Question 54

Mathematics Position Vectors Easy

If \( \widehat{n_{1}}, \widehat{n_{2}} \) are two-unit vectors and \( \theta \) is the angle between them, then \( \cos \frac{\theta}{2} \) is equal to

(A) \( \frac{1}{2}\left|\widehat{n_{1}}+\widehat{n_{2}}\right| \)
(B) \( \frac{1}{2}\left|\widehat{n_{1}}-\widehat{n_{2}}\right| \)
(C) \( \frac{1}{2}\left|\widehat{n_{1}} \cdot \widehat{n_{2}}\right| \)
(D) \( \frac{\widehat{n_{1}} \times \widehat{n_{2}}}{2\left|\widehat{n}_{1}\right|\left|\widehat{n}_{2}\right|} \)
View Dynamic Solution & Explanation
Correct Solution: Option A

Step-by-step Solution:

\[ \hat{n}_1 + \hat{n}_2 \text{ are unit vectors} \] \[ \text{We have} \] \[ (|\hat{n}_1 + \hat{n}_2|)^2 = |\hat{n}_1|^2 + |\hat{n}_2|^2 + 2|\hat{n}_1||\hat{n}_2|\cos\theta \] \[ = 2(1 + \cos\theta) \] \[ \text{By rearranging } \cos\theta \text{ in terms of } \cos\frac{\theta}{2}, \text{ we get} \] \[ = 4\cos^2\frac{\theta}{2} \] \[ \therefore \cos\frac{\theta}{2} = \frac{1}{2}|\hat{n}_1 + \hat{n}_2| \]