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State, for each of the following physical quantities, if it is a scalar or a vector:
volume, mass, speed, acceleration, density, number of moles, velocity, angular frequency, displacement, angular velocity.
Scalar: Volume, mass, speed, density, number of moles, angular frequency
Vector: Acceleration, velocity, displacement, angular velocity
A scalar quantity is specified by its magnitude only. It does not have any direction associated with it. Volume, mass, speed, density, number of moles, and angular frequency are some of the scalar physical quantities.
A vector quantity is specified by its magnitude as well as the direction associated with it. Acceleration, velocity, displacement, and angular velocity belong to this category.
Pick out the two scalar quantities in the following list:
force, angular momentum, work, current, linear momentum, electric field, average velocity, magnetic moment, relative velocity.
Work and current are scalar quantities.
Work done is given by the dot product of force and displacement. Since the dot product of two quantities is always a scalar, work is a scalar physical quantity.
Current is described only by its magnitude. Its direction is not taken into account. Hence, it is a scalar quantity.
Pick out the only vector quantity in the following list:
Temperature, pressure, impulse, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational potential, coefficient of friction, charge.
Impulse
Impulse is given by the product of force and time. Since force is a vector quantity, its product with time (a scalar quantity) gives a vector quantity.
State with reasons, whether the following algebraic operations with scalar and vector physical quantities are meaningful : (a) adding any two scalars, (b) adding a scalar to a vector of the same dimensions , (c) multiplying any vector by any scalar, (d) multiplying any two scalars, (e) adding any two vectors, (f) adding a component of a vector to the same vector.
(a) Meaningful
(b) Not Meaningful
(c) Meaningful
(d) Meaningful
(e) Meaningful
(f) Meaningful
Explanation:
(a)The addition of two scalar quantities is meaningful only if they both represent the same physical quantity.
(b)The addition of a vector quantity with a scalar quantity is not meaningful.
(c) A scalar can be multiplied with a vector. For example, force is multiplied with time to give impulse.
(d) A scalar, irrespective of the physical quantity it represents, can be multiplied with another scalar having the same or different dimensions.
(e) The addition of two vector quantities is meaningful only if they both represent the same physical quantity.
(f) A component of a vector can be added to the same vector as they both have the same dimensions.
Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons, if it is true or false : (a) The magnitude of a vector is always a scalar, (b) each component of a vector is always a scalar, (c) the total path length is always equal to the magnitude of the displacement vector of a particle. (d) the average speed of a particle (defined as total path length divided by the time taken to cover the path) is either greater or equal to the magnitude of average velocity of the particle over the same interval of time, (e) Three vectors not lying in a plane can never add up to give a null vector.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) True
(e) True
Explanation:
(a) The magnitude of a vector is a number. Hence, it is a scalar.
(b) Each component of a vector is also a vector.
(c) Total path length is a scalar quantity, whereas displacement is a vector quantity. Hence, the total path length is always greater than the magnitude of displacement. It becomes equal to the magnitude of displacement only when a particle is moving in a straight line.
(d) It is because of the fact that the total path length is always greater than or equal to the magnitude of displacement of a particle.
(e) Three vectors, which do not lie in a plane, cannot be represented by the sides of a triangle taken in the same order.
Establish the following vector inequalities geometrically or otherwise:
(a) |a + b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(b) |a + b| ≥ ||a| − |b||
(c) |a − b| ≤ |a| + |b|
(d) |a − b| ≥ ||a| − |b||
When does the equality sign above apply?
(a) Let two vectors 
and 
be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP, as shown in the given figure.
Here, we can write:
In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides.
Therefore, in ΔOMN, we have:
ON < (OM + MN)
If the two vectors and act along a straight line in the same direction, then we can write:
Combining equations (iv) and (v), we get:
(b) Let two vectors and be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP, as shown in the given figure.
Here, we have:
In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides.
Therefore, in ΔOMN, we have:
… (iv)
If the two vectors and act along a straight line in the opposite direction, then we can write:
… (v)
Combining equations (iv) and (v), we get:
(c) Let two vectors and be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PORS, as shown in the given figure.
Here we have:
In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides. Therefore, in ΔOPS, we have:
If the two vectors act in a straight line but in opposite directions, then we can write:
… (iv)
Combining equations (iii) and (iv), we get:
(d) Let two vectors and be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PORS, as shown in the given figure.
The following relations can be written for the given parallelogram.
