IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

VECTORS

14

VECTORS

PROPERTIES OF VECTORS:
A vector has both magnitude and direction.
Velocity, force, angular velocity and Torque are some of the vector quantities.
A vector is graphically represented by an arrow whose length is proportional to the magnitude of the
vector and direction parallel to the direction of the vector. In print, a vector quantity is either shown in bold (a or

A) or in italic form with an arrow above it ( a ) . In handwritten form, the second method is generally used.
A vector can be displaced parallel to itself side wise, forward or backward without changing the direction.

Tail

Head =

Two vectors are equal only when they have same direction and magnitude.

POSITION VECTOR:
If (x, y) is the coordinates of a point, its position with respect to the origin is represented by the vector r
= x i + y j where i and j are unit vectors along x and y directions.
A unit vector has magnitude one. In general the position vector of point P(x2,y2,z2) with respect to point
Q(x1 ,y1,z1) is given by r PQ = (x2 - x1) + i (y2 - y1) j + (z2 - z1) k
If the line joining P and Q has magnitude r and makes angles a,b and g with x,y and z axes respectively, (x2
-x1) = r cos a, y2y1=r cos b and (z2 - z1) = r cos g.

RESOLUTION OF A VECTOR :

The component of a vector A

along a direction inclined at an angle q to the direction of the vector is given

by A cos
Y

A sin
A

.B

90
O

X
C

A cos

The components of a vector resolved along two mutually perpendicular directions are Acos and A cos
(90 - ) = A sin .
When a vector is resolved into two mutually perpendicular components in the same plane, it can be
replaced by the components.

15

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

F

F sin

F cos

F cos

F Sin

F cos and Fsin must lie on either side of F..

In general any vector
A can be resolved into three mutually perpendicular components along x, y and z axes

A = Ax i +Ay j + Az k

When Ax = A cos ; Ay = A cos ; Ay = Acos where , and are the angles made by
A with x,y
and z axes respectively.
Ax 2 Ay 2 Az 2 for a null vector magnitude is Zero

The magnitude of a vector is given by |A| =

VECTOR ADDITION :
When two vectors are added, another vector different from these vectors is obtained

C A B B A

Graphically vector addition is done by joining head of one vector to the tail of another vector. The arrow
joining the free head and free tail gives the resultant vector.
A
B

C
B

C
A

The tail of A can be joined with the head of B or the head of A can be joined with the tail of B using the
parallel displacement property of the vectors.

In component form, if A
= Ax +Ay j +Az and B
= Bx +By j +Bz
i
k
i
k

C A B B A

A x Bx i A y B y j A z Bz k

The angle between two vectors is the angle between the arrows when joined at the tails or when joined at
the heads.
A
A

16

VECTORS
Since angle can be measured either clock wise or anticlockwise, smaller of the two angles will be generally
taken as the angle between the vectors and that value lies between 0 and 180

Angle between A
and B
is .

B
'

If is the angle between two vectors A

and B
and A and B are their magnitudes, the magnitude of the

resultant vector C is given by C =

A 2 B2 2AB cos
2

A x Bx A y By A z Bz

In component form C =

When the resultant of more than two vectors is to be obtained, component form is preferred.
Resultant R =

xcomp ycomp zcomp

For two vectors

A and B inclined at q with each other, the angle made by the resultant vector C with

A can be found from the following vector addition diagram. let PQ, QR and PR represent the magnitudes of

A , B and C respectively and a is the angle made by C with A .

From triangles PRS, PRcos = PQ + QS and PR sin = RS

From the triangle QRS, QR cos = QS and QR sin = RS
PR sin = QR sin
PR cos = PQ + QR cos

QR sin
B sin
Taan = PQ QR cos =
A B cos

17

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

Resultant vector concept is used in finding out resultant velocity and resultant force acting on a particle

VECTOR SUBTRACTION:

A B A ( B)

Vector subtraction can be thought of as vector addition between A and B

To obtain B
, reverse the direction of B
.

