Vector Problems Name _____________________

1. The magnitudes of two vectors A and B are A = 5 units and B = 2 units. Find the
largest and smallest values possible for the resultant vector R = A + B.

2. Can a vector have a component equal to zero and still have a nonzero magnitude?
Explain.

3. If one of the components of a vector is not zero, can its magnitude be zero?
Explain.

4. If the component of a vector A along the direction of vector B is zero, what can
you conclude about the two vectors?

5. If A + B = 0, what can you say about the components of the two vectors?

6. Which of the following are vectors and which are not?

Force ___________ temperature _________
the volume of water in a can __________ the age of the universe _________
the ratings of a TV show ___________ the height of a building _________
the velocity of a sports car ___________

7. Is it possible to add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity? Explain.

8. Two points in the xy plane have Cartesian coordinates (2, -4) and (-3, 3), where
the units are in meters. Determine the distance between these points and their
polar coordinates.
9. A point in the xy plane has ccartesian coordinates (-3, 5). What are the polar
coordinates of this point?

10. The polar coordinates of a point are r = 5.5 m and = 240. What are the
Cartesian coordinates of this point?

11. Two vectors are given by A = 3i 2j and B = -i 4j. Calculate A + B and A B

and determine the directions.

12. Three vectors are given by A = i + 3j, B = 2i j, and C = 3i + 5j. Find the sum of
the three vectors and the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.

13. Two vectors are given by A = -2i + j 3k and B = 5i + 3j 2k. Find a third vector
C such that 3A + 2B C = 0. What are the magnitudes of A, B, and C?
14. Is the following expression legitimate? A x (F + f) = A x f + A x F

15. If A is a vector and B is a scalar, explain why each of the following expressions is
meaningless: A B, A B, and A x B

16. The Cartesian unit vectors i, j, and k form a right handed coordinate system. Do
the vectors i, -j, and k form a right handed system?

17. Three vectors are expressed in Cartesian form:

A = 4j
B = I 3j + 2k
C = 2i j + 3k
For the pure thrill of it, evaluate A x (B x C) and show that it is equivalent to
(A C)B (A B)C
18. Consider the following vector relationship: F = q(v x B) where q is a scalar. In our
study of magnetism we will see that this relationship gives the force F on a charge q
moving at a velocity v in a magnetic field B. Suppose you conduct some experiments
and find the following:
If the vector v = i , then F/q = -4j 2j
If the vector v = j , then F/q = 4i 3j
If the vector v = k , then F/q = 2i + 3j

Use this information to find the vector B.