The quantity on the LHS is always positive and that on the RHS can be positive or negative. To make both quantities positive, we take modulus on both sides as:
If the two vectors act in a straight line but in the same directions, then we can write:
Combining equations (iv) and (v), we get:
Given a + b + c + d = 0, which of the following statements are correct : (a) a, b, c, and d must each be a null vector, (b) The magnitude of (a + c) equals the magnitude of ( b + d), (c) The magnitude of a can never be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of b, c, and d, (d) b + c must lie in the plane of a and d if a and d are not collinear, and in the line of a and d, if they are collinear ?
(a) Incorrect
In order to make a + b + c + d = 0, it is not necessary to have all the four given vectors to be null vectors. There are many other combinations which can give the sum zero.
Answer: (b) Correct
a + b + c + d = 0
a + c = – (b + d)
Taking modulus on both the sides, we get:
| a + c | = | –(b + d)| = | b + d |
Hence, the magnitude of (a + c) is the same as the magnitude of (b + d).
Answer: (c) Correct
a + b + c + d = 0
a = (b + c + d)
Taking modulus both sides, we get:
| a | = | b + c + d |
… (i)
Equation (i) shows that the magnitude of a is equal to or less than the sum of the magnitudes of b, c, and d.
Hence, the magnitude of vector a can never be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of b, c, and d.
Answer: (d) Correct
For a + b + c + d = 0
a + (b + c) + d = 0
The resultant sum of the three vectors a, (b + c), and d can be zero only if (b + c) lie in a plane containing a and d, assuming that these three vectors are represented by the three sides of a triangle.
If a and d are collinear, then it implies that the vector (b + c) is in the line of a and d. This implication holds only then the vector sum of all the vectors will be zero.
Three girls skating on a circular ice ground of radius 200 m start from a point P on the edge of the ground and reach a point Q diametrically opposite to P following different paths as shown in Fig. 4.20. What is the magnitude of the displacement vector for each ? For which girl is this equal to the actual length of path skate ?
Displacement is given by the minimum distance between the initial and final positions of a particle. In the given case, all the girls start from point P and reach point Q. The magnitudes of their displacements will be equal to the diameter of the ground.
Radius of the ground = 200 m
Diameter of the ground = 2 × 200 = 400 m
Hence, the magnitude of the displacement for each girl is 400 m. This is equal to the actual length of the path skated by girl B.
A cyclist starts from the centre Oof a circular park of radius 1 km, reaches the edge Pof the park, then cycles along the circumference, and returns to the centre along QO as shown in Fig. 4.21. If the round trip takes 10 min, what is the (a) net displacement, (b) average velocity, and (c) average speed of the cyclist?
(a) Displacement is given by the minimum distance between the initial and final positions of a body. In the given case, the cyclist comes to the starting point after cycling for 10 minutes. Hence, his net displacement is zero.
(b) Average velocity is given by the relation:
Average velocity 
Since the net displacement of the cyclist is zero, his average velocity will also be zero.
(c) Average speed of the cyclist is given by the relation:
Average speed 
Total path length = OP + PQ + QO
Time taken = 10 min 
∴Average speed 
On an open ground, a motorist follows a track that turns to his left by an angle of 600 after every 500 m. Starting from a given turn, specify the displacement of the motorist at the third, sixth and eighth turn. Compare the magnitude of the displacement with the total path length covered by the motorist in each case.
The path followed by the motorist is a regular hexagon with side 500 m, as shown in the given figure
Let the motorist start from point P.
The motorist takes the third turn at S.
∴Magnitude of displacement = PS = PV + VS = 500 + 500 = 1000 m
Total path length = PQ + QR + RS = 500 + 500 +500 = 1500 m
The motorist takes the sixth turn at point P, which is the starting point.
∴Magnitude of displacement = 0
Total path length = PQ + QR + RS + ST + TU + UP
= 500 + 500 + 500 + 500 + 500 + 500 = 3000 m
The motorist takes the eight turn at point R
∴Magnitude of displacement = PR
Therefore, the magnitude of displacement is 866.03 m at an angle of 30° with PR.
Total path length = Circumference of the hexagon + PQ + QR
= 6 × 500 + 500 + 500 = 4000 m
The magnitude of displacement and the total path length coresponding to the required turns is shown in the given table
| Turn | Magnitude of displacement (m) | Total path length (m) |
| Third | 1000 | 1500 |
| Sixth | 0 | 3000 |
| Eighth | 866.03; 30° | 4000 |
A passenger arriving in a new town wishes to go from the station to a hotel located 10 km away on a straight road from the station. A dishonest cabman takes him along a circuitous path 23 km long and reaches the hotel in 28 min. What is (a) the average speed of the taxi, (b) the magnitude of average velocity ? Are the two equal ?
