VECTORS

1. The expression  1 ˆ
 i+
1 ˆ
j is a
 2 2 

(a) Unit vector (b) Null vector

(c) Vector of magnitude 2 (d) Scalar
Answer: (a)

Magnitude of a vector of the form A = a ˆi + bjˆ + ckˆ is given by

| A |= a2 + b2 + c 2

ˆi ˆj 2
 1   1 
2

∴ Magnitude of + is   + 1
 =
2 2  2  2

2. The magnitude of a given vector with end points (4, – 4, 0)

and (– 2, – 2, 0) must be
(a) 6 (b) 5 2 (c) 4 (d) 2 10
Answer: (d)
Vector joining A: (4, –4, 0) and B: (–2, –2, 0) is given by

AB = ( −2 − 4)iˆ + ( −2 − ( −4))jˆ + (0 − 0)kˆ = −6iˆ + 2ˆj


AB = ( −6)2 + (2)2 = 40 =2 10

3. The unit vector along ˆi + ˆj is

ˆi + ˆj
(a) k̂ (b) ˆi + ˆj (c) ˆi + ˆj
(d) 2
2

Answer: (c)

1
  
Unit vector along a vector A is given by A
 = 
A

ˆi + ˆj ˆi + ˆj
∴ Unit vector along ˆi + ˆj is =
12 + 12 2

4. The angle made by the vector A = ˆi + ˆj with x- axis is

(a) 90° (b) 45° (c) 22.5° (d) 30°

Answer: (b)

Angle made by vector = a ˆi + bjˆ
A with x-axis is b
θ =tan−1  
a

=∴
θ tan
= −1  1 
 1  45
o

 

  
5. For the fig. A , B and C

           
(a) A + B =
C (b) B + C =
A (c) C + A =
B (d) A + B + C =
0

Answer: (c)
  
Applying triangle’s law of vector addition, we get B= C + A
(From tail of 1st vector to head of 2nd vector)

2
  
6. The vector P = a ˆi + ajˆ + 3kˆ and Q = a ˆi − 2ˆj − kˆ are perpendicular to
each other. The positive value of a is
(a) 3 (b) 4 (c) 9 (d) 13
Answer: (a)
   
P is perpendicular to Q if P.Q = 0

⇒ (a ˆi + ajˆ + 3k).(a
ˆ ˆi − 2ˆj − k)
ˆ =0

2
⇒ a − 2a − 3 =0 ⇒ (a − 3)(a + 1) =
0

∴ a = 3 (positive value)

   
7. What is the angle between (P + Q) and (P × Q)

π
(a) 0 (b) 2
(c) π
4
(d)π
Answer: (b)
     
P + Q lies in the plane containing P&Q . While P×Q is
 
perpendicular to both P & Q
    π
∴ angle between (P + Q) and (P × Q) is 2

8. The resultant of the two vectors having magnitude 2 and 3 is

1. What is the magnitude of their cross product
(a) 6 (b) 3 (c) 1 (d) 0
Answer: (d)
The vector are anti-parallel.

3
  
∴ B AB sin θ =
A ×= (3) (2) sin π = 0

∴ The output is a null vector.

 
9. A vector A points vertically upward and B points towards
 
north. The vector product A × B is
(a) Zero (b) Along west
(c) Along east (d) Vertically downward
Answer: (b)
Keep fingers of your right hand towards sky and curl them
towards north. Your thumb will point towards west.

10. Two vectors P = 2iˆ + bjˆ + 2kˆ and Q = ˆi + ˆj + kˆ will be parallel if

(a) b = 0 (b) b = 1 (c) b = 2 (d) b= – 4
Answer: (c)
Vector A = a ˆi + a ˆj + a kˆ is parallel to vector
1 2 3

B = b1ˆi + b2 ˆj + b3kˆ if
a1 a2 a3
= =
b1 b2 b3

∴ 21= b 2
=
1 1
⇒ b=2

     
11. If | A ×B |=
| A .B |, then angle between A and B will be
(a) 30° (b) 45° (c) 60° (d) 90°
Answer: (b)
   
A ×B =
A.B ⇒ ABsin
= θ ABcos θ

4
 ⇒ tan θ =1

⇒ θ =45o

12. A metal sphere is hung by a string fixed to a wall. The sphere

is pushed away from the wall by a stick. The forces acting
on the sphere are shown in the diagram. Which θ
ofθ the
following statements is wrong if the sphere is in equilibrium
P
(a)
= P W tan θ W

  
(b) T + P + W =0
(c) T= P + W
2 2 2

(d) T= P + W
Answer: (d)

Sphere is in equilibrium.
  
