Mathematics · Physics

Vector Algebra and Calculus

214 Questions

Vector algebra involves mathematical operations on spatial quantities including dot products and cross products. These questions test the understanding of vector spaces and linear combinations. This topic is crucial for advanced mathematics and physics exams.

Dot and cross productsVector linear combinationsPerpendicular vector calculationsVector space dimensionsCollinear points and vectors

Vector Algebra and Calculus Questions

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

A vector $\vec{A}$ is along +ve x-axis. Another vector $\vec{B}$ such that $\vec{A} \times \vec{B}=\vec{0}$ could be

  1. $4 \hat {j}$
  2. $-4 \hat {i}$
  3. $-(\hat {i}+\hat {j})$
  4. $(\hat {j}+\hat {k})$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The cross product of two vectors is zero if they are parallel or anti-parallel. A is along the x-axis (i). Vector B must be a multiple of i. -4i is parallel to i.

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $\vec{A}=5 \hat {i}+7 \hat{j}-3 \hat {k}$ and $\vec{B}=15 \hat {i}+21 \hat{j}+a \hat {k}$ are parallel vectors then the value of $a$ is:

  1. -3

  2. 9

  3. -9

  4. 3

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

$\left( \vec { A } \times \vec { B }  \right) =\left| \begin{matrix} \hat { i }  & \hat { j }  & \hat { k }  \ 5 & 7 & -3 \ 15 & 21 & a \end{matrix} \right| =0\quad or\quad 5a+45=0\quad or\quad or\quad 7a+63=0\quad \Rightarrow a=-9$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $\vec{A}\times\vec{B}=\vec{C}$, then choose the incorrect option : [$\vec{A}$ and $\vec{B}$ are non zero vectors]

  1. $\vec{C}$ is prependicular to $(\vec{A} + \vec{B})$
  2. $\vec{C}$ is prependicular to $(\vec{A} - \vec{B})$
  3. $\vec{C}$ is prependicular to $(\vec{A} \times \vec{B})$
  4. $\vec{C}$ is prependicular to $\vec{A}$ and $\vec{B}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

By definition, C = A x B is perpendicular to both A and B. It is not necessarily perpendicular to the sum or difference of A and B. However, C is definitely NOT perpendicular to itself (C x C = 0, but C dot C = |C|^2, which is non-zero). Option C is the incorrect statement.

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $\overrightarrow a  + b + \overrightarrow c  = 0$ The angle between $\overrightarrow a \,\,and\,\,\overrightarrow b \,,b\,and\,\overrightarrow c \,and\,{150^0}\,\,and\,\,{120^0}$ respectively.The the magnitude of vectors $\overrightarrow a ,\overrightarrow b \,\,and\,\,\overrightarrow c $ are in ratio of .

  1. $1:2:2$
  2. $1:2$:$\sqrt 3 $
  3. $\sqrt 3 $:2:1
  4. $2$:$\sqrt 3 $:1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If  $\vec { A } = 4 \vec { i } + 5 \vec { j } - 6 \vec { k }$  and  $\vec { B } = 2 \vec { i }  - 3 \vec { j } + 4 \vec { k }$  then  $( \vec { A } + \vec { B } ) \cdot (\vec { A } - \vec { B } )$  is

  1. $6$
  2. $48$
  3. $67$
  4. $13$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(A + B) dot (A - B) = |A|^2 - |B|^2. A = 4i + 5j - 6k, |A|^2 = 16 + 25 + 36 = 77. B = 2i - 3j + 4k, |B|^2 = 4 + 9 + 16 = 29. 77 - 29 = 48.

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If the two given vectors $ 2 \hat i + 3 \hat j + 4 \hat k $ and $ 6 \hat i +  \alpha \hat j + \beta \hat k $ are parallel , the value of $ \alpha $ and $ \beta $ will be

  1. $9$ and $12$
  2. $3$ and $14$
  3. $6$ and $8$
  4. $4$ and $12$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

For vectors to be parallel, their components must be proportional: 2/6 = 3/alpha = 4/beta. 1/3 = 3/alpha => alpha = 9. 1/3 = 4/beta => beta = 12.

