VECTOR

VECTOR
Precise description of laws of physics and physical phenomena requires expressing them in
form of mathematical equations. In doing so we encounter several physical quantities, some of
them have only magnitude and other have direction in addition to magnitude. Quantities of the
former kind are referred as scalars and the latter as vectors and mathematical operations with
vectors are collectively known as vector analysis.

VECTOR
A vector has both magnitude and sense of direction, and follows triangle law of vector addition.
For example, displacement, velocity, and force are vectors.

Vector quantities are usually denoted by putting an arrow over the corresponding letter, as A

or a . Sometimes in print work (books) vector quantities are usually denoted by boldface letters
as A or a.
 
Magnitude of a vector A is a positive scalar and written as A or A.

Unit Vector
It is mathematical way to express direction of a vector and defined by the ratio of a vector to its
magnitude. When a unit vector is multiplied with a scalar magnitude, we get a vector of
corresponding magnitude in the direction of the unit vector. A unit vector is usually represented
by putting a sign (ˆ) known as cap, hat or caret over a letter assigned to the unit vector. This
letter may be the same as used for the vector, or its lower case letter, or some other symbol. For

example, if we assign lower case letter a to unit vector in the direction of vector A , the unit
vector denoted by â is expressed by the following equation.

A  Aaˆ
Geometrical Representation of Vectors.
Geometrically a vector is represented by a directed straight-line segment drawn to a scale.
Starting point of the directed line segment is known as tail and the end-point as arrow, head, or
tip. The orientation of the line and the arrow collectively show the direction and the length of
the line drawn to a scale shows the magnitude.
For example let a particle moves from point A to B following a curvilinear path shown in the
figure. It displacement vector is straight line AB directed form A to B. If straight-line distance
between A and B is 25 m, the directed line segment has to be drawn to suitable scale. If we
assume the scale 1.0 cm = 10 m, the geometrical length of the displacement vector AB must be
2.5 cm.
Arrow
B B

Displacement

Tail
A A
Path
Geometrical representation of
Displacement Vector

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Addition of Vectors: The Triangle Law
Use of geometry in solving problems involving vectors is of fundamental nature. The triangle
law also uses principles of plane geometry. This law states:
The vectors to be added are drawn in such a manner that the tail of a vector coincides the tip of
the preceding vector (in tip to tail fashion); their resultant is defined by the vector drawn from
the tail of the first vector to the tip of the second vector. The two vectors to be added and their
resultant are coplanar.
 
Consider vectors A and B shown in the figure-I. Using the triangle law, we obtain
geometrical construction shown in the figure-II, where it is shown that two vectors and their
    
sum C A  B always make a closed triangle. If we change order of vector A and B , it
  
shown in figure-III that sum given by equation C B  A remain unchanged. Therefore, vector
addition is commutative.
A
C
A B
B B
A C

Fig. (i) Fig. (ii) Fig. (iii)

Construction, which is combination of the figure-II and III, is in form of a parallelogram and is
shown in figure-IV.
A

B C
B Bsin

 
A Bcos
Geometry of the above figure suggests the following results.
 Bsin  
C A2  B2  2ABcos  ;  tan 1  
 A  Bcos  
Example :
 
A vector A and B make angles of 20° and 110° respectively with the X–axis. The magnitudes
of these vectors are 5m and 12m respectively. Find their resultant vector.
Solution :
 
Angle between the A and B = 110°– 20° = 90°
R A2  B2  2ABcos90  52  122  13m R
 
Let angle of R from A is  B

Bsin  12sin 90 12 1

12
tan 
   
A  Bcos  5  12cos90 5  12  0 5

°
110 20°
A

 12   X-axis
or  tan 1   with vector A or ( + 20°) with X–axis
5
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Example :
Two forces each numerically equal to 10 dynes are acting as shown in the figure, then find
resultant of these two vectors.
Solution :
The angle  between the two vectors is 120° and not 60°.

ne
dy
 R (10)2  (10)2  2(10)(10)(cos120 )

10
60° 10 dyne
= 100  100  100 
10 dyne

Addition of more than two Vectors

The triangle law can be extended to define addition of more than two vectors. Accordingly, if
vectors to be added are drawn in tip to tail fashion, resultant is defined by a vector drawn from
the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last vector. This is also known as the polygon rule for
vector addition.
   
Operation of addition of three vectors A, B and C and their resultant P are shown in figure.
C

P
   
A BC P
B

A
Here it is not necessary that three or more vectors and their resultant are coplanar. In fact, the
vectors to be added and their resultant may be in different planes. However if all the vectors to
be added are coplanar, their resultant must also be in the same plane containing the vectors.

Subtraction of Vectors

A vector opposite in direction but equal in magnitude to another vector A is known as negative
 
vector of A . It is written as – A . Addition of a vector and its negative vector results a vector of

zero magnitude, which is known as a null vector. A null vector is denoted by arrowed zero  0  .
The idea of negative vector explains operation of subtraction as addition of negative vector.
 
Accordingly to subtract a vector from another consider vectors A and B shown in the figure.
   
To subtract B from A , the negative vector – B is added to A according to the triangle law as
shown in figure-II.
A
A B
A B B

Multiplying by a number
Multiplication by a positive number changes magnitude of the vector but not the direction and
multiplication by a negative number changes magnitude and reverses direction.

Thus multiplying a vector by a number n makes magnitude of the vector n times. nA   nA  aˆ

Here â denotes the unit vector in the direction of vector A .
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Do yourself – 1 :
(i) 0.4 î + 0.8 ˆj + c k̂ represents a unit vector, when c is.
(A) 0.2 (B) 0.2 (C) 0.8 (D) 0
(ii) A vector is not changed if -
(A) It is rotated through an arbitrary angle (B) It is multiplied by an arbitrary scale
(C) It is cross multiplied by a unit vector (D) It is a slide parallel to itself
(iii) One of the following is not a vector :
(A) displacement (B) work (C) force (D) gravitational field.
(iv) Which one of the following is not a scalar :
(A) time (B) Length (C) mass (D) weight.
(v) Direction of zero vector
(A) does not exist (B) towards origin (C) indeterminate (D) away the origin.

Resolution of a Vector into Components

Following laws of vector addition, a vector can be represented as a sum of two (in two-
dimensional space) or three (in three-dimensional space) vectors each along predetermined
directions. These directions are called axes and parts of the original vector along these axes are
called components of the vector.
Cartesian components in two dimensions
If a vector is resolved into its components along mutually y
perpendicular directions, the components are called Cartesian or
rectangular components. 
In figure is shown, a vector A resolved into its Cartesian components A
 Ay
A x and A y along the x and y-axis. Magnitudes Ax and Ay of these

components are given by the following equation. O
x
Ax
Ax = Acos and Ay = Asin
A A x ˆi  A y ˆj
A Ax 2  Ay2
Here î and ˆj are the unit vectors for x and y coordinates respectively.
Mathematical operations e.g. addition, subtraction, differentiation and integration can be
performed independently on these components. This is why in most of the problems use of
Cartesian components becomes desirable.

Cartesian components
 in three dimensions
A vector A resolved into its three Cartesian components one along each of the directions x, y,
and z-axis is shown in the figure.
z

   
A  Ax  A y  Az  Ax ˆi  A y ˆj  Az kˆ ; A  A2x  A2y  A 2z
A
AZ
AX y

Ay
x
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Equal Vectors
Two vectors of equal magnitudes and same directions are known as equal vectors. Their x, y
and z components in the same coordinates system must be equal.
 
If two vectors a  a x ˆi  a y ˆj  a z kˆ and b  b x ˆi  b y ˆj  bz kˆ are equal vectors, we have
 
a  b  ax = bx, ay = by and az = bz
Parallel Vectors
Two parallel vectors must have the same direction and may have unequal magnitudes. Their x,
y and z components in the same coordinate system bear the same ratio.
 
