VECTORS

Unit - 9
VECTORS
IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS AND RESULTS

1. Vector
Vector is a physical quantity has both magnitude and direction. It is denoted by small or
→ → → →
capital letters or Greek letters with arrow over them. Thus a, b,A,  etc. denote vectors.

2. Magnitude of a vector:
→ →
| a | or a denotes the magnitude of a .
→ →
(a) a 2 denotes | a |2 or a 2

3. Equal vectors:
Two vectors are said to b
e equal if they have same magnitude and direction.
Same direction means vectors are parallel and they have same sense.
→ → →
(a) k a, where k > 0 is a vector of magnitude k times that of a along a .
→ → →
(b) –k a , where k > 0, is a vector of magnitude k times that of a opposite to a .
Example:
→ → →
(i) 2 a is a vector of magnitude twice that of a along a .
→ → →
(ii) –2 a is a vector of magnitude twice that of a in a direction opposite to that of a

4. Representation of a vector by a directed line segment:

A vector can be represented by a directed line segment
A B
→ →
Thus if a is represented by directed line segment AB , then
→
(i) length of AB represents magnitude of a .
→
(ii) direction of a is parallel to AB and its sense is from A to B.
→ → → →
If a is represented by directed line segment AB , then we write a = AB .
→
(iii) A is called the initial point and B is called the final point or tip of vector AB .

5. Parallel vectors:
Two vectors are parallel if they are parallel to the same line or if the line segments
representing them are parallel.
(a) Two parallel vectors having same sense are called like parallel vectors.
(b) Two parallel vectors having opposite sense are called unlike parallel or antiparallel
vectors.
→ → → →
(c) Vectors a and b are parallel if and only if a = t b
A a B A a B

C b D C b D
They are like parallel or unlike parallel according as t is positive or negative.

6. Free and localized vectors:

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VECTORS

a. Localised vectors: A vector is said to be localized if it passes through a fixed Point i.e. if
it can be shifted parallel to itself.
b. Free vectors: A vector is said to be a free vector if it is not localized i.e. if it can be taken
anywhere in space.
c. Unless otherwise stated here all vectors will be considered as free vectors.
d. Free parallel vectors are also called collinear vectors.

7. Sum or resultant of two vectors:

Two vectors can be added up by triangle law of addition. Thus vectors obey triangle law of
addition.
→ → → →
Sum of two vectors a and b is denoted by a + b.
(a) Triangle law of addition:
If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by two sides of a triangle taken in
order, then their sum can be represented in magnitude and direction by the third side of the
triangle taken in reverse order.
A

a +b
b

B C
a
→ → → → → → →
If a and b are represented by BC and CA, then a + b will be represented by BA .
→ → → → → → → → →
Thus in the given figure BC+ CA = BA , AB+ BC = AC,CA+ AB = CB etc.
(b) Parallelogram law of addition:
A
D

B C
a
If two vectors are represented in magnitude and direction by two adjacent sides of a
parallelogram, then their sum or resultant will be represented in magnitude and direction by
the diagonal of the parallelogram passing through the point of intersection of the two
adjacent sides.
→ → → → → →
Thus if a and b are represented by AB and AD respectively then a + b will be represented
→
by AC .
(c) Triangle law of addition and parallelogram law of addition are equivalent.
(i) Triangle law of addition
 parallelogram law of addition.
D
C

b
a +b
A B
a
→ → → →
Let a = AB, b = AD

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VECTORS

→ → →
Then BC = AD = b
→ → →
By triangle law of addition AB+ BC = AC
→ → → → → →
 AB+ AD = AC  a + b = AC,
which is parallelogram law of addition.
(ii) Parallelogram law of addition
 triangle law of addition
D
C

A B
a
→ → → →
Let a = BC, b = CA
→ → → → → →
Now a + b = BC+ CA = BC+ BD
→ → →
Hence a + b = BA, which is triangle law of addition.

(d) Polygon law of addition:

→ → → → → →
AB+ BC+ CD+ DF+ FE = AE
→ → →
AB+ BC = AC
F
D
E
C

A B
→ → → →
AB+ BC+ CD = AD
→ → → → →
AB+ BC+ CD + DE = AE
→ → → →
Also AC+ CF+ FB = AB
→ → → →
AC+ CE + ED = AD

8. Difference of two vectors:

→ → → →
Difference of two vectors a and b is denoted by a − b and is defined as the sum of vectors
→ → → → → →
a and − b . Thus a − b = a + (− b)
In the given figure,

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VECTORS

F E

a
A B
-b a- b

D C
→ → → → → →
Let AB = a and AF = b, then AD = − b
→ → → → → → →
Now a − b = a + (− b) = AB+ AD = AC
→ →
Clearly AC = FB
→ → →
 a − b = FB
(a) In  ABC,
A

B C
→ → →
AB− AC = CB
→ → →
BC− BA = AC
→ → →
CA − CB = BA etc.

