JEE MAIN - Physics (2024 - 4th April Morning Shift - No. 27)

Two forces $$\overline{\mathrm{F}}_1$$ and $$\overline{\mathrm{F}}_2$$ are acting on a body. One force has magnitude thrice that of the other force and the resultant of the two forces is equal to the force of larger magnitude. The angle between $$\vec{F}_1$$ and $$\vec{F}_2$$ is $$\cos ^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)$$. The value of $$|n|$$ is _______.
Answer
6

Explanation

Let's denote the magnitude of the smaller force as $$F$$, hence the magnitude of the larger force is $$3F$$. The resultant force $$\vec{R}$$ is equal in magnitude to the larger force, which means $$|\vec{R}| = 3F$$. When two forces $$\vec{F}_1$$ and $$\vec{F}_2$$ act on a body, the magnitude of their resultant $$\vec{R}$$ can be found using the law of vector addition:

$$|\vec{R}| = \sqrt{|\vec{F}_1|^2 + |\vec{F}_2|^2 + 2|\vec{F}_1||\vec{F}_2|\cos\theta}$$,

where $$\theta$$ is the angle between $$\vec{F}_1$$ and $$\vec{F}_2$$. Given that in our case $$|\vec{R}| = 3F$$, $$|\vec{F}_1| = F$$ and $$|\vec{F}_2| = 3F$$, by substituting these values into the equation, we get:

$$3F = \sqrt{F^2 + (3F)^2 + 2(F)(3F)\cos\theta}$$

$$9F^2 = F^2 + 9F^2 + 6F^2\cos\theta$$

Simplifying this equation by subtracting $$10F^2$$ from both sides gives:

$$-F^2 = 6F^2\cos\theta$$

Dividing both sides by $$-F^2$$ gives:

$$-1 = -6\cos\theta$$

Therefore, $$\cos\theta = \frac{1}{6}$$.

It is given that the angle between $$\vec{F}_1$$ and $$\vec{F}_2$$ is $$\cos^{-1}\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)$$, hence comparing this with the above result, we find that $$n = 6$$. Therefore, $$|n| = 6$$.

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