CHAP 2

Irfan Ali Khan

VECTORS AND EQUILIBIRIUM

Short Questions
Q.1

Lecturer
GC CCW
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Q.2 The vector sum of three vectorrs gives a zero resultant. What can
be the orientation of the vectors.
Ans.

If three victors are such that they can be represented by the

three sides of a triangle taken in cyclic order, then the vector sum
of the three vectors will be zero as shown in fig.

Define the following terms:

(i) Unit vector

(ii) Position vector

(iii) Component of vector

(i) Unit vector:

A vector whose magnitude is one is called
unit vector. It is usually used to represent the direction of a vector.
Ans:

A unit vector

can be calculated by dividing a vector by its

Q.3

vector

lies in XY Plane. For what orientation

will both of its rectangular components be negative?

For what orientation will its components have opposite
signs?
Ans,

when vector lies in thrid quadrant its both

components will negative. When vector lies in second or forth
quadrant its components will have opposite signs

magnitude.

(ii) Position vector: A vector which

describes the postion of a point relative to

Q.4 If one component of a vector is not zero, can its magnitude be

zero?

origin. The position vector

Ans.

of a point

P(a,b) in X-Y plane is given by

The magnitude of r is given by

Similarly the position vector r of a point P(a,b,c) in space is given by

No its magnitude can never be zero. As the magnitude of a

vector A is

This equation shows that magnitude of A will be zero if all of its

components are zero.

Q.5

Can a vector have component greater than vectors magnitude?

Ans.

No component of a vector can never be greater than its

magnitude.
and magnitude of r is given by

(iii) Component of vector: A component of a vector is its effective

value in a given direection. A vector is comsidered as the resultant

of its components vectors along the specified directions.

If

and

are rectangular of components of A then

Thus a vectors component may be equal in some cases to vectors

magnitude but can never be greater than it

It shows that components will be equal if vector maken an angle of

450 with X-axis

Q.6

Q.9

Can the magnitude of vector have a negative value

Ans.

No magnitude of a vector can not be negative. According to

equation magnitude of vector is

As squar of a real number is always positive so magnitude can not

be negative. Moreover sometimes negative sign with magnitude
reffered to the direction of vector.

Q.7

If

What can you say about the

components of the two vectors.

Ans.

As

So

or
and

Thus rectangular components of the given

vectors are equal in magnitude and directed
opposite to each other as shown.

Q.8 Under what circumstances would a vector have components that

are equal in magnitude.
Ans.

Components of vector will be

equal if vector is at 450 1350 or 2250
with X- axis. When rectangular
components of vector

are

Is it possible to add a scaler quantity to vector quantity. Explain?

Ans.

No its not possible to add a scaler quantity to a vector

quantity.
Because vectors are added using head to tail rule and scalers are
added using simple arithmatic rules. As they have different natures
so scalers can not be added to vectors

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

Ans.

No its not possible to add a zero to a null vector.

As zero is a scaler quantity and null vector is vector quantity and

acalers can not be added bo vectors so its not possible to add zero
to null vector.

Q.11 Two vecotrs have unequal magnitude. Can there sum be zero?
Explain?
Ans.

No their sum can not be zero.

Sum of two vectors can only be zero if they have same magnitude
and opposite direction. Two vectors of unequal magnitude can not
be combined to give a zero resultant.

Q.12 Show that sum and difference of two perpendicular vectors of

same magnitude are perpendicular and of same length.
Ans.

Consider two vectors

and

of same magnitude and are

perpendicular to each other as shown. Thus

We are to prove that
that
Now

is perpendicular to

so we will prove

Q.14 The two vectors to be combined have magnitudes 60N and 35N.
Pick the correct answer from those given below and tell why is it the only
one of the three that is correct.
Ans. Maximum magnitude of resultant of the given vectors when
they are parallel is 60+35=95N and minimum magnitude when
they are antiparallel is 60-35=25N. So only 70N is the correct
answer.
So sum and difference of two perpendicular
vectors of same magnitude are perpendicular to each other.
Now we are to prove that
Magnitude of sum is
________________(1)
Now magnitude of difference is
________________(2)
From equation (1) and (2) it is proved that
sum and differnce are of same length.

