PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali

Exercise Short Question Answers

Q # 1. Define the terms: (I) Unit Vector (II) Position Vector (III) Component of a Vector.
 Unit Vector
A vector having the unit magnitude is called the unit vector. It is used to indicate the direction of any
vector. The unit vector in the direction of vector A is expressed as

Where is the unit vector in the direction of vector A and | | is its magnitude.

 Position Vector
The position vector describes the location of a point with respect to origin. In two dimension, the
position vector ‘ ’ of point is describe as

In three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, the position vector ‘ ’ of point is

describe as

 Component of a Vector
A component of a vector is its effective value in a specific direction.

Q # 2. The vector sum of three vectors gives a zero resultant. What can be the
orientation of the vectors?
Ans. If the three vectors are represented by the sides of a triangle taken in cyclic order,
then the vector sum of three vectors will be zero.

Let three vectors and are the three vectors acting along the sides of
triangle as shown in the figure. As the head of coincides with the tail of so by head to tail rule, the
resultant of these three vectors will be zero.

Q # 3. Vector lies in xy plane. For what orientation will both of its rectangular components be
negative? For what components will its components have opposite signs?
Ans. Figure shows sign with rectangular components of an arbitrary vector in different quadrants. It is clear
from figure:

i) When the vector lies in 3rd quadrant, then both of its rectangular
components of vector will negative.
ii) The components of a vector have opposite sign when the vector lies in
2nd or 4th quadrant.

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PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali
Exercise Short Question Answers

Q # 4. If one of the rectangular components of a vector is not zero, can its magnitude be zero? Explain.
Ans. If and are the rectangular components of vector then magnitude of vector is described by

Formula:

It is clear from the expression that the magnitude of a vector will be zero only if all of its rectangular
components are zero.

Therefore if one of the components is not zero, then the magnitude of vector can’t be zero.
Q # 5. Can a vector have a component greater than the vector’s magnitude?

Ans. No, the component of a vector can never be greater than the vector’s magnitude because the
component of a vector is its effective value in a specific direction.

If and are the rectangular components of vector , then magnitude of vector is described by

Formula:

It is clear from the expression that maximum magnitude of component can be equal to the magnitude
of the vector.

Q # 6. Can the magnitude of a vector have a negative value?

Ans. No, the magnitude of a vector cannot be negative, because the magnitude of vector can be described

by the formula:

Where and are the rectangular components of . As the squares of real quantities always gives the
positive values. Therefore, the magnitude of a vector will always be positive.

Q # 7. If What can you say about the components of the two vectors?
Ans. Given that:

These vectors can be expressed in terms of rectangular components,

Comparing the coefficients of unit vectors:

and

Hence the components of both vectors are equal in magnitude but opposite in direction.

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PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali
Exercise Short Question Answers

Q # 8. Under what circumstances would a vector have components that are equal in magnitude?
Ans. If & are rectangular components of vector , then according to given condition:

So the components of a vector will have equal magnitude when vector makes an angle of 45˚ with horizontal.
Q # 9. Is it possible to add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity?
Ans. No it is not possible to add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity because only the physical quantities of
same nature can be added. Vectors and scalars are different physical quantities.

Q # 10. Can you add zero to a null vector?

Ans. No, zero can’t be added to a null vector because zero is a scalar and scalars can’t be added to vectors.
Only the physical quantities of same nature can be added.

Q # 11. Two vectors have unequal magnitudes. Can their sum be zero? Explain.
Ans. No, the sum of two vectors having unequal magnitudes can’t be zero. The sum of two vectors will be zero
only when their magnitudes are equal and they act in opposite direction.

Q # 12. Show that the sum and the difference of two perpendicular vectors of equal lengths are also
perpendicular and of same length.
Ans. Consider two vectors and of equal magnitude which are perpendicular to each other. The sum and
the difference of both vectors gives the resultant and , respectively, and are
described below:

Magnitude of -------------- (1)

Magnitude of -------------- (2)

From (1) and (2), it is clear that the sum and the difference of two perpendicular
vectors of equal magnitude have the same lengths. Now taking dot product of and , we get:

As , therefore, the sum and the difference of two perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude are
perpendicular to each other.