9. (a) Unit vectors:

A vector of magnitude unity is called a unit vector.
→
→ a
(i) Unit vector along a = →
|a|
(ii) a unit vector has no unit
→ →
(iii) If a is a vector, then | a | has unit.
(b) Zero vector: It is a vector having magnitude zero and direction indeterminate. It is
→
denoted by 0 or simply by 0
(i) Zero vector has no direction.
(ii) In fact zero vector is not a vector by definition but we assume the existence of zero vector
having the property that
→ → → → → →
a + 0 = a, a − 0 = a
→ → → → → →
0 + a = a, 0 − a = − a

10. (a) Linear combination of vectors:

→ → →
A vector of the form 1 a 1 + 2 a 2 + ....n a n
→ → →
where 1, 2, …n are scalars is called a linear combination of vectors a 1 , a 2 ,...a n .
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VECTORS

→ → 5→ → → →
Example: −2 a + 3b − c is a linear combination of vectors a , b and c .
2
(b) Linearly independent vectors:
→ → →
Vectors a 1 , a 2 ,...., a n are said to be linearly independent if
→ → →
1 a 1 +  2 a 2 + .... +  n a n = 0
 1 = 2 = ..... = n = 0
→ → →
(c) Linearly dependent vectors: Vectors a 1 , a 2 ,..., a n are said to be linearly dependent if
→ → →
they are not linearly independent, i.e. if 1 a 1 +  2 a 2 + .... +  n a n = 0
 at least one of 1 , 2 ,...., n is non–zero.

11. Position vector of a point:

→
If O be the origin, then vector OP is called the position vector of point P.
P

O
→
Thus position vector of point P = OP
(a) position vector of a point when its co–ordinates are known:
→ →
(i) When point is in xy–plane: If P  (x, y) and i and j be the unit vectors along x and y
axes respectively, then
→ → → → → →
OP = OL+ LP = xi + yj , | OP |= OP = x 2 + y2
Y

P(x, y)

y

O X
x L
→
→ → → → →
OP x y
Unit vector along OP = →
= i+ j = cos  i + sin  j
| OP | x 2 + y2 x 2 + y2
Thus in xy–plane, unit vector along a direction making an angle  with the positive direction
→ →
of x–axis in anticlockwise direction = cos  i + sin  j
Unit vector along a direction making an angle  with the positive direction of x–axis in
→ →
clockwise direction = cos  i − sin  j
(ii) In vector, x, y and z axes are taken such that they form a right handed system i.e. if a
→ →
right handed screw is rotated from i to j through the smaller angle between their positive
→
directions, then it advances along k (unit vector along z–axis).
(iii) Position vector of any point in space:
→ → → →
If P (x, y, z) be any point in space, then OP = xi + yj+ zk

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VECTORS

Explanation:
OP = OL+ LP =  OM+ ON  + LP = xi+ yj+ zk
→ → → → → → → → →

 
→
| OP |= OP = OL2 + LP2 = (x 2 + y2 ) + z2 = x 2 + y2 + z2
Z

P(x, y, z)
k

O j N
Y
M i
90º

X L
→
→ OP
Unit vector along OP = →
| OP |
x → y → z → → → →
= i+ j + k = li + mj+ nk
x 2 + y2 + z2 x 2 + y2 + z2 x 2 + y2 + z2
Where
x
=
x + y2 + z2
2

y
m=
x + y2 + z2
2

z
n=
x 2 + y2 + z2
→
l, m, n, are called direction cosines of OP .

(iv) Direction cosines of a vector: If a vector makes angles , ,  with the positive
→
direction of x–axis, then cos, cos, cos are called the direction cosines of OP and are
usually denoted by l, m, n.
→ → →
Thus if l, m, n be the direction cosines of a line, then unit vector along it is li + mj+ nk.
→ → →
Conversely if li + mj+ nk be a unit vector along a line, then l, m, n are then direction cosines
of that line. If l, m, n be the direction cosines of a vector, or a line, then l2 + m2 + n2 = 1
→ → → →
(v) If OP = x1 i + y1 j + z1 k
→ → → →
OQ = x 2 i + y 2 j + z 2 k
→ → → →
Then PQ = (x 2 − x1 ) i + (y 2 − y1 ) j + (z 2 − z1 ) k
→ → → →
(vi) If P  (x1, y1, z1), Q  (x2, y2, z2) then PQ = (x 2 − x1 ) i + (y 2 − y1 ) j + (z 2 − z1 ) k

(a) Section Formula:

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VECTORS

→ →
m b+ n a
(i) If P    divides AB internally in the ratio m : n, then  =
→ →

  m+n


B(b)
P()
A(a)
m:n

→ →
→
m b− n a →
(ii) If P( ) divides AB externally in the ratio m : n, then  =
m−n
→ →
a+ b
(iii) If p    be the middle point of the line segment joining A  a  and B  b  , then  =
→ → → →

      2
(iv) If A    , B    , C    be the vertices of a triangle, then
→ → →

     
A()

B() C()
→ → →
+ + 
Position vector of centroid =
3
→ → →
a + b + c 
Position vector of incentre =
a+b+c
(v)  –  theorem
→ →
→ AC+  AB
AD =
+
A

 

B
 D  C
:
→ →
 + 
→
where BD : DC =  :  i.e.  =
+
(vi) A vector along the bisector of the angle between two lines:
→ →
  → →

→
+ →
is a vector along the bisector of the angle between two vectors  and 
|| ||

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VECTORS

→
→  →
AL = →
= a unit vector along 
||
→
→  →
AM = →
= a unit vector along 
||
ALPM is a rhombus and AP bisects LAM.