Consider two vectors a  a ˆi  a ˆj  a kˆ and b  b ˆi  b ˆj  b kˆ , if they are parallel, we have
x y z x y z

  a ay az
a b  x  
bx b y bz
Product of Vectors
In all physical situation, whose description involve product of two vectors, only two categories
are observed. One category where product is also a vector involves multiplication of
magnitudes of two vectors and sine of the angle between them, while the other category where
product is a scalar involves multiplication of magnitudes of two vectors and cosine of the angle
between them. Accordingly, we define two kinds of product operation. The former category is
known as vector or cross product and the latter category as scalar or dot product.

Do yourself – 2 :
(i) Minimum number of unequal forces whose vector sum can equal to zero is -
(A) two (B) three (C) four (D) any

(ii) How many minimum number of vectors in different planes can be added to give zero
resultant ?
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5

(iii) Following sets of three forces act on a body. Whose resultant cannot be zero ?
(A) 10, 10, 10 (B) 10, 10, 20 (C) 10, 20, 20 (D) 10, 20, 40
(iv) Following forces start acting on a particle at rest at the origin of the co-ordinate system
   
simultaneously F1 = – 4î  5 ĵ  5k̂ , F2 = 5î  8 ĵ  6k̂ , F3 = – 3î  4 ĵ  7k̂ , F4 = 2î  3 ĵ  2k̂
then the particle will move -
(A) In x - y plane (B) In y - z plane (C) In x - z plane (D) Along x-axis

     
(v) The vector A and B are such that A  B  A  B
     
(A) A  B 
0 (B) A  B 
0 (C) A  0 (D) B  0

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Scalar or dot product of two vectors
 
The scalar product of two vectors A and B equals to the product of their magnitudes and the
cosine of the angle  between them.
A
A
 B
O
  B
A 
B ABcos  OA  OB  cos 
The above equation can also be written in the following ways.
   
A  B   A cos  B  OP  OB A  B A  Bcos 
 OA  OQ
Q
A A 90°

A A OQ=Bcos
OP=Acos
 90° 
O B O B
P B
Above two equations and figures, suggest a scalar product as product of magnitude of the one
vector and magnitude of the component of another vector in the direction of the former vector.

GOLDEN KEY POINTS

   
• Dot product of two vectors is commutative: A  B  B  A
   
• If two vectors are perpendicular, their dot product is zero. A  B 0 , if AB
   
• Dot product of a vector by itself is known as self-product. A  A  A2  A  A  A
 
1  A  B 
• The angle between the vectors  cos  
 AB 
 
• (a) Component of A in direction of B
   
    A.B   A.B ˆ 
A |  A cos  
 ˆ A  
B  Bˆ   B  A.Bˆ  Bˆ
A B  B 
A A^
A

 B A
     II

(b) Component of A perpendicular to B : A A  AII

ˆi  ˆi  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  1
• Dot product of Cartesian unit vectors:
ˆi  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ  ˆi  0
 
• If A  A x ˆi  A y ˆj  Az kˆ and B  Bx ˆi  By ˆj  Bz kˆ , their dot product is given by
 
A B A x Bx  A y By  Az Bz

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Example :     

If | A  B|  | A  B |, then find the angle between A and B .
Solution :
   
 | A  B|  | A  B|  A2  B2  2AB cos  A2  B2  2AB cos 
or A2 + B2 + 2AB cos  = A2 + B2 – 2AB cos  or cos  = 0   = 90°

Example :   
If A  4iˆ  njˆ  2kˆ and B  2iˆ  3jˆ  kˆ , then find the value of n so that A  B
Solution :
Dot product of two mutually perpendicular vectors is zero
 (4iˆ  njˆ  2k).(2i
ˆ ˆ  3jˆ  k)
ˆ 0  (4  2)  (n  3)  (2 1) 0  3n = – 6  n = – 2

Do yourself – 3 :     
(i) The two vectors A and B are drawn from a common point and C = A  B, then angle
 
between A and B is
(A) 900 if C2  A2 + B2 (B) greater than 900 if C2 < A2 + B2
(C) greater than 90 if C > A + B
0 2 2 2
(D) None of these
     
(ii) If A = B + C and the magnitudes A, B and C are 5, 4 and 3 units, the angle between
 
A and C is-
3 4  3
(A) cos–1   (B) cos–1   (C) (D) sin–1  
5 5 2 4
(iii) Two forces each of magnitude F have a resultant of the same magnitude F. The angle
between the two forces is -
(A) 45º (B) 120º (C) 150º (D) 60º

(iv) If 3iˆ  2jˆ  8kˆ and 2iˆ  xjˆ  kˆ are at right angles then x =
(A) 7 (B) – 7 (C) 5 (D) – 4

Vector or cross product oftwo vectors  

The vector product C of two vectors A and B is defined
 as
• Its
 magnitude
 is the product of magnitudes of A and B and of the sine of angle  between vectors
A and B .  
• Its direction is perpendicular to the plane containing vectors A and B and is decided by right
hand rule by curling fingers in the direction from the first vector towards the second vector. In
figure, where it is represented by n̂ .

  
C  A  B   ABsin   nˆ
C=A×B
n

B
A 
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On paper vectors perpendicularly out and into the plane of paper are represented by encircled
dot  and encircled cross  signs respectively. Following this convention, cross product
  
C A  B is shown in the figure.

B

C
A
To have different symbols for scalar and vector products, symbols dot (.) and cross (×)
respectively are written between the vectors undergoing these operations.
  
Cross product C A  B , can also be written in the following ways.
     
C  A  B  A  Bsin  nˆ C  A  B   Asin   Bnˆ
Q
A 90°
A

A A BQ=Bsin
AP=Asin
C  90° B C 
B B
P B
O O
The above two equations and figures explain that the magnitude of vector or cross product is
the product of magnitude of one vector and magnitude of the component of the other vector in
the direction perpendicular to the first one.

GOLDEN KEY POINTS

• Vector product of two vectors is always a vector perpendicular to the plane containing the two
 
vectors, i.e., orthogonal (perpendicular) to both the vectors A and B .
 
  AB
Unit vector perpendicular to A and B is n̂    
| AB|
   
• Vector product of two vectors is not commutative i.e. cross products A  B and B  A have
equal magnitudes but opposite directions as shown in the figure.
   
A  BB A
A× B= C

B
B A
A
B × A = -C
• The vector product is distributive when the order of the vectors is strictly maintained,
      
i.e. A(B  C)  A  B  A  C

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   
 |AB| 
• Angle  between two vectors A and B is given by  sin 1  
 |A||B| 

• The self cross product, i.e., product of a vector by itself is a zero vector or a null vector.
  
A
 0) nˆ 0 = ˆi  ˆi  ˆj  ˆj  kˆ  kˆ
 A (AA sin

• In case of orthogonal unit vectors ˆi, ˆj and kˆ ; according to right hand thumb rule
ˆi  ˆj k,
ˆ ˆj  kˆ  ˆi, kˆ  ˆi ˆj and ˆj  ˆi k,
ˆ kˆ  ˆj ˆi, ˆi  kˆ ˆj
 
• If A  A x ˆi  A y ˆj  Az kˆ and B  Bx ˆi  By ˆj  Bz kˆ , their cross-products is given by

ˆi ˆj kˆ
 
A BAx Ay A z  ˆi(A y Bz  A z By )  ˆj(A x Bz  A z Bx )  k(A
ˆ
x B y  A y Bx )

Bx By Bz
     
• If A , B and C are coplanar, then A.(B  C)  0 .

Example :
Find a unit vector perpendicular to both the vectors (2iˆ  3jˆ  k)
ˆ and (iˆ  ˆj  2k)
ˆ .

Solution :
 
Let A  2iˆ  3jˆ  kˆ and B  ˆi  ˆj  2kˆ
  
 A B
unit vector perpendicular to both A and B is nˆ   
A B

ˆi ˆj kˆ
 
A  B 2 3 1 ˆi(6  1)  ˆj(4  1)  k(
ˆ 2  3) 7iˆ  3jˆ  5kˆ
1 1 2

  1
 AB
 72  (3)2  (5)
2
 n̂
83 unit  (7iˆ  3jˆ  5k)
83

Rate of change of a vector with time

It is derivative of a vector function with respect to time. Cartesian components of a time

dependent vector, if given as function of time as r  t   x(t)iˆ  y(t)ˆj  z(t)kˆ , the time rate of

change can be calculated according to equation


dr  t  dx(t)iˆ dy(t)ˆj dz(t)kˆ
  
dt dt dt dt
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Methods of differentiation of vector functions
Methods of differentiation of scalar functions are also applicable to differentiation of vector functions.
 
d   dF dG
1.
dt

FG  

dt dt
 
d   dF   dG
2.
dt

FG  
dt
G  F
dt

d  dX  dF
3.
dt
 
XF
dt
FX
dt
Here X is a scalar function of time.
 
d   dF   dG  
4.
dt

F G  
dt
 G  F
dt
Order of the vector functions F and G must be retained.

