HSC Physics: Paper I Knowledge and Comprehension Based Questions

Chapter-2: Vector
1. What is a plane?
Ans. A plane is a flat surface that extends without end in all directions.
2. What are called rectangular unit vectors?
Ans. A set of unit vectors in three dimensional rectangular coordinate system directed along the positive X, Y
     
and Z axes denoted by i, jandk respectively are called rectangular unit vectors. In the Fig, i, jandk are called
rectangular unit vectors.
3. What is displacement vector?
Ans. A vector that represents a displacement is called, reasonably, a displacement vector
4. What is position vector?
Ans. Any vector representing the position of a particle with respect to a reference point of a reference frame is
known as position vector.
5. What is equal vector?
Ans. Two or more vectors having same magnitude & Direction.
6. What is negative vector?
Ans. Vectors having equal magnitude but opposite direction are called negative vectors.
7. Define Unit Vector.
Ans. The vector which has a magnitude 1 is called unit vector. It is expressed by ^.Unit vector is the ratio between
̅
𝑨
a vector and its magnitude such as, 𝐚̂ =
𝑨
8. What is co-linear vector?
Ans. Vectors in the same straight line or parallel. Two vectors are co-linear if relations of their coordinates are
𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑦
equal. i.e =
𝑏𝑥 𝑏𝑦

Or, Two vectors are co- linear if their cross product is equal to the zero vector.
9. What is coplanar vector?
Ans. Vectors lie on the same plane are called coplanar vectors. The three vectors are coplanar if their scalar
̅. (B
triple product is zero. i.e., A ̅X𝐶̅ ) = 0
10. What is null vector?
Ans. A Vector which magnitude is ZERO. i.e., Two equal & opposite forces acting on a point - 𝐹̅ + (−𝐹̅ ) = 0
11. What is proper vector?
Ans. vector which magnitude is NOT ZERO
12. What is radius vector? [D.B.-16]
Ans. Any vector representing the position of a particle with respect to a reference point of a reference frame is
known as position vector or, mutually perpendicular bisector.
13. What is freedom vector?
Ans. In which vector the initial point is not fixed is called freedom vector
14. What is reciprocal vector?
Ans. If two collinear vectors have magnitude reciprocal to each other are called reciprocal vectors.
15. What is co-initial vector?
Ans. Vectors having the same starting point are called co-initial vectors.

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HSC Physics: Paper I Knowledge and Comprehension Based Questions
16. State parallelogram law.
Ans. If two vectors of the same kind acting on the same particle can be represented by two sides of a
parallelogram drawn from a point then the resultant can be represented by the diagonal of the parallelogram
drawn from the point.
17. What's resultant vector?
Ans. A resultant is the vector sum of two or more vectors.
18. What is called operator?
Ans. An operator is a function over a space of physical states to another space of physical states.
19.  
(A.B) C possible? Why?
→ → →
Ans. (AB) is a scalar &C is a vector. So, multiplication between a scalar of vector is possible of its product will
→
be in the direction ofC.
20. What is vector resolution?
Ans. Vector resolution is the process of splitting a vector into two or more vectors such that the resultant of
those vectors is the original vector.
21. What is gradient? [D.B 17]
Ans. Gradient is a vector operation which operates on a scalar function to produce a vector whose magnitude is
the maximum rate of change of the function at the point of the gradient and which is pointed in the direction of
that maximum rate of change.
22. What is divergent?
Ans. Vector divergent is the quantity which transfers a vector quantity to a scalar quantity.
23. What is called curl?
Ans. In vector calculus, the curl is a vector operator that describes the infinitesimal rotation of a 3-dimensional
vector field. At every point is the field, the curl of that field is represented by a vector.
24. Can the value of summation and subtraction of similar vector be same? Explain. [ D. B., 17]
Ans. Addition & subtraction of two vector of same kind may result in resultants whose magnitudes are equal.
   
If angle between vector A & B is , then angle between A & – B is  = .
   