(vii) Equation of bisector of angle between two lines: Equation of bisector of the angle
between lines
C


M P

A B
L

→ → → → → → → →  →b c 
→

r = a + m b and r = a + n c is r = a + t  → + → 
| b| | c |
 

12. Some results of solid geometry:

(a) Angle between a line and a plane:
Angle between a line and a plane is the angle between the line and the projection of the line
in the plane. If  be the angle between a line and normal to the plane, then angle between
the line and the plane is 90º – .


a


A L

→ → → →
Let a = AB, then AL is the projection of a on the plane.
→
Angle between a and the plane = 
→
Angle between a and normal to the plane is .
Clearly  = 90º – 
(b) A line is parallel to a plane if the angle between line and the plane is 0. If AB is parallel to
the plane, then length of perpendicular from any two points on AB to the plane are equal.
(c) Angle between two given lines = angle between two lines parallel to the given lines
through any point in space.
D Q
B

 P
C A O
OP | | AB, OQ | | CD
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VECTORS

Angle between AB and CD =  POQ

(d) If a line is perpendicular to a plane, then it is perpendicular to every line of that plane.
(e) Two parallel lines are always coplanar.
(f) Two intersecting lines are always coplanar.
(g) If a line is perpendicular to two intersecting lines of a plane, then it is perpendicular to that
plane.
(h) Angle between two planes: Angle between two planes is equal to the angle between
their normals.
(i) Two lines of space may or may not be coplanar. If two liens of space are non–coplanar,
then they are called skew lines.

13. (a) Collinear vectors:

Two or more vectors are said to be collinear (in case of free vectors) or parallel if they are
parallel to the same line.
(b) Coplanar vectors: Two or more vectors are coplanar if they lie in the same plane but in
case of free vectors, they are coplanar if they are parallel to the same plane.
(c) Two free vectors are always coplanar.

14. (a) Collinear points:

Three or more points are said to be collinear if they lie on the same line.
(b) Condition for collinearity of three points: Three points A, B, C are collinear iff
→ →
AB = t BC
→ → →
(c) Condition for coplanarity of three vectors: Three vectors a, b, c are coplanar iff any of
them can be expressed as a linear combination of the other two.
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
Thus a, b, c are coplanar iff a = m b + n c or b = m a + n c or c = m a + n b
→ → → → → →
Explanation: Let AB = a, AD = b, AC = c

b
c a
D

M
P
B
A L
Let P be any point on AC. Complete the parallelogram ALPM.
→ → →
Then AP = AL+ AM
→ → → → → → →
x→ y→
 t c = x a + y b or c = a + b or c = m a + n b
t t

→ → → → → →
15. (a) If a and b are any two non–parallel vectors, then x1 a + y1 b = x 2 a + y 2 b
 x1 = x 2 and y1 = y2
→ → →
(b) If a, b, c are any three non–coplanar vectors, then
→ → → → → →
x1 a + y1 b + z1 c = x 2 a + y 2 b + z 2 c
 x1 = x 2 , y1 = y2 and z1 = z2

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VECTORS

16. (a) Vector equation of a line:

(i) Vector equation of the line passing through point A  a  and parallel to b is
→ →

 
L A(a) P(r) M

O
→ → →
r = a+ t b
→
Here r is the position vector of arbitrary point on the line.
(ii) Vector equation of the line passing through two points A  a  and B  b  is
→ →

   
L A(a) B(b) P(r) M

O
r = a + t  b − a 
→ → → →
….(1)
 
(iii) From (1), it is clear that
→ → →
r + (t − 1) a − t b = 0 and sum of coefficients = 1 + (t – 1) – t = 0
→ → →
Condition for three points having position vectors a, b, c to be collinear:
→ → →
Three points having position vectors a, b, c are collinear iff there exist three non–zero scalars
→ → →
x, y, z such that x a + y b + z c = 0
where x + y + z = 0
(b) Vector equation of a plane:
(i) Vector equation of the plane passing through point A  a  and parallel to b and c is
→ → →

 
→ → → →
r = a + m b+ n c
(ii) Vector equation of the plane passing through points A  a  ,b  b  and C  c  is
→ → →

     
r = a + m  b − a  + n  c − a  ….(1)
→ → → → → →

   
(iii) From (1) it is clear that

c
b

 A(a)

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VECTORS

→ → → →
r + (−1 + m + n) a − m b − n c = 0
Sum of the coefficients = 1 –1 + m + n – m – n = 0
→ → → →
Thus 4 points having position vectors a, b, c, d are coplanar iff, there exist non–zero scalars
→ → → →
x, y, z such that x a + y b + z c + t d = 0
where x + y + z + t = 0
→
(iv) If n be a unit vector perpendicular to a plane and p be the length of perpendicular form
origin to the plane, then equation of the plane is
O

A(r) L

Here A  r  is an arbitrary point on the plane.