Q.13 How the two vectors of the same

magnitude have to be oriented if they were to
be combined to given a resultant equal to a
vector of the same magnirude?
Ans. when the angle between two

vectors of same magnitude is 1200, the

magnitude of the resultant has also same
value.
If given two vecors and their resultant are oriented in such a way
that they form an equalitral triangle, then all of them will be of
same magnitude. In such condition the given vectors will be
oriented at 1200 as shown in fig.

Q.15 Suppose the sides of clesed polygon represent vectors arranged

head to tail. What is sum of these vectors?
Ans. As we know that we draw resultant
vector in head to tail rule by joining the tail
of the first vector with the head of the last
vector. In closed polygon the tail of the
first vector and head of the last vector are
at same point. Thus resultant will be zero in such condition.

Q.16 (i)Two ships X and Y are travelling in dirrerent directions at equal

speeds.the direction of motion of X is due nirth but to an observer on Y
the apparent derction of motion of \x is north west. The actual diretion of
motion of Y as obseved from shore will be.
A) east
B) west
C) south east D) south west
Ans. As apparent direction of motion of X is north east, it means
that ship Y is moving towards west

(ii) a horizintal force F is appied to a small object of mass m at rest on an

inclined plane inclined at an angle Qto the horizontal.find the resultant
force on the mass.
Ans. Resolving F and W into rectangular components parallel and
perpendicular to inclined plane as shown. Resultant force will be

Fcos- mgsin
Q.17 If all the components of vectors
would this alter the
Ans.

and

are reversed. How

The vector product of two vectors will remain unchanged by

reversing all components of the vectors.

When components of

and

are reversed they becomes

and

. So their cross product will be

Hence the proof

Q.18 Name the three different conditions that could make

MOTION AND

CHAP 3

FORCES
Short

Q.1 (a) What is diffrernce between uniform and variable velocity. (b)
From the explanation of the variable velocity define accelaration. (c) Give
SI units of velocity and accelration.

(a) Uniform velocity:

If a body covers equal
displacements in equal intervals of time, the body is said to be
moving with uniform velocity.
Ans:

Ans.

As

a) If

is a null vector then

When velocity of a body is uniform, its magnitude and direction do

not change.

b) If

is a null vector then

Variable velocity:
If a body covers unequal displacements in
equal inrevals of time, the body is said to be moving with variable
velocity.

c) If angle

Then

Velocity may be variable due to change in magnitude or direction or

both.

And For

Q.19 Can a body rotate about center of gravity under the action of its
weight?
Ans.

No a body can not rotate about center of gravity under the

action of its weight.
As weight of the body acts through center of the gravity. As weight
passes through axis of rotation(i.e. center of gravity). so it can not
produce torque (rotation) about center of gravity. Hence a body can
not rotate about center of gravity under the action of its weight.
Irfan Ali Khan Lecturer GC CCW (0345-9998898)

(b) Accelaration:

When a body is moving with variable

velocity then, the change in velocity per unit time is called
accelaration
If a body is moving with velocity
becomes

and after time

its velocity

then accelaration of the body is

When velocity of body is increasing, accelaration is parallel to

velocity and is taken as positive. When velocity of body is
decreasing, accelaration is opposite to velocity and is taken as
negative

(c)

SI units of velocity: SI unit of velocity are

Q.5

SI units of accelaration: SI units of accelaration are

of a car are

Q.2 An object is thrown vertically upward. Discuss the sign of

accelaration due to gravity relative to velocity, while the object is in air.
Ans. When an object is thrown vertically upward, during upward

Ans:

Explain the circumstances when the velocity

(i) Parallel

(i) Parallel:

(iii) Perpendicular

when the velocity of the car is increasing along

the straight line. Then

(ii) Antiparallel:

(ii) Antiparallel

and accelaration

and

are parallel to each other.

when the velocity of the car is decreasing along

motion its velocity goes on decreasing, so accelaration due to

gravity is directed opposite to velocity and is taken as negative.
During downward motion the velocity starts increasing so
accelatation and velocity are in same direction and is taken as
positive.

the straight line. Then

Q.3 Can velocity of the body reverse its direction when accelaration of
the body is constant. If so, give an example:

Q.6 Motion with constant velocity is a special case of motion with

constant accelaration. Is this statement true? Explain.