Do yourself – 4 :
(i) A person moves 30 m north, then 20 m east then 30 2 m south-west . His displacement
from the original position -
(A) 14 m south-west (B) 28 m south (C) 10 m west (D) 15 m East
(ii) I started walking down a road to day-break facing the sun. After walking for some-time, I
turned to my left, then I turned to the right once again. In which direction was I going then ?
(A) East (B) North-west (C) North-east (D) South
 
(iii) Which of the following is not true ? If A 3iˆ  4jˆ and B 6iˆ  8jˆ where A and B are the
 
magnitudes of A and B ?
  A 1  
(A) A  B = 0 (B)  (C) A.B  48 (D) A = 5
B 2
(iv) Two vector A and B have equal magnitudes. Then the vector A + B is perpendicular to -
(A) A × B (B) A – B (C) 3A – 3B (D) all of these

Answers for Do yourself

Do yourself – 1 :
(i) (B) (ii) (D) (iii) (B) (iv) (D) (v) (C)

Do yourself – 2 :
(i) (B) (ii) (C) (iii) (D) (iv) (B) (v) (D)

Do yourself – 3 :
(i) (B) (ii) (A) (iii) (B) (iv) (B)

Do yourself – 4 :
(i) (C) (ii) (A) (iii) (C) (iv) (D)

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SOME WORKED OUT EXAMPLES
Example #1
In the given figure, a function y = 15e–x is shown. What is the numerical value of expression
A/(B+C)?
y
A

A/e
A/e2
x
B C

Solution: Ans. 5
From graph A = 15 ; B =1 ; C =2 . Therefore [ A/(B+C) = 15/3 = 5]

Example #2
A car changes its velocity linearly from 10 m/s to 20 m/s in 5 seconds. Plot v-t graph and write
velocity as a function of time.
Solution:
20 10
Slope =  2 m y-intercept = 10 = c  v = 2t + 10
50
v(m/s)

20
20 10=10
10
5

t(s)
0 5

Example #3
  
Three coplanar vectors A , B and C have magnitudes 4, 3 and 2 respectively. If the angle
between any two vectors is 120° then which of the following vector may be equal to
  
3A B C
 
4 3 2

B
60°
A 60°
C

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Solution : Ans. (B)
        
B C B C A 3A B C A
As  so   therefore   
3 2 3 2 4 4 3 2 2
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Example #4
The magnitude of pairs of displacement vectors are given. Which pairs of displacement vectors
cannot be added to give a resultant vector of magnitude 13 cm?
(A) 4 cm, 16 cm (B) 20 cm, 7 cm (C) 1 cm, 15 cm (D) 6 cm, 8 cm
Solution : Ans. (C)
 
Resultant of two vectors A and B must satisfy A ~ B  R  A + B

Example #5
       
Three non zero vectors A , B and C satisfy the relation A  B 
0 & AC 
0 . Then A can be
parallel to :
     
(A) B (B) C (C) B  C (D) B  C
Solution : Ans. (D)
       
A  B 0  A  B & A C 0  A  C
      
But B  C is perpendicular to both B and C so A is parallel to B  C .

Example #6
 and  are the angle made by a vector from positive x & positive y-axes respectively. Which
set of  and  is not possible
(A) 450, 600 (B) 300, 600 (C) 600, 600 (D) 300, 450
Solution : Ans. (D)
2 2 2
,  must satisfy cos +cos +cos =1

Example #7
       
Let A , B and C , be unit vectors. Suppose that A  B  A  C  0 �and the angle between B
 
and C is then
6
           3
(A) A
  B  C A 2  B  C
(B) A 2  C  B
(C) (D) B  C 
2
Solution : Ans. (BC)
 
      B  C   1
As A  B and A  C so A     But B  C =BC sin30° =
B C 2
          
So A  2  B  C  A 
2  B  C  and A 2  B  C  
2 C  B

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Example #8
 
Angle between a and b is 60° than
    a 2  b2
(A) The component of a  b along a  b will be
a 2  b 2  ab
     
(B) a  b is perpendicular to resultant of  a  2b  and  a  b 
    a 2  b2
(C) The component of a  b along a  b will be
a 2  b 2  2ab
    a 2  b2
(D) The component of a  b along a  b will be
a 2  b 2  3ab
Solution : Ans. (A,B)
 
 a  b    a  b  a 2  b2 a 2  b2
For (A) : Required component     
ab a 2  b2  2ab cos 60 a 2  b2  ab
       
For (B) : a  2b  a  b  2a  b which lies in the plane of a and b
 
 resultant is perpendicular to a  b

Example #9
Which of the following sets of concurrent forces may be in equilibrium?
(A) F1 = 3N, F2= 5N, F3 = 1N (B) F1 = 3N, F2 = 5N, F3 = 6N
(C) F1 = 3N, F2 = 5N, F3 = 9N (D) F1 = 3N, F2 = 5N, F3 = 16 N
Solution : Ans. (B)
For equilibrium, net resultant force must be zero. These forces form a closed triangle such that
F1~F2 F3  F1+F2  2N  F3  8N

Example #10
Consider three vectors
  
A  2iˆ  3jˆ  2kˆ B  5iˆ  njˆ  kˆ C ˆi  2jˆ  3kˆ
If these three vectors are coplanar, then value of n will be
(A) 0 (B) 12 (C) 16 (D) 18
Solution: Ans. (D)
Ax Ay Az
  
For coplanar vectors A  (B  C) Bx By Bz  0
Cx Cy Cz
2 3 2
 5 n 1 2  3n  2   3 15  1  2 10  n
 0  4n – 72 = 0  n = 18
1 2 3

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Example #11 to 13
        
Vector product of three vectors is given by A  (B  C) B(A.C)  C(A.B)
11. The value of ˆi  (ˆj  k)
ˆ is

(A) 0 (B) 0 (C) 1 (D) 3
  
12. The plane of vector A  (A  B) is lies in the plane of
     
(A) A (B) B (C) A  B (D) A and B
13. The value of ˆi  (iˆ  ˆj)  ˆj  (ˆj  k)
ˆ  kˆ  (kˆ  ˆi) is

(A) ˆi  ˆj  kˆ (B) ˆi  ˆj  kˆ (C) 0 (D) 3iˆ  3jˆ  3kˆ
Solution :
11. Ans. (B)

ˆi   ˆj  kˆ   ˆj i  kˆ   kˆ i  j  0

12. Ans. (D)

          
A   A  B A  A  B  B  A  A  This vector lies in plane of A and B
13. Ans. (B)
i  i  j i i  j  j i  i  j  i  j  kˆ 

Example #14
  
If A iˆ  2 ˆj  3kˆ , B  ˆi  ˆj  4 ˆk and C  3iˆ  3 ˆj  12 kˆ , then find the angle between
    

the vectors A  B  C and A  B in degrees.   
Solution : Ans. 90
ˆi ˆj kˆ
      
P  A  B  C  3iˆ  5kˆ and Q  A  B  1 2 3  5iˆ  7ˆj  3kˆ
1 1 4
 
  P  Q 15  15
Angle between P & Q is given by cos     0    90
PQ PQ

Example #15
      
a and b are unit vectors and angle between them is . If a  2b and 5a  4b are
k
perpendicular to each other then find the integer value of k.
Solution : Ans. 3
       
(a  2b).(5a  4b)  0  5a 2  10a.b  8b2  4a.b  3  6a.b  0
3 1 
 ab cos    cos       k  3
6 2 3
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Example #16
For shown situation, what will be the magnitude of minimum force in newton that can be
applied in any direction so that the resultant force is along east direction?
North

