MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

VECTORS AND SCALARS

PRE REQUISTE UNIT & MEASUREMENT, TRIGONOMETRY

WHAT YOU KNOW

 Vectors and Scalars
 Representation of Vector
 Triangle Law of vector
 Parallelogram of vector
 Property of Vector Addition
o Commutative Law
o Associative Law
 Component of vector
 Type of vector
o Unit vector
o Equal vector
o Parallel vector
 Multiplication of Vector
o Vector and Scalar
o Vector and Vector
 Dot Product
 Cross Product

SCALAR
A scalar quantity has only magnitude; no direction.
Example : Length. Distance , Mass, etc
VECTOR
A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
Example : Displacement, Acceleration, momentum, angular momentum
and torque
Representation of Vectors
A vector is represented by a line with an arrow indicating its direction. The length
of the line represents its magnitude on some scale. The arrow indicates its direction. In
any vector, the initial point, (point A in AB), is called the tail of the vector and the final
point, (point B in AB) with the arrow mark is called its tip (or head).
A vector is written with an arrow over the letter representing the vector, for
example, . The magnitude of vector is simply A or |A |.

In print, a vector is indicated by a bold letter as A.

Triangle Law of Vector

If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by the two
sides of a triangle taken in order, the resultant is represented by the third side of the
triangle taken in the opposite order. This is called triangle law of vectors.

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

Addition of three vectors in two different orders

The resultant of more than two vectors, say A, B and C, can be found in the
same manner as the sum of two vectors. First we obtain the sum of A and B, and then
add the resultant of the two vectors, (A + B), to C. Alternatively,
you could add B and C, and then add A to (B + C) In both cases you get the same
vector.

Parallelogram Law of Vector Addition

Let A and B be the two vectors and let θ be the angle between them as shown in
Fig. To calculate the vector sum, we complete the parallelogram. Here side PQ represents
vector A, side PS represents B and the diagonal PR represents the resultant vector R.
Can you recognize that the diagonal PR is the sum vector A + B? It is called the resultant
of vectors A and B. The resultant makes an angle α with the direction of vector A.
Remember that vectors PQ and SR are equal to A, and vectors PS and QR are equal, to
B. To get the magnitude of the resultant vector R, drop a perpendicular RT as shown.
Then in terms of magnitudes

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

Special Cases
 Two vectors when they are parallel
 two vectors are perpendicular to each other
Property of Vector Addition
 Commutative
 Associative

RESOLUTION OF VECTORS
Resolution of vectors is converse of addition of vectors. Let these components be
called Ax and Ay respectively. Simple trigonometry shows that
Ax = A cos θ and Ay = A sin θ,
where θ is the angle that A makes with the x - axis.

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

TYPE OF VECTOR
EQUAL VECTOR
Two vectors are said to be equal if their magnitudes are equal and they point
in the same direction. This means that all vectors which are parallel to each other
have the same magnitude and point in the same direction are equal.
PARALLEL VECTOR
Two vectors are said to be parallel if they point in the same direction.
UNIT VECTOR
A unit vector has unitary magnitude and has a specified direction. It has no units
and no dimensions. As an example, we can write vector A as A where a cap on
n (i.e. ) denotes a unit vector in the direction of A. Unit vector along x-axis is

denoted by , along y-axis by and along z-axis by .

Subtraction of Vectors
If you recall that the difference of two vectors, A – B, is actually equal to A + (–B),
then you can adopt the same method as for addition of two vectors.
MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS
Multiplication of a Vector by a Scalar
If we multiply a vector A by a scalar k, the product is a vector whose magnitude is
the absolute value of k times the magnitude of A. This means that the magnitude of the
resultant vector is k |A|. The direction of the new vector remains unchanged if k is
positive. If k is negative, the direction of the new vector is opposite to its original direction.
For example, vector 3A is thrice the magnitude of vector A, and it is in the same
direction as A. But vector –3A is in a direction opposite to vector A, although its
magnitude is thrice that of vector A.
Scalar Product of Vectors
The scalar product of two vectors A and B is written as A.B and is equal to
ABcosθ, where θ is the angle between the vectors.
B cosθ is the projection of vector B along vector A.
Therefore, the scalar product of A and B is the product of magnitude of A with the
length of the projection of B along A.
a dot between the two vectors indicates the scalar product, it is also called the dot
product.
Remember that the scalar product of two vectors is a scalar quantity.
A.B = B.A = ABcosθ.