(a) Total distance travelled = 23 km
Total time taken = 28 min 
∴Average speed of the taxi 
(b) Distance between the hotel and the station = 10 km = Displacement of the car
∴Average velocity 
Therefore, the two physical quantities (averge speed and average velocity) are not equal.
Rain is falling vertically with a speed of 30 m s-1. A woman rides a bicycle with a speed of 10 m s-1 in the north to south direction. What is the direction in which she should hold her umbrella ?
The described situation is shown in the given figure.
Here,
vc = Velocity of the cyclist
vr = Velocity of falling rain
In order to protect herself from the rain, the woman must hold her umbrella in the direction of the relative velocity (v) of the rain with respect to the woman.
v→=vr→+(−vc→)Resultant, |v|=vr2+vc2−−−−−−−√|v|=302+102−−−−−−−−√|v|=900+100−−−−−−−−√|v|=1000−−−−√=1010−−√ mtan θ=vcvr=1030θ=tan−1(13)θ=tan−1(0.333)≈18°v→=vr→+-vc→Resultant, v=vr2+vc2v=302+102v=900+100v=1000=1010 mtan θ=vcvr=1030θ=tan-113θ=tan-10.333≈18°
Hence, the woman must hold the umbrella toward the south, at an angle of nearly 18° with the vertical.
A man can swim with a speed of 4.0 km/h in still water. How long does he take to cross a river 1.0 km wide if the river flows steadily at 3.0 km/h and he makes his strokes normal to the river current? How far down the river does he go when he reaches the other bank ?
Speed of the man, vm = 4 km/h
Width of the river = 1 km
Time taken to cross the river =Width of riverSpeed of man=Width of riverSpeed of man
Speed of the river, vr = 3 km/h
Distance covered with flow of the river = vr × t
In a harbour, wind is blowing at the speed of 72 km/h and the flag on the mast of a boat anchored in the harbour flutters along the N-E direction. If the boat starts moving at a speed of 51 km/h to the north, what is the direction of the flag on the mast of the boat ?
Velocity of the boat, vb = 51 km/h
Velocity of the wind, vw = 72 km/h
The flag is fluttering in the north-east direction. It shows that the wind is blowing toward the north-east direction. When the ship begins sailing toward the north, the flag will move along the direction of the relative velocity (vwb) of the wind with respect to the boat.
The angle between vw and (–vb) = 90° + 45°
Angle with respect to the east direction = 45.11° – 45° = 0.11°
Hence, the flag will flutter almost due east.
The ceiling of a long hall is 25 m high. What is the maximum horizontal distance that a ball thrown with a speed of 40 m s-1 can go without hitting the ceiling of the hall ?
Speed of the ball, u = 40 m/s
Maximum height, h = 25 m
In projectile motion, the maximum height reached by a body projected at an angle θ, is given by the relation:
sin2 θ = 0.30625
sin θ = 0.5534
∴θ = sin–1(0.5534) = 33.60°
Horizontal range, R 
A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal distance of 100 m. How much high above the ground can the cricketer throw the same ball ?
Maximum horizontal distance, R = 100 m
The cricketer will only be able to throw the ball to the maximum horizontal distance when the angle of projection is 45°, i.e., θ = 45°.
The horizontal range for a projection velocity v, is given by the relation:
The ball will achieve the maximum height when it is thrown vertically upward. For such motion, the final velocity v is zero at the maximum height H.
Acceleration, a = –g
Using the third equation of motion:
A stone tied to the end of a string 80 cm long is whirled in a horizontal circle with a constant speed. If the stone makes 14 revolutions in 25 s, what is the magnitude and direction of acceleration of the stone ?
Length of the string, l = 80 cm = 0.8 m
Number of revolutions = 14
Time taken = 25 s
Frequency,
Angular frequency, ω = 2πν
Centripetal acceleration, 
The direction of centripetal acceleration is always directed along the string, toward the centre, at all points.
An aircraft executes a horizontal loop of radius 1.00 km with a steady speed of 900 km/h. Compare its centripetal acceleration with the acceleration due to gravity.
Radius of the loop, r = 1 km = 1000 m
Speed of the aircraft, v = 900 km/h 
Centripetal acceleration, 
Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m/s2
Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons, if it is true or false : (a) The net acceleration of a particle in circular motion is always along the radius of the circle towards the centre (b) The velocity vector of a particle at a point is always along the tangent to the path of the particle at that point (c) The acceleration vector of a particle in uniform circular motion averaged over one cycle is a null vector.
(a) False
The net acceleration of a particle in circular motion is not always directed along the radius of the circle toward the centre. It happens only in the case of uniform circular motion.
(b) True
At a point on a circular path, a particle appears to move tangentially to the circular path. Hence, the velocity vector of the particle is always along the tangent at a point.