T +P+ W = 0

On resolving we have
T cos θ = W (1)
T sin θ =P (2)
∴ T2 = P2 + W2
5
 ∴ (D) is incorrect.
13. What vector must be added to the two vectors ˆi − 2ˆj + 2kˆ and
ˆ so that the resultant may be a unit vector along
2iˆ + ˆj − k, x-
axis
(a) 2iˆ + ˆj − kˆ (b) −2iˆ + ˆj − kˆ (c) 2iˆ − ˆj + kˆ (d) −2iˆ − ˆj − kˆ
Answer: (b)

Let the required vector be A .

A + (iˆ − 2ˆj + 2k)
ˆ + (2iˆ + ˆj − k)
ˆ =ˆi


⇒ A =−2iˆ + ˆj − kˆ

14. The angles which a vector ˆi + ˆj + 2 kˆ makes with X, Y and Z

axes respectively are
(a) 60°, 60°, 60° (b) 45°, 45°, 45°
(c) 60°, 60°, 45° (d) 45°, 45°, 60°
Answer: (c)

If a vector A = a ˆi + bjˆ + ckˆ makes angles α,β & γ with x, y and z
axes respectively then
=cos α =
a
, cos β
b
and cos γ =
c
a + b2 + c 2
2 2
a +b +c 2 2
a + b2 + c 2
2

1 1
∴ cos α
= =
2 2 2 2
⇒ α =60o
1 +1 + ( 2)

1 1
=cos β = ⇒ β =60o
12 + 12 + ( 2)2 2

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 2 1
=cos γ = ⇒ γ =45o
1 + 1 + ( 2)2
2 2 2

15. A particle moves towards east with velocity 5 m/s. After 10

seconds its direction changes towards north with same
velocity. The average acceleration of the particle is
(a) Zero (b) 1 m / s N − W 2

(c) 1
m / s2 N − E (d) 1
m / s2 S − W
2 2

Answer: (b)

Assume +ve x-axis along east and +ve y-axis along north.
 
Vi = 5 ˆi Vf = 5 ˆj
 
 Vf − Vi 5iˆ − 5ˆj  −1  ˆ  1  ˆ
=a = =  i +  j
∆t 10  2  2

∴ Avg. acceleration has magnitude 1

m/s2 along N – W.
2

 
16. Which of the following is not true? If A= 3iˆ + 4ˆj and = 6iˆ + 8ˆj
B
 
where A and B are the magnitudes of A and B
   A 1  
(a) A × B =0 (b) =
B 2
(c) A .B = 48 (d) A = 5
Answer: (c)

A = 3 4 + 42 = 5

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 
B= 62 + 82 = 10

 
A.B = (3iˆ + 4ˆj).(6iˆ + 8ˆj) = 18 + 32 = 50

∴ (C) is incorrect

      
17. Three vectors a,b and c satisfy the relation a.b = 0 and a.c = 0.

The vector a is parallel to
     
(a) b (b) c (c) b.c (d) b × c
Answer: (d)
  
a.b = 0 ⇒

a is perpendicular to b

 
a.c = 0 ⇒

a is perpendicular to 
c


∴ a is perpendicular to both b and 
c

 
∴ a is parallel to b ×c .

18. If the angle between two forces increases, the magnitude of

their resultant
(a) decreases (b) increases
(c) remains unchanged (d) decreases and increases
Answer: (a)
Fres = F12 + F22 + 2FF
1 2 cos θ

As θ increases, cos θ decreases. So magnitude of resultant

force decreases.

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 
19. In Figure, E equals

     
(a) A (b) B (c) A+ B (d) –( A + B )
Answer: (d)

  
In the figure, A +B+E =
0

  
∴ E =−(A + B)

     
20. If | A + B | = | A | = | B |, then the angle between A and B is
(a) 0º (b) 60º (c) 90º (d) 120º
Answer: (d)
   
A + B = A = B = K (let)

 
A + B= A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ

K= K 2 + K 2 + 2K K cos θ

9
 −1
⇒ cos θ = ⇒ θ =120o
2


21. Vector A is 2 cm long and is 60º above the x-axis in the first

quadrant. Vector B is 2 cm long and 60º below the x-axis in
 
the fourth quadrant. The sum A + B is a vector of magnitude
(a) 2 along + y-axis (b) 2 along + x-axis
(c) 1 along – x axis (d) 2 along – x axis
Answer: (b)