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PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali
Exercise Short Question Answers

Q # 13. How would the two vector same magnitude have to be oriented, if they were to be combined to
give a resultant equal to a vector of same magnitude?
Ans. The two vectors of equal magnitudes are combined to give a resultant vector of same magnitude when
they act along the sides of equilateral triangle.

Consider two vectors and of equal magnitude which act along

the sides of equilateral triangle such that they make an angle of with
each other. Both vectors are added by head to tail rule to give resultant ,
which is along the third side of equilateral triangle as shown in the figure
below:

From figure it is clear that and , as all the sides of equilateral triangle
have equal lengths.
Q # 14. The two vectors to be combined have magnitude 60 N and 35 N. Pick the correct answer from
those given below and tell why is it the only one of the three that is correct. (i) 100 N (ii) 70 N
(iii) 20 N Ans. The correct answer is 70 N.
1. The resultant of two vectors has maximum magnitude when they act in same direction. Thus if both
vectors are parallel, then the magnitude of resultant will be: .
2. The resultant of two vectors has minimum magnitude when they act in opposite direction. Thus if both
vectors are anti-parallel, then the magnitude of resultant is .
Hence the sum can’t be less than and more than . Therefore, the only possible value for
correct answer is .

Q # 15. Suppose the sides of a closed polygon represent vector arranged head
to tail. What is the sum of these vectors?
Ans. If there are five vectors which are acting along the sides
of close polygon as shown in the figure:

As the tail of the first vector meets with the head of last vector, so by

head to tail rule:

Hence the sum of vectors arranged along the sides of polygon will be zero.

Q # 16. Identify the correct answer.

(i) Two ships X and Y are travelling in different direction at equal speeds. The actual direction of X is
due to north but to an observer on Y, the apparent direction of motion X is north-east. The actual
direction of motion of Y as observed from the shore will be
(A) East (B) West (C) South-east (D) South-West
Ans. The correct answer is (B) West

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PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali
Exercise Short Question Answers

(ii) The horizontal force F is applied to a small object P of mass m at rest on a smooth plane inclined at
an angle to the horizontal as shown in the figure below. The magnitude of the resultant force
acting up and along the surface of the plane, on the object is
(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

Ans. The forces acting up and along the surface of plane is

, therefore the correct option is (a)

Q # 17. If all the components of the vectors, were reversed, how would this alter .
Ans. If all the components of the vectors and are reversed, then both vectors will be represented as
and , respectively.

As

So the vector product of two vectors will remain unchanged even when the components of the vectors are
reversed.

Q # 18. Name the three different conditions that could makes

Ans. The conditions that could make the are as follows:
 If is the null vector
 If are anti-parallel with each other.
 If the vectors are parallel.
Q # 19. Identify true or false statements and explain the reason.
(a) A body in equilibrium implies that it is neither moving nor rotating.
(b) If the coplanar forces acting on a body form a close polygon, then the body is said to be in
equilibrium.
Ans. i) Statement (a) is false. Because a body may be in equilibrium if it is moving or rotating with uniform
velocity.

iii) Statement (b) is correct. Since the vector sum of all the forces acting on the body along close
polygon is zero, then the first condition of equilibrium will be satisfied and the body will be in
state of equilibrium.

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PHYSICS: (1st year) Chapter 2: Vector and Equilibrium by: Fakhar Ali
Exercise Short Question Answers

Q # 20. A picture is suspended from a wall by two strings. Show by diagram the configuration of the
strings for which the tension in the string is minimum.

Ans. Consider a picture of weight is suspended by two strings as shown in the

figure.

From figure,

It is clear from the expression that the tension in the string will be minimum
when the factor will be maximum (equal to 1). This condition can be
obtained for .

Q # 21. Can a body rotate about its center of gravity under the action of its weight?
Ans. No a body can’t rotate about the center of gravity under the action of its weight.

The whole weight of the body acts on the center of gravity. Therefore, the perpendicular distance
between line of action of weight and axis of rotation, called moment arm, is zero.

As Torque = Moment arm × Force

=r F SinƟ
Here r=0
So  = (0) × F

 =0

So the torque due to weight will be zero because the moment arm is zero. Hence, a body cannot rotate
about center of gravity under the action of its weight.

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