If resultant of addition & subtraction of these two vectors are equal in magnitude, then | A + B | = | A  B |
or, √𝐴2 + 𝐵2 + 2𝐴𝐵 cos 𝛼= √𝐴2 + 𝐵2 + 2𝐴𝐵 cos(180 − 𝛼)
or, 𝐴2 + 𝐵2 + 2𝐴𝐵 cos 𝛼 = 𝐴2 + 𝐵2 + 2𝐴𝐵 cos(180 − 𝛼)
or, 4 AB cos α = 0
 α = 900
That means, if the two vector of same kind are right angled, then their addition & subtraction would result in
resultant vector of & equal magnitude.
25. Though there is no flow of wind, a bicycle rider experiences a wind flow  Explain why?
Ans. Air is present all the time if there is no air flow. When the cyclist move then a relative velocity of air is
created opposite to the bicycle rider. So he experience a wind flow.
26. All co-linear vectors are not equal vectors – Explain.
Ans. If two parallel vectors of same kind have the same value and direction, they are equal vectors. On the other
hand, two vectors of the same kind acting in the same direction are called co-linear vectors. Equal vectors have
equal values but the values of co-linear vectors are not same all the time. So, all equal vectors are co-linear but

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HSC Physics: Paper I Knowledge and Comprehension Based Questions
all co-linear vectors are not equal.
27. The cork of a bottle can be opened or closed with the help of the right hand rules of the screw  Explain it.
Ans.
28. Though force and displacement are vector quantity, their product work done is scalar quantity – explain.
Ans. Quantities which have both magnitude and direction are called vector quantities and the quantities with
only magnitude are scalar quantities. According to the definition of work, it is the product of force component
towards the displacement and the displacement, i.e., force component X displacement or Force and the
component of displacement, i.e., FX displacement component. So, W = FS cosθ = F.S. We know, dot product of
two vector quantities is a scalar quantity. So, we can say work done is a scalar quantity.
29. According to vector method prove that the diagonals of rhombus are mutually perpendicular to each other.

D a C


b 
O b

A  B
a

  
In the figure, in ABCD rhombus DC = AB = a ,
  
BC = AD = b
  
Diagonal, AC = a + b
  
Diagonal, BD = b  a
     
 AC . BD = ( a + b ). ( b  a )
 
= | b |2 | a |2
 
= 0 [| b |= | a |
[Every sides are mutually equal is a rhombus]

 Diagonals of rhombus are mutually perpendicular to each other.

30. Why it is easier to pull a lawn roller than to push? Explain.
Ans. When pushing a lawn roller the force is resoled into two components. Horizontal component is F cos θ
which moves the roller towards forward direction and another one is vertical component F sin θ which
increases its weight as shown in figure 1. As a result the weight becomes (F sin θ + mg). So, its difficult to push.
F sin
F
F
F cos


F1

(Fsin + mg) (mg  Fsin)

On the other hand, while pulling the lawn roller, the vertical component F sin θ acts upward direction and the
horizontal component acts forward direction. The vertical component balances the weight and total weight
becomes (mg – F sin θ). So, total weight decreases.
That is why it is easier to pull the lawn roller.

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HSC Physics: Paper I Knowledge and Comprehension Based Questions
31. Why unit is required to measure any quantity?
Ans. For measurement any quantity it's need to take a part of that quantity and comparing with this standard
we can determine the quantity of that kind. This standard part is called unit of this quantity. So it is needed
every quantity to measurement.
32. Explain the right hand screw rule.
Ans. The right hand screw rule can be used when a direction must be determined based upon a rotational
direction, or vice versa. The axis is 'grasped' in the right hand, the fingers curl round in the direction of positive
rotation & the thumb is oriented in the positive direction. Therefore if the direction of orientation is known, the
fingers can be curled in this orientation & the thumb will point in the positive direction & vice versa.
33. Explain Curl is a vector field.
 
Ans. Vector cross or vector multiplication with operator  is presented by curl. Let, V (x, y, z) is a differentiable
  
vector field. Curl of V can be written as  × V .
    ^  ^  ^
So,  × V =  i + j + k × (Vx i + Vy j + Vzk)
^ ^ ^
x y z 

 i 
^ ^ ^
j k
 
= 
x y z
V x Vy Vz 
Curl of a vector field is a vector whose direction acts along the perpendicular of that field. Curl of a vector field
lets us know if the field is rotational or non-rotational.
34. Vector product obeys commutative law but scalar product does not obey. Explain it.
Ans. The statement is wrong, because vector product doesn't obey commutative law where scalar product does.
  
For two vector A & B with & angle between them dot product of them is A . B = AB cos
 
Again, B . A = BA cos = AB cos = A . B
So, scalar product obeys commutative law.
  ^
On the other hand, A × B = AB sin1
^ 
1 is a unit vector whose direction is found from the direction of right hand screw when rotated from A towards

B along the smaller angle between them.
  ^ ^
Again, B × A = BA Sin2 = AB Sin2
^
2 is also 0 unit vector whose direction is also found from the direction of right hard screw when rotated from
 
B to A this time.
^ ^
So, 1 &2 are unit vectors in opposite direction.
^ ^
2 &1
   
A × B = B×A
So, vector product doesn't obey commutative law.

