Related Formula
The magnitude of the resultant vector is given by:
| Rᵣₑₛ| = √(A² + B² + 2AB θ)$$|\vec{R}_{res}| = \sqrt{A^2 + B^2 + 2AB \cos \theta}$$
Core Logic
Let | A| = | B| = R$|\vec{A}| = |\vec{B}| = R$.
Then for vector addition:
| A + B| = √(R² + R² + 2R² θ)$$|\vec{A} + \vec{B}| = \sqrt{R^2 + R^2 + 2R^2 \cos \theta}$$
Step 1: Simplify Addition Form
| A + B| = √(2R² (1 + θ))$$|\vec{A} + \vec{B}| = \sqrt{2R^2 (1 + \cos \theta)}$$
Using the trigonometric identity 1 + θ = 2 ² ((θ)/(2))$1 + \cos \theta = 2 \cos^2 \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)$:
| A + B| = √(2R² × 2 ² ((θ)/(2))) = 2R ((θ)/(2))$$|\vec{A} + \vec{B}| = \sqrt{2R^2 \times 2 \cos^2 \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)} = 2R \cos \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)$$
Step 2: Cross-check Subtraction Form
For subtraction:
| A - B| = √(R² + R² - 2R² θ)$$|\vec{A} - \vec{B}| = \sqrt{R^2 + R^2 - 2R^2 \cos \theta}$$
| A - B| = √(2R² (1 - θ)) = √(2R² × 2 ² ((θ)/(2))) = 2R ((θ)/(2))$$|\vec{A} - \vec{B}| = \sqrt{2R^2 (1 - \cos \theta)} = \sqrt{2R^2 \times 2 \sin^2 \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)} = 2R \sin \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)$$
Checking options, only | A + B| = 2R ((θ)/(2))$|\vec{A} + \vec{B}| = 2R \cos \left(\frac{\theta}{2}\right)$ is correctly paired in the choice list.
Pattern Recognition
Standard geometry shortcut: Addition of two equal vectors yields a cosine half-angle dependency. Subtraction yields a sine half-angle dependency. (+ → )$(+ \to \cos)$, (- → )$(- \to \sin)$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Physics: Motion in a Plane