Chapter No.

2 Vectors

Short Questions

2.1 If the cross product of two vectors vanishes, what will you say about their orientation?
If the cross product of two vectors is zero, the vectors are either parallel or antiparallel, meaning they have
the same or exactly opposite direction. This occurs because the cross-product magnitude depends on the
sine of the angle between them, which is zero for 0° or 180°. Alternatively, one or both vectors could be
zero vectors (null vectors).

2.2 Find the dot product of unit vectors with each other at (a) 0° and (b) 90°.
The dot product (or scalar product) of two vectors 𝒂 and 𝒃 is given by:
𝒂 ⋅ 𝒃 =∣ 𝒂 ∣∣ 𝒃 ∣ 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽
̂ ), the magnitude is always 1:
For unit vectors (𝒊̂, 𝒋̂, 𝒌
∣ 𝒊 ∣=∣ 𝒋 ∣=∣ 𝒌 ∣= 1
̂
The dot product of unit vectors 𝑖̂, 𝑗̂, and 𝑘 also depends on the angle between them:
(a) At 0° (same direction):
𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ =∣ 𝑖̂ ∣∣ 𝑖̂ ∣ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 0 = 1
So
𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂ ⋅ 𝑘̂ = 1
(b) At 90° (perpendicular):
𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ =∣ 𝑖̂ ∣∣ 𝑗̂ ∣ 𝑐𝑜𝑠 90 = 0
So
𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ = 𝑗̂ ⋅ 𝑘̂ = 𝑘̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ = 0
This follows because 𝒂 ⋅ 𝒃 =∣ 𝒂 ∣∣ 𝒃 ∣ 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜽, and unit vectors have magnitude 1.

2.3 Show that scalar product obeys commutative property.

To show that the scalar (dot) product obeys the commutative property,
Consider two vectors:
𝐴⃗ = 𝐴1 𝑖̂ + 𝐴2 𝑗̂ + 𝐴3 𝑘̂,
𝐵⃗⃗ = 𝐵1 𝑖̂ + 𝐵2 𝑗̂ + 𝐵3 𝑘̂
The dot product is:
⃗⃗ = 𝐴1 𝑖̂𝐵1 𝑖̂ + 𝐴2 𝑗̂𝐵2 𝑗̂ + 𝐴3 𝑘̂𝐵3 𝑘̂
𝐴⃗ . 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴1 𝐵1 𝑖̂. 𝑖̂ + 𝐴2 𝐵2 𝑗̂. 𝑗̂ + 𝐴3 𝐵3 𝑘̂. 𝑘̂
𝐴⃗ . 𝐵
(𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ = 𝑘̂ ⋅ 𝑘̂ = 1)
𝐴⃗ . 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴1 𝐵1 + 𝐴2 𝐵2 + 𝐴3 𝐵3
Similarly
⃗⃗ . 𝐴⃗ = 𝐵1 𝐴1 + 𝐵2 𝐴2 + 𝐵3 𝐴3
𝐵
Since scalar multiplication is commutative (e.g. 𝐴1 𝐵1=𝐵1 𝐴1) we get: Hence, the dot product is
commutative.

̂ ) (b) 𝒋̂ × (𝒋̂ × 𝒌
2.4 Solve by using the properties of dot and cross product: (a) 𝒊̂ · (𝒋̂ × 𝒌 ̂ )?
̂ )?
(a) 𝒊̂ · (𝒋̂ × 𝒌
The cross product of the standard unit vectors follows the cyclic rule:
(𝑗̂ × 𝑘̂) = 𝑖̂
The dot product of any unit vector with itself is 1:
𝑖̂ · 𝑖̂ = 1
Final answer:
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 Chapter No.2 Vectors

̂) = 𝟏
𝒊̂ · (𝒋̂ × 𝒌
̂ )?
(b) 𝒋̂ × (𝒋̂ × 𝒌
The cross product of the standard unit vectors follows the cyclic rule:
(𝑗̂ × 𝑘̂) = 𝑖̂
𝑗̂ × 𝑖̂ = −𝑘̂
Final answer:
𝒋̂ × (𝒋̂ × 𝒌 ̂ ) = −𝒌
̂

2.5 If both the dot product and the cross product of two vectors are zero. What would you conclude
about the individual vectors?
If both the dot and cross product of two vectors are zero:
Dot Product is Zero (𝒂 ⋅ 𝒃 = 𝟎):
 The dot product being zero implies that the vectors are orthogonal (perpendicular to each
other), or at least one of the vectors is the zero vector.
Cross Product is Zero (𝒂 × 𝒃 = 𝟎):
 The cross product being zero implies that the vectors are parallel (θ=0) or anti parallel (θ=180)
or at least one of the vectors is the zero vector.
Simultaneous Condition:
 The only way both these conditions can be satisfied simultaneously is when at least one of the
vectors is the zero vector.

