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$\vec{a} \cdot [(\vec{b} + \vec{c}) \times (\vec{a} + \vec{b} + \vec{c})]$ equals

A0
B$(\vec{a} \vec{b} \vec{c}) (\vec{b} \vec{c} \vec{a})$
C$[\vec{a} \vec{b} \vec{c}]$
DNone of these
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. 0
Use distributivity of the cross product: $$ (\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times(\vec{a}+\vec{b}+\vec{c})=(\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times\vec{a}+(\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times(\vec{b}+\vec{c}) $$ Since the cross product of a vector with itself is zero, $$ (\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times(\vec{b}+\vec{c})=\vec{0} $$ So the expression becomes $$ \vec{a}\cdot[(\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times\vec{a}] $$ Now $[(\vec{b}+\vec{c})\times\vec{a}]$ is perpendicular to $\vec{a}$, hence their dot product is $$ 0 $$ Checking the options, this matches option $\text{A}$.
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