VECTOR

SCALARS AND VECTORS

SCALAR

A scalar quantity requires only magnitude for its complete description. Mass, volume, density, pressure and temperature are all
examples of scalar quantities. The mathematics of scalar quantities is the ordinary algebra of numbers.

VECTOR

The physical quantities specified completely by their magnitude as well as direction are called vector quantities. The magnitude
and direction alone cannot decide whether a physical quantity is a vector. In addition to the above characteristics, a physical
quantity, which is a vector, should follow laws of vector addition. For example, electric current has magnitude as well as
direction, but does not follow laws of vector addition. Hence, it is not a vector.

A vector is represented geometrically by an arrow. The length of the line drawn Head
in a convenient scale represents the magnitude of the vector. The direction of the
vector quantity is depicted by placing an arrow at the end of the line. We will
a
represent vectors symbolically by letters, with an arrow over the letter such as a

. When written by hand the same representation may be used.A vector is
Tail
represented mathematically in terms of unit vectors ( iˆ, ˆj and k̂ ), which we will
see in details later on.
The magnitude of a vector will be represented by | a |,| b |,| c | or italic type letters such as a, b, c etc.
Angle between two vectors means smaller of the two angles between the vectors when they are placed tail to tail by displacing
either of the vectors parallel to itself (i.e. 0 ).

If two vectors have the same direction, they are parallel. If they have the same magnitude and the same direction, they are
equal, no matter where they are located in space.

a b b
-b a
a
(a) Two equal vectors (b) The negative of a vector (c) Two anti-parallel vectors

The negative of a vector is defined as a vector having the same magnitude as the original vector but the opposite direction.
When two vectors a and b have opposite directions, whether their magnitudes are the same or not, we say that they are
antiparallel.

Unit vector: A vector having magnitude equal to unity. It is convention to take iˆ , ĵ and k̂ as unit vector along x,yand z axis
respectively. Unit vector is basically used to indicate the direction.To find the unit vector in the direction of a , we divide the
given vector by its magnitude.
For example, aˆ  a / a , or a  a aˆ or a = aaˆ , where a or a is the magnitude of the vector a .

Null vector or zero vector: A vector having zero magnitude and indeterminate direction is called Zero or Null Vector.
Concept of zero vector is helpful in subtraction of two equal magnitude vectors in opposite direction and vector product of two
parallel vectors. The concept of null vector is hypothetical but we introduce it only to explain some mathematical results.

ADDITION OF VECTORS

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i) Triangle Law of Vector Addition: If two vectors are represented by the two sides of a triangle taken in order, then their
resultant or vector sum is represented by the third side of the triangle taken in opposite order.
Let us consider two vectors a and b as shown.
Now to get the sum of these two vectors ( a + b ), shift any two vectors parallel to itself until the tail of one vector is at the head
of another vector. Then the line joining tail of a and head of vector b , gives the sum of vector a and b .
head C
c
b b
b
tail head
 a a A a B
tail
     
Let AB = a , BC = b and AC = c . Then
     
a  b  c  AB  BC  AC
 
ii) Parallelogram law of vector addition: Let there are two vectors P and Q in such a way that they have common initial point
and different direction as shown in figure.
 
Let us complete a parallelogram with P and Q as its adjacent sides.

 

Q Q R
 


P P
Then, the diagonal of parallelogram passing through their common point will represent in magnitude and direction of the
    
resultant of the vectors P and Q i.e. R = Q + P
Magnitude of vector R is given by the length of diagonal of the parallelogram which can be calculated in this way
  B
Let the two vectors P and Q be represented in magnitude and C
direction by OA and OB respectively. Considering OA and OB as 

Q R
two adjacent sides, parallelogram OACB is constructed.

We drop a perpendicular CD on OA produced.  
O 
In right angled triangle ACD. A D
P
AD
cos  = AD = AC cos  = Q cos 
AC
Also, CD = Q sin 
Now in right angle triangle ODC
OC2 = OD2 + DC2
2
R = (P + Q cos)2 + (Q sin)2 = P2 + Q2 cos2  + 2PQcos + Q2 sin2 

R  P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos 

Let  be the angle, which the resultant R makes with P .