2.6 What are rectangular components of a vector? How they can be found
The components of a vector that are perpendicular to each other are called the rectangular components of
the vector.

Explanation:
 In a Cartesian (rectangular) coordinate system, the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes are mutually perpendicular (at 90°
to each other).
 When a vector is broken into parts along these axes, the resulting components are rectangular
components because they lie along perpendicular directions.
For example, in 2D:
𝐴⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂
Here:
 𝐴𝑥 and 𝐴𝑦 are rectangular components.
 𝑖̂ and 𝑗̂ are perpendicular unit vectors along the 𝑥 and 𝑦 axes, respectively.
 where 𝐴𝑥 = 𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 (horizontal) and 𝐴𝑦 = 𝐴𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 (vertical).

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 Chapter No.2 Vectors

2.7 Give two examples for each of the scalar and vector product.
Scalar (Dot) Product Examples
 Work Done (W)
Work is the dot product of force (𝐹⃗ ) and displacement (𝑑⃗).
𝑊 = 𝐹⃗ ⋅ 𝑑⃗
 Power Calculation (P)
Power is the dot product of force (𝐹⃗ ) and velocity (𝑣⃗).
𝑃 = 𝐹⃗ ⋅ 𝑣⃗
Vector (Cross) Product Examples
 Torque (𝜏⃗)
Torque is the cross product of position vector (𝑟⃗) and force (𝐹⃗ ).
𝜏⃗ = 𝑟⃗ × 𝐹⃗
 Angular Momentum (𝐿 ⃗⃗)
Angular momentum is the cross product of position (𝑟⃗) and linear momentum (𝑝⃗).
⃗⃗ = 𝑟⃗ × 𝑝⃗
𝐿

2.8 Show that: ⃗𝑨⃗ . ⃗𝑩

⃗⃗ = 𝑨𝒙 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑨𝒚 𝑩𝒚 + 𝑨𝒛 𝑩𝒛

Consider two vectors:

𝐴⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐴𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐴𝑧 𝑘̂,
⃗⃗ = 𝐵𝑥 𝑖̂ + 𝐵𝑦 𝑗̂ + 𝐵𝑧 𝑘̂
𝐵
The dot product is:
⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 (𝑖̂. 𝑖̂) + 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑦 (𝑖̂. 𝑗̂) + 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑧 (𝑖̂. 𝑘̂) + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑥 (𝑗̂. 𝑖̂) + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 (𝑗̂. 𝑗̂) + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑧 (𝑗̂. 𝑘̂) + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑥 (𝑘̂. 𝑖̂)
𝐴⃗ . 𝐵
+ 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑦 (𝑘̂ . 𝑗̂) + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧 (𝑘̂. 𝑘̂)
Now use the identity:
 𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ = 𝑘 ̂ ⋅ 𝑘̂ = 1

 𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑗̂ = 𝑖̂ ⋅ 𝑘̂ = 𝑗̂ ⋅ 𝑖̂ = 𝑗̂. 𝑘̂ = 𝑘̂. 𝑖̂ = 𝑘̂. 𝑗̂ = 0

So, the expression simplifies to:
𝐴⃗ . 𝐵
⃗⃗ = 𝐴𝑥 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐴𝑧 𝐵𝑧

2.9 What units are associated with the unit vectors 𝒊̂ , 𝒋̂ and 𝒌 ̂?
Unit vectors are vectors with a magnitude of 1. They are used to specify a direction in space.
Explanation:
̂ have no associated physical units.
 The unit vectors 𝑖̂ , 𝑗̂ and 𝑘
 They are dimensionless.
 They purely indicate direction (along the x, y, and z-axes, respectively).

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