Property

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR
 Associative
 Commutative
Vector Product of Vectors
Two vectors A and B inclined at an angle θ. We can draw a plane which contains
these two vectors. Let that plane be called Ω. Which is perpendicular to the plane of
paper here. Then the vector product of these vectors, written as A × B, is a vector, say
C, whose magnitude is AB sinθ and whose direction is perpendicular to the plane Ω.
The direction of the vector C can be found by right-hand rule

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MINDSETCLASSES
[CHECK YOUR SKILL]
1. A cart is being pulled by Ahmed
north-ward with a force of
magnitude 70 N. Hamid is pulling
the same cart in the south-west
direction with a force of magnitude
50 N. Calculate the magnitude and
direction of the resulting force on
the cart.
2. On a coordinate system (showing
all the four quadrants) show the
following vectors:
A = 4 +0 ,B=0 +5 ,
C=4 +5 ,D=6 –4 .
Find their magnitudes and
directions.
3. Calculate the product C . D for the
vectors given in question 2
4. Calculate the cross product of
vectors C and D given inquestion 2
5. Make diagrams to show how to find
the following vectors:
(a) B – A, (b) A + 2B,
(c) A – 2B and (d) B – 2A.
6. Two vectors A and B of magnitudes
10 units and 12 units are anti-
parallel. Determine A + B and A –
B.
7. Two vectors A and B of magnitudes
A = 30 units and B = 60 units
respectively are inclined to each
other at angle of 60 degrees. Find
the resultant vector.
8. Suppose vector A is parallel to
vector B. What is their vector
product? What will be the vector
product if B is anti-parallel to A?
9. Suppose we have a vector A and a
𝟏
vector C = 𝟐B. How is the direction
of vector A x B related to the
direction of vector A × C.
10. Suppose vectors A and B are
rotated in the plane which
contains them. What happens to
the direction of vector C = A x B.
11. Suppose you were free to rotate
vectors A and B through arbitrary
amounts keeping them confined
to the same plane. Can you make
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PHYSICS-VECTOR
vector C = A x B to point in
exactly opposite direction?
12. If vector A is along the x-axis and
vector B is along the y-axis, what
is the direction of vector C =
A x B? What happens to C if A is
along the y-axis and B is along the
x-axis?
13. A and B are two mutually
perpendicular vectors. Calculate
(a) A.B and (b) A × B.
14. A vector A makes an angle of 60
degrees with the x-axis of the xy-
system of coordinates. If its
magnitude is 50 units, find its
components in x, y directions.
15. If another vector B of the same
magnitude makes an angle of 30
degrees with the X-axis of the XY-
system of coordinates. Find its
components now. Are they same as
before? (A and B )
16. Two vectors A and B are given
respectively as 3 – 4 and –2 +
6 j . Sketch them on the
coordinate grid. Find their
magnitudes and the angles that
they make with the x-axis (see Fig)
17. Calculate the dot and cross
product of the vectors given in the
question 16.
18. Hamida is pushing a table in a
certain direction with a force of
magnitude 10N. At the same
time her, classmate Lila is pushing
the same table with a force of
magnitude 8 N in a direction
making an angle of 60o to the
directionin which Hamida is
pushing. Calculate the magnitude
MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR
of the resultant force on the table 4 m/s, and the y-component is 3
and its direction. m/s. What is the magnitude of the
19. A physical quantity is obtained as velocity of the ball?
a dot product of two vector 29 A ball is travelling 4 m/s in the x
quantities. Is it a scalar or a direction and 3 m/s in the y
vector? What is the nature of a direction. At what angle is
physical quantity obtained as the ball moving above the x-axis?
cross product of two vectors? 30 A ball is travelling with velocity v.
20. John wants to pull a cart applying The x-component of the velocity is
a force parallel to the ground. His 4 m/s and the y-component is 4
friend Ramu suggests that it would m/s. What is the magnitude of the
be easier to pull the cart by velocity of the ball?
applying a force at an angle of 30 31 A ball is travelling 4 m/s in the x
degrees to the ground. Who is direction and 4 m/s in the y
correct and why? direction. At what angle is
21. Two vectors are given by 5 – 3 the ball moving above the x-axis?
and 3 – 5 . Calculate their scalar 32 A ball is travelling 4 m/s in the -x
and vector products. direction and 4 m/s in the y
direction. At what angle is
22. If the resultant of n forces of
the ball moving relative to the
different magnitudes acting at a
positive side of the x-axis?
point is zero, then the
minimum value of n is 23 Can 33 A ball is travelling with the velocity
the resultant of 2 vectors be zero v. What are the x- and y-
components of the velocity
24 The sum of the magnitudes of
vector?
two forces acting at point is 18
and the magnitude of their 34 Calculate the vector product of a
resultant is 12. If the resultant and b given that
is at 90? with the force of smaller a= 2i + j + k and b = i – j – k
magnitude, what are the, 35 Calculate the vector product of i - j
magnitudes of forces and i + j.
25 A vector 𝑎⃗ is turned without a 36 Find the unit vectors that are
change in its length through a perpendicular to both i+2j+k and
small angle dθ.The value 3i-4j+2k.
of |Δ𝑎⃗ | and Δa are 37 Find a vector N that is
26 Find the resultant of three perpendicular to the plane
vectors OA, OB and OC shown determined by the points P(1, 2,
in the following figure. Radius 3), Q(-1, 3, 2), R(3, -1, 2), and
of the circle is R find the area of the triangle.
38 Find the resultant of the vectors
a+b+c
a = 2i + 3j + k, b = 3i + 5j – k, and
c=i–j
39 calculate (i + j)x [(i - j )x (i + k)].
40 Given the points O(0, 0, 0),
27 Three forces act on a point: 3 N P(1, 2, 3), Q(1, 1, 2), R(2, 1,
at 0°, 4 N at 90°, and 5 N at 1), find the OP, OQ, and OR.
217°. What is the net force? 41 Calculate [(i + j). (i - j)] . (k - i)
28 A ball is travelling with velocity v. 42 Calculate [(i - j)x (k - i)] . (i + j)
The x-component of the velocity is