A
B
A

C can be obtained by joining A and B at the tails and joining the free heads with an arrow from head of B

to head of A

The magnitude of C = A
B is obtained from

|C| =

A 2 B2 2AB cos where is the angle between A and B . This formula should not be confused with the formula for the magnitude of the resultant vector
|C| = A 2 B2 2AB cos . Remember + for addition and - for subtraction in the magnitude formula.

If A
= Ax i +Ay j +Az and B
= Bx +By +Bz k
k

A x Bx i A y B y j A z Bz k

C A B =

and the magnitude of C, |C| =

A x Bx A y B y A z Bz

Vector subtraction is particularly useful in finding out relative displacement, relative velocity and relative
acceleration between two moving particles.

If V A is the velocity of particle A and VB is the velocity of particle B, the relative velocity of A with

respect to B is given by V AB VA V B . Similarly relative velocity of B with respect to A is given by

VBA VB VA
18

VECTORS

VA 2 VB2 2VA VB cos where is the angle between

|VAB| = |VBA| =

VA and VB .

MULTIPLICATION OF A VECTOR WITH A CONSTANT:

When a vector is multiplied with a constant, all the components will get multiplied with the same constant.

If A A x i A y j A z , k (A) =

KA x i KA y j KA z k

and the magnitude also will get

multiplied 'k' times without change in the direction.

SCALAR OR DOT PRODUCT:

A and B . A .B = AB cos = B.A . Since this product gives

A .B is called the scalar or dot product of

only a number without any direction it called scalar product. i.i A = j.j = k.k = 1 and i.j = j.i = j.k=k.j=k.i=i.k = 0

If A = Ax i

+ Ay j + Az k and = Bx i

A .B = A x i A y j A z k .

+ By j + Bz k

i B y j Bz k

= Ax Bx + Ay By + Az Bz
The angle between two vectors can be found using scalar product

A.B
cos =
Where A is the magnitude of A and B is the magnitude of B
AB

VECTOR OR CROSS PRODUCT:

A x B is called vector or cross product of A and B .

If is the angle between A and B , A x B = AB sin n where n is a unit vector perpendicular

to the plane containing A and B . Since this product gives another vector of magnitude AB sin along the
direction of it is called vector product.

The direction of n is given by right hand screw method. If A is turned towards B , the direction of

movement of a right hand screw gives the direction of . When B is turned towards A , the direction of A x

B is obtained which is opposite to the direction of A x B .

A x B =- B x A
i x i = j x j = k x k = 0 as the angle between them is zero and sin = 0
i x j = k; j x k = i; k x i = j and j x i = - k; k x j = - i; i x k = -j
19

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

(K A) x B = K (A x B) and K A
x
K
= K1 K2 (A x B)
B
1
2

If A = Ax i + Ay j + Az k and = Bx i + By j + Bz k

AxB =

i A y j A z k x B x i B y j Bz k

= Ax Bx i x i + Ax By

i x j

+ Ax Bz

+ Ay Bx j x i + Ay By j x j + Ay Bz

x k

j x k

+ Az Bx k x i + Az By k x j + Az Bz k x k
=

A B
y

A z B y j A z Bx A x Bz k A x By A y B x

The cross product of A and B can be found from the method of determinant also.

A x B =

i
Ax

j
Ay

k
Az

Bx

By

Bz

= i A y Bz A z B y j A z B x A x Bz k A x B y A y B x
While representing vectors on a paper, the following symbols are used.

represents a vector going in ward into the paper and

represents a vector coming normally out ward from the paper

20

VECTORS

WORKED OUT OBJECTIVE PROBLEMS

Illustrations
Illustration - 1 :
At the centre of the roof of a cubical room of side 4 m, a bulb is hanging. Taking the origin at one of
the corners on the floor, find the position vector of the bulb.
Y

.B

X
C

a) with respect to the origin

b) with respect to the corner opposite to the origin on the floor.
Solution :
coordinates of bulb B are (2, 4,2)
coordinates of corner C are (4,0,4)

Position vector of B with respect 0, r BO = (2 - 0) i + (4 - 0) j + (2 - 0) k = 2 i + 4 j 2 k