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $\overrightarrow{A}=4\widehat{i}+6\widehat{j} $  and  $\overrightarrow{B}=2\widehat{i}+3\widehat{j}$ .Then :

  1. $\overrightarrow{A}.\overrightarrow{B} =29$
  2. $\overrightarrow{A}\times \overrightarrow{B}=0$
  3. $\dfrac{|\overrightarrow{A}|}{|\overrightarrow{B}|}=\dfrac{2}{1} $
  4. angles between $ \overrightarrow{A}$ and $\overrightarrow{B} $ is $ 30^{\circ}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
(A) $\vec A.\vec B=(4\hat i+6\hat j).(2\hat i+3\hat j)=8+18=26$

(B) $\overrightarrow{A} \times \overrightarrow{B}= \begin{vmatrix} \widehat{i}& \widehat{j} &\widehat{k}\\  4& 6  & 0\\ 2 & 3 & 0\end{vmatrix} = \widehat{i}(0-0)-\widehat{j}(0-0)+\widehat{k}(12-12)=0 $

(C) $|\vec A|=\sqrt{4^2+6^2}=7.21$
     $|\vec B|=\sqrt{2^2+3^2}=3.60$
     $\dfrac{|\vec A|}{|\vec B|}=2$

(D) Angle between $\vec A$ and $\vec B$ $= cos ^{-1}\dfrac{\vec A.\vec B}{|\vec A|.|\vec B|}=cos^{-1}1=0^0$
Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $  \overrightarrow{A} \times \overrightarrow{B}=0,$ $  \overrightarrow{B} \times \overrightarrow{C}=0, $then $  \overrightarrow{A} \times \overrightarrow{C}= $

  1. $AC$
  2. $\dfrac{AB^2}{C} $
  3. $Zero$
  4. $None of these$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

$  \overrightarrow{A} \times \overrightarrow{B}=0   \overrightarrow{A}  \ and\  \overrightarrow{B} $ are parallel.
$  \overrightarrow{B} \times \overrightarrow{C}=0  \Rightarrow  \overrightarrow{B}  \ and \  \overrightarrow{C} $ are parallel 
 $\Rightarrow \vec{A} \parallel \vec{C}$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

Consider a vector $F=4\hat{i}-3\hat{j} $. Another vector which is perpendicular to $\vec F$ is:

  1. $ 4\hat{i}+3\hat{j}$
  2. $ 6\hat{i}$
  3. $7\hat{k} $
  4. $ 3\hat{i}-4\hat{j}$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The vector perpendicular to the $i$ & $j$ plane would be along the unit vector $k$.
Another vector in $i$ & $j$ plane can be perpendicular to $\vec{F}$
$(3\widehat{i} +4\widehat{j}) \perp (4\widehat{i} -3\widehat{j}) $
But,  from the options only $7\widehat{k} \perp (4\widehat{i} -3\widehat{j})$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

Show that the vector is parallel to a vector $\displaystyle \vec{A}=\hat{i}-\hat{j}+2\hat{k}$ is parallel to a vector $\displaystyle \vec{B}=3\hat{i}-3\hat{j}+6\hat{k}.$

  1. $\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}$ times the magnitude of $\displaystyle \vec{B}.$
  2. $\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}$ times the magnitude of $\displaystyle \vec{B}.$
  3. $\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}$ times the magnitude of $\displaystyle \vec{B}.$
  4. None of these

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A vector $\displaystyle \vec{A}$ is parallel to an another vector $\displaystyle \vec{B}$ if it can be written as
$\displaystyle \vec{A}= m\vec{B}$ where $m$ is a constant.
Here, $\displaystyle \vec{A}=\left ( \hat{i}-\hat{j}+2\hat{k} \right )=\frac{1}{3}\left ( 3\hat{i}-3\hat{j}+6\hat{k} \right )$
or $\displaystyle \vec{A}=\frac{1}{3}\vec{B}$
This implies that $\vec A || \displaystyle \vec{B}$ and magnitude of $\displaystyle \vec{A}$ is $\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}$ times the magnitude of $\displaystyle \vec{B}.$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If $\vec{a}=x _1\hat {i}+y _1\hat {j}$ and $\vec{b}=x _2\hat {i}+y _2\hat {j}$. The condition that would make $\vec{a}$ and $\vec{b}$ parallel to each other is........... .

