4.

MOTION IN A PLANE

1. SCALARS AND VECTORS

Main points from the topic:

Motion in a plane is called motion in two dimensions e.g., projectile motion,

circular motion etc. For the analysis of such motion, our reference will be made
of an origin and two co-ordinate axes X and Y.
Scalar and vector quantities
• Scalar: The physical quantities which are completely specified by their
magnitude or size alone are called scalar quantities. Examples. Length,
mass, density, speed, work, etc.
• Vector: Vector quantities are those physical quantities which are
characterised by both magnitude and direction. Examples. Velocity,
displacement, acceleration, force, momentum, torque etc.
Characteristics of vectors
- These possess both magnitude and direction.
- These do not obey the ordinary laws of Algebra.
- These change if either magnitude or direction or both changes.
- These are represented by bold-faced letters or letters having arrows over
them. (A or 𝐴⃗)
Unit vector
- A unit vector is a vector of unit magnitude and points in a particular
direction. It is used to specify the direction only. A unit vector is represented
by putting a cap (^) over the quantity.
𝐴⃗
𝐴̂ =
|𝐴⃗|
Dot product of two vectors
• The scalar product or dot product of any two vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗, is defined
as
𝐴⃗. 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
• Properties:
a. Dot product is commutative
A.B = B.A

b. Dot product is distributive

A.(B+C) = A.B +A.C

c. Dot product of a vector with itself gives the square of its magnitude
A.A = AA cosθ = A2

d. A.(λB) = λ (A.B)
Where λ is a real number.
e. Dot product of unlike unit vector is zero and like vector is one.
𝑖̂. 𝑗̂ = 𝑗̂. 𝑘̂ = 𝑘̂. 𝑖̂ = 0
𝑖̂. 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂. 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂ . 𝑘̂ = 1
Explain what you learned from the above topic. Then try answering the following
questions.
1. Which among the following is a scalar quantity?
a. Force
b. Mass
c. Momentum
d. Velocity
Answer: Option a

Explanation: Mass is the scalar quantity among the given options. Mass is
scalar since it has only magnitude and no direction.

2. Dot product is distributive, it is given as

a. A.(B – C) = A.B * A.C
b. A.(B + C) = A.B – A.C
c. A.(B + C) = A.B + A.C
d. A.(B * C) = A.B/A.C
Answer: Option c

Explanation: Dot product is distributive, and can be represented as

A.(B + C) = A.B + A.C.

3. Motion in a plane is called

a. Motion in one dimension
b. Motion in two dimensions
c. Motion in three dimensions
d. Motion in four dimensions
Answer: Option b

Explanation: Motion in a plane is also known as motion in two dimensions.

4. Which of the following quantity is a scalar

a. Heat
b. Force
c. Relative velocity
d. Gravitational force
Answer: Option a

Explanation: Heat is a form of energy; hence, it is a scalar.

5. Planck’s constant is a/an

a. Vector quantity
b. Scalar quantity
c. Neither
d. Both
Answer: Option b
 Explanation: Planck’s constant is a scalar quantity. (Try to google about this
constant).

6. Out of the following which is not a scalar quantity?

a. Time
b. Volume
c. Density
d. Momentum
Answer: Option d

Explanation: Momentum is a vector quantity.

7. If the position vector defines with i and k unit vector, the vector is in
a. x – y plane
b. y – z plane
c. x – z plane
d. x – y – z space
Answer: Option c

Explanation: Unit vector i is for the x-axis and k is for the z-axis. Hence, the
vector is in the x – z plane.

8. 𝑘̂. 𝑘̂ is equal to
a. Zero
b. One
c. Infinity
d. None
Answer: Option b

Explanation: The dot product of two same unit vectors is always equal to one.

9. The magnetic field is

a. Vector quantity
b. Scalar quantity
c. Both
d. None
Answer: Option a

Explanation: Magnetic field is a vector quantity.

10. Which one of the followings is a scalar quantity?

a. Magnetic force
b. Electric force
c. Mass
d. Current density
Answer: Option c
Explanation: Mass is a scalar quantity.
2. CROSS–PRODUCT AND VECTOR PROPERTIES

Main points from the topic:

The cross product of two vectors

• The vector product or cross product of any two vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵 ⃗⃗, is
defined as
𝐴⃗ × 𝐵⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
• Properties:
a. The vector product does not follow the commutative property.
b. If the given vectors are collinear then
AxB=0

c. Vector product of a vector with itself gives zero

A x A = |A||A|sin0 = 0

d. Cross product with its unit vector is zero.

