Verified Solution • 2025–26 Session moderate

Q6.4: NCERT Physics - Part 1 SYSTEMS OF PARTICLES AND ROTATIONAL MOTION 6.4 Solution: Show that the area of the triangle contained between the…

⚠️ Common Exam Traps & Conceptual Pitfalls

Students frequently write the triangle area as $\frac12|\vec a||\vec b|$ or forget that $|\vec a\times\vec b|=|\vec a||\vec b|\sin\theta$, thus either omitting the sine or dividing by two twice. Remember: the cross‑product magnitude already incorporates the sine of the angle, so the triangle’s area is $\frac12|\vec a\times\vec b|$.

Show that the area of the triangle contained between the vectors a and b is one half of the magnitude of a _ b.

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

**Answer:** Area = 12∣a⃗×b⃗∣\frac{1}{2}|\vec{a} \times \vec{b}| **Step-by-Step Explanation:** Let the vectors a⃗\vec{a} and b⃗\vec{b} form two sides of a triangle. The area of the triangle is:
Area=12×base×height=12∣a⃗∣(∣b⃗∣sin⁡θ)=12∣a⃗×b⃗∣\text{Area} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} |\vec{a}| (|\vec{b}| \sin\theta) = \frac{1}{2} |\vec{a} \times \vec{b}|
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