→

 
→ → → →
(v) If equation of two planes be r .n1 = p1 and r .n 2 = p 2 , then line of intersection of the two
→ →
planes lie in both the planes and is perpendicular to n1 and n 2 both. Hence line of
→ →
intersection of the two planes is parallel to n1  n 2

17. Dot or scalar product of two vectors:

→ →
(a) Dot product of two vectors a and b inclined at an angle  is ab cos . It is denoted by
→ →
a .b .
C

b

A B
a
→ → → →
Thus a .b =| a | |b | cos  = ab cos 
→ →
→ → → →
a .b
(i) a .b = b.a (ii) cos  = → →
|a | | b|
→ → → →
(iii) If a is perpendicular to b, then a .b = 0
→ → → → → →
(iv) If two non–zero vectors a and b are such that a .b = 0, then a perpendicular to b
→ → → → → →
(v) i . i = 1, j . j = 1, k.k = 1
→ → → → → →
i . j = 0, j .k = 0, i .k = 0

18. (a) Projection of a vector on other vector:

→ →
LM is called the projection of a on b.

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VECTORS

a

A B
Lb
→ →
Projection of a on b may be positive or negative. If is positive or negative according as the
→ →
angle  between a and b is acute or obtuse.

(b) Geometrical meaning of dot product:

a B

90º 90º
L M b
→ → → →
a .b = ab cos  =b(acos) =b (AL) =b (projection of a on b)
→ → → →
(c) Also a .b = a (projection of b on a)
→ →
→ → → →
a .b
(d) (i) Projection of a on b = →
= a .
|b|
→ →
where  is a unit vector along b.
→ →
→ → a .b
(ii) Projection of b on a = →
|a|
→ →
→ →
a .b
(iii) Length of projection of a on b = →
|b|

19. Distributive law:

→ → → → → → → → → →
For any three vectors a, b and c a .(b + c) = a .b + a . c
→ → → → → → → →
(a) If a = a1 i + a 2 j + a 3 k b = b1 i + b 2 j + b3 k
→ →
then a .b = a1b1 + a 2 b 2 + a 3 b 3
→ → → → → → → → → →
(b) (a + b) 2 =| a + b |2 = (a + b).(a + b) = a 2 + b 2 + 2 a .b
→ → → →
(c) (a + b).(a − b) = a 2 − b 2
→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
(d) (a + b + c) 2 = (a + b + c).(a + b + c) = a 2 + b 2 + c 2 + 2(a .b + b. c + c .a)

20. Cross product or vector product of two vectors:

→ →
(a) Definition: Cross product of two vector a and b inclined at an angle  is the vector
→ →
whose magnitude is ab sin  and direction is perpendicular to the plane of a and b and its
sense is in the advance of a right handed screw rotated through the smaller angle between
→ →
their positive directions. It is denoted by a  b.

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VECTORS


A B
a
→ → → → → →
Thus a  b = absin  n , where n is unit vector along a  b
→ →
→ → → →
| a b |
(b) Clearly, (i) a  b = − b a (ii) sin  = → →
| a || b |
→ → → →
(iii) If a is parallel to b, then a  b = 0
→ → → →
(iv) If a and b are non–zero vectors, then a  b = 0
→ →
 a is parallel to b
→ → → → → →
(v) i  i = 0, j j = 0, k k = 0
→ → →
i j = k
→ → →
j k = i
→ → →
k i = j
→ → →
i  k = − j etc.

j
k

i
→ → → → → → →
(vi) If  ⊥ b and  ⊥ c, then  || b c

21. (a) Vector area:

Vector area of a plane surface is a vector whose magnitude is the area of the plane surface
and direction is perpendicular to the plane surface and it is towards the observer (i.e. plane
surface whose area is to be considerd should be towards the observer)


→
If A be the area of the plane surface given in the figure and  be the outwards unit vector
→
perpendicular to the plane surface, then vector area of the plane surface considered is A  .
vector area of the other side of this plane surface will be – A  .