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DC Qsin   Q sin  
tan  = = ,   tan 1  
OD P  Qcos   P  Q cos  

SOME SPECIAL CASES

Case I: When P and Q are in same direction, it means  = 0°

R = P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos 0 = P + Q
In this case resultant is maximum.
Qsin 0
and, tan =  = 0
P  Qcos 0

Case II:When P and Q are perpendicular to each other, it means  = 90°

R= P 2  Q 2  2 PQcos 90  P 2  Q 2
Q Q
and, tan      tan 1  
P P

Case III: When P and Q are in opposite direction, it means  = 

R = P 2  Q 2  2 PQ cos  = |P – Q|
In this case resultant will be minimum
Qsin
and,tan  = = 0  = 0
P  Qcos

Case IV: When two vectors are of same magnitude (| P || Q |)

 
R  P2  P2  2P2 cos  = 2P 2 ( 2 cos 2 )  2 Pcos
2 2
 
2 sin cos
P sin  sin  2 2 = tan 
and, tan  = = =
P+ Pcos    2
2 cos 2 2 cos 2
2 2
 = /2
Note: If two vectors are of equal magnitude then the resultant of vectors bisects the angle between them.

PROPERTIES OF VECTOR ADDITION

i) It Obeys Commutative law

  
C a
If a and b are any two vectors, B
    
then a  b  b  a  c 
b b
O A

a
       
Proof: Let OA  CB  a , AB  OC  b , OB  C
  
In OAB , OA  AB  OB (from triangle law of vector addition).
  
 ab  c … (i)

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  
In OCB , OC CB  OB
  
 bac … (ii)
From, equation (i) & (ii)
   
ab  ba

ii) It obeys associative law

   b
If a , b , and c are any three vectors then A B
     
a (bc )  (a b ) c 
c
a
    
(a  b )
Proof : Let OA  a , AB  b , BC  c
O ( a b )  c C
    
In OAB, OB  OA  AB  a  b
    
In OAB, OB  OA  AB  a  b
     
In OBC , OC  OB  BC  ( a  b )  c …(i)
     b
In ABC AC  AB  BC  b  c A B
     
In OAC, OC  OA  AC  a  ( b  c ) … (ii) b c
a c
from equation (i) and (ii)
     
( a  b ) c  a ( b  c )
O C
a  (b c )

Example 4: There are two vectors having magnitude 3 units and 4 units respectively
(a) What should be the resultant if angle between them is 60°
(b) What should be the angle between them if the magnitude of resultant is (i) 1 unit (ii) 5 units?
 
Solution: (a) | a | = 3 units, | b | = 4 units and  = 60°
  
R = a + b
R= a 2  b 2  2ab cos   9  16  2.3.4 cos 60 = 25 12 = 37 units

(b) (i) | R |  a 2  b 2  2.3.4 cos 

1  9  16  2.3.4 cos
1 = 25 + 24 cos
24
cos  = = -1 = cos= 
24
(ii) (5)2 = 25  24 cos 
25 = 25 + 24 cos
0 = 24cos cos  = 0  = /2
Example 5: The resultant of two vectors 3P and 2P is R. If the first vector is doubled, the resultant vector also becomes
double. Find the angle between the vectors.

Solution: Let  be the angle between vectors, then

R 2  (3P)2  (2P) 2  2(3P)(2P)cos 

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= 13P 2 + 12P 2 cos  …(i)

Also (2R)2 = (6P)2 + (2P)2 + 2(6P) (2P) cos 
R2 = 10P 2 + 6P 2 cos  …(ii)
From (i) and (ii)
1
cos  =   = 120
2

SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS
Subtraction of vector can be defined in terms of addition of two vectors.
    
P Q  P ( Q ) Q
  
Let P and Q are at an angle  as shown in the figure. 
P
  
To get ( P  Q ), first we will draw a vector  Q as shown. Then 

  Q
angle between P and  Q will be ( - ). 