  1. $x _1y _2=x _2y _1$
  2. $x _1/y _1=x2y2$
  3. $x _1y _1=x _2/y _2$
  4. $x _1y _1=y _2/x _2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$\vec{a}\times\vec{b}=\begin{pmatrix}x _1\hat {i}+y _1\hat {j}\end{pmatrix}\times\begin{pmatrix}x _2\hat {i}+y _2\hat {j}\end{pmatrix}$

$\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;=x _1y _2\hat {k}-x _2y _1\hat {k}=\vec{0}\Rightarrow x _1y _2=x _2y _1$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

A vector $\bar{P} _{1}$ is along the positive x- axis. If its cross product with another vector $\bar{P} _{2}$ is zero, then $\bar{P} _{2}$ could be:

  1. $4\hat{j}$
  2. $-4\hat{i}$
  3. $(\hat{i}+\hat{k})$
  4. $-(\hat{i}+\hat{j})$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The vector product of two vectors $\vec{A}$ and $\vec{B}$ is defined by $\vec{A} \times \vec{B} = \hat{n} |A| |B| \sin x $, where  $\hat{n}$ is the unit vector perpendicular to both A and B vectors and x is the angle between them.
Here in this question the vector product of $\vec{P1}$ and $\vec{P2}$ vectors is zero. This is only possible in two cases: 1) Any of the vectors is zero itself or 2) the $\sin$ of the angle between them is zero.
From the given options, the vector parallel to the given vector  $\hat{i}$ is  $-4\hat{i}$. 

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

If three vectors satisfy the relation $ \overrightarrow A . \overrightarrow B = 0 $ and $ \overrightarrow A . \overrightarrow C = 0 $ , then $ \overrightarrow A $ can be parallel to

  1. $ \overrightarrow C $
  2. $ \overrightarrow B $
  3. $ \overrightarrow B \times \overrightarrow C $
  4. $ \overrightarrow B . \overrightarrow C $
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

$\displaystyle \displaystyle \overrightarrow A .  \overrightarrow B = 0 \Rightarrow  \overrightarrow A \bot  \overrightarrow B$
and, $\overrightarrow A .  \overrightarrow C = 0 \Rightarrow  \overrightarrow A \bot  \overrightarrow C$
Also, $\overrightarrow B \times \overrightarrow C $ is perpendicular to both $\vec { B } \ and  \ \vec { C }$
$Thus, \overrightarrow { A } ||\, (\overrightarrow { B } \times \overrightarrow { C } )$

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

Consider the following statements A and B given below and identify the correct answer:
A) lf $\vec{\mathrm{A}}$ is a vector, then the magnitude of the vector is given by $\sqrt{\vec{A}\times \vec{A}}$
B) lf $\vec{a}=m\vec{b}$ where 'm' is a scalar, the value of 'm' is equal to $\frac{\vec{a} \cdot  \vec{b}}{b^{2}}$

  1. both A & B are correct

  2. A is correct but B is wrong

  3. A is wrong but B is correct

  4. both A and B are wrong

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Magnitude of a vector A can be given as $ \sqrt{\overrightarrow{A}.\overrightarrow{A}} $. 
Hence, statement A is wrong .
Also, if $ \overrightarrow{a} = m \overrightarrow{b}$, taking dot product with b vector on both sides,
$ \overrightarrow{a}.\overrightarrow{b} = m \  b^2 \Rightarrow m = \dfrac {\overrightarrow{a}.\overrightarrow{b}}{b^2} $
Hence , statement B is correct.

Multiple choice physics mathematical methods multiplication of vectors products of vectors scalar product

lf vectors $\vec{\mathrm{A}}$ and $\vec{\mathrm{B}}$ are given by $\vec{\mathrm{A}}=5\hat{\mathrm{i}}+6\hat{\mathrm{j}}+3\hat{\mathrm{k}}$ and $\vec{\mathrm{B}}=6\hat{\mathrm{i}}-2\hat{\mathrm{j}}-6\hat{\mathrm{k}}$ then which of the following is/are correct?
$a)\vec{\mathrm{A}}$ and $\vec{\mathrm{B}}$ are mutually perpendicular
$\mathrm{b})$ Product of $\vec{\mathrm{A}}\times\vec{\mathrm{B}}$ is same as $\vec{\mathrm{B}}\times\vec{\mathrm{A}}$
$\mathrm{c})$ The magnitude of $\vec{\mathrm{A}}$ and $\vec{\mathrm{B}}$ are equal
$\mathrm{d})$ The magnitude of $\vec{\mathrm{A}}.\vec{\mathrm{B}}$ is zero

  1. a, d are correct

  2. b, c are correct

  3. c, d are correct

  4. b, a are correct

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$\vec{\mathrm{A}}=5\hat{\mathrm{i}}+6\hat{\mathrm{j}}+3\hat{\mathrm{k}}$  and $\vec{\mathrm{B}}=6\hat{\mathrm{i}}-2\hat{\mathrm{j}}-6\hat{\mathrm{k}}$  is given. 

Now scalar product of this two vector is $\vec{\mathrm{A}} . \vec{\mathrm{B}} = 5\times 6-6\times 2-3\times 6=0$     
So they are mutually perpendicular.