Position vector of B with respect to C , r BC = (2 - 4) i + (4 - 0) j + (2 - 4) k = - 2 i + 4 j 2 k

Illustration - 2 :
Find the components of vector along the given directions 1,2,3 and 4.
Solution :
F1 = Fcos30 = Fcos 330
F2 = Fcos45 = Fcos 315
F3 = Fcos135 = Fcos 225
F4 = Fcos270 = Fcos90

21

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

Illustration - 3 :
Three persons are applying forces F1, F2 and F3 on a block of mass M in three mutually perpendicular directions. Neglecting other forces write the force acting on the block in vector form and find its
magnitude.
Solution :
Taking F1, F2 and F3 along x,y and z directions

F = Fx i + Fy j + Fz k
= F1 i +F2 j +F3 k

Magnitude of F = |F| =

F12 F22 F32

Illustration - 4 :
A sugar grain is being pulled by four ants in different directions with the same magnitude of force as
shown in the diagram. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force acting on the sugar
grain.

Solution :
Since all the forces are along the same horizontal plane, they can be resolved in to x and y components. Taking x along the East and y along the North
Fx = F cos300 - F cos450 - Fcos300 + F cos900 = -

Fy = F cos 600 + F cos450 - Fcos600 - F =

FR =

Fx2 Fy2

=F

0.7 0.3

F
- 0. 7 F
2

F
F - 0.3 F
2

Fx

FR

Fy

22

VECTORS
If is the angle a made by the resultant force with the west
Fy
3
Tan =
=
Fx
7

Illustration - 5 :
A car is moving towards east with a velocity of 10 m/s and a bus is moving towards North West with
a velocity of 15 m/s. Find the relative velocity of the bus with respect to the car.
Solution :
Take x along east and y along North. For obtaining relative velocity join at the tails. The arrow
joining the free heads towards the bus from the car gives the relative velocity of the bus with respect
to the car.
VBC
VB 15m / s

1350
VC 10 m / s

VBC =

VB2 VC 2 2VB VC cos

= 152 10 2 2(15)(10) cos1350 ~ 23 m/s

The direction of VBC can be found from the vector diagram. If is the angle made by VBC with
the west, from the velocity triangle
VBC cos = VC + VB cos450
cos =

10 15 / 2
23

41
46

This problem can be solved in component form also.

VC 10 i ; VB = -15 cos45 i

+ 15 cos45 j

= - 10.5 i +10.5 j

VBC

10.5

20.5

23

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

V BC VB VC =

|VBC| =

10.5 10 i 10.5 j

20.5 10.5

Tan =

= - 20.5 i + 10.5 j

~ 23 m/s

10.5
when is the angle made by the relative velocity with the west.
20.5

Illustration - 6 :

If A = 3 i + 4 j - 6 k and B = 2 i - 3 j + k . Find the magnitude of 3 A + 2 B

Solution :

C 3A 2 B = 3 (3 i + 4 j - 6 k ) +2 (2 i - 3 j + k )

= i (9 + 4) + j (12 - 6) +k (-18 + 2)
= 13 i + 6 j - 16 k

Magnitude of C =

13

62 16

~ 21.5

It may be noted here that the magnitude of 3 A 2 B is not equal to 3 | A | + 2 | B |

Illustration - 7 :

Find the dot product of A = 3i + 4k and B = -2i+3j-4k and and the angle between them.
Solution :

A . B = (3 i +4 k ). (-2 i + 3 j - 4 k )

= (3) (-2) + (0) (3) + (4) (-4) = - 22

A=

32 02 42 = 5 ;

B=

32 4

29 = 5.4

A.B
cos =
5 5.4

22
27

Scalar product is particularly useful in finding out the component of one vector along the direction of
another vector and in finding out the work and power

24

VECTORS

Work, w = F , S . where F is the constant force and S is the displacement.

Power, P = F . V . where V is the constant velocity..

Illustration - 8 :

Find the direction of C = A x B in the following cases.