𝑖̂ × 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ × 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂ × 𝑘̂ = 0

e. Cross product with unlike unit vector is

Equal vectors
• Vectors A and B are said to be equal, if |𝐴⃗| = |𝐵 ⃗⃗ | as well as their
directions are same.
Zero vector
• A vector with zero magnitudes and an arbitrary direction is called a zero
vector. It is also known as a null vector.
Negative vector
• A vector AB is a negative vector of CD if AB has the same magnitude
as the CD but is opposite in directions.
Parallel vectors
• A and B are said to be parallel vectors if they have the same direction,
and may or may not have equal magnitude (A||B). If the directions are
opposite, then A is anti-parallel to B.
Coplanar vectors
• Vectors are said to be coplanar if they lie in the same plane or they are
parallel to the same plane, otherwise, they are said to be non-coplanar
vectors.
Displacement vector
• The displacement vector is a vector which gives the position of a point
concerning a point other than the origin of the coordinate system.
Position and Displacement vectors
- Position vector of an object at time t is the position of the object relative to
the origin. It is represented by a straight line between the origin and the
position at time t.
- Displacement vector of an object between two points is the straight line
between the two points irrespective of the path followed. The path length is
always equal to or greater than the displacement.
Addition
• Triangular method: The
method of graphically adding
vectors by arranging them so that
head of the first is touching the
tail of the second vector and
makes a triangle by joining the
open sides. This method is
called the head-to-tail
method or triangle method of
vector addition.
𝑅 = √𝐴2 + 𝐵 2 + 2𝐴𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 =
𝐴 + 𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

• Parallelogram method: The method of adding vectors by

parallelogram method is by
a. Touching the tail of the two vectors.
b. Complete a parallelogram
by drawing lines from the
heads of the two vectors.
c. Vector resulting from the
origin to the point of
intersection of above lines
gives the addition.

• Polygon law: The law states

that if several vectors are
represented in magnitude
and direction by the side of
an open polygon taken in the
same order, the closing side
of the polygon taken in
reverse order will represent
the results of these vectors in
magnitude and direction.
R = P+Q+S+T
Explain what you learned from the above topic. Then try answering the following
questions.
1. A body makes a displacement of 4 m due East from a point O and then makes a
displacement of 3 m due North. Its resultant displacement from O
a. 7 m
b. 1 m
c. 5 m
d. 1.2 m
Answer: Option c

Explanation: Using the law of vector addition the displacement can be

calculated considering east and north as perpendicular and the base of a right-
angle triangle. Applying Pythagoras theorem to calculate the hypotenuse of the
triangle, i.e., in our case the resultant displacement.

2. Which is the vector that gives the position of a point concerning a point other than
the origin of the coordinate system?
a. Coplanar Vectors
b. Equal vector
c. Unit Vector
d. Displacement vector
Answer: Option d

Explanation: The displacement vector gives the position of a point concerning

a point other than the origin of the coordinate system.

3. How many minimum numbers of vectors in different planes can be added to give
zero resultant?
a. 4
b. 5
c. 3
d. 2
Answer: Option a

Explanation: Four minimum numbers of vectors in different planes can be

added to give zero resultant.

4. The resultant of A x 0 will be equal to

a. Zero
b. Zero vector
c. A
d. Unit vector
Answer: Option b

Explanation: A is a vector quantity and multiplying with zero will give a zero
vector.

5. Angle between unit vector i and unit vector j is

 a. 45o
b. 180o
c. 90p
d. 30p
Answer: Option c

Explanation: The unit vector i is assigned to the x-axis and unit vector j is to
the y-axis, the angle between is 90o.

6. Two vectors A and B lie in a plane, a third vector C lies outside this plane, the
sum of these vectors A + B + C
a. Can never be zero
b. Can be zero
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. None of these
Answer: Option a

Explanation: The sum of three vectors can never be zero as their planes are
different.

7. What is the minimum number of unequal forces whose resultant might be zero?
a. 2
b. 3
c. 4
d. 1
Answer: Option b

Explanation: Minimum of three unequal forces are required to have their

resultant zero.
For example, two forces are in the same direction having a magnitude of 3 N
and 4 N and the third force in the directly opposite direction has a 7 N
magnitude. There resultant will be, 3 + 4 – 7 = 0 N.

8. The coordinates of a particle moving in the x – y plane at any instant of time t is x

= 4t2 and y = 3t2. The speed of the particle at that instant is
a. 5t
b. 3t
c. 2t
d. 10t
Answer: Option d

Explanation: The resultant position vector will be,

r = (16t4 + 9t4)1/2 = 5t2
And the speed, v = dr/dt = d (5t2)/dt = 10t.

9. Acceleration due to gravity is

a. A polar vector
b. A scalar
c. A vector
d. None
 Answer: Option a

Explanation: It is a polar vector because whenever the coordinates change, the

acceleration due to gravity also changes.

10. Which of the following relations is correct for a unit vector?

𝐴⃗
a. 𝐴̂ = 2
|𝐴⃗|
𝐴⃗
b. 𝐴̂ = |𝐴⃗|
𝐴⃗
c. 𝐴̂ = 3
|𝐴⃗|
𝐴⃗2
d. 𝐴̂ = |𝐴⃗|
Answer: Option b

Explanation: The unit vector means whose magnitude is equal to one. Hence,
it can be determined when the vector is divided by its magnitude.
3. PROJECTILE MOTION AND CIRCULAR MOTION

Main points from the topic:

Projectile motion
• When a particle is thrown obliquely near the surface of the earth it
moves along a curved path (known as a parabolic path). Such a particle
is called a projectile and its motion is called projectile motion. For
example, the motion of a football, a cricket ball, a baseball, etc.
• Equation of trajectory:
𝑔
𝑦 = 𝑥𝑡𝑎𝑛𝜃 − ( 2 ) 𝑥2
𝑢 cos2 𝜃
The above equation is called the equation of trajectory. As the equation
represent a parabola. Thus, a projectile’s trajectory (is a parabola.