  

| P  (  Q )|  P2  Q2  2PQcos(    )
-Q – P
 
| P Q| P2  Q2  2PQcos 

Note: Subtraction is not commutative, i.e.,

   
P Q  Q  P

Example 6: The velocity of a particle changes from v1 =10m/s,east to v2 = 20m/s, 60O north of east. Find change in velocity.
Solution: Change in velocity,
v  v2  v1  v2   v1  v v2
v1 is along west as shown in figure. α
v1
v  v  v  2v1v2 cos120
2
1
2
2
0

 10 3 m/s
v2 sin1200    900
tan   
v1  v2 cos1200 v  10 3 m/s, north

RESOLUTION OF VECTORS
It is the process of splitting a single vector into two or more vectors in different directions which together produce the sa me
effect as is produced by the single vector alone. The vectors into which the given single vector is splitted are called component
of vectors. If a vector is resolved into two components which are perpendicular to each other then they are called rectangula r
component.
Let there is force acting on a block, which is on a frictionless surface, F
at an angle  with the horizontal as shown in figure. Now due to this
force it will move towards right and go some distance. 
M
We want to know the force, which is cause of rightward motion.
It can be known by the components of the force F. The cause of horizontal motion is horizontal component which will be F cos
.We can understand these things in this way:

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Let force F is acting from P to Q.We want to know the force in the Q
S
direction PRand PS. 
In right angle PQR  F
F sin
PR FPR
cos  = 
PQ FPQ 
 R
P
 PR = PQ cos  F cos
 
 F PR  F cos 
So, horizontal component = F cos θ
In right angle PQR,
 
RQ FRQ     
sin = 
 
F RQ  F sin  F PS  F RQ  F PQ sin 
PQ FPQ
So,vertical component = F sin 
In this way we resolve the vector in two perpendicular directions.

Note: We can remember it in this way, towards  the component will be a factor of cos and other component perpendicular to
it will be a factor of sin.

RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR IN A PLANE

Let there is a vector a from O to P at an angle  from the x-axis.

y-axis
Magnitude of component of a along x-axis (a x) = a cos  
P

Magnitude of component of a along y-axis (a y) = a sin  a

These two components are called rectangular components of the vector a . 

O x-axis

These components are represented in terms of unit vectors î and ĵ . Rectangular components of vector a in terms of unit vector
can be written as
a  ax ˆi  a y ˆj a = a cos  î + a sin  ˆj
Example 7: A mass of 2 kg lies on a plane making an angle 30° to the horizontal. Resolve its weight along and perpendicular
to the plane. Assume g = 10 m/s2 .
Solution: As shown in the figure, the component of weight along the plane
= mg sin = 2 × 10 × sin 30 = 10 N.
mg cos 
The component of weight perpendicular to plane mg sin

= mg cos 30° = 2 × 10 × 3 /2 = 17.3 N. mg 

RECTANGULAR COMPONENTS OF A VECTOR IN THREE DIMENSIONS

Components, which we get on resolving a vector, lie in space along three mutually perpendicular directions (i.e., x, y and z axes)
are called rectangular components or orthogonal components. The vector is called non-coplanar (three-dimensional) vector
Let there be a non-coplanar vector P from O to A as shown in figure. Taking O as origin and a rectangular parallelepiped with
its three edges along the three rectangular axes i.e., x, y and z axes, is constructed. Here P represent the diagonal of the
  
parallelepiped whose intercepts along these axes are P x ,P y and P z respectively which are three orthogonal y-axis


components of P . Py
 A
P
P 2
= Px2  Py2  Pz2 

 Px
x-axis
or, P Px2  Py2  Pz2 … (i) 
O
Pz

Let ,  and  are angles between P and x, y and z-axis, respectively, then we can get the components z-axis in

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this way
Px
cos  = Px = P cos 
P
P
cos  = y Py = P cos 
P
P
cos  = z Pz = P cos 
P