=A 2cos 60o ˆi + 2sin60o ˆj = ˆi + 3 ˆj


=B 2cos 60o ˆi − 2 sin 60o ˆj = ˆi − 3 ˆj

 
∴ A +B =
2iˆ

22. An object originally at the point (2, 5, 1) cm is given a

displacement 8iˆ − 2ˆj + kˆ cm . The co-ordinates of the new
position are
(a) (10, 3, 2) cm (b) (8, –2, + 1) cm
(c) (0, 0, 0) (d) data not correct.
Answer: (a)
  
r − r = Displacement
F 1 r = Final position vector
F


r = Initial position vector
∴ r F

= r1 + Displacement
10
 = (2iˆ + 5ˆj + k)
ˆ + (8iˆ − 2ˆj + k)
ˆ = 10iˆ + 3ˆj + 2kˆ

23. Two forces ˆi + ˆj + kˆ N and ˆi + 2ˆj + 3kˆ N act on a particle and

displace it from (2, 3, 4) to point (5, 4, 3). Displacement is
in m. Work done is:
(a) 5 J (b) 4 J (c) 3 J (d) None of these
Answer: (a)
 
Work = F.S


Here F =(iˆ + ˆj + k)
ˆ + (iˆ + 2ˆj + 3k)
ˆ = 2iˆ + 3ˆj + 4kˆ N

S= (5iˆ + 4ˆj + 3k)
ˆ − (2iˆ + 3ˆj + 4k)
ˆ = (3iˆ + ˆj − k)
ˆ M

∴ Work = (2iˆ + 3ˆj + 4k).(3i

ˆ ˆ + ˆj − k)
ˆ = (6 + 3 – 4) J = 5 J

24. The vector î + x ĵ + 3 k̂ is rotated through an angle θ and

doubled in magnitude, then it becomes 4 î + (4x – 2) ĵ + 2 k̂ .
The possible positive value of x is
(a) −
2
3
(b) 1
3
(c) 2
3
(d) 2

Answer: (d)
42 + (4x − 2)2 + 22= 2 12 + x 2 + 32

On squaring, 16x 2
− 16x + 24 = 4(x 2 + 10)

⇒ 3x 2 − 4x − 4 =
0

⇒ (3x + 2) (x – 2) = 0

11
 ∴ x = 2 is positive value

 
25. If the resultant of three forces F = piˆ + 3ˆj − kˆ , F =−5iˆ + ˆj + 2kˆ and
1 2

F= 6iˆ − kˆ acting on a particle has magnitude equal to 5 units,
3

then the product of possible value(s) of p is

(a) – 8 (b) – 4 (c) 2 (d) 4
Answer: (a)
   
FNet = F1 + F2 + F3 = (P + 1)i + 4ˆj


FNet = 5 ⇒ P + 1 =3 or P+1=–3

⇒ P=2 or P=–4
∴ Product of possible values of P is – 8.

26. A force of 6kg and another of 8kg can be applied together

to produce the effect of a single force of
(a) 1 kg (b) 11 kg (c) 15 kg (d) 16 kg
Answer: (b)
6 KgF force and 8KgF force on applying together can have
their resultant magnitude between 2KgF and 14 KgF.

27. Two balls are rolling on a flat smooth table. One ball has
velocity components 3ˆj and î while the other has

12
 components 2iˆ and 2ˆj . If both start moving simultaneously
from the same point, the angle between their paths is -

(a) 15o (b) 30o (c) 45o (d) 60o

Answer: (a)


V1= ˆi + 3 ˆj makes an angle 60o with x-
axis


makes an angle equal to 45o
V2 = ˆi + ˆj

with x-axis.
∴ Angle between their paths is 15o.

  
28. The a&b make an angle of φ = 23π . Being given that a = 3,
    
b= 4 . Then the value of ( 3a − 2b ). ( a + 2b ) is equal to
(a) 32 (b) -61 (c) 27 (d) 40
Answer: (b)

13
    2π 
a.b = abcos   = 3× 4×
−1
=−6
 3  2

       
∴ (3a − 2b).(a + 2b) =  
3a.a + 6a.b − 2b.a − 4b.b = 3(3)2 + 4( −6) − 4(4)2 = – 61

    
29. If 
a = 11 , b = 23 , a −b = 30 , then a+b is :

(a) 10 (b) 20 (c) 30 (d) 40

Answer: (b)
   
| a − b=| a2 + b2 − 2ab cos θ (θ = ∠ between a & b)

250
30
= 112 + 232 − 2 × 11× 23cos θ ⇒ cos θ = −
726


∴ | a + b=| a2 + b2 + 2ab cos θ

= 112 + 232 − 250 = 20


30. Let a , b , c be vectors of length 3, 4, 5 respectively. Let
      
a be perpendicular to b + c , b to c + a & c to a + b . Then
 

  
a+b+c is:
(a) 2 5 (b) 2 2 (c) 10 5 (d) 5 2
Answer: (d)
      
a.(b + c) =
0 ⇒ a.b + a.c =
0 (1)
      
b.(c + a) =
0 ⇒ b.c + b.a =
0 (2)
      
c.(a + b) =
0 ⇒ c.a + c.b =
0 (3)
     
