Change set

Pick exam & year, then Go.

Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect Bookmarked
Loading…
Q141 (IAS/2003) Science & Technology › Basic Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) › Logical analytical reasoning Answer Verified

‘A’ and ‘B’ are two fixed points in a field. A cyclist C moves such that ACB is always a right angle. In this context, which one of the following statements is correct?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

By Thales' theorem, for fixed points A and B the locus of points C for which ∠ACB = 90° is the circle having AB as diameter; every point on that circle subtends a right angle at C. Thus a cyclist constrained so that ACB is always a right angle will move along the circle with AB as its diameter. This motion is therefore possible (except at the degenerate positions where C coincides with A or B) and is not an ellipse or an exponential curve. Standard circle-geometry results about diameters and right angles corroborate this conclusion [1]. Hence option 2 (circle) is correct.

Sources

  1. [1] https://amsi.org.au/teacher_modules/Circle_Geometry.html
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
33%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

4 Cross-Linked PYQs

UPSC repeats concepts across years. Login to see how this question connects to 4 others.

Login with Google