A

Solution :

a) Since A and B are on the plane of the paper, C must be perpendicular to the paper. When

A is rotated towards B , the screw moves inward C is normally inward

C

b)

c)

d)

Illustration - 9 :

If A = 3i + 4j - 2k and B = 2i + 3 k find A x B .
Solution :

A x B = 3i 4 j 2k x 2i 0j 3k

= 6 i x i 0 i x j 9 i x k
+ 8 jx i 0 jx j 12 j x k - 4

k x i 0 jx j 12 k x k

= - 9 j - 8 k + 12 i - 4 j = 12 i - 13 j - 8 k
Vector product is particularly useful in finding out angular momentum , torque and other angular
parameters

Torque, = r x F

Angular momentum L r x p
25

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

Illustration : 10
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

Solution :
Zero vector sum is possible only when the three vectors can be represented by three sides of a
triangle. Since in a triangle the larger side cannot be more than the sum of two smaller sides, a,b and
d are not possible C is the answer

Illustration : 11

The resultant of A and B makes an angle with A and with B , then

a) <

b) < if A < B

c) < if A > B

d) ) < if A = B

Solution :
1
;
Bsin
A sin
Tan =
= A cos ec cot Tan
an =
=
A Bcos
B A cos
B

1
B
cos ec cot
A

When A < B, Tan > Tan >

C is the answer

Illustration : 12

Let C = A + B . Then

a) C is always greater than | A |

b) It is possible to have | C | < | A | and | C | | B |

c) It is always equal to A + B
d) C is never equal to A + B
Solution :
C =

A 2 B2 2AB cos Cmin = A - B and C max = A+B b is the answer

Illustration : 13

The magnitude of the vector product of two vectors A and B may be

26

VECTORS
a) greater than AB
b) equal to AB
c) less than AB
d) equal to zero
Solution :

A x B = AB sin n

magnitude AB sin
is zero when = 0
is AB when = /2
is less than AB when is between 0 and /2
But cannot be more than AB as sin
answer is b,c and d

Illustration : 14
Two vectors have magnitudes 2m and 3m. The angle between them is 600. The magnitudes of the
scalar and vector products are respectively
a) 3 and 3

b) 3 and 3 3

c) 3

3 and 3

d) 3 3 and 3 3

Solution :
Scalar product magnitude = AB cos 600 = 2(3) 1/2 = 3
Vector product magnitude = AB sin600 = 2(3)

27

3
=3
2

3 answer is b

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

ASSIGNMENT
SINGLE ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1.

A ship is travelling due east at 10km/h. A ship heading 300 east of north is always due north from the first

ship. The speed of the second ship in km/h is

A) 20 2
2.

B) 20

3
2

5.

B) 10i 10j

C) 10i 10j

D) 10i 10j

The wind appears to blow from the north to a man moving in the north-east direction. When he doubles
his velocity the wind appears to move in the direction cot-1 (2) east of north. The actual direction of the
wind is
A) 2 towards east

B)

C)

D)

2 towards west

towards west

towards east
2

The velocity of a boat in still water is h times less than the velocity of flow of the river ( > 1). The angle
with the stream direction at which the boat must move to minimise drifting is
1
A) sin
-1

6.

B) 300 east of north

D) 600 east of north

Wind is blowing from the south at 10 ms-1 but to a cyclist it appears to be blowing from the east at 10 ms-1.
The cyclist has a velocity
A) 10i 10j

4.

D) 20 2

A river is flowing from west to east at a speed of 5 m per minute. A man on the south bank of the river,
capable of swimming at 10 m per minute in still water wants to swim across the river to a point directly
opposite in the shortest time. He should then swim in a direction
A) 600 west of north
C) 300 west of north

3.

C) 20

1
B) cot
-1

sin

C) 2

cot

D) 2

Two particles, A and B move with constant velocities A and B . Initially their radius vectors are rA
and rB . For the particles to collide the four vectors must be interrelated as

7.