(b) Geometrical Meaning of cross product of two vectors:

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VECTORS

D C


A B
a
→ →
| a  b |= absin 
1 
=2  absin  
2 
= 2 area of ABD
= area of parallelogram ABCD,
→ →
whose adjacent sides are a and b.
→ → → →
a  b is the vector area of the parallelogram whose adjacent sides are a and b.
(c) Sum of vector area of any closed surface is zero.
→ → 1 → →
(d) Area of the triangle having two sides a and b = | a  b |
2

22. Distributive law:

→ → → → → → → → → →
(a) If a , b, c are any three vectors, then a  (b + c) = a  b + a  c
→ → →
i j k
→ → → → → → → → → →
(b) If a = a1 i + a 2 j + a 3 k and b = b1 i + b 2 j + b3 k, then a  b = a1 a2 a3
b1 b2 b3
→ → → 1 → → → → → →
(c) Area of the triangle having vertices a, b, c = (| a  b + b c + c a |)
2

23. (a) Scalar triple product:

a .(b c) is called the scalar triple product of three vectors a, b and c. It is denoted by  a b c  .
→ → → → → → →→→

 
Clearly scalar triple product is a scalar.
→ → → →
(b) Let a = a1 i + a 2 j + a 3 k
→ → → →
b = b1 i + b 2 j + b3 k
→ → → →
c = c1 i + c 2 j + c3 k
a1 a2 a3
 →→→

Then  a b c  = b1 b2 b3
 
c1 c2 c3

(c) Properties of scalar triple product:

(i) In a scalar triple product dot and cross may be interchanged.
→ → → → → →
Thus a .(b c) = (a  b). c
(ii) Value of a scalar triple product does not change when cyclic order of vectors is
maintained.

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VECTORS

→ → → → → → → → →
Thus a .(b c) = b.(c a) = c .(a  b)

i.e.  a b c  =  b c a  =  c a b 
→→→ →→→ →→→

     
→→→ →→→
Also | a b c |= − | b a c |

b
c

a
(iii) Scalar triple product of three vectors is zero if any two vectors are parallel or equal.
(iv)   a b c  =  a b c   a  b c  =  a b  c  (v)  a a +   =  a b   +  a b  
→→→ →→→ → →→ →→ → →→ → → →→ → →→→

             
→ → →→ → →
a . a a.

(vi)  a b c      = b.  b.  a .  (vii)  a + b b + c c + a  = 2  a b c 

→→→ → →→ → → → → → → → →→ →→ → →→→

   → → →→ →→    
c . c . c . 
2

(viii)  a  b b c c a  =  a b c 
→ →→ →→ → →→→

   

(d) Geometrical meaning of scalar triple product:

→→→
| [a b c] | represents the volume of the parallelepiped whose coterminous edges are
→ → →
a, b and c.

 Note :
a, b, c are coplanar iff  a b c  = 0
→ → → →→→

 
(b) Volume of the tetrahedron: Volume of the tetrahedron having three coterminous edges
→ → → 1 →→→
a, b and c = | [a b c] |
6
(c) Volume of the triangular prism:
→ → →
Volume of the triangular prism having a and b as two sides of the triangular base and c as
1 →→→
the side of the rectangular face which is not the side of the triangular base = | [a b c] |
2

24. Left handed and right handed system:

→ → →
Three vectors a, b, c are said to form a right handed or left handed system according as
→ →→

 b c   0 or < 0.
a

25. Vector triple product:

→ → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → → →
(i) a  (b c) = (a . c) b − (a .b) c (ii) (a  b)  c = (a . c) b − (b. c) a
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VECTORS

(b) Vector product of four vectors:

(i) (a  b)  (c d) =  a b d  c −  a b c  d (ii) (a  b)  (c d) =  a c d  b −  b c d  a
→ → → → →→→ → →→→ → → → → → →→→ → →→→ →

       
a c d  b+ a d b  c + a b c  d
→→→ → →→→ → →→→ →

             
(iii)  a b d  c −  a b c  d =  a c d  b −  b c d  a or a = 
→→→ → →→→ → →→→ → →→→ → →

        → →→

 b c d 
→ → →
Here b, c, d are taken in cyclic order.
(c) Scalar product of four vectors
→ → → → → → → → → → → →
(i) a  b. c d = (a . c)(b.d) − (b. c)(a .d)
→ → → →
→ → → → a .c a .d
(ii) a  b. c  d = → → → →
b. c b.d

26. (a) Any vector in a plane can be expressed as a linear combination of two non–parallel
vectors of that plane.
(b) Any vector in space can be expressed as a linear combination of three non–coplanar
vectors.
(c) If a, b, c are three non–coplanar vectors and  is any vector, then  a b c  a
→ → → → →→→ →

 
=  b c  a +  c a  b +  a b  c
→ →→ → → →→ → → →→ →

     
→ → → → →
(d) Since a , b and a  b are non–coplanar vectors, therefore, any vector  can be written as
→ → → →
a linear combination of vectors a, b and a  b.
→ → → → →
Thus  = m a + n b + t(a  b)
→ → → →
(e) If a, b, c are any three mutually perpendicular non–coplanar vectors, and  is any vector
→ → → → → →
(a . ) → b.  → c .  →
→
in space, then  = → a + → b + → c
| a |2 | b |2 | c |2
→ → → → → → →
→ a .  → b.  → a  b.  → →
(f)  = → a + → b + → → a  b
| a |2 | b |2 | a  b |2
→ → → →
(g) If a, b, c are three non–coplanar mutually perpendicular unit vectors and  is any vector,
→ → → → → → → → → →
then  = ( .a) a + ( .b) b + ( . c) c

