JEE Challenger
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Cross Product of Three Coplanar Unit Vectors Summing to Zero

Let a⃗,b⃗,c⃗\vec{a}, \vec{b}, \vec{c} be unit vectors such that a⃗+b⃗+c⃗=0⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = \vec{0}. Which one of the following is correct?

Options

A

a⃗×b⃗=b⃗×c⃗=c⃗×a⃗=0⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{c} \times \vec{a} = \vec{0}

B

a⃗×b⃗=b⃗×c⃗=c⃗×a⃗≠0⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{c} \times \vec{a} \neq \vec{0}

Correct
C

a⃗×b⃗=b⃗×c⃗=a⃗×c⃗≠0⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{a} \times \vec{c} \neq \vec{0}

D

a⃗×b⃗,b⃗×c⃗,c⃗×a⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b}, \vec{b} \times \vec{c}, \vec{c} \times \vec{a} are mutually perpendicular

Step-by-Step Solution

Given a⃗+b⃗+c⃗=0⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = \vec{0}.

  1. Taking the cross product with a⃗\vec{a}:
    a⃗×(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)=0⃗  ⟹  0⃗+a⃗×b⃗+a⃗×c⃗=0⃗  ⟹  a⃗×b⃗=c⃗×a⃗\vec{a} \times (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) = \vec{0} \implies \vec{0} + \vec{a} \times \vec{b} + \vec{a} \times \vec{c} = \vec{0} \implies \vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{c} \times \vec{a}

  2. Taking the cross product with b⃗\vec{b}:
    b⃗×(a⃗+b⃗+c⃗)=0⃗  ⟹  b⃗×a⃗+0⃗+b⃗×c⃗=0⃗  ⟹  b⃗×c⃗=a⃗×b⃗\vec{b} \times (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c}) = \vec{0} \implies \vec{b} \times \vec{a} + \vec{0} + \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{0} \implies \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{a} \times \vec{b}

Thus, a⃗×b⃗=b⃗×c⃗=c⃗×a⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{c} \times \vec{a}.

  1. Since ∣a⃗∣=∣b⃗∣=∣c⃗∣=1|\vec{a}| = |\vec{b}| = |\vec{c}| = 1 and a⃗+b⃗+c⃗=0⃗\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c} = \vec{0}, the vectors form an equilateral triangle in a plane with angle 120∘120^\circ between any two vectors. Since they are non-collinear:
    ∣a⃗×b⃗∣=∣a⃗∣∣b⃗∣sin⁡120∘=1⋅1⋅32=32≠0|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| = |\vec{a}||\vec{b}|\sin 120^\circ = 1 \cdot 1 \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} \neq 0

Hence, a⃗×b⃗=b⃗×c⃗=c⃗×a⃗≠0⃗\vec{a} \times \vec{b} = \vec{b} \times \vec{c} = \vec{c} \times \vec{a} \neq \vec{0}.

Correct Answer: B