A) A B rA rB

B) A B and rA rB

A B rA rB
C) r r
A
B
A
B

B A rA rB
D) r r
B
A
A
B

A car A is going north east at 80 kmh-1 and another car B is going south east with a velocity of 60 kmh-1.
The velocity of A relative to B makes an angle with the north equal to

28

VECTORS
A) tan-1(2/7)
8.

9.

B) 3

3
D) sin-1
4

B) i k

C) i j k

D) i k

D) A B = A
B

B) less than AB
D) equal to A/B

Figure shows three vectors a, b and c , where R is the P Q R 0 midpoint of PQ. Then which of
the following relations is correct ?

B) a b c

D) a b c

Two forces P and Q acting at a point are such that if P is reversed, the direction of the resultant is
turned through 900, then :

A) P = Q
C) P = Q/2
29

C) /2

Given that both A and B are greater than 1. The magnitude of cannot be

A) a b 2c

C) a b 2c
15.

4
B) cos 5
-1

If A B
, then which of the following relations is wrong ?
BA

A) A = B
B) A
B
C) A B

A) equal to AB
C) more than AB
14.

D) 5

If A B is a unit vector along x-axis and A i j k , then what is B ?

A) i k

13.

C) 4

If A B C and the magnitudes of A, B and C are 5, 4 and 3 units respectively, the angle between

A and C is

3
A) cos
5

12.

d) tan-1(1/7)

The X and Y components of vector A have numerical values 5 and 6 respectively and that of A B

have numerical vales 10 and 9. What is the numerical value of B ?

-1

11.

C) tan-1(7)

Given that P Q R 0 . Which of the following statements is true ?


A) P Q R
B) P Q R


C) p Q R
D) P Q R

A) 2
10.

B) tan-1(7/2)

B) P = 2Q
D) no relation exists between P and Q

16.

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

The resultant of two forces P and Q is of magnitude P. If P is doubled, the resultant will be inclined
to Q at an angle :
A ) 00

17.

B) 300

B) 450

C) 900

20.

21.

23.

The condition under which the vectors a b and a b are parallel is :




A) a b
B) a b
C) a b
D) a || b

B) a-b

C)

a 2 b2
a 2 b2

D)

a 2 b2

If the vectors i j k and 3 i form two sides of a triangle the area of the triangle is
3

B) 2 3

C)

3
2

D) 3

If a, b and c are three unit vectors with a b c = 0 then a b b c c a is equal to :

B) 1

C) -3/2

D) none of these

If angle between a and b is /3, then angle between 2 a and -3 b is :

A) /3

26.

ABCD is a quadrilateral. Force BA, BC, CD and DA act at a point. Their resultant is

A) 2 AB
B) 2 DA
C) 2 BC
D) 2 BA

A) zero
25.

Vector a is perpendicular to b . Component of a b along a b will be :

A)
24.

B) direction
D) neither magnitude nor direction

In an equilateral triangle ABC, AL, BM and CN are medians. Forces along BC and BA represented by
them will have a resultant represented by :

A) 2 AL
B) 2BM
C) 2CN
D) AC

A) zero

22.

D) 1800

Two vectors A and B inclined at an angle have a resultant R which makes an angle with A . If

the direction of A and B are interchanged the resultant will have the same :

A) magnitude
C) magnitude as well as direction
19.

D) 900

If A B = 0 also A x C =0, the angle between B and C is :

A) zero
18.

C) 600

B) 2 /3

C) /6

D) 5 /3

If a and b are two unit vectors such that a + 2 b and 5 a - 4 b are perpendicular to each other,, then

30

VECTORS

the angle between a and b is :

A) /4
27.

1
j i
2

B)

C)

5
j i
2

D)

7
j i
2

C) 2l cos
2

D) l sin
2

If a vector A makes angles , and respectively with the X, Y and Z-axes respectively then sin2
+ sin2 + sin2 =

B) 1

C) 2

D) 3

Two vectors A and B are suc h that A B C and A2+ B2 = C2 . If is the angle between positive

direction of A and B then the correct statement is :

A) =

31.

B) 2l sin
2

A) 0
30.

3
j i
2

A vector of length l is turned through the angle about its tail. What is the change in the position vector
of its head ?