(1) + (2) + (3) ⇒ a.b + b.c + c.a =
0

        
| a + b + c |2 = (a + b + c).(a + b + c)

14
      
= a2 + b2 + c 2 + 2(a.b + b.c + c.a) = 32 + 42 + 52 + 0
  
⇒ | a + b + c |=5 2

31. The resultant of two forces, one double the other in

magnitude, is perpendicular to the smaller of the two forces.
The angle between the two forces is
(a) 60 o
(b) 120 (c) 150 o
(d) 90 o o

Answer: (b)
Let forces are F and 2F and angle between them is θ and
resultant makes an angle α with the force F.
2F sin θ
=tan α = tan 90 = ∞
F + 2F cos θ

⇒ F + 2F cos θ =0 ∴ cos θ = −1/ 2 or =θ 120°

32. If the position vector of a particle is =r (3iˆ + 4ˆj) meter and its
→

angular velocity is ω= (ˆj + 2k)ˆ rad/sec then its linear velocity is

→

(in m/s)
(a) (8iˆ − 6ˆj + 3k)ˆ (b) (3iˆ + 6ˆj + 8k)ˆ (c) −(3iˆ + 6ˆj + 6k)ˆ (d) (6iˆ + 8ˆj + 3k)ˆ
Answer: (a)
ˆi ˆj kˆ
   
v = ω×r = (3iˆ + 4ˆj + 0k) ˆ v = 3 4 0 = 8iˆ − 6ˆj + 3kˆ
ˆ × (0iˆ + ˆj + 2k)
0 1 2


33. Which of the following is the unit vector perpendicular to A

and B
   
Aˆ × Bˆ Aˆ × Bˆ
(a) AB sin θ
(b) AB cos θ
(c) A×B
AB sin θ
(d) A×B
AB cos θ

15
Answer: (c)
 
Vector perpendicular to A and B, A × B =AB sinθ nˆ
∴ Unit vector perpendicular to A and B
 
A×B
nˆ =  
| A | × | B | sin θ

34. The angle between two vectors of magnitude 12 and 18 units

when their resultant is 24 units, will be:
(a) 89. 16° (b) 82. 31° (c) 75.52° (d) 63.51°
Answer: (c)
Here: Ist vector A = 12 units,
→

IInd vector = 18 units

→
B

Resultant vector R = 24 units

→

From the relation

→
R= =
A 2 + B2 + 2AB cos θ (12)2 + (18)2 + 2 × 12 × 18 cos θ

(24)2 = 144 + 324 + 432 cos θor 432 cos θ = 576 –468 = 108
108 1
cos θ= = = 0.25
432 4

∴ θ = 75.52°

35. If and are two vector, then the value of is:

→ → → → → →
a b (a + b) × (a − b)

(a) 2(b× a) (b) (c) (d)

→ → → → → → → →
−2(b× a) b× a a× b

Answer: (a)

16
 → → → → → → → → → → → →
(a + b) × (a − b) = a × a − a × b + b × a − b × b

[Here =
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
a× a= 0, b × b= 0, b × a= − a × b] 0 + (b × a ) + (b × a) − 0 = 2 (b × a)

36. The position vectors of P and Q are 5i + 4j + ak and -i + 2j - 2k

respectively. If the distance between them is 7, then the
value of a will be
(a) – 5, 1 (b) 5, 1 (c) 0, 5 (d) 1, 0
Answer: (a)
7 = (5 + 1)2 + (4 − 2)2 + (a + 2)2 ⇒ a + 2 =±3 or a = −5, 1.

 
37. If ABCD is a parallelogram, AB = 2 i + 4 j − 5 k and AD = i + 2 j + 3 k,

then the unit vector in the direction of BD is

(a) 1 (i + 2 j − 8k ) (b) 691 (i + 2 j − 8 k )
69
1
(c) ( −i − 2 j + 8k ) (d) 1
69
( −i − 2 j + 8 k )
69

Answer: (c)
     
Since AB + BD = AD ⇒ BD = AD − AB = (i + 2j + 3k) - (2i + 4j - 5k) = -i - 2j + 8k

Hence unit vector in the direction of BD is
-i - 2j + 8k -i - 2j + 8k
= .
| -i - 2j + 8k | 69

  
38. If none of the vectors A, B and C are zero and if A×B = 0 and
   
B × C = 0, then the value of A × C is
 
(a) unity (b) zero (c) B 2
(d) A C cos θ

Answer: (b)

17
 
A ≠ 0, 
B ≠0, 
C ≠0
 
A×B =
0 ⇒  
A || B

 
B× C =
0 ⇒  
B || C

⇒   
A || B || C

  
Hence, A×C = 0 = null vector
Hence, (b) is correct.