3N
5N

37°
West East
4N

South
Solution : Ans. 6
Let force be F so resultant is in east direction
N( j )

3N 5N

37°
W E( i )
4N
Fmin

S

4iˆ  3jˆ   5cos37ˆi  5sin 37ˆj  F kiˆ
 
 4iˆ  3jˆ  4iˆ  3jˆ  F  kiˆ  8iˆ  6jˆ  F  kiˆ

 F   k  8 ˆi  6jˆ  F   k  8   6   Fmin  6N
2 2

Example #17
Column–I Column II
   
(Operation of nonzero vectors P and Q ) (Possible angle between P and Q )
 
(A) | P  Q | 0 (P) 90°
   
(B) P  Q 3P.Q (Q) 180°
  
(C) P  Q  R and P + Q = R (R) 60°
   
(D) P  Q  P  Q (S) 0°

(T) 30°

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Solution : Ans. (A)  Q,S ; (B)  R ; (C)  S ; (D)  P
   
0  Angle between P and Q is 00 or 1800
For (A) | P  Q | 
For (B) PQsin 
 3 PQcos   sin
  3 cos
Here cos must be positive so  = 60°
For (C) Here P2 + Q2 + 2PQcos = P2 + Q2 + 2PQ  cos =1   = 0°
For (D) Here P2 + Q2 + 2PQ cos = P2 + Q2–2PQcos  cos = 0,   = 90°

Example #18
The position of a particle moving in XY-plane varies with time t as x = t, y = 3t – 5.
(i) What is the path traced by the particle?
(ii) When does the particle cross-x-axis?
Solution :
(i) x = t, y = 3t – 5 By eliminating t from above two equations y = 3x – 5
This is the equation of a straight line.
5
(ii) The particle crosses x-axis when y=0. So 0 = 3t –5  t =
3
Example #19
Two particles A and B move along the straight lines x + 2y + 3 = 0 and 2x + y – 3 = 0
respectively. Their position vector, at the time of meeting will be
ˆi ˆj
(A) 3iˆ  3jˆ (B) 3iˆ  3jˆ (C)  (D) Particles never meet
3 3
Solution : Ans. (B)
The particles meet at the point of intersection of lines.
By solving them x=3, y= –3 , So position vector of meeting point will be 3iˆ  3jˆ

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EXERCISE # S
1. Pick out the two scalar quantities in the following list:
Force, work, current, linear momentum, electric fields, average velocity, reaction as per
Newton’s third law, relative velocity.

2. Pick out the only vector quantity in the following list:

Temperature, pressure, impulse, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational potential,
coefficient of friction, charge.

3. State with reasons, whether the following algebraic operations with scalar and vector physical
quantities are meaningful :
(A) adding any two scalars, (B)adding a scalar to a vector of the same dimensions
(C) multiplying any vector by any scalar, (D) multiplying any two scalars,
4. Find the lengths of the following vectors: 3iˆ  2ˆj  kˆ and 5iˆ  4ˆj  2kˆ
     
5. Prove that (A  B).(2A  3B) = 2A2 – AB cos – 3B2 where  is the angle between A and B
     
6. There are three non zero vectors a, b and c . They are related as a  b  c and a + b = c. Show
 
that vector a and b are parallel.
7. Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons, if it is true or false:
(A) The magnitude of a vector is always a scalar,
(B) each component of a vector is always a scalar,
(C) the total path length is always equal to the magnitude of the displacement vector of a
particle.
(D) the average speed of a particle (defined as total path length divided by the time taken to
cover the path) is either greater or equal to the magnitude of average velocity of the
particle over the same interval of time.
(E) Three vectors not lying in a plane can never add up to give a null vector.

8. Two forces of magnitude of 10 N and 20 N are acting at 120º. What is the angle between their
resultant and the smaller force.
9. Find the magnitude of resultant of following three forces acting on a particle.

F1  20N in eastward direction

F2  20N due north east and

F3  20N in southward direction

10. î and ĵ are unit vectors along x–axis and y–axis respectively. What is the magnitude and

direction of the vectors ˆi  ˆj , and ˆi  ˆj ? What are the components of a vector A 2iˆ  3jˆ along
the directions of ˆi  ˆj and ˆi  ˆj ?
   
11. Angle between two coplanar vectors r1 and r2 is  and | r1 || r2 | . What is the inclination of
 
their resultant with the vectors r1 and r2 .
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 
12. Find the value of p for which the vectors a  3iˆ  2ˆj  9kˆ and b  6iˆ  4ˆj  pkˆ are
(i) perpendicular (ii) parallel.
13. Prove that the three vectors 6iˆ  2ˆj  4k,
ˆ ˆi  5jˆ  4kˆ and 2iˆ  2ˆj  2kˆ are at right angles to one
another.
14. A 50 kg block is placed on an inclined plane with an angle of 30º. Then find the components of
the weight (i) perpendicular (ii) parallel to the inclined plane.
15. Find the unit vector perpendicular to the pair of vectors ˆi  ˆj  k, ˆ ˆi  2ˆj  kˆ
 
16. Given that a  ˆi  ˆj  k;
ˆ  b  ˆi  ˆj  k;ˆ c  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ , evaluate
      
(i) (a.b)  (b.c)  (c.a) (ii) (a.c)c  (c.b)a .
   
17. Verify that b  a (a b) where:
   
(i) a  ˆi  ˆj and b  3iˆ  ˆj  kˆ (ii) a  ˆi  ˆj  3kˆ and b  ˆi  ˆj  3kˆ
   
18. Given that A  B  C  0 . Out of three vectors two are equal in magnitude and the magnitude
of third vector is 2 times that of either of the two having equal magnitude. Find the angle
between vectors.
19. If the sum of two unit vector is a unit vector, then find the magnitude of their difference
 
20. Two vectors a and b of magnitude 10 unit and 20 unit respectively are shown in the figure.
Y

b
30º

a
30º X
O
(A) write the components of each vector.
(B) Write the vector in the form of their components.
     
(C) Write the components of a  b and find a  b . Also find the angle made by a  b  
with the x-axis.
21. Five equal forces of 10N are applied at one point and all are lying in one plane. If the angles
between them are equal, then find the resultant of these forces.
       
22.      
The vector a  3b is perpendicular to 7 a  5b and a  4 b is perpendicular to 7 a  2 b .

 

Find the angle between a & b .
         
23. If a  b  a  b , then show that , (a  b).(a  b)  | a |2  | b |2 .
 
24. Find the area of a parallelogram formed from the vectors A ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ and B  3iˆ  2ˆj  kˆ as
adjacent sides.
       
25. Given that a.b  a.c, a  b  a  c and v is a non-zero vector. Show that b  c .
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EXERCISE # O

1. If a be an unit vector, then
 
(A) direction of a is constant (B) magnitude of a is constant
(C) both (A) and (B) (D) any one of direction or magnitude is constant.

2. If a is a vector and x is a non-zero scalar, then
   
(A) x a is a vector in the direction of a (B) x a is a vector collinear to a
 
(C) x a and a have independent directions (D) none of these.

3. A vector is not changed if

(A) it is slid parallel to itself (B) it is cross multiplied by a unit vector
(C) it is rotated through an arbitrary angle (D) it is multiplied by a scalar.