(c) True
In uniform circular motion (UCM), the direction of the acceleration vector points toward the centre of the circle. However, it constantly changes with time. The average of these vectors over one cycle is a null vector.
The position of a particle is given by ˆ ˆˆ 2 r i j k =− + 3.0 2.0 4.0 m t t where t is in seconds and the coefficients have the proper units for r to be in metres. (a) Find the v and a of the particle? (b) What is the magnitude and direction of velocity of the particle at t = 2.0 s ?
(a) 
The position of the particle is given by:
Velocity 
, of the particle is given as:
Acceleration 
, of the particle is given as:
(b) 8.54 m/s, 69.45° below the x-axis
The magnitude of velocity is given by:
The negative sign indicates that the direction of velocity is below the x-axis.
A particle starts from the origin at t = 0 s with a velocity of 10.0 j m/s and moves in the x-y plane with a constant acceleration of (8.0 2.0 ) i j + m s-2. (a) At what time is the x- coordinate of the particle 16 m? What is the y-coordinate of the particle at that time? (b) What is the speed of the particle at the time ?
Velocity of the particle, 
Acceleration of the particle 
Also,
But, 
Integrating both sides:
Where,
= Velocity vector of the particle at t = 0
= Velocity vector of the particle at time t
Integrating the equations with the conditions: at t = 0; r = 0 andat t = t; r = r
Since the motion of the particle is confined to the x-y plane, on equating the coefficients of 
, we get:
(a) When x = 16 m:
∴y = 10 × 2 + (2)2 = 24 m
(b) Velocity of the particle is given by:
i and j are unit vectors along x- and y- axis respectively. What is the magnitude and direction of the vectors i j + , and i j − ? What are the components of a vector A= 2 i j + 3 along the directions of i j + and i j − ? [You may use graphical method]
Consider a vector
, given as:
On comparing the components on both sides, we get:
Hence, the magnitude of the vector 
is 
.
Let 
be the angle made by the vector
, with the x-axis, as shown in the following figure.
Hence, the magnitude of the vector 
is .
Let be the angle made by the vector
, with the x- axis, as shown in the following figure.
It is given that:
On comparing the coefficients of 
, we have:
Let 
make an angle with the x-axis, as shown in the following figure.
Angle between the vectors
Component of vector 
, along the direction of , making an angle 
Let 
be the angle between the vectors
.
Component of vector, along the direction of, making an angle 
For any arbitrary motion in space, which of the following relations are true : (a) vaverage = (1/2) (v (t 1) + v (t 2)) (b) v average = [r(t 2) - r(t1) ] /(t 2 – t 1) (c) v (t) = v (0) + a t (d) r (t) = r (0) + v (0) t + (1/2) a t2 (e) a average =[ v (t 2) - v (t1 )] /( t 2 – t1) (The ‘average’ stands for average of the quantity over the time interval t 1 to t2)
(b) and (e)
(a)It is given that the motion of the particle is arbitrary. Therefore, the average velocity of the particle cannot be given by this equation.
(b)The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by this equation.
(c)The motion of the particle is arbitrary. The acceleration of the particle may also be non-uniform. Hence, this equation cannot represent the motion of the particle in space.
(d)The motion of the particle is arbitrary; acceleration of the particle may also be non-uniform. Hence, this equation cannot represent the motion of particle in space.
(e)The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by this equation.
Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons and examples, if it is true or false : A scalar quantity is one that (a) is conserved in a process (b) can never take negative values (c) must be dimensionless (d) does not vary from one point to another in space (e) has the same value for observers with different orientations of axes.
(a) False
Despite being a scalar quantity, energy is not conserved in inelastic collisions.
(b) False
Despite being a scalar quantity, temperature can take negative values.
(c) False
Total path length is a scalar quantity. Yet it has the dimension of length.
(d) False
A scalar quantity such as gravitational potential can vary from one point to another in space.
(e) True
The value of a scalar does not vary for observers with different orientations of axes.
An aircraft is flying at a height of 3400 m above the ground. If the angle subtended at a ground observation point by the aircraft positions 10.0 s apart is 30°, what is the speed of the aircraft ?
The positions of the observer and the aircraft are shown in the given figure.
Height of the aircraft from ground, OR = 3400 m
Angle subtended between the positions, ∠POQ = 30°
Time = 10 s
In ΔPRO:
ΔPRO is similar to ΔRQO.
∴PR = RQ
PQ = PR + RQ
= 2PR = 2 × 3400 tan 15°
= 6800 × 0.268 = 1822.4 m
∴Speed of the aircraft 
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