Practice Questions: Topic 1– Vectors

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is completely specified ⃗⃗ is added to vector 𝐴⃗, which of the
5. If vector 𝐵
by a single value with an appropriate unit and following choices must be true for the resultant
has no direction. vector to be equal to zero?

A. Scalar quantity I. 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵

⃗⃗ are parallel and in the same
direction
B. Vector quantity
II. 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ are parallel and in opposite
C. Both scalar and vector quantities directions
D. Neither scalar nor vector quantities III. 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ have the same magnitude
IV. 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ are perpendicular
2. Which of the following have all vector
quantities? A. I only
B. II only
A. Mass, speed, acceleration
C. II and III only
B. Acceleration, velocity, displacement
D. II and IV only
C. Force, velocity, temperature
D. Speed, mass, distance 6. The vectors 𝑎⃗, 𝑏⃗⃗, and 𝑐⃗ are related by 𝑐⃗ = 𝑎⃗ −
𝑏⃗⃗. Which diagram below illustrates this
3. Vector 𝐴⃗ lies in the xy-plane. Both of its relationship?
components will be negative if it points from the
origin into which quadrant?
A.
A. The first quadrant
B. The second quadrant
C. The third quadrant B.
D. The fourth quadrant

4. The vector ⃗⃗⃗⃗

𝑉3 in the diagram is equal to:
C.

D.

A. ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 − ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑉 𝑉2
B. ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 + ⃗⃗⃗⃗
𝑉 𝑉2
C. ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗1
𝑉2 − 𝑉
D. ⃗⃗⃗⃗1 cos 𝜃
𝑉

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7. The Cartesian coordinates of a point in the xy 10. If the component of vector 𝐴⃗ along the
plane are (x, y) = (−3.50, −2.50) m as shown in ⃗⃗ is zero, what can you
direction of vector 𝐵
the figure. What is the length and direction of the conclude about the two vectors?
position vector?
The vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ are parallel to
A.
each other
The vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ are
B.
perpendicular to each other
The angle between the vectors 𝐴⃗ and
C.
⃗⃗ is 45˚
𝐵
The angle between the vectors 𝐴⃗ and
D.
⃗⃗ is 30˚
𝐵
Length (𝒓) Direction (𝜽)
A. 1.00 35.5˚ 11. What is the x and y components of the vector
B. 4.30 216˚ shown in the figure below?

C. 6.00 145˚
D. 18.5 35.5˚

8. The length and direction (with respect to the

x-axis) of a vector are given by 𝑟 = 5.50 𝑚 and
𝜃 = 240˚. What are the cartesian coordinates of
the vector? x-component y-component
A. 3 cm -6 cm
A. (x, y) = (−2.75, −4.76) m
B. 6 cm 4 cm
B. (x, y) = (−4.76, −2.75) m
C. -4 cm -2 cm
C. (x, y) = (−2.75, 4.76) m
D. -6 cm 3 cm
D. (x, y) = (2.75, -4.76) m
12. A vector has a magnitude of 12. When its tail
9. A vector points from the origin into the second is at the origin it lies between the positive x axis
quadrant of the xy plane. What can you conclude and negative y axis and makes an angle of 30˚
about its components? with the x axis. Its y component is:

A. Both components are positive A. 6√3

The x-component is positive, and the B. −6√3
B.
y-component is negative
C. 6
The x-component is negative, and the D. –6
C.
y-component is positive
D. Both components are negative

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13. A vector has a component of 10 m in the +x 18. What is the magnitude and direction (with
direction, a component of 10 m in the +y respect to the positive x-axis) of the vector
direction, and a component of 5 m in the +z (−3.7𝑥̂ + 2.76𝑦̂)?
direction. The magnitude of this vector is:
Magnitude Direction
A. 0m
A. 4.61 36.7˚
B. 15 m
B. 4.6 -37˚
C. 20 m
C. 4.6 37˚
D. 25 m
D. 4.6 143˚