4. For the figure –


C 
B

A
           
(A) A  B 
C (B) B  C 
A (C) C  A 
B (D) A  B  C 
0

5. Two forces of 4 dyne and 3 dyne act upon a body. The resultant force on the body can only be –
(A) more than 3 dynes (B) more than 4 dynes
(C) between 3 and 4 dynes (D) between 1 and 7 dynes
6. Which of the sets given below may represent the magnitudes of three vectors adding to zero ?
(A) 2, 4, 8 (B) 4, 8, 16 (C) 1, 2, 1 (D) 0.5, 1, 2

7. Two vectors have magnitudes 3 unit and 4 unit respectively. What should be the angle between
them if the magnitude of the resultant is -
(i) 1 unit (ii) 5 unit (iii) 7 unit
(A) 180º, 90º, 0º (B) 80º, 70º, 0º (C) 90º, 170º, 50º (D) None of these

8. The resultant of two vectors A and B is perpendicular to the vector A and its magnitude is equal
to half the magnitude of vector B. The angle between A and B is -

R
B

A
(A) 120º (B) 150º (C) 135º (D) None of these

9. If the angle between vector a and b is an acute angle, then the difference a – b is -
(A) the main diagonal of the parallelogram (B) the minor diagonal of the parallelogram
(C) any of the above (D) none of the above
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     
10. If a = 11, b = 23, a  b = 30, then a  b is :
(A) 10 (B) 20 (C) 30 (D) 40
 
11. F1 acts due east and F2 acts 60° north of east. Both have equal magnitude 40N each. What is
 
the magnitude and direction of F1  F2 ?
(A) 20 3 N, 300 east of north. (B) 40 3 N, 300 east of north.
(C) 20 3 N, 300 north of east. (D) 40 3 N, 300 north of east.
12. A child pulls a box with a force of 200 N at an angle of 60º above the horizontal. Then the
horizontal and vertical components of the force are-
F
60º

(A) 100 N, 175 N (B) 86.6 N, 100 N (C) 100 N, 86.6 N (D) 100 N, 0 N

13. The value of a unit vector in the direction of vector A = 5 î – 12 ˆj , is -
(A) î (B) ˆj (C) (î  ˆj) / 13 (D) (5 î – 12 ˆj )/13

14. The force determined by the vector r = (1, 8, 7) is resolved along three mutually

perpendicular directions, one of which is the direction of the vector a  2 ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ . Then
 
the vector component of the force r in the direction of the vector a is :
14 14 7 2 2 1
(A) 14 ˆi 14 ˆj  7 kˆ (B)  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ (C)  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ (D) none of these
3 3 3 3 3 3
15. The component of a vector is -
(A) always less than its magnitude (B) always greater than its magnitude
(C) always equal to its magnitude (D) none of these
16. What is the resultant of three coplanar forces: 300 N at 0°, 400 N at 30º and 400 N at 150º ?
(A) 500 N (B) 700 N (C) 1100N (D) 300 N

17. X-component of a is twice its Y-component . If the magnitude of the vector is 5 2 and
it makes an angle of 135º with z-axis then the vector is :
(A) ( 2 3 , 3 ,  3 ) (B) ( 2 6 , 6 ,  6 ) (C) ( 2 5 , 5 ,  5 ) (D) none of these
  
18. Given the three vectors, a  2 ˆi  ˆj  kˆ , b ˆi  5 ˆj & c  4 ˆi  4 ˆj  2 kˆ . The projection
  
of the vector 3a  2 b on the vector c is :
(A) 11 (B)  11 (C) 13 (D) none of these
  
19. If e1 & e2 are two unit vectors and  is the angle between them , then sin   is :
2
   
1   1   e .e e xe
(A) e1  e2 (B) e1  e2 (C) 1 2 (D) 1 2
2 2 2 2 e1 e2
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   
20. The angle between a and b is 0° then angle between a and – 3b is
(A) /3 (B)  (C) /6 (D) none of these.
 
21. A vector that is perpendicular to both the vectors a ˆi  2ˆj  kˆ and b  ˆi  ˆj  kˆ is
(A) ˆi  kˆ (B) ˆi  2ˆj  kˆ (C) ˆi  2ˆj  kˆ (D) ˆi  kˆ .

22. If  be the angle between the vectors ˆi  ˆj and 2iˆ  2kˆ , then  is
(a) 0 (B) /4 (C) /2 (D) /3.

23. Two vectors A and B lie in X-Y plane. The vector B is perpendicular to vector A. If A = î + ˆj ,
then B may be -
(A) î  ĵ (B)  î  ˆj (C) –2 î + 2 ˆj (D) Any of the above

24. The two vectors A = 2î  ĵ  3k̂ and B = 7î  5 ĵ  3k̂ are -
(A) parallel (B) perpendicular (C) anti-parallel (D) none of these

25. Two vectors P = 2î  bĵ  2k̂ and

Q î  ĵ  k̂ will be perpendicular if -
(A) b = 0 (B) b = 1 (C) b = 2 (D) b = – 4

26. A vector perpendicular to (4î  3 ĵ) is –

(A) 4î  3 ĵ (B) 7k̂ (C) 6î (D) 3î  4 ĵ

27. Angle that the vector A = 2 î + 3 ˆj makes with y-axis is –

(A) tan–1 3/2 (B) tan–1 2/3 (C) sin–1 2/3 (D) cos–1 3/2

28. Projection of the vector 2iˆ  3jˆ  2kˆ on the vector ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ is
2 1 3 3
(A) (B) (C) (D) .
14 14 17 14

29. Two forces, F1 and F2 are acting on a body. One force is double that of the other force and the
resultant is equal to the greater force. Then the angle between the two forces is -
(A) cos–1 (1/2) (B) cos–1 (–1/2) (C) cos–1 (–1/4) (D) cos–1 (1/4)

30. If the magnitudes of the vectors A, B and C are 6, 8, 10 units respectively and if A + B = C,
then the angle between A and C is -
(A) /2 (B) cos (0. 6) (C) tan (0.75) (D) /4
31. Angle between (P + Q) and (P – Q) will be-
(A) 0º only
(B) 90º only
(C) 180º only
(D) between 0º and 180º (both the values inclusive)
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32. If A = B + C and magnitudes of A, B and C are 5, 4, and 3 units respectively, the angle
between A and C is -
(A) sin–1 (3/4) (B) cos–1 (4/5) (C) cos–1 (3/5) (D) /2
     
33. If (A  B) is perpendicular to B and (A  2 B) is perpendicular to A , then
(A) A = 2B (B) A = 2B (C) 2A = B (D) A = B.
  
34. If a is perpendicular to b and c , then
        
(A) a  (b  c)  1 (B) a  (b  c) 
0 (C) a  (b  c) 1 (D) None of these.
    
35. If a  b  a  c , a  0, then
        
(A) b  c  a (B) c  a  b (C) a  b  c (D) None of these.
       
36. If a .b  a .c and a  b  a  c , then
      
(A) either a = 0 or b  c (B) a is parallel to ( b  c )
  
(C) a is perpendicular to ( b  c ) (D) none of these.
     
37. If  is the angle between vectors a and b , and | a × b | = a . b , then  is equal to
(A) 0° (B) 180° (C) 135° (D) 45°
   
38. (a  b)  (a  b) is equal to
   
(A) 0 (B) a b (C) 2(a b) (D) |a|2 + |b|2.
39. A vector A points. vertically upward and, B points towards north. The vector product A × B is-
(A) along west (B) along east (C) zero (D) vertically downward

40. The linear velocity of a rotating body is given by v =  × r, where  is the angular velocity
and r is the radius vector. The angular velocity of a body  = î  2 ĵ  2k̂ and their radius vector
r = 4 ˆj – 3 k̂ , |v| is -
(A) 29 units (B) 31 units (C) 37 (D) 41 units
  
41. The vector a (b a) is :
 
(A) perpendicular to a (B) perpendicular to b
 
(C) null vector (D) perpendicular to both a and b .
42.


 
 
  

The value of ˆi x r x ˆi + ˆj x r x ˆj + kˆ x r x kˆ is :

 
(A) r (B) 2 r (C) 3 r (D) 4 r
  
43. A.(A B) is
(A) = 0 (B) > 0 (C) < 0 (D) None of these.
   
44. A vector A points vertically downward and B points towards north. The vector product A B is
(a) along west (B) along east (C) zero (D) vertically upward.