Here cos , cos  and cos  are called the direction cosines of the vector P .
Putting the values of Px, Py and Pz in (i), we get
P2 = P2 cos2  + P2 cos2  + P2 cos2 
or, P2 = P2 (cos2  + cos2  + cos2 )
or, (cos2  + cos2  + cos2 ) = 1
It means that the sum of the squares of the direction cosines of a vector is always unity.
Orthogonal components in terms of unit vector can be written as
 
P  Pxˆi  Py ˆj  Pz kˆ P  Pcos  ˆi  P cos  ˆj  P cos  kˆ

| P|   Px 2  ( Py )2  ( Pz )2
  
Example 8: If P  2ˆi  4 ˆj  5kˆ , find (i) | P | and (ii) the direction cosines of the vector P .

Solution: (i) P = Px2  Py2  Pz2 = ( 2 )2 ( 4 ) 2 ( 5 ) 2  45

Px 2 Py 4 P 5
(ii) cos = = , cos  = ,cos  = z =
P 45 P 45 P 45

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS BY ANALYTICAL METHOD

In this method, vectors are added when it is represented in terms of unit vector. At first coplanar vectors are resolved in t wo
components and non-coplanar vectors are resolved in three components, which are perpendicular to each other, and all
components in one direction are added together.
 
Let there are two co-planer vectors P and Q making angles  and 
y-axis

respectively with x-axis as shown in the figure.

  
P  Px ˆi  Py ˆj Q P
= P cos ˆi  P sin ˆj  

Q  Qxˆi  Qy ˆj = Q cos ˆi  Q sin ˆj x-axis

 
P  Q = ( Pxiˆ  Py ˆj ) (Q xiˆ Q yjˆ) = ( Px  Qx )iˆ  ( Py  Qy ) ˆj
   
| P  Q |  ( Px  Qx )2  ( Py  Qy )2 P  Q = ( Pxiˆ  Py jˆ)  (Q xiˆ Q y jˆ)
 
= ( Px  Qx ) iˆ  ( Py  Qy ) ˆj | P Q |  ( Px  Qx )2  ( Py  Qy )2

Note: This method can be used in addition and subtraction for any number of vectors.

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 
Example 9: If P  2ˆi  3 ˆj  2kˆ and Q  4ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ , then calculate the magnitude of
     
(a) P  Q (b) P  Q (c) 2 P  Q
 
Solution: (a) P  Q  ( 2ˆi  3 ˆj  2kˆ )  ( 4ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ )
= 6ˆi  ˆj  kˆ
Magnitude = 36 1  1 = 38
 
(b) P  Q  ( 2ˆi  3 ˆj  2kˆ )  ( 4ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ )  2ˆi  3 ˆj  2kˆ  4ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ
  2ˆi  5 ˆj  3kˆ
 
Magnitude = 4  25  9 = 38 (c) 2 P  Q = ( 4ˆi  6 ˆj  4 kˆ )  ( 4 ˆi 2 ˆj  kˆ )
 8ˆi  4 ˆj  3kˆ Magnitude = 64 16  9 = 89


Example 10: If the position vectors of P and Q be respectively ˆi  3 ˆj  7kˆ and 5ˆi  2 ˆj  4kˆ , find PQ

Solution: Let Obe the origin

 y-axis
Given OP = ˆi  3 ˆj  7kˆ
 P
OQ = 5ˆi  2 ˆj  4kˆ
Q
By triangle law of vector addition,
  
OP  PQ  OQ O x-axis
  
PQ  OQ  OP
= ( 5ˆi  2 ˆj  4kˆ )  ( ˆi  3 ˆj  7kˆ )
= ( 4ˆi  5 ˆj  11kˆ )

MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS

MULTIPLICATION OF VECTOR BY SCALAR

When any vector is multiplied by a scalar quantity like with any real number, it is just multiplied like an algebraic product.
  
Example: Let there be a vector V and a scalar quantity . After multiplication product will be V    V

 
Note: (i) If  is + ve, then V  and V will have same direction.
 
(ii) If  is –ve then V  and V will have opposite direction.

MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS
(i) Scalar Product (Dot Product)
(ii) Vector Product (Cross Product)

SCALAR PRODUCT (DOT PRODUCT)

Scalar product of two vectors is defined as the product of the magnitude of two vectors with cosine of smaller angle between
them.
It is always a scalar, so it is called as scalar product.

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    
Thus if A and B are two vectors having angle  between them, then their scalar (Dot) product written as A.B and read as A

dot B is defined as
   
A.B = | A| | B| cos 

PROPERTIES OF DOT PRODUCT

(i) It is always a scalar and it will be positive if angle between them is acute, negative if angle between them is obtuse and zero if
angle between them is 90°
   
(ii) It obeys commutative law A.B  B . A
      
(iii) It obeys distributive law A.( B  C )  A. B  A.C
(iv) Dot product of unit vectors ˆi , ˆj, kˆ
ˆi .iˆ  ˆj . ˆj  kˆ .kˆ  1 ˆi . ˆj  ˆj .kˆ  kˆ .iˆ  0
 
(v)If the two vectors A and B , in terms of their rectangular components, are
 
A = Ax ˆi  Ay ˆj  Az kˆ and B  Bx ˆi  B y ˆj  Bz kˆ , then,
   
A .B = (Ax ˆi  Ay ˆj  Az kˆ ). ( Bxˆi  By ˆj  Bz kˆ ) A.B  Ax Bx  Ay B y  Az Bz

USES OF DOT PRODUCT

(i) To find work done by a constant force: Work done by a force depends on thecomponent of force along displacement i.e.
 
W = F cos  s = F .S
(ii)To find angle between two vectors:
   
By definition A.B = | A|| B | cos 
    
cos  =
A .B
= cos 1  A.B 
     
| A| | B |  | A|| B| 
where  is angle between two vectors.
(iii) To check the orthogonality: Scalar (Dot) product of two mutually perpendicular vectors is zero i.e.,
 
( A.B ) = AB cos 90° = 0
  
(iv) To find the component of vector along another vector: If angle between two vectors A and B is  then component of A

along B is A cos 
 
    A .B
as A.B = | A|| B | cos  A cos  = 
|B|
 
Example 11: Find the angle between two vectors A  2ˆi  ˆj  kˆ and B  ˆi  kˆ .

Solution: A | A|  ( 2 )2  ( 1 )2 ( 1 )2  6

B  | B| ( 1 )2  ( 1 )2 = 2
 
A.B  ( 2ˆi  ˆj  kˆ ). ( ˆi  kˆ ) = (2) (1) + (-1) (-1) = 3

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 
A.B 3 3 3
Now, cos      =30°
AB 6. 2 12 2

Example 12: Find the component of a vector A = 3iˆ + 2jˆ along the direction of  iˆ + ˆj  .

iˆ + ˆj iˆ + ˆj
Solution: Unit vector along  
iˆ + ˆj is n̂ = =
1 +1 
2 2 12 2

 The magnitude of the component of vector A along the  

iˆ + ˆj is

 3iˆ 2 ˆj  i 2j =

ˆ ˆ
A  n̂ =
1
2
(3+2) =
5
2
 The component vector of A along the  
iˆ + ˆj is

5  iˆ  ˆj  5 ˆ 5 ˆ
A1    i  j
2 2  2 2

VECTOR PRODUCT (CROSS PRODUCT)

Vector Product of two vectors is defined as a vector having magnitude equal to product of the magnitude of two vectors with
sine of smaller angle between them, and direction perpendicular to the plane containing the two vectors and in the sense of
advancement of a right handed screw rotated from first vector to the second vector through smaller angle between them.
   