A) l cos
2

29.

2
D) cos-1
7

Component of 3i + 4j perpendicular to i j and in the same plane as that of 3i + 4j is :

A)

28.

1
C) cos-1
3

B) /3

B) = 2/3

C) = 0

D) = /2

Given that P Q R = 0. Two out of the three vectors are equal in magnitude. The magnitude of the

third vector is 2 times that of the other two. Which of the following can be the angles between these
vectors ?
A) 900, 1350, 1350
C) 300, 600, 900
32.

B) 450, 450, 900

D) 450, 900, 1350

A force 3i 4j newton acts on a body and displace it by 3i 4j metre. The work done by the
force is:
A) 5J

33.

B) 25J

6
3
, cos-1 7 , and cos-1
7
3
4
C) cos-1 7 , cos-1 7 , and cos-1

31

D) 30J

The angles which the vector A 3i 6j 2k makes with the coordinate axes are :

A) cos-1

34.

C) 10J

2
7
1
7

B) cos-1

5
4
3
, cos-1 7 , and cos-1
7
7

D) none of these

The sum of two forces at a point is 16N. If their resultant is normal to the smaller force and has a
magnitude of 8N. Then two forces are :

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

A) 6N, 10N
C) 4N, 12N
35.

A stationary man observes that the rain is falling vertically downward. When he starts running with a
velocity of 12km/h he observes that the rain is falling at an angle 600 with the vertical. The actual velocity
of rain is
A) 12km/h

36.

D) 10km/h

7
B) tan-1
2

C) tan-1 (7)

1
D) tan-1
7

B) 5 ms-1

C) 9 ms-1

D) 13 ms-1

Two particles start simultaneously from the same point and move along two straight lines, one with
uniform velocity v and other with a uniform acceleration a. If a is the angle between the lines of motion
of two particles then the least value of relative velocity will be at time given by :
A)

39.

C) 4km/h

Two persons P and Q are standing 54m apart on a long moving belt. Person P rolls a round stone
towards person Q with a speed of 9ms-1 with respect to the belt. If the belt is moving with a speed of
4ms-1 in the direction from P to Q, what is the speed of the stone with respect to an observer on a
stationary platform :
A) 4ms-1

38

B) 12km/h

A car A is going north east at 80kmh-1 and another car B is going south east with a velocity of 60kmh-1.
The velocity of A relative to B makes an angle with the north equal to :
2
A) tan-1
7

37.

B) 8N, 8N
D) 2N, 14N

v
sin
a

B)

v
cos
a

C)

v
tan
a

D)

v
cot
a

Two boats A and B are moving in a river. Boat A moves normal to the river currents as observed by an
observer moving with river currents. Boat B moves normal to the river as observed by the observer on
the ground.
A) To a ground observer boat B moves faster than A
B) To a ground observer boat A moves faster than B
C) To the moving observer boat B moves faster than A
D) To the moving observer boat A moves faster than B

40.

In the above problem, if both these boats have to cross a river of width b, then
A) The boat A will take the least time to cross the river
B) The time taken by boat A will be b/v
b

C) The time taken by boat B will be

v u2

D) The condition of crossing the river is given by v > u.

41.

A motor boat is to reach at a point 300 upstream on other side of a river flowing with velocity 5 m/s.
32

VECTORS
Velocity of motor boat with respect to water is 5 3 m/sec. The driver should steer the boat an angle
A) 300 w.r.t. the line of destination from starting point
B) 600 w.r.t. normal to the bank
C) 1200w.r.t stream direction
D) None of these

KEY
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

16.

17. 18. 19.

20. 21. 22. 23

24. 25. 26.

31

32

33 34

35

36

37 38

39

40

41

AB
CD

33

12. 13. 14. 15.

27. 28. 29. 30.

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

MULTIPLE ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.

To a man running at a speed of 4 m/s towards east, the rain appears to fall making an angle of 300 with
the vertical, when he doubles his speed, the rain again appears to fall making an angle of 300 but now in
the opposite direction to the vertical. The true angle q which the rain makes with the vertical and its
speed v are
A) v = 4 3 m/s

2.