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Multiple choice option
         
45. If a and b are two vectors with | a | = | b | and | a  b | + | a  b | = 2 | a |, then angle between a

and b –
(A) 0º (B) 90º (C) 60º (D) 180º

   
46. Vector R is the resultant of the vectors A and B . Ratio of maximum value of | R | to the

3  |A|
minimum value of | R | is . The may be equal to -
1 
|B|
2 1 4 3
(A) (B) (C) (D)
1 2 1 1

47. Two bodies P and Q are moving along positive x-axis their position-time graph is shown below
 
if VPQ is velocity of P w.r.t Q and VQP is velocity of Q w.r.t P then –

x
 
P
(A) | VPQ | = | VQP | = constant
 Q
(B) VPQ is towards origin

(C) VQP is towards origin
t
 
(D) VPQ and VQP both can be towards origin at same time
         
48. If a and b are two vectors with | a | = | b | and | a  b | + | a  b | = 2 | a |, then angle between a

and b –
(A) 0º (B) 90º (C) 60º (D) 180º
 
49. Vector A – B represents –
   
(A) Addition of vector A and vector – B (B) Resultant of vector A and B
 
(C) Resultant of vector A and – B (D) None of these

50. Two vectors of magnitude 5 unit and 8 unit are added, sum may have magnitude –
(A) 5 unit (B) 8 unit (C) 2 unit (D) 14 unit

    
51. If P = 5a î + 6 ˆj and Q = 3a î + 10 ˆj . The vectors P + Q makes an angle  with P and  with

Q then –
(A)  =  if a = 2 (B)  >  if a > 2 (C)  <  if a > 2 (D)  >  if a = 0
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52. The resultant of three forces of magnitude (P – Q), P and (P + Q) acting at a point in directions

parallel to the sides of equilateral triangle, taken in order is R , then -
  Q
(A) |R |= 3Q (B) |R| =
3
   
(C) R is perpendicular to P (D) R is parallel to P

       
53. If A and B are two vectors such that | A B | = | A – B | the angle between vectors A and B is -
(A) 0º (B) 60º (C) 90º (D) 120º

54. Select the correct statements -

(A) The sum of two vectors may be zero
(B) Two vectors are said to be equal if they have same direction and same magnitude
(C) The sum of two vectors may not be zero
(D) None of these

55. Select the correct statements -

(A) A null vector is vector whose magnitude is zero
(B) A vector has never zero magnitude
(C) A null vector does not exist
(D) none of these
56. Select the correct statements -
(A) Multiplying any vector by an scalar is a meaningful operation
(B) A vector has both magnitude and direction
(C) Acceleration is a vector quantity
(D) None of these

57. The arrow shown below represent all the force vectors that are applied to a single point. Select
the correct statements -
F
90º 3F
(A) The point may be moving at a constant velocity
(B) The point may not moving 150º
(C) The point is accelerating at a constant rate 2F
(D) The point is not accelerating
 
58. A 2î  ĵ  k̂ and 
If B î  ĵ  k̂ are two vectors, then the unit vector-
   ĵ  k̂   (2î  ĵ  k̂)
(A) perpendicular to A is  
 (B) parallel to A is
 2  6
  
 ĵ  k̂   î  ĵ  k̂
(C) perpendicular to B is   (D) parallel to A is
 2  3

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Column Matching
       
59. If R = a + b and S = a – b also  is angle between a and b .
Column-I Column-II
 
(A) R2 + S2 (P) R is perpendicular to a
(B) R2 – S2 (Q) 2(a2 + b2)
R  
(C) (R) 4 a .b
S
  
(D) R<S (S) tan   If | a | = | b |
2
 
60. If
A 2î  3 ĵ  k̂ and
B î  2 ĵ  2k̂ then -
Column I Column II
 
(A) | A B| (P) 11
 
(B) |A B| (Q) 6
 
(C) A.B (R) 35
 
(D) | A B| (S) 90

  
61. Column-I contains vector diagram of three vectors a , b , c & Column-II contains vector
equation. Match them.
Column-I Column-II
 
c b   
(A) (P) a –(b+c )=0

a

c    
(B) b (Q) b – c =a

a
 
a b   
(C) (R) a + b = –c

c

b
   
(D) a (S) a + b = c

c

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Paragraph based questions
Passage -1 (Q.62 to Q. 64)
R
The second law of vector addition is triangle law, which says
 
that if we take A and B as two vectors acting at point O as 
shown in figure, then the resultant of vector is get by taking B
 
A and B as adjacent sides of a triangle and the 3rd side of 

the triangle as the resultant, then if  is angle between A and P  O
 A
B then.  
| A | a | B | b

62. If  is the angle made by resultant vector with A ; then tan  =
a sin  b sin  a cos  b cos 
(A) (B) (C) (D)
b  a cos  a  b cos  b  a cos  b  a sin 
 
63. If the magnitude of both the vector | A | & | B | is A, then the resultant will have magnitude –
(A) A cos /2 (B) 2A cos /2 (C) 3A cos /2 (D) 3A cos /3

 
64. If | A | = | B | = a and  = 120º , then the two vectors and the resultant will form a –
(A) Acute angle triangle (B) Obtuse angle triangle
(C) Right angle triangle (D) Equilateral triangle

Passage # 2 (Qus. 65 to 67)

  
Four vectors are shown in the figure where | A | = 5 2 m, | B | = 10 m, | C | = 10 m and

| D | = 10 m.
Y 

B A

30° 45°
X
60° 30°


 D
C
65. (BX + DX) is equal to –
(A) 20 3 m (B) – 10 3 m (C) Zero (D) 10 m

66. (AX + CX) is equal to –

(A) Zero (B) 10 m (C) –5m (D) – 5 3 m

67. (AY + BY + CY + DY) is equal to –

(A) 5(1  3 ) m (B) 5( – 1)m (C) 5 3 m (D) 10( 3 – 1) m

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ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE # S
1. Work, current 2. Impulse 3. Only (C) and (D) are permissible
4. 14, 45 .
7. (A) T (B) F (C) F (D) T (E) T
8. 90º 9. 20 3N
10. 2 , 45º with the x -axis ; 
2 , – 45º with the x-axis, 5 / 2,  1/ 2 . 
26
11. 2 12. (i)  , (ii)18 14. (i) 250 3N (ii) 250 N
9
 1 ˆ 2 ˆ 3 ˆ
15.  i j k 16. (i) 1 (ii) 2(iˆ  ˆj)
 14 14 14 
18. 90°, 135°, 135° 19. 3
20. (A) a x  5 3 ; a y  5 ; bx  5 3 ; b y  10
 
(B)
 a 5 3iˆ  5jˆ ; b 10iˆ  10 3jˆ

  1 2 3 
(C) r (5 3  10) ˆi  (5  10 3) ˆj ; rx = ( 5 3 + 10); ry = (5 + 10 3 );  = tan–1 
 3  2 
 

21. Fnet  0 22. 60º 24. 4 6

EXERCISE # O
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. D 6. C 7. A
8. B 9. B 10. B 11. D 12. A 13. D 14. B
15. D 16. A 17. C 18. B 19. B 20. B 21. A
22. D 23. D 24. B 25. D 26. C 27. B 28. A
29. C 30. B 31. D 32. C 33. A 34. B 35. A
36. A 37. D 38. C 39. A 40. A 41. A 42. B
43. A 44. B 45. AD 46. AB 47. A, C 48. AD 49. AC
50. AB 51. ACD 52. AC 53. C 54. ABC 55. A 56. ABC
57. ABD 58. BD 59. (A)  Q; (B)  R; (C)  S; (D)  P
60. AS;BP; CQ; DR
61. A  R; B  S; C  P; D  Q
62. B 63. B 64. D 65. C 66. A 67. A

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SOLUTIONS
EXERCISE # S
1. Work, current
2. Impulse
3. Only (C) and (D) are permissible

4. R1  32  22  12  14
R 2  52  42  22  45
       
5. = (A.2A)  (A.3B)  (B.2A) – (B.3B)
       
= 2(A.A)  3(A.B)  2(B.A) – 3(B.B)
= 2A2 – 3AB cos + 2AB cos – 3B2
= 2A2 – AB cos – 3B2

   
6.  | a  b| a 2  b2  2abcos  , where  is the angle between a and b .

 | c | a 2  b2  2abcos  also a + b = c
 a  b a 2  b2  2abcos 
 (a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab cos
 a2 + b2 + 2ab = a2 + b2 + 2ab cos
 2ab (cos – 1) = 0  cos – 1 = 0  cos = 1
Thus  = 0°
 
Now we can conclude that a and b are parallel.