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR
[REVIEW YOUR SKILL]
1. if Q+R=P P=Q=R Then the angle 12. Minimum number of space vectors of
between vector Q and R is unequal magnitudes whose sum is equal
to zero is:
a. 30 b. 90
a. Two b.Three
c. 120 d. 180 c.Four d.Any
2. Which of the following is a Vector?
13. Two vectors and lie in a plane ; a
a. Energy b.Power
third vector lie outside this plane;
c. Force d.Mass
then the sum of these three vectors ;
3. Which of the following is a vector?
:
a.Time b.Work
a. Can be zero.
c.Heat d.Momentum
b.can never be zero
4. Which of the following is a scalar?
a.Elementary area b. Kinetic energy c. Lies in the place containing
c.Weight of a body d.Wind velocity d.Lies in the plain containing
5. is:
14. Two vectors and are such
a.scalar b. vector that Then the angle
c. Neither scalar nor vector
between vectors and is:
d. A tensor
a.zero degree b.60 degrees
6. is: c.90 degrees d.180 degrees
a.scalar b. vector
15. Two vectors and are such
c. Neither scalar nor vector
that , then the angles
d. A tensor
between the vectors and is:
7. Which of the following is not a scalar?
a.zero degree b.45 degrees
a. Mass of nucleus b.Charge of proton
c.90 degrees d.180 degrees
c.Wind velocity
16. For the resultant of two vectors to be
d.Energy of a thermal neutron
maximum the angle between them
8. Electric Current in a circuit is shown by should be:
arrow ; Current is:
a.zero degree b.60 degrees
a.scalar b. vector
c.90 degrees d.180 degrees
c. Neither scalar nor vector
17. For the resultant of two vectors to be
d. Some time Vector some time scalar minimum the angle between them
should be:
a.zero degree b.60 degrees
c.90 degrees d.180 degrees
18. The magnitudes of sets of three vectors
9. of same type are given below. The
resultant of which set can not be zero?
a. b.
a.10, 10 , 10 b.10, 10 , 20
c. d. c.10 , 20 , 10 d.10 , 20 , 40
10. When two vectors and of 19. Two forces of 6N and 8N can be applied
magnitudes “a” and “b” are added ; the to produce an effect of a single force of:
magnitude of resultant vector is: a. 1N b.15 N
a. equal to (a+b) b. equal to (a-b) c.11 N d.20 N
c. not more than
20. Two vectors and will be
d.Not greater than (a+b) perpendicular if:
11. The minimum numbers of coplanar
vectors of unequal magnitudes whose a. b.
vector sum can be zero is: c. d.
a. Two b.Three
c.Four d.Any 21. If is the unit vector along the direction
of then:

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR
31. A vector is along the positive X-axis.
a. b. If the vector product of it’s with another
vector is zero , then could be:
c. d.
22. A force has magnitude 20N. It’s one a. b.
rectangular component is 12N , the c. d. None of them
other rectangular component must be:
32. Given and “P+Q = R” , then
a.8N b.14 N
the angle between and is:
c.16 N d.32 N
23. The resultant of two vectors of unequal a. zero b.
magnitude is equal to the magnitude of
the either. The angle between the vector c. d.
is:
33. Given and , then
a.60 degrees b.90 degrees
the angle between and is:
c.120 degrees d.180 degrees
24. In a right handed system: a. zero b.
a. b.
c. d.
c. d.
34. Forces and act on a point mass in
two mutually perpendicular directions.
25. The angle between and is: The magnitude of the resultant force on
the point mass will be:
a. b. a. b.

c. d. c. d.
35. If the position vector of a particle
26. The angle between and is:
is then the
velocity vector of the particle is:
a. b.
a. Parallel to position vector
c. d. b. perpendicular to position vector
27. If two c. directed towards the origin
vectors and d. directed away from the origin
are at right angles to each other, then 36. The angle made by a
the value of “n” must be: vector with Y-axis is:
a.2 b-2
c.1 d.-1 a. b.
28. Consider a vector , The
vector which is perpendicular to is: c. d.
a. b. 37. The angle made by the two
vectors and
c. d.
is:
29. The unit vector along is: a.zero b.45 degrees
a. b. c.90 degrees d.180 degrees
38. A body considered to move in Y-axis is
c. d. subjected to a force given
by Newton. What is the
30. The unit vector along is: work done by the force in moving the
body a distance of 10 meters along the
a. b. Y-axis?
a.190 J b.160 J
c.150 J d.20 J
c. d. 39. The two vectors (-2,1) and (1,2) are…
a) linearly dependent of each other
b) forming an orthonormal basis

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR
c) Perpendicular to each other b. 620 N, South-East
d) Pointing in the opposite direction of c. 80 N, South-East
each other d. 20 N, South-East
40. The scalar product (aka dot product) of 46. The _________ theorem can be used
two perpendicular vectors is to find the resultant of a right
a) 0 b) 1 triangle
c) 2 d.) -2 a. socratic
41 Two vectors of the same magnitude b. archemedes
are added; one pointing east, one c. pythagorean
west. The magnitude of the resultant
d. none of the answers
vector is
47. A vector has both magnitude and
a 0 b. 1 __________.
c. 2 d. 3 a. mass
42. Which of the following is not a b. time
vector quantity? c. direction
a. velocity b. Force d. none of the answers
c. time d. acceleration 48. A boat is rowed directly North
43. A boat moves 10 km due west, 5 km across a river at 2.0 m/s. The river
due north, and then 10 km due flows East at 3.0 m/s. Relative to the
east. The displacement of the boat shore, the boat has a velocity of.
from its initial position is a. 5.0 m/s North-East
a. 5 km, North b. 3.6 m/s South-West
b. 10 km, East c. 3.6 m/s North-East
c. 5 km, South d. 1.0 m/s North-West
d. 0 km 49. If a, b, and c are three non zero vectors,
44. You walk 31 m south and 31 m such that a xb = a x c and a.b = a.c
west. Your displacement is then
a. 22 m south west a. b=c
b. 44 m south west b. a is parallel to (b-c)
c. 44 m north west c. a is perpendicular to (b-c)
d. 62 m south west d. Nones
45. Two football players hit a blocking 50. Graphical representation of vectors
sled. One hits it with a force of 350 involves ______.
N, East, and the other hits it with a a. drawing arrows
force of 270 N, South. The resulting b. units of measure
force is:
c. capacitance
a. 442 N, South-East
d. none of the answers