A B
If A and B are two vectors, then their vector product is written as
   
A  B is vector and is read as A cross B . It is defined as n̂

B
   

A  B = | A | | B | sin  n̂
 

where n̂ is unit vector along the direction of A  B A

PROPERTIES OF CROSS PRODUCT

(i) Cross product of two vectors is not commutative
       
ab  b  a ab   ba
(ii) cross product is not associative
     
a ( b  c )  ( a  b )  c
(iii) cross product obey distributive law
      
a ( b  c )  a  b  a  c

(iv) The vector product of any vector with itself is 0
  
a a 0
     
(v) If a  b  0 , then a  0 or b  0 or a || b
(vi) Cross product of unit vectors iˆ, ˆj and k̂
iˆ  iˆ  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  0
iˆ  ˆj  k   ˆj  iˆ ˆj  kˆ  iˆ   kˆ  ˆj kˆ  iˆ  ˆj   iˆ  kˆ
These result can be remembered easily with the help of following method:

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Around a circle placed iˆ, ˆj and k̂ in anticlockwise direction as shown in figure.

Now cross product of any two unit vectors will give third unit vectors and it will ĵ
be +ve if on this circle given two vectors are in anticlockwise direction otherwise k̂
it will be –ve
iˆ  ˆj  kˆ , ˆj  iˆ   kˆ ˆj  kˆ  iˆ, kˆ  ˆj   iˆ kˆ  iˆ  ˆj , iˆ  kˆ   ˆj

iˆ
 
(vii) If the two vectors A and B in terms of their rectangular component are
 
A  a1iˆ  b1 ˆj  c1kˆ B  a2iˆ  b2 ˆj  c2 kˆ
 
A  B  (a1iˆ  b1 ˆj  c1kˆ)  (a2iˆ  b2 ˆj  c2 kˆ)
It can be found by the determinant method
iˆ ĵ k̂
 
i.e., A  B = a1 b1 c1 = iˆ (b1c2  b2 c1 ) – ˆj (a1 c2  a2 c1 )  kˆ (a1 b2  a2 b1 )

a2 b2 c2

USES OF CROSS PRODUCT

(i) To find torque of a force about a point: Torque about a point is the cross product of vector joining the point to the point of
application of force and the force.
 
Torque () = r  F
 
When r is vector joining the point to the point of application of force and F is force vector.
   
(ii) To find unit vector perpendicular of two vectors: As direction of a  b is perpendicular to both a and b therefore a
unit vector perpendicular to both is given by
 
a b
nˆ    
|a b |
(iii) To find area of a parallelogram: Let OACB be a parallelogram B C
   
having side OA  a and OB  b and AOB = .
Area of parallelogram OACB 
= 2 area of triangle OAB b b sin
 ab sin    
 
2  = ab sin   | ab | a
 2  O
A
 
Thus, a  b is a vector whose modulus is the area of the parallelogram formed by the two vectors as the adjacent sides.
   
(iv) To check co-linearity of two vectors: if a  b  0 then the vector a and b are parallel provided a and b are non-zero
vectors.
Note: (i) This may be regarded as a test to decide whether the given two vectors are parallel or not.
(ii) If three vectors are coplanar then dot product of a vector with cross product of other two must be zero i.e.
a.(b  c )  0

Example 13: Find a unit vector perpendicular to both A = 2iˆ +3jˆ + kˆ and B = ˆi - ˆj + kˆ .
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 VECTOR

  iˆ ˆj kˆ
Solution: A B = 2 3 1 = iˆ (3  1)  ˆj (1  2)  kˆ (2  3) = 4 iˆ  ˆj  5kˆ
1 1 1
 
Further, | A  B |  (4) 2  (1) 2  (5) 2  42
 The desired unit vector is
 
A B
nˆ    
or, nˆ  
1
42

4iˆ  ˆj  5kˆ 
| A B |
Example 14: Prove that the vectors A = 2iˆ - 3jˆ - kˆ and B = -6iˆ +9jˆ +3kˆ are parallel.

Solution: The given vectors will be parallel if their cross product is zero.
 
Now, 2iˆ - 3jˆ - kˆ   -6iˆ +9jˆ +3kˆ  =  9 - 9  iˆ + 6 - 6  ˆj + 18 - 18  kˆ = 0

Hence, the two vectors A and B are parallel to each other.