7. (A) |A|A
(B) Component of a vector is a vector
Y

A y ˆj 
A

X
A x ˆi
(C) Total path length is equal to the magnitude of the displacement vector of a particle only
when particle move along a straight line.
(D) Distance  Magnitude of displacement
(E) Minimum four non-coplaner vectors require to give a null vector by add up them.
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
8. | A |  10

| B |  20
  
 Bsin  
  tan 1  
 A  Bcos  


9. F1  20iˆ
 20 ˆ 20 ˆ
F2
 i j
2 2

F3  20jˆ
   
R  F1  F2  F3


10. (i) P  ˆi  ˆj

| P | 12  12  2
tan  = 1
  = 45°
Y


P
ĵ


X
î

 
(ii) Q  ˆi  ˆj  î
 
| Q | 12  12  2  ˆj Q
 = 45°
 = –45° with the x-axis

 (iˆ ˆj) 5
(iii) Component of A Along ˆi  ˆj = (2 ˆi  3 ˆj) · 
2 2

 (iˆ ˆj) 1
Component of A Along ˆi  ˆj = (2 ˆi  3 ˆj) · 
2 2

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11. Consider the figure in which vectors and their resultant are r1
shown
r sin  r2 r2
tan   2 r2 sin
(r1  r2cos )

  
Let | r
1 | | r
2 | r r1 r2cos
r sin  sin 
 tan  
r(1  cos ) 2cos 2  / 2
2sin  / 2 cos  / 2 sin  / 2
 2
=
2 cos  / 2 cos  / 2
tan = tan/2;  = 2
Note :- We can conclude that resultant of two vectors of same magnitude bisects the angle
between them.
 
12. a  3iˆ  2ˆj  9kˆ ; b  6iˆ  4ˆj  pkˆ
 
(i) a ·b  0  (3iˆ  2ˆj  9k)
ˆ · (6iˆ  4ˆj  pk)
ˆ 0
 18 + 8 + 9p = 0
26
 p 
9
    p 
(ii) a || b  b 2  3iˆ  2jˆ  kˆ 
 2 

compare this with a
p
 9
2
 p = 18

13. Dot product of given three vectors should be zero

(6 ˆi  2 ˆj 4 k)
ˆ · (iˆ 5 ˆj 4 k)
ˆ = 6 + 10 – 16 = 0
(6 ˆi  2 ˆj 4 k)
ˆ · (2 ˆi  2 ˆj 2 k)
ˆ = 12 – 4 – 8 = 0
(iˆ 5 ˆj 4 k)
ˆ · (2 ˆi  2 ˆj 2 k)
ˆ = 2 – 10 + 8 = 0

50 kg
14.
30° 500 sin 30° = 250 N
30°

500 cos 30° 500

 250 3N
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ˆi ˆj kˆ
15. (iˆ ˆj  k)
ˆ  (iˆ 2 ˆj k)
ˆ 1 1 1  (1  2) ˆi  (1  1) ˆj (2  1) kˆ  ˆi  2 ˆj  3kˆ
1 2 1
    ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ
A  B ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ  AB 
14
    i  2 j  3kˆ
ˆ ˆ
B  A ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ  AB 
14

16. (i) (iˆ ˆj k)

ˆ · ( ˆi  ˆj  k)
ˆ  (ˆi  ˆj  k)
ˆ · (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ  (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ · (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ
= (–1 + 1 – 1) + (– 1+ 1 + 1) + ( 1 + 1 –1)
=–1+1+1=1

(ii) (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ ·(iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ  (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ + (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ ·(ˆi  ˆj  k)
ˆ  (iˆ  ˆj  k)
ˆ
   
= (1)(iˆ ˆj k) ˆ = 2iˆ  2ˆj
ˆ  (1)( ˆi  ˆj k)

ˆi ˆj kˆ
17. (i) (3iˆ ˆj k)
ˆ  (iˆ ˆj) = 3 1 1 = ˆi  ˆj  4kˆ
1 1 0
ˆi ˆj kˆ
(iˆ ˆj)  (3iˆ ˆj k)
ˆ = 1 1 0 = ˆi  ˆj  4kˆ
3 1 1
   
Hence proved, a  b (b  a)
ˆi ˆj kˆ
 
(ii) b  a = (iˆ ˆj  3k) ˆ = 1 1 3 = 6iˆ  0  2kˆ
ˆ  (iˆ ˆj 3k)
1 1 3
ˆi ˆj kˆ
 
a  b = (iˆ ˆj  3k)
ˆ  (iˆ – ˆj  3k)
ˆ = 1 1 3 = 6iˆ  2kˆ
1 1 3
   
Hence proved, a  b (b  a)
  
18. C (A  B) 
  B  
| C| | A  B | AB

2A  A2  A2  2AAcos 
135°
2A2 = 2A2 + 2A2 cos  45° 
A
 cos  = 0 135°
 
  = 90° between A and B 
Hence, C

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 VECTOR

19. ˆ B
|A ˆ |ˆ|
|C
(1)2  (1)2  2 11cos  1
2 + 2cos  = 1
1
cos  = –
2
ˆ 
ˆ  1 
A B (1)2  (1) 2  2 11  
 2
ˆ B
A ˆ 3

20. Consider the figure


(A) ax = component of vector a in the direction of î or in the direction of x-axis = a cos30°
3
= 10 5 3
2
1
ay = asin30° = 10  5
2
1
bx = b cos60° = 20 = 10
2
3
by = b sin60° = 20  10 3 .
2
 
(B)  a 5 3iˆ  5jˆ , 
b 10iˆ  10 3jˆ , where î and ĵ have usual meaning
  
(C) r  (a  b)  5 3iˆ  5jˆ  10iˆ  10 3jˆ y
= (5 3  10) ˆi  (5  10 3) ˆj
Thus rx = ( 5 3 + 10) and ry = (5 + 10 3 ) r ab
 ry
| r | rx2  ry2

rx x
 (5 3  10)2  (5  10 3)2

 75  100  100 3  25  300  100 3

= 500  200 3 = 10 5  2 3

Let  be the angle made by the vector r with the x-axis.
ry 5  10 3 5(1  2 3)
Hence tan = = 
rx 5 3  10 5( 3  2)
 1 2 3 
 = tan–1  
 32 

96

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 VECTOR
360
21. 
  72
5
  5  72 
Fsin 10sin  
FR  2   FR   2  0
  5  72 
sin sin  
2  2 
   
22.   
Given a  3b . 7 a  5b = 0 
2 2 
 7 a  15 b + 16 a . b = 0 ...... (1)
   
Also, (a  4b).(7a  2b) = 0
 
 7 a2 + 8 b2  30 a . b = 0 ...... (2)
    b 2
Subtracting,  23 b2 + 46 a . b = 0 
E
a .b=
2
Putting this in (1),
 
7 a2  7 b2 = 0  a  b.
 
Thus a . b = ab cos 
b2 1
 = b2 cos   cos  =
2 2
or  = 60º .
   
23. | a  b | | a  b |
a 2  b2  2abcos   a 2  b2  2abcos 
  = 90
   
(a  b) · (a  b)
   
 | a |2  | b |2  2 ab cos   | a |2  | b |2
 
24. Area = A  B
ˆi ˆj kˆ
 1 2 3  ˆi [2  6]  ˆj[1  9]  k[
ˆ 2  6]
3 2 1
 | 4iˆ  8 ˆj 4 kˆ |  16  64  16
 96  4 6

25. ab cos1 = ac cos2 .....(1)

and ab sin1 = ac sin2 .....(2)
By (1) and (2)
 tan1 = tan2
So, 1 = 2
then
 from (1)
bc

97

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EXERCISE # O

1. a = unit vector. Direction and magnitude is constant.
   
2. xa  x may be +ve or –ve. So, direction of xa may be same as a or opposite to a .
3. In this case, both direction as well as magnitude remains constant.
  
4. Clearly, C  A  B
 
5. F1 = 4 dyne, F2 = 3 dyne
   
| F1  F2 |  | f res |  | F1  F2 |
1 dyne  | f res |  7 dyne

6. Sum of two vector must be  third vector.

Clearly, As should be C.
 