27. Application of vectors:

→ →
→ → a .b
(a) (i) Projection of a on b = →
|b|
→ →
→ → a .b
(ii) Length of projection of a on b = →
|b|
(b) Component of a vector along and perpendicular to another vector:
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VECTORS

A B
L b
→ →
→ → → a .b →
(i) Vector component of a along b = AL = →
b
2
|b|
→ → → → →
→
a .b → b (a  b)→ → →
(ii) Vector component of a perpendicular to b LC = a − → b = →
| b |2 | b |2
→ → → →
| a b | a .b → →
(iii) CL = → →
b Also CL = a −
|b| | b |2
(c) Length of perpendicular from a point to a line:
P()


B
A(a) L b
→ → →
(− a)  b
If line AB passes through A  a  and is parallel to b, then PL =
→ →

→
  |b|
(d) Length of perpendicular from a point to a plane:
→ → → → →
(i) Plane passes through A(a) and is parallel to b and c or b and c are any two vectors in
→ →→→
|[− a b c] |
the plane PL = → →
| b c |
→ →
→ → →
|  .n − p |
(ii) Length of perpendicular from A() on plane r .n = p = →
|n|
P()

90º
A() L

(e) Shortest distance between two lines:

→ → →
If LM is the shortest distance between lines AB and CD whose equations are r = a + m b
D

C(c)
90º

90º
A(a) L B
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VECTORS

→ → →
and r = c + m d, then LM will be perpendicular to both AB and CD.
→ → → → → → →
Here LM ⊥ b and LM ⊥ d  LM || b d
Now shortest distance LM
→ → →
= length of projection of AC on LM = length of projection of AC on b d
→ → → → → → → → → → → → →→→
| AC.(b d) | | (c − a).(b d) | |( a − c).(b d) | |[a − c b d] |
= → →
= → →
or → →
= → →
| b d | | b d | | b d | | b d |

Two lines having equations r = a + t b and r = c + t d are coplanar iff  a − c b d  = 0

→ → → → → → → →→→

 
→
(f) Work done by a force: If a force F acts at point P and displaces it to point Q, then work
→ → → → →
done by F = F.PQ = F.d
→ →
(g) Moment of a force about a point: If a force F passes through point Q (b) then moment
→
of force F about point P
P(a)

Q(b) F
→ → → →
r  F, where r = PQ
→
Q may be any point on F .
→
(h) Angular velocity: Let AB be the axis of rotation. Let the particle be at P. Let
→ → → → → → →
HP = r . If  and w be the linear and angular velocity of the particle at P, then  = w r
→ → → →
r ,  and w form a right handed system. Direction of w is along the axis of rotation.

B
 H w

C  P
A r
28. Reciprocal system of vectors:
→ → →
(a) Def. Let a, b, c be three non–coplanar vectors.
→ → → → → →
→ b c → c a → a b
Let a ' = →→→
, b' = →→→
, c' = →→→
[a b c] [a b c] [a b c]
→ → → → → →
System of vector a ', b',c' is called reciprocal system of vectors a, b, c
(c) Properties:
→ → → → → →
(i) If system of vectors a ', b',c' is reciprocal system of vectors a, b, c, then system of vectors
→ → → → → →
a, b, c is the reciprocal system of vectors a ', b', c'

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VECTORS

→ → →
→ → a → → b → → c
(ii) b' c' = →→→
, c' a' = →→→
, a' b' = →→→
[a b c] [a b c] [a b c]
→→→ 1 → → → →→→
(iii) [a' b' c'] = → → → or [a' b' c'][a b c] = 1
[a b c]
→ → → →
→ b' c' → c' a'
(iv) a = →→→
, b' = →→→
etc.
[a'b' c'] [a'b' c]
→ → → → → →
(v) a .a' = b.b' = c . c' = 1
→ → → →
(vi) a .b' = 0, a .c' = 0 etc.
→ → →
(vii) System of vectors i , j, k is its own reciprocal.