In fact, B  3 A

ADDITION & SUBTRACTION OF VECTORS

1. The vector sum of the forces of 10 N and 6 N can be
(a) 2 N (b) 8 N (c) 18 N (d) 20 N.
2. In Figure, E equals
B
(a) A C
(b) B
A
(c) A  B
(d) –( A  B ) D E

3. Minimum number of forces having equal magnitudes, which can give a resultant zero, is
(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 1
4 ABCD is a quadrilateral. Force BA, BC, CD and DA act at a point. Their resultant is D C

(a) 2 AB (b) 2DA

(c) 2BC (d) 2 BA

A B
4 A man walks 4 m towards east and then turns 600 to the north of east and again walks for 4m. Calculate the net
displacement.
(a) 8 m (b) 42 m (c) 6.9 m (d) 5.4 m
5 Two vectors A and B lie in a plane. Another vector C lies outside this plane. The resultant A  B  C of these three
vectors
(a) can be zero (b) cannot be zero
(c) lies in the plane of A  B (d) lies in the plane of A  B

7 The resultant of two vectors P and Q is perpendicular to P and its magnitude is half that of Q. What is the angle between
P and Q ?
(a) 450 (b) 900 (c) 1200 (d) 1500
8 What is the angle between two vectors if the ratio of their dot product and cross product is 3 ?
(a) 300 (b) 00 (c) 600 (d) 450

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9 The resultant of two forces 3P & 2P is R, if first force is doubled, the resultant is also doubled. Then the angle between the
forces is :
(a) 30º (b) 60º (c) 120º (d) 150º
10 The greatest and least resultant of two forces acting at a point is 10 N and 6 N respectively. If each force is increased by 3
N, find the magnitude of resultant of new forces when acting at a point at an angle of 90 0 with each other.
(a) 8 N (b) 12.1 N (c) 9.8 N (d) 7.4 N
11 If two non-parallel vectors A and B are equal in magnitude, then the vectors (A  B) and (A  B) will be
(a) parallel to each other (b) parallel but oppositely directed
(c) perpendicular to each other (d) inclined at an angle  always less than 90
12. Resultant of two vectors of equal magnitude makes an angle 60 with one of the vectors. Find the angle between the
vectors.
13. Find the unit vector in the direction of 3iˆ  4 ˆj  kˆ
14. The sum of magnitudes of two forces acting at a point is 18 and the magnitude of their resultant is 12. The resultant is at
90 with the force of smaller magnitude. What are the magnitude of individual forces.
15. Two force of F1 = 500 N due east and F2 = 250 N due north, Find F2 – F1 ?
RESOLUTION OF VECTORS

16. A force of 30 N is acting at an angle of 600 with the y-axis. Determine the components of the forces along x and y-axes.
17. One of the rectangular components of a velocity of 60 km h–1 is 30 km h–1 . Find other rectangular component?

18. The angle made by vector A  4iˆ  3 ˆj with y-axis is

 3  4  3  3
(a) tan1   (b) tan1   (c) tan1   (d) cos1  
 
4  
3  
5  
5
19. Which of the rectangular pair may be the rectangular components of a 13 N force?
(a) 5 N, 12 N (b) 10 N, 11 N (c) 6.5 N, 6.5 N (d) 9 N, 12 N
20. Given: a  3iˆ  4 ˆj and b  3 ˆj  4kˆ , calculate the magnitude of the resultant.
21. Find the net displacement of a particle from its starting point if it undergoes three successive displacements given S1 = 20
m, 450 West of North, S 2 = 15 m, 300 North of East; S3 =20m, due South. y
F2  20 2 N
22. In the adjacent figure, find the value of F and  so that the sum of the vectors will be zero. F

45 
x
F3  10 N

F1  60 N

23. The components of a vector A along x-axis and y-axis are 4 unit and 6 unit respectively. If the components of vector A  B
along x-axis and y-axis are 10 unit and 14 unit respectively, find the vector B and its direction with the x-axis.