Ans:

Ans.

For example When an object is thrown vertically upward, during

upward motion its velocity goes on decreasing, at highest point it
becomes zero and body starts falling. Velocity changes its directon,
but in whole process accelaration due to gravity remains constant.

Q.7 Find change in momentum for an object subjected to a given force

for a given time and state law of motion in terms of momentum.

Yes, velocity of the body can reverse its direction when

accelaration of the body is constant.

Q.4 A man standing on the top of the tower throws a ball straight up
with initial speed Vi and at the same time another ball throws downward
with same speed. Which ball will have larger speed when it strikes the
ground. Ignor air friction.
Ans:

Both balls will have the same speed on sttiking the ground.

We know that when a body is thrown vertically upward with some

initial velocity, then it will hit the ground with the same velocity.
Thus when the ball thrown straight up with initial velocity Vi it will
have the same velocity when it returns back. Hence both balls will
have the same speed on striking the ground.

and

are antiparallel to each other.

(iii) Perpendicular: when car is moving along the circular path, its
velocity

is perpendicular to accelaration

Yes this statement is true. When the body moves with

constant velocity, Its accelaration remains zero. As accelaration
remains constant so we can say that Motion with constant velocity
is a special case of motion with constant accelaration.

Ans.
from

If a force
to

acts on a body of mass m and its velocity changes

in time t, then accelaration

of the body is given by

............. (1)
According to Newtons second law of motion.

................(2)

Irfan Ali Khan

Lecturer
GC CCW
0345-9998898

Comparing eq. (1) & (2)

Total linear momentum of an isolated system remains constant.

Isolated system: A closed system on which no external force acts

then such system is called isolated system.
Importance: There are many applications like
This is newtons second law of motion in terms of momentum.

Statement: Time rate of change of momentum of a body is equal to

force applied and change in momentum takes place in the direction
of applied force.

Q.8 Define impulse and show that how it is related to linear

momentum.
Ans.

Impulse:
Impulse is equal to the product of force and time
for which the force acts
Mathematically

Relation between linear momentum and impulse:

If a force
from

acts on a body of mass m and its momentum changes

to

then according to newtons second law of motion

1. Total momentum of Rocket and its fuel remains constant.

2. Total momentum of a bullet and gun remains constant.
3. Total momentum of molecules in a closed vessal remains
constant.

Q. 10 What is difference between elastic and inelastic collision. Explain

how a bouncing ball acts in each case.
Ans.

Elastic collision:

A collision in which total linear

momentum and total kinetic energy before and after collision
remains unchahged.

Inelastic collision:

A collision in which kinetic energy is lost and

does not remain same.
When a ball is dropped from certain height, if it encounters an
elastic collision it will rebound to the same hieght as it does not loss
any energy.
if it encounters an inelastic collision it will not rebound to the same
height as some part of its energy is lost during collision.

Q. 11 At what point or points in its path does a projectile have minimum

speed, maximum speed.
Ans.

The speed of the projectile is minimum at highest point

because vertical component of velocity

Thus impulse of a body is equal to change in its linear momentum.

Q.9 State the law of conservation of linear momentum, pointing out

the importance of isolated system.
Ans.

Law of conservation of linear momentum:

becomes zero at that

point.
The speed of the projectile is maximum at launching and landing
point because vertical component of velocity
Irfan Ali Khan

is maximum there.

Lecturer GC CCW 0345-9998898