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VECTORS

VECTORS
1. The angle between the straight lines and
is
a) b)

c) d)

2. If and and the orthogonal projection of on is

a) 0 b) 2 c) 12 d)

3. If and and if the vector lies in

the plane of vectors and then equals
a) 0 b) 1 c) 2 d)

4. The vector is equal to

a) b)
c) d)

5. ……. where
a) b)
d) None of these
c)

6. If and is angle between and , then the value

of is equal to
a) 4/3 b) 5/3 c) 1/3 d) 1

7. Consider points and with position vectors ,

and respectively. Then, is a
a) Square b) Rhombus
c) Rectangle d) None of these

8. then
a)
b) are coplanar
c)
d) are mutually perpendicular

9. Vectors are inclined at an angle . If then

is equal to
a) 190 b) 275 c) 300 d) 192

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VECTORS

10. If are non-coplanar vectors and λ is a real number, then

for
a) exactly two values of λ
b) exactly three values of λ
c) no real values of λ
d) exactly one values of λ

11. If the vectors and are such that from a right

handed system, then is
a) b)
c) d)

12. If is origin of is the mid point of and . Then, the value of is

a) b) c) d)

13. The vector equation of the plane passing through the origin and the line of
intersection of the planes and is
a) b)
c) d)

14. then the area of is

a) 3 sq units b) 4 sq units
c) 16 sq units d) 9 sq units

15. If the vectors and are collinear and is equal to

a) b)
c) d)

16. If , then a value of for which is perpendicular to , is

a) b) c) d)

17. If for some non-zero vector Then, the value of

is
a) b) c) d)
0 1 2

18. The total work done by two forces and acting on a

particle when it is displaced from the point to is
a) 8 units b) 9 units c) 10 units d) 11 units

19. A vector perpendicular to the plane containing the points

is
a) b)
c) d)

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VECTORS

20. The area of a parallelogram whose adjacent sides are given by the vectors
and (in sq unit), is
a) b)
c) d)

21. then is equal to

a) b)
c) d)

22. If where is a non-zero vector. Then, is

equal to
a) b)
c) d) 0

23. For any three vectors and , is equal to

a) b)
c) d) 0

24. If then λ is equal to

a) 4 b) 7 c) 8 d) 9

25. If then a vector perpendicular to

and in the plane containing is
a) b)
c) d)

26. Force acting on a particle have magnitude 5,3 and 1 unit act in the direction of the
vectors , and respectively. They remain
constant while the particle is displaced from the point to .
The work done is
a) 11 units b) 33 units c) 10 units d) 30 units

27. If are unit coplanar vectors, then is equal to

a) 1 b) 0 c) d)

28. If are non-coplanar vectors and λ be a real number, then the vectors
and are non-coplanar for
a) All values of λ
b) All except one value of λ
c) All except two values of λ
d) No value of λ

29. Forces of magnitudes 3 and 4 units acting along and

respectively act on a particle and displace it from to . The work done
is
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VECTORS

a) 124/7 b) 120/7 c) 125/7 d) 121/7

30. If and then the area of parallelogram

having diagonals and is
a) sq units b)

c) d) sq units
31. The vector lies in the plane of the vectors and
and bisects the angle between and Then, which one of the following gives
possible value of and β?
a) α=1, β b) α=2, β
c) d) α=2, β

32. If be vectors of unit length and be the angle between them, then

a) b) c) d)

33. If the vectors and are coplanar,

then the value of λ is equal to
a) 2 b) 1 c) 3 d)
34. The point of intersection of the lines and
is
a) b)
c) d)
35. Let be such that If the projection along is equal to
that of along and are perpendicular to each other, then are
equals
a) 2 b) c) d) 14

36. If be the angle between the vectors and , then

a) b)

c) d)
37. If the vectors and make an
abtuse angle for any , then the interval of which belongs
a) b) c) d)

38. The non-zero vectors are related by Then, the angle

between is
a) b) 0 c) d)

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VECTORS

39.

a) b) c) d)
0

40. If and then is equal to

a) b) c) d)

41. Find the equation of the perpendicular drown from the origin to the plane

a)
b)
c)
d) None of these
42. If the points with position vectors and are collinear, then
is equal to
a) b) c) 20 d) 40

43. If , then is equal to

a) b)
c) d)

44. In a quadrilateral , the point divides in the ratio 1:2 is the mid point of
. If , then is equal to
a) b) c) 6 d) 4

45. Which one of the following vectors is of magnitude 6 and perpendicular to both
and ?
a) b)
c) d)
46. If the position vectors of the vertices of are and
then the triangle is
a) Right angled and isosceles
b) Right angled, but not isosceles
c) Isosceles but not right angled
d) Equilateral

47. Let and be two unit vectors such that angle between them is . Then, is
equal to
a) b) c) 0 d) 1
48. The vector equation of the line passing through the points and is
a)
b)
c)
d)

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VECTORS

49. If , then is equal to

a) b) c) d)

50. If , and are mutually perpendicular, then the area of triangle

whose vertices are is
a) 5 b) 1 c) 6 d) 8

Assertion- Reason

Directions : The following questions consist of two statements one labelled the ‘Assertion
(A)’ and the other labelled ‘Reason (R)’ You are to examine these two statements carefully
and decide if the Assertion (A) and the reason (R) are individually true and if so, whether the
reason is a correct explanation of the item Assertion. Select your answer to these questions
using the codes given below and mark your answer sheet accordingly :
Codes:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true.

1. Assertion : The value of the expression

( ) ( ) + k. ( i  j) is equal to 3
i. j  k + j. k  i

Reason : i. ( j  k ) = i jk  = 1 etc.
 

