The final answer is Each vector has a magnitude of 1, and the dot product of any two distinct vectors is 0, proving they are unit vectors and mutually perpendicular.\boxed{\text{Each vector has a magnitude of 1, and the dot product of any two distinct vectors is 0, proving they are unit vectors and mutually perpendicular.}}

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