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JEE Advanced 2017 · Motion in a Plane

Three vectors P⃗\vec{P}, Q⃗\vec{Q} and R⃗\vec{R} are shown in the figure. Let SS be any point on the vector R⃗\vec{R}. The distance between the points PP and SS is b∣R⃗∣b|\vec{R}|. The general relation among vectors P⃗\vec{P}, Q⃗\vec{Q} and S⃗\vec{S} is

Answer: A. S⃗=(1−b)P⃗+bQ⃗\vec{S} = (1-b)\vec{P} + b\vec{Q}

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Written solution

Step 1: Define the vector R⃗\vec{R}.

The vector R⃗\vec{R} connects point PP to point QQ.

R⃗=Q⃗−P⃗\vec{R} = \vec{Q} - \vec{P}

Step 2: Express the vector PS→\overrightarrow{PS}.

Since SS lies on the vector R⃗\vec{R} at a distance of b∣R⃗∣b|\vec{R}| from PP, the vector PS→\overrightarrow{PS} is a fraction bb of R⃗\vec{R}.

PS→=bR⃗\overrightarrow{PS} = b\vec{R}

Step 3: Express the position vector S⃗\vec{S}.

By vector addition, the position vector S⃗\vec{S} is the sum of the position vector P⃗\vec{P} and the displacement vector PS→\overrightarrow{PS}.

S⃗=P⃗+PS→\vec{S} = \vec{P} + \overrightarrow{PS} S⃗=P⃗+bR⃗\vec{S} = \vec{P} + b\vec{R}

Step 4: Substitute R⃗\vec{R} to obtain the relation.

Substitute R⃗=Q⃗−P⃗\vec{R} = \vec{Q} - \vec{P} into the equation for S⃗\vec{S}.

S⃗=P⃗+b(Q⃗−P⃗)\vec{S} = \vec{P} + b(\vec{Q} - \vec{P}) S⃗=(1−b)P⃗+bQ⃗\vec{S} = (1 - b)\vec{P} + b\vec{Q}

Answer:

S⃗=(1−b)P⃗+bQ⃗\vec{S} = (1 - b)\vec{P} + b\vec{Q}

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