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35. A Reciprocal Vector can be said as Co-linear vector. —Explain.
Ans. If two vectors acting in the same direction has value reciprocal to each other, then these vectors are called
reciprocal vectors of each other.
   1  
For example, If, A = A a & B = A a^ , then A &B are reciprocal vectors. As reciprocal vectors act in the same
direction they're also co-linear vectors.
36. Walking on our legs how it can be explained with vector resolution?

Ans. When we walk, the back foot exert force (F ) obliquely on the ground. This is action. The ground exerts an

equal and opposite force on foot (R). This is reaction force. The vertical component (R sin) balances the weight
and the horizontal component (R cos).

37. Why ^i.^i  0? Explain.

Ans. ^i . ^i  0
Angle between ^i and ^i is 0.
^i . ^i = |^i||^i| cos = 1.1.1 = 1 (cos 0 = 1)
38. Why a runner leans forward before he starts to run?
Ans. We apply force on the ground obliquely on the ground & the ground also exerts a reacting force us which
can be resolved into two perpendicular components R cos & R sin. R sin helps us to carry X our weight & R
cos helps us to go ahead. The more horizontal component R cos is, the more cos will be able to walk & faster
too. R cos will be larger when cos is larger. And cos is larger when  is smaller.
So, the runners leans on forward to make this angle as small as possible so that they can go faster.
39. Position vector is a confined vector- explain. [Dj.B.-17]
Ans. Any vector representing the position of a particle with respect to a reference point of a reference frame is
known as position vector or, Radius vector. Since the foot point is fixed, so, position vector is a limit vector.
40. Explain the event towing the boat with vector resolution.
Ans. Towing a boat: Let, AO is a boat as shown in the diagram.

A rope is being pulled by fastening it at a point O along ̅̅̅̅

𝑂𝐵 direction by force F. At point O the force F is
resolved into two components. The horizontal component = F cos θ acting along ̅̅̅̅ 𝑂𝐶 and the vertical
̅̅̅̅
component F sin θ acting along 𝑂𝐷 . The vertical component is neutralized by the rudder of helm of the boat.

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So, the horizontal component moves the boat fast in the forward direction. The larger the length of the rope,
the smaller is the angle of the θ value, so, larger the value of F cos θ. Then smaller force is required to pull the
rope with constant velocity.
41. Trolley bag handle is kept long – Explain.
Ans. Similar as previous one.
42. When the cross product of two vectors of definite magnitude is zero?  Explain it.
Ans. Two vectors are acting at 00 or 1800. Explain cross product.
43. How does bird fly?
Ans. As the bird flies, it strikes the air with its wings W, W along WO. According to Newton’s third law of motion,
air strikes the wings in opposite directions with the same force in reaction.

The reactions are OA and OB. From law of parallelogram vectors, OC is the resultant of OA and OB. This resultant
upwards force OC is responsible for the flight of the bird.
44. Resultant of two unequal same type of vectors can be zero or not? Explain.
Ans. The lowest magnitude of two unequal vector is equal to the subtraction of two vectors. As they are unequal,
so their subtraction can never be zero.
45. Why do we get air from electric fan? Explain with the help of vector – Explain.
Ans. When the electric fan rotates clockwise then according to right hand screw rule the direction of air will be
downward as shown in the diagram –

46. Resultant of three vectors may be zero – explain.

Ans. If resultant of any two vectors is equal and opposite of the third vector then their resultant will be zero.
Suppose, initial point of three vectors 𝐴̅ , 𝐵̅ and 𝐶̅ is O and resultant of vectors 𝐴̅ and 𝐵̅ is 𝐶̅ then 𝐴̅ + 𝐵̅ = – 𝐶̅
Or, 𝐴̅ + 𝐵̅ + 𝐶̅ = 0.
So, resultant of three vectors may be zero.

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̅ and 𝐁
47. If the angle between vectors 𝐀 ̅ is 450 then show that, 𝐀
̅. 𝐁
̅ = |𝐀
̅ 𝐗𝐁
̅ |.
Ans.
LHS, A ̅ = AB cos θ = AB cos 450 = 1 AB
̅. B
√2
1
̅XB
RHS, |A ̅| = AB sin θ = AB sin 450 = AB
√2
So, it showed.
48. Null vector has no direction – Explain.
Ans. If the initial and final point of any line representing vector quantity are same then it turns to a point. And
this type of vector is called zero vector or null vector. So, this is such type of vector which has zero magnitude
and has no specific direction.
49. Scalar product of two vectors obey commutating rule but not vector product – Explain.

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