39. If the vectors 6i - 2j + 3k, 2i + 3j - 6k and 3i + 6j - 2k form a triangle,

then it is
(a) Right angled (b) Obtuse angled
(c) Equilateral (d) Isosceles
Answer: (b)
  
AB = Position vector of B – Position vector of A

= (2i + 3j - 6k) - (6 i - 2 j + 3k) = -4i + 5j - 9k

 
⇒ | AB |= 16 + 25 + 81 = 122 , BC = i + 3j + 4k
 
⇒ | BC | = 1 + 9 + 16 = 26 and AC = -3i + 8j - 5k

⇒ | AC | = 98

Therefore, AB2 = 122 , BC2 = 26 and AC2 = 98 .

⇒ AB2 + BC2 =26 + 122 =148

Since, AC2 < AB2 + BC2 , therefore ∆ABC is an obtuse-angled

triangle.

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40. Five points given by A, B, C, D, E are in a plane. Three
     
forces AC, AD and AE act at A and three forces CB, DB, EB act
at B. Then their resultant is
   
(a) 2AC (b) 3AB (c) 3DB (d) 2BC
Answer: (b)
Points A, B, C, D, E are in a plane.
     
Resultant = ( AC + AD + AE) + (CB + DB + EB)
         
= (AC + CB) + (AD + DB) + (AE + EB) = AB + AB + AB = 3AB .

41. If d = λ (a × b) + µ (b × c) + ν (c × a) and [a b c] =
1
8
, then λ+µ+ν is equal to
(a) 8d.(a + b + c) (b) 8d×(a + b + c) (c) d
8
.(a + b + c) (d) d
8
×(a + b + c)

Answer: (a)
λ
d . c = λ(a × b ). c + µ(b × c ). c + ν(c × a ).c =λ [a b c] + 0 + 0 =λ [a b c] =
8

Hence λ =8(d . c ), µ =8(d . a ) and ν =8(d . b )

Therefore, + ν 8d . c + 8d. a + 8d .=
λ + µ= b 8d .(a + b + c ).


42. Consider the two vectors A and B . The magnitude of their
 
sum i.e., A + B , if A > B
 
A+B

B

θ

A

   
(a) is equal to A+B (b) cannot be less than A+B

   
(c) cannot be greater than A+B (d) must be equal to A−B

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Answer: (c)
 
A+B = 2 2  
A + B + 2 A B cos θ

since 0 ≤ θ ≤ π
−1 ≤ cos θ ≤ 1
 
Hence 2 2  
A + B −2 A B ≤ A+B ≤ 2 2  
A + B +2 A B

  
Thus A+B ≤ A + 
B

Alternately: triangle inequality

Hence, (c) is correct.

43. 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 900 with each other.
(a) 8 N (b) 12.1 N
(c) 9.8 N (d) 7.4 N
Answer: (b)
P + Q = 10 N, P – Q = 6 N. 2P = 16 N
P = 8N
Again 8 + Q = 10 or Q=2N
P′ = 11 N, Q′ = 900

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 R′ = 121 + 25 N = 12.1N
Hence, (b) is correct.

 
44. The unit vector perpendicular to i − 2 ˆj+ kˆ and 3 i+ ˆj− 2 kˆ is
 
5 i+ 3 ˆj+ 7 kˆ 3 i+ 5 ˆj+ 7 kˆ
(a) 83
(b) 83
 
5 i+ 3 ˆj− 7 kˆ 3 i − 5 ˆj+ 7 kˆ
(c) 83
(d) 83

Answer: (b)

A × B is a vector ⊥ to both A and 
B

Now, A × 
B = ( i − 2ˆj + kˆ ) × ( 3i + ˆj − 2kˆ ) = 
3i + 5jˆ + 7kˆ
 
Now, n̂ = A×B
 
| A×B|
 
3i + 5jˆ + 7kˆ 3i + 5jˆ + 7kˆ
= =
83
32 + 52 + 7 2

Hence, (b) is correct.

45. 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 θ always less then 90°

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Answer: (c)
  
A = B , A ≠ 
B

       
   
(A + B) ⋅ (A − B) = A.A − A ⋅ B + B ⋅ A − B ⋅ B

= 2 2
A −B =0
Hence, (c) is correct.

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