C) = 600

B) v = 6 m/s

D) = 450

An observer moving with river stream finds that a boat is moving normal to the river currents with a
velocity v, then
A) u = v
B) a ground observer finds that the boat is moving at an angle in the downstream direction
C) the velocity observed by the ground observer is u 2 v 2
D) the velocity observed by the ground observer is v 2 u 2

3.

Two boats A and B are moving in a river. Boat A moves normal to the river currents as observed by an
observer moving with river currents. Boat B moves normal to the river as observed by the observer on
the ground. If both these boats have to cross a river of width b, then
A) the boat A will take the least time to cross the river
B) the time taken by A will be

b
v
b

C) the time taken by boat B will be

v2 u 2

D) the condition of crossing the river is given by v>u

4.

In the above problem to a stationary observer on the ground

A) the boat B reaches the exactly opposite point on the bank
u
v

B) the boat A reaches a point b distance downstream from the starting point
C) the boat A travels a longer distance
D) the boat B travels a longer distance

KEY
1.

2.

3.

4.

A,C A,B A,B A,B

C C,D C
34

VECTORS

COMPREHENSION TYPE QUESTIONS

PASSAGE I :

When an airplane flies, its total velocity with respect to the ground is V total V plane V wind

where V plane denotes the planes velocity through motionless air and V wind denotes the winds velocity. Crucially, all the quantities in this equation are vectors. The magnitude of a velocity vector is often
called the speed.
Consider an airplane whose speed through motionless air is 100 meters per second (m/s). To reach its
destination, the plane must fly east.
The heading of a plane is the direction in which the nose of the plane points. So, it is the direction in
which the engines propel the plane.
1.

If the plane has an eastward heading, and a 20 m/s wind blows towards the southwest, then the planes
speed is
A) 80 m/s
C) 100 m/s

2.

The pilot maintains an eastward heading while a 20 m/s wind blows northward. The planes velocity is
deflected from due east by what angle ?
A) sin-1

3.

B) more than 80 m/s but less than 100 m/s

D) more than 100 m/s

20
100

B) cos-1

20
100

C) tan-1

20
100

D) None of these

Let denotes the answer to question 2. The plane in question 2 has what speed with respect to the
ground ?
A) (100 m/s) sin

4.

20
100

100 m / s
sin

D)

100 m / s
cos

20
B) cos-1 100

20
C) tan-1 100

D) None of these

Let q denote the answer to question 4. What is the total speed, with respect to the ground, of the plane
in question 4 ?
A) (100 m/s) sin

35

C)

Because the 20 m/s northward wind persists, the pilot adjusts the heading so that the planes total
velocity is eastward. By what angle does the new heading differ from due east ?
A) sin-1

5.

B) (100 m/s) cos

B) (100 m/s) cos

C)

100 m / s
sin

D)

100 m / s
cos

IIT- PHYSICS - SET - I

KEY

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

MULTIPLE MATCHING TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Match the following:
List I
a) cross product
b) scalar product
c) angle between two vectors
d) unit vector

List - II

e) r x F
f) scalar
g) work
h) 1800

AxB
i)
| Ax B|
j) magnitude in units
k) right hand screw rule

2. Match the following:

List I
a) Addition of two anti parallel vectors

b) A B C 0
c) Parallelogram law
d) cos2 + cos2 + cos2 S

List - II
e) triangle law of vector
f) 1
g) null vector

h) A B (for A B _

3. Match the following:

List - I
a) couple

List - II
e) joule

b) work

f)

c) torque
d) F.S

g) N - m
h) vector
i) ML2 T-2

36

VECTORS
4. Match the following:
List - I
a) C x A = B

List - II
e) cos900

b) i . j

f) B.A= 0

c) (i x j).i

g) zero

h) C and A are in same plane

KEY

37

1.

a e,k , b f,g , c h , d i,j

2.

a g,h , b e , c e, d f

3.

a g, h, i , b e,f,i , c g,h,i , d e,i

4.

a f, h , b e, g , c e,g