MULTIPLICATION OF VECTORS
24. Two constant forces F1  (2iˆ  3 ˆj  3kˆ) newton and F2  (5iˆ  6 ˆj  2kˆ) newton act together on a particle during its
ˆ m to 8kˆ m. Calculate the work done. If work done by a force F , for a
displacement from the position (20iˆ  15j)
displacement  r is given by W  F  r .
25. Show that the vectors A = 12iˆ - 10jˆ + 2kˆ and B = 4iˆ + 8jˆ +16kˆ are perpendicular to each other.
26. Find the component of a vector A = 3iˆ + 2jˆ along the direction of  iˆ + ˆj  .
ˆ
27. If A and B are two mutually perpendicular vectors, where A = 5i +7j+3kˆ and B = 2i +2jˆ- akˆ , then the value of a is
(a)2 (b) 8 (c)7 (d) 8

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28. Vector A has a magnitude of 5 units, B has a magnitude of 6 units and the cross product of A and B has a magnitude of
15 units. Find the angle between A and B .
29. Check whether the two vectors, A  3iˆ  7 ˆj  9kˆ and B = B  2iˆ  21 ˆj  6kˆ are parallel to each other.
30. Find the magnitude of area of a parallelogram whose diagonals are represented by 3iˆ  ˆj  kˆ and iˆ  ˆj  kˆ .
31. The area of a parallelogram formed by the vectors A = î +2 ˆj +3 k̂ and B =3 î  2 ˆj + k̂ as adjacent sides is
(a) 83 units. (b) 64 units (c) 32 units. (d) 3 units
32. If vectors A and B are perpendicular to each other, then which of the following statements is valid?
(a) A  B = A . B (b) A  B = 0 (c) A . B = 0 (d) A . B = | A | | B |
33. Find the unit vector which is parallel to the vector A = 2iˆ +3jˆ - kˆ .
ˆ 4 ˆj+12 kˆ .
34. Find the unit vector which is perpendicular to both of the vectors A  2iˆ and B = 3i+
SINGLE CORRECT ANSWER TYPE

1. Two vectors a and b inclined at an angle  w.r.t. each other have a resultant c which makes an angle  with a . If the
directions of a and b are interchanged, then the resultant will have the same
(a) magnitude (b) direction
(c) magnitude as well as direction (d) neither magnitude nor direction
2. For any two vectors A and B if A . B =| A  B |, the magnitude of C = A + B is equal to
12
 AB 
(a) A2 + B2 (b) A + B (c)  A 2 + B2 +  (d) (A2 + B2 + 2  AB) 1/2
 2
3. For any two vectors A and B if A . B =| A  B |, the magnitude of C = A + B is equal to
12
 AB 
(a) A2 + B2 (b) A + B (c)  A 2 + B2 +  (d) (A2 + B2 + 2  AB) 1/2
 2
4. Find the value of c if A = 0.4 î + 0.3 ˆj + c k̂ is a unit vector.
(a) 0.5 (b) 0.75 (c) 1 (d) none of these.
5. ˆ ˆ
If A = 2 î +3 j and B = î + 4 j + k̂ , then the unit vector along ( A + B ) is
3iˆ  7ˆj  kˆ 2iˆ  3jˆ ˆi  4jˆ  kˆ 2iˆ  3jˆ
(a) (b) (c) (d)
59 59 18 13
6. In none of the vectors A , B and C are zero and if A  B = 0 and B  C = 0, the value of A  C is
(a) unity (b) zero (c) B2 (d) AC cos 

7. If vectors 2iˆ  2 ˆj  2kˆ , 5iˆ  yjˆ  kˆ and iˆ  2 ˆj  2kˆ are coplanar, the value of y is
(a) 81 (b) 36 (c) 23 (d) 9
8. Which of the following is incorrect?
(a) The minimum number of vectors of unequal magnitude required to produce zero resultant is 3.
(b) When A is multiplied by ‘–3’, the direction of A is reversed but magnitude becomes three times.
(c) The angle between A  B and A  B can vary between 0º and 180º.
(d) None of these.

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