Vector Addition by Perpendicular Components
Practice Questions
1. When a vector is resolved into two perpendicular components, the process is called:
A) Vector composition
B) Rectangular resolution
C) Oblique resolution
D) Scalar multiplication
Answer: B
2. The rectangular components of a vector are always:
A) Parallel to each other
B) Equal in magnitude
C) Perpendicular to each other
D) Opposite in direction
Answer: C
3. If a vector A makes an angle θ with the x-axis, its x-component is:
A) A sinθ
B) A cosθ
C) A tanθ
D) A secθ
Answer: B
4. The y-component of a vector A that makes an angle θ with the x-axis is:
A) A cosθ
B) A tanθ
C) A sinθ
D) A cotθ
Answer: C
5. The magnitude of a vector whose rectangular components are Ax and Ay is:
A) Ax + Ay
B) √(Ax² + Ay²)
C) Ax² + Ay²
D) |Ax| + |Ay|
Answer: B
6. The direction of a vector (angle with x-axis) from its components is given by:
A) θ = tan⁻¹(Ax/Ay)
B) θ = tan⁻¹(Ay/Ax)
C) θ = sin⁻¹(Ax/A)
D) θ = cos⁻¹(Ay/A)
Answer: B
7. If both components of a vector are positive, the vector lies in which quadrant?
A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
Answer: A
8. If Ax is negative and Ay is positive, the vector points into quadrant:
A