• Time of flight: The time taken by a projectile to return its initial

elevation after projection is known as a time of flight.
2𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
𝑇=
𝑔
• Maximum height attained:
𝑢2 sin2 𝜃
𝐻𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2𝑔
• Horizontal range: The maximum horizontal distance between the
points of projection and the point of the horizontal plane where the
projectile hits are called the horizontal range.
𝑢2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2𝜃
𝑅=
𝑔
Note: The range of projectile will be maximum if θ = 45o.

Relative velocity
• The velocity of a particle depends on the reference frame from where
the particle is observed. A reference frame is a physical object to
which we attach our coordinate system. If you observe the motion of a
flying kite while standing on the ground, your reference frame is the
ground and if you observe the motion of a kite from inside a car
moving on the ground, your reference frame is the car.
• The velocity of the kite will be different for these two reference
frames. Velocities observed from the ground are called the velocity of
an object relative to the ground. The velocity of object A observed
from object B is called the velocity of A relative to (or concerning)
concerning form circular motion
•
• When an object follows a circular path at a constant speed, the motion
of the object is called uniform circular motion.
𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟
• Centripetal acceleration: The acceleration of an object moving with
speed v in a circle of radius R has a magnitude v2/R and is always
directed towards the centre. This is why this acceleration is called
centripetal acceleration.
𝑣2
𝑎= = 𝜔2 𝑟
𝑅
• Angular position: At an instant, the angle θ made by the position
vector r of the particle with the positive direction of the x-axis is called
the angular position of the particle. The angular position θ keeps on
changing with time.
• Angular velocity: The angular velocity of the particle at any instant is
defined as the rate of change of angular position θ. That is,
𝑑𝜃⃗
𝜔
⃗⃗ =
𝑑𝑡
• Angular acceleration: The angular acceleration α at an instant is
defined as the rate of change of angular velocity (ω) concerning time.
That is,
𝑑𝜔
𝛼=
𝑑𝑡
Explain what you learned from the above topic. Then try answering the following
questions.
1. A small body attached at the end of an inextensible string completes a vertical circle,
then its
a. angular momentum remains constant
b. linear momentum remains constant
c. angular velocity remains constant
d. total mechanical energy remains constant
Answer: Option d

Explanation: A small body attached at the end of an inextensible string

completes a vertical circle, and then its total mechanical energy remains
constant.

2. The angular velocity depends upon the rate of change of the

a. Angular acceleration
b. Angular distance
c. Angular displacement
d. Linear displacement
Answer: Option c

Explanation: The angular velocity is the rate of change of the angular

displacement.

3. A body is travelling in a circle at a constant speed. It has

a. An inward acceleration
b. Constant velocity
c. No acceleration
d. An outward radial acceleration
Answer: Option a

Explanation: A body travelling in a circle at constant speed has an inward

acceleration.

4. When body A moves on a circular path, the centripetal acceleration is

a. Directed inwards from A to the centre of the circle
b. Directed tangential to the circumference of the circle at A
c. Directed perpendicular to the plane of the circle at A
d. Directed outward, perpendicular to the circumference of the circle
Answer: Option a

Explanation: When body A moves on a circular path, the centripetal

acceleration is directed inwards from A to the centre of the circle.

5. Give an example of motion in two dimensions

a. Motion along a straight line in any direction
 b. Bird flying
c. A flying kite
d. Projectile motion
Answer: Option d

Explanation: Projectile motion is an example of motion in two dimensions.

6. The shape of the trajectory of the motion of an object is determined by

a. Initial position
b. Acceleration
c. Initial velocity
d. All of these
Answer: Option d

Explanation: The shape of the trajectory of the motion is determined by its

initial position, velocity and acceleration.

7. In the projectile motion, if the air resistance is ignored, the horizontal motion is at
a. Constant velocity
b. Contant retardation
c. Constant acceleration
d. Variable acceleration
Answer: Option a

Explanation: In the projectile motion, if the air resistance is ignored, the

horizontal motion is at constant velocity.

8. The path followed by a projectile is called its

a. Territory
b. Treasury
c. Tractor
d. Trajectory
Answer: Option d

Explanation: The path followed by a projectile is called its trajectory.

9. A car sometimes overturns while taking a turn. When it happens, it is

a. the inner wheel which leaves the ground first
b. either the inner wheel or the outer wheel leaves the ground
c. both the wheel leaves the ground simultaneously
d. the outer wheel which leaves the ground first
Answer: Option a

Explanation: A car sometimes overturns while taking a turn. It is the inner

wheel which leaves the ground first.

10. An aeroplane is taking a turn in a horizontal plane

a. It remains horizontal
b. It inclines outward
c. It inclines inward
d. Its wings become vertical
Answer: Option c

Explanation: An aeroplane is taking a turn in a horizontal plane inclining

inward.