2. Assertion : ABCDEF is a regular hexagon and AB = a , BC = b and CD = c ,

then EA is equal to − b + c ( )
Reason : AE = BD = BC + CD

3. Assertion : If A,B,C are any three non coplanar vectors, then

A.B  C B.A  C
+ =0
C  A.B C.A  B
Reason : [a b c]  [b c a].

4. Assertion : Any two vectors

u = (q − r ) i + ( r − p) j + (p − q ) k
i j k
v= + + such that u.v = 0 for some values of p, q, r and a, b,
a b c
c.
Reason : a, b, c are the pth, qth, rth terms of an H.P.

5. Assertion : Any three vectors p , q and r are defined by p = a  b + c , ( )

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VECTORS

(
q =b c +a ) and r = c  a  b ( ) such that p , q and r are
coplanar.
Reason : Vectors p, q are r linearly independent.

Answer key

Q. ANS. Q. ANS. Q. ANS Q. ANS Q. ANS

1 d 11 a 21 d 31 a 41 b
2 b 12 c 22 d 32 b 42 a
3 c 13 b 23 d 33 b 43 b
4 a 14 a 24 b 34 d 44 a
5 a 15 b 25 d 35 c 45 d
6 b 16 b 26 b 36 a 46 d
7 d 17 a 27 b 37 b 47 d
8 b 18 d 28 c 38 a 48 a
9 d 19 b 29 a 39 d 49 c
10 c 20 a 30 a 40 a 50 c

SOLUTION

1. (d)
Given lines can be rewritten as

here,
and

2. (b)

On equating the coefficient of , we get

3. (c)
Given,
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VECTORS

Since, lies in the plane of vectors and

therefore and are coplanar.

⟹
⟹
4. (a)

5. (a)

6. (b)
Given,

Now,

7. (d)

and

8. (b)
Given,

Hence, and are coplanar.

9. (d)
Given,
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VECTORS

10. (c)
Given, [λ(

[applying in LHS and

in RHS]

Hence, no real value of λ exists.

11. (a)
Since, from a right handed system

12. (c)
Since, is the mid point of

Coordinates of is

13. (b)
The equation of the plane through the line of intersection of given plane is
=0

this passes through the origin, therefore

On putting the value of in Eq. (i), we get the equation of the required plane as

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VECTORS

0
14. (a)

15. (b)
Since, are collinear.

16. (b)
Given that, and is
perpendicular to .

17. (a)
The given condition mean that is
perpendicular to all three vectors and .
This is possible only if they are coplanar.

18. (d)
Total force ,

and
displacement,

units
19. (b)
We know that a vector perpendicular to the
plane containing the points is given by
.
Given,
and

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VECTORS

Thus,

=
20. (a)
Adjacent sides of parallelogram are

Now,

Therefore, area of parallelogram

sq unit
21. (d)
Let,

Since,

22. (d)

For non-zero vector

(three vectors are
coplanar )
and

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VECTORS

23. (d)

24. (b)
Given,
Now,

Again, )=

…(ii)
From Eqs. (i) and (ii)
×

( × =

25. (d)

26. (b)
Total force,

Work done

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VECTORS

27. (b)
are coplanar vectors, so
are also coplanar.
Thus

28. (c)
Since, three vectors
are
non-coplanar

Hence, these three vectors are non-coplanar

for all except two values of λ.
29. (a)

Work done

30. (a)
Let

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VECTORS

sq units
31. (a)
Since, are coplanar.

Which is possible for

32. (b)

33. (b)

34. (d)
Two given lines intersect, if

…(i)

…(ii)

…(iii)
On solving Eqs. (i) and (iii), we get

Required line is

is the required line.

35. (c)
Since,
The projection of along

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VECTORS

and the projection of

according to given condition,

Also,
Now, |

[from Eq. (i)

36. (a)
We know, if is the angle between and ,
then

37. (b)

For obtuse angle,

38. (a)
Since,
is parallel to and is anti-parallel to
and are anti-parallel
Angle between and is
39. (d)

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VECTORS

40. (a)
Given,
Also, are not coplanar.
From Eq. (i)

Now, consider

41. (b)
Given equation of plane is

Let be the perpendicular from to the

plane, then its equation is

Here, direction ratio are

Now, equation of line in vector form is

42. (a)
Let and
be the collinear points. Then
for some scalar λ

43. (b)
Given,

Taking cross product with

respectively, we get

…(i)

….(ii)
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VECTORS

Now,
+3( [using Eq. (i)]

[using Eq. (ii)]

44. (a)
Now,

(given)

45. (d)

Required vectors are

46. (d)
Given vertices are

Now,

Similarly,

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VECTORS

Hence, triangle is an equilateral triangle.

47. (d)

48. (a)
The vector equation of line passing through
points (3, 2, 1) and

)
49. (c)
Let
Given,

50. (c)
Let the position vectors of the points
are respectively and θ

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