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

ANSWER 9 remains unchanged. Its magnitude

1 50 N and North-west direction may change
2 A=4 10. Since vectors A and B rotate
without change in the plane containing
B=5
them,
C=√41 the direction of C = A × B will not
D=√52 change.
11 Suppose initially the angle
between A and B is between zero and
180o. Then C =A × B will be
directed upward perpendicular to the
plane. After rotation
through arbitrary amounts, if the
angle between them becomes > 180o,
then
3 4 4 – 46 𝒌
⃗⃗ C will drop underneath but
perpendicular to the plane.
12 If A is along x-axis and B is along
y-axis, then they are both in the xy plane.
The vector product C = A × B will
be along z-direction. If A is along yaxis
5 a. b. and B is along x-axis, then C is
along the negative z-axis.
13 (a) A . B = |A| |B| cos 𝜃 = 0 when
𝜃 = 90º
(b) A × B = |A| |B| sin θ = |A| |B|
as sin 𝜃 =1 at 𝜃 = 90º
14 Ax = A cos 60 = 50 . ½ = 25 units
√3
Ay = A sin 60 = 50. 2 = 50 . 0.866=
43.3 units
√3
15 Bx = 50 cos 30 = 50 . = 43.3 units
2
By = 50 sin 30 = 50 . ½ = 25 units
The components in the two cases
are obviously not the same.
16 The position of vectors on the
coordinate grid is shown in Fig. Suppose
A makes an angle 𝜃 with the x-axis,
−4 −4
then tan𝜃 = 3 => 𝜃= tan–1( 3 ) = –53o 6’ or
6 A+B -2 units A-B =22 306o 54’
units If B makes an angle 𝜃with the x-
6
7 79.37 units axis,then tan𝜃=−2=–3 𝜃 = tan–1(–3)=108o
8 If A and B are parallel, the angle 24’
between them is zero. So, their cross 17 A . B = –30 AxB: 10 𝒌 ⃗⃗
product A × B = 0. 18 15.84 N and α = tan–1( 12)
If they are antiparallel then the 19 Dot Product – Scalar
angle between them is 180o. Therefore, A Cross Product – Vector
× B = 0, (sin 180o = 0.) 20 Ramu

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MINDSETCLASSES PHYSICS-VECTOR

21 A . B = 30 A x B = -16 𝒌⃗⃗ 26. 2.414 r

22 If vectors are of equal magnitude 27 1.4 N 135 0
then two vectors can give zero 28 Answer: C, 5 m/s
resultant, if they works in 29 Answer: C, 37°
opposite direction. But if the vectors 30 Answer: C, 5.7 m/s
are of different magnitudes then 31 45°
minimum three vectors are required to 32 B.135°
give zero resultant. 33 vy = vsinθ vx = vcosθ
23 Yes, when the 2 vectors are same 34 (Ans. 3 j - 3 k )
in magnitude but opposite in sense
35 (Ans.2 k )
24 5, 13 1
25 adθ,0 36 (8i+j-10k)
√165
37 2√3
38 √85
39 i-j
40 OP=i+2j+3k , OQ =i+j+2k and
OR =2i+j+k
41 0
42 -2

1 C 2 C 3 D 4 B 5 A 6 B 7 C 8 A 9 C 10 D
11 B 12 B 13 A 14 C 15 B 16 A 17 D 18 D 19 C 20 B
21 C 22 C 23 D 24 A 25 B 26 D 27 D 28 C 29 C 30 D
31 A 32 A 33 C 34 B 35 A 36 B 37 A 38 C 39 C 40 A
41 A 42 C 43 A 44 B 45 A 46 C 47 C 48 C 49 A 50 A

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