7. A 
B | A |2  | B |2 2 | A | | B | cos 
| A | = 3; |B|=4

a
   
b ab b
9.
 

a
     
10. | a  b |2  | a |2  | b |2 2 | a | | b | cos 
302 = 112 + 232 – 2 × 11 × 23 · cos 
 2 × 11 × 23 · cos  = 112 + 232 – 302 = 250
     
| a  b |2  | a |2  | b |2  2 | a | | b | cos 
= 112 + 232 – 250  400
 
| a b| 400 20
 
11. Angle between F1 and F2 ,  = 60°
 
| F1 | = | F2 | = 40 N
     
| F1 + F2 | = F12  F22  2F1 F2 cos θ = 402  402  2  402 cos600 = 40 3 N
 
and if the angle between F1 + F2 and east direction  then
F2 sin θ 40sin 600
tan    0
 tan 300
F1  F2 cos θ 40  40 cos 60
Thus,  = 300. The resultant vector is 300 north of east.

98

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 VECTOR
1
12. Horizontal component = F cos 60
 200  100N
2
Vertical component = F sin 60° = 175 N
F
Fsin 60°

60°
F cos 60°


13. A 5iˆ  12ˆj

A 5i  12 j 5 ˆ 12 ˆ
Â
 
  i j
|A| 2
5  12 2 13 13

 ˆ ˆ
14. r i  8j  7kˆ

a  2iˆ  2ˆj  kˆ
 
Vector component of r along a = | rcos  |·aˆ
 
a·r 
 2 ·a
|a|
2  16  7
 · (2 ˆi  2 ˆj  k)
ˆ
9
21 14 14 7
 · (2 ˆi  2 ˆj  k)
ˆ   ˆi  ˆj  kˆ
9 3 3 3
15. Component of a vector may be equal to or less than original vector.

400 N 400 N
400 sin30° + 400 cos60°
16.
150°
30° 300 + 400 cos30°
300 N 400 sin 60°


17. Let a  2 x ˆi  x ˆj  z kˆ
5 x 2  z2 = 5 2
z z 1
Also, cos 135º = = =
5x 2  z 2 5 2 2
 z=5

then x = 5 , the required vector a  2 5 ˆi  5 ˆj  5 kˆ
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 VECTOR

18. 3a  6iˆ  3jˆ  3kˆ

2b 2iˆ  10ˆj
 
3a  2b  6iˆ  3jˆ  3kˆ  2iˆ  10ˆj = – 8iˆ  7ˆj  3kˆ
  
Projection of (3a  2 b) on c
  
(3a  2 b)·c 32  28  6 66
=  =–   11
|c| 16  16  4 6
 
20. Direction of vector 3b is in opposite to the direction of b .


21. Let c  xiˆ  yjˆ  zkˆ
 
a·c  0  x – 2y + z = 0 …(i)
 
b·c  0  x – y + z = 0 …(ii)
equation (i) – (ii)
y=0 & x = –2.
Correct option is (A)
 
22. a  ˆi  ˆj , b 2iˆ  2ˆj
|a| = 2 |b| = 2 2

 a.b | a || b | cos 
(iˆ ˆj).(2 ˆj ˆ
 2 k) 2.2 2 cos 
 2 = 2.2 cos
1 
cos = 
2 3
 
23. B·A  0
 
24. A·B  14  5  9  0
Hence both vector is perpendicular to each other
 
25. P· Q  0
2+b+2=0  b = –4.
y

27. 

A

x

A 2iˆ  3jˆ
2
tan =
3
 = tan–1(2/3)
100

10 10
0 0
 VECTOR


28. A  2iˆ  3jˆ  2kˆ  | A | 17

B ˆi  2ˆj  3kˆ  | B | 14
 
Projection of A on B
 
A.B 2
P=  = .
| B| 14

29. |f1| = f; |f2| = 2f

|2f| = f 2  (2f 2 )  2f ·2f ·cos 
4f2 = 5f2 + 4f2 cos
4f2cos = – f2
1
cos = –
4
 1
 = cos–1   
 4

 | 10 
|C | B | 8
30.
 
| A | 6

6
cos =   = cos–1(0.6)
10

   
31. Let cos be the angle between (P  Q) and (P  Q) , then
     
(P  Q)·(P  Q) | P |2  | Q | 2
cos =     =    
| P  Q |·| P  Q | | P  Q || P  Q |
Clearly cos may be +ve, –ve or zero

 
A  C
32.

B
3 3
cos =   = cos–1  
5 5

     
33. (A  B).B 
0 (A  B)  B

101

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1 1
 VECTOR
 
A.B  | B |2 
0 ...(i)
     
(A  2B).A  0 (A  2B)  B
 
| A |2 2B.A 0 ...(ii)
Using (i) and (ii)
| A |2  2 | B |2
A = 2B .

34.  b  c  will be parallel/Antiparall to a
  
So, a  (b  c) 
0

   
38. (a  b)  (a  b)
     
= a (a  b)  b  (a  b)
       
= a a  a  b b  a  b  b
   
= a b a  b
 
= 2(a b) .

B

39. 
A 
 A  B  direction  along west
  
40. v   r
= (iˆ  2ˆj  2k)
ˆ  (4ˆj  3k)
ˆ
= 4kˆ  3jˆ  6iˆ  8iˆ
= 2iˆ  3jˆ  4kˆ

| v | 4  9  16  29 unit

  
41. Let c b  a
    
Direction of c (b  a) is the perpendicular to vector b and a
   
 Direction of a  c is the perpendicular to a and c
  
43. Let C A B
  
Direction of C is perpendicular to A and B , therefore
     
A.(A B) | A || A B | cos 90 = 0
 
44. From right hand screw rule, direction of vector product A B is along east.

102

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2 2
 VECTOR

b

45.  
a
 
|a| | b| k
 
| ab| k 2  k 2  2k 2 cos 2k 2 (1  cos )
 
| a 
b| k 2  k 2  2k 2 cos ( 
) 2k 2 (1  cos )
 2k[ 1  cos   1  cos  ] 2 k
Put values

   
| A  B | max |A|| B| 3
46. = =
    1
| A  B | min |A|–| B|
 
If | A | > | B |
  
|A|| B| 3 |A| 2
=  =
  1  1
|A|–|B| |B|
 
If | B | > | A |
  
|A|| B| 3 |A| 1
=  =
  1  2
|A|–|B| |B|

  
47. Use definition of relative velocity vPQ = vP – vQ

48. Conceptual.

     
50. | a |  | b |  | a b |  | a |  | b |

Q sin  P sin 
51. tan  = and tan  =
P  Q cos  Q  P cos 

103

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3 3
 VECTOR

  
B AB

53. 

A

B  
AB

(Parallelogram Law of vector addition)

  
| A B |  | A  B |
 A2 + B2 + 2ABcos = A2 + B2 – 2AB cos
 cos  = 0
  = 90°
   
54. AB 0 A  B
55. Definition of null vector
 
56. kv  k | v | vˆ

 
b R

59. 

a


S

(A) R2 + S2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab cos + a2 + b2 – 2ab cos

= 2(a2 + b2)

(B) R2 + S2 = +4ab cos

 
= 4(a · b)

R a 2  b2  2ab cos 
(C) 
S a 2  b2  2ab cos 

104

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4 4
 VECTOR

   ˆi ˆj  kˆ
60. | A B | = 2 3 1 = ˆi(8)  ˆj(5)  k(1)
ˆ = 8iˆ  5ˆj  kˆ
1 2 2
 
| A  B | = 12  12  (3) 2  11
 
A ·B = 2 + 6 – 2 = 6
 
| A ·B | 32  52  12  35

  
61. A : a + b + c = 0 (polygon law)
  
B : a + b = c ( law)
  
C : c + b = a ( law)
  
D: c +a = b

b sin 
62. tan  
a  b cos 

 b
   a b sin 
b R b

 

a b cos 

 
63. | A B | = A2  A2  2A2cos
= A 2 1  cos 
 
= 2A 2 cos = 2A cos  
2 2

 a
64. | R | a
120°
60°
a

105

10 10
5 5