14. A vector in the xy plane has a magnitude of

19. Which of the following correctly express the
25 m and an x component of 12 m. The angle it
polar vector (22; 124˚) in unit vector notation.
makes with the positive x axis is:

A. 18.2𝑥̂ − 12.3𝑦̂
A. 26˚
B. −12.3𝑥̂ + 18.2𝑦̂
B. 29˚
C. 12.3𝑥̂ − 18.2𝑦̂
C. 61˚
D. −18.2𝑥̂ + 12.3𝑦̂
D. 64˚

20. If 𝐴⃗ = (6 m)𝑖̂ – (8 m)𝑗̂, then what is the

15. The vector 𝐴⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 , 𝐴𝑦 ) = (7.07𝑚, 7.07 𝑚)
⃗⃗ = (𝐵𝑥 , 𝐵𝑦 ) = (5.00 𝑚, 8.66 𝑚). magnitude of 4𝐴⃗?
and the vector 𝐵
What is the magnitude of the angle between the
A. -8 m
vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ ?
B. 8m
A. 15˚ C. 10 m
B. 30˚ D. 40 m
C. 45˚
21. If the scalar product of two vectors is equal
D. 60˚
to zero, then what do we know about the two
vectors?
16. If the vector 𝑉⃗⃗ = 2.00𝑥̂ + 6.00𝑦̂̂ − 3.00𝑧̂ . The
magnitude of 𝑉 ⃗⃗ is: A. They are parallel to each other
A. 5.00 B. They are perpendicular to each other
B. 5.57 C. They are at 45 degrees to each other
C. 7.00 D. They are at 30 degrees to each other
D. 8.54
22. The vector product of vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗ is
17. The angle between 𝐴⃗ = (25 m)𝑥̂ + (45 m)𝑦̂ _______.
and the positive x axis is: A. parallel to either 𝐴⃗ or 𝐵
⃗⃗
A. 29˚ B. perpendicular to either 𝐴⃗ or 𝐵
⃗⃗
B. 61˚ C. parallel to both 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗
C. 151˚ D. perpendicular to both 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗
D. 241˚

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23. For the two vectors 𝐴⃗ = (2, 1, 0) and 𝐵 ⃗⃗ = 27. What is the value of the product of the unit
⃗ ⃗⃗
(0, 1, 2), what is their scalar product 𝐴 ∙ 𝐵? vectors: 𝑧̂ ∙ (𝑧̂ × 𝑥̂)?

A. 0 A. 0

B. 1 B. +1

C. 2 C. –1

D. 3 D. 3

28. What is the value of the product of the unit

24. For the two vectors 𝐴⃗ = (2, 1, 0) and 𝐵⃗⃗ =
vectors: (𝑦̂ × 𝑧̂ ) ∙ (𝑧̂ × 𝑥̂)?
(0, 1, 2), what is their vector product 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗?

A. 0
A. (2, −4, 2)
B. +1
B. (1, 0, 1)
C. –1
C. (2, 0, 2)
D. 3
D. (3, −2, 1)
29. What is the value of the product of the unit
25. Which of the following is correct? vectors: (𝑦̂ × 𝑧̂ ) × (𝑧̂ × 𝑥̂)?

Multiplying a vector by a scalar gives a A. 0

A.
scalar result
B. +1
Multiplying a vector by a vector
B. C. 𝑦̂
always gives a vector result
Multiplying a vector by a vector never D. 𝑧̂
C.
gives a scalar result
The only type of vector multiplication
D. that gives a scalar result is the dot
product

26. What is the value of the product of the unit

vectors: 𝑥̂ ∙ (𝑦̂ × 𝑧̂ )?

A. 0
B. +1
C. –1
D. 3

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Free Response:

⃗⃗ has a length of 40.0 m and is at an angle of 57.0˚ above the x-axis as shown below.
1. A position vector 𝐿
Find the vector’s components.

2. Find the components of the vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵

⃗⃗, 𝐶⃗ and 𝐷
⃗⃗, if their lengths are given by A = 75.0, B = 60.0, C =
25.0, D = 90.0 and their direction angles are as shown in the figure below. Write the vectors in terms of
unit vectors.

3. A position vector has components x = 34.6 m and y = –53.5 m. Find the vector’s length and angle with
the x-axis.

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4. Express the vectors 𝐴⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 , 𝐴𝑦 ) = (−30.0 𝑚, −50.0 𝑚) and 𝐵
⃗⃗ = (𝐵𝑥 , 𝐵𝑦 ) = (30.0 𝑚, 50.0 𝑚) by giving
their magnitude and direction as measured from the positive x-axis.

5. The figure below shows three vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵

⃗⃗ and 𝐶⃗.

a. Write the vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵

⃗⃗ and 𝐶⃗ in Cartesian coordinates

b. Calculate the length and direction of the vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵

⃗⃗ and 𝐶⃗.

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c. Add the three vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵
⃗⃗ and 𝐶⃗. graphically.

d. Add the three vectors 𝐴⃗, 𝐵

⃗⃗ and 𝐶⃗ using the component method and find their sum vector 𝐷
⃗⃗.

e. Sketch the vectors with the components of vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵

⃗⃗ given below and find the magnitudes
of these vectors.
𝐴⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 , 𝐴𝑦 ) = (30.0 𝑚, – 50.0 𝑚)
⃗⃗ = (𝐵𝑥 , 𝐵𝑦 ) = (– 30.0 𝑚, 50.0 𝑚)
𝐵

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6. What angle does 𝐴⃗ = (𝐴𝑥 , 𝐴𝑦 ) = (30.0 𝑚, – 50.0 𝑚) make with the positive x-axis? What angle does it
make with the negative y-axis?

7. Find the magnitude and direction of each of the following vectors, which are given in terms of their x-
and y-components: 𝐴⃗ = (23.0, 59.0), and 𝐵
⃗⃗ = (90.0, – 150.0).

8. The figure below shows six different cases of vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵

⃗⃗.

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a. Which of the six cases shown in the figure has the largest absolute value of the scalar product of
the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗?

b. Which of the six cases shown in the figure has the smallest absolute value of the scalar product
of the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗?

c. Which of the six cases shown in the figure has the largest absolute value of the vector product of
the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗?

d. Which of the six cases shown in the figure has the smallest absolute value of the vector product
of the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗?

e. Rank order the six cases shown in the figure from the smallest absolute value to the largest
absolute value of the scalar product of the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗.

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 f. Rank order the six cases shown in the figure from the smallest absolute value to the largest
absolute value of the vector product of the vectors 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
⃗⃗.

9. True or false?

a. Scalar or dot product of two vectors is the result of multiplying two vectors so the output is a
scalar quantity.
b. Vector or cross product of two vectors is the result of multiplying two vectors so the output is a
vector quantity.
c. If 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 0, then either 𝐴⃗ = 0 or 𝐵 ⃗⃗ = 0.
d. If 𝐴⃗ is parallel to 𝐵
⃗⃗, then 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵 ⃗⃗ = 0.
e. If 𝐴⃗ is parallel to 𝐵
⃗⃗, then 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
⃗⃗ = ±|𝐴||𝐵|.
f. If 𝐴 is perpendicular to 𝐵, then 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵
⃗ ⃗⃗ ⃗⃗ = ±|𝐴||𝐵|.

10. Differentiate between a scalar product and a vector product.

11. Vectors 𝐴⃗ = (2 m)𝑥̂ + (6 m)𝑦̂ – (3 m)𝑧̂ and 𝐵

⃗⃗ = (4 m)𝑥̂ + (2 m)𝑦̂ + (1 m)𝑧̂ .

a. Find the scalar product, 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵

⃗⃗ .

b. Find the vector product, 𝐴⃗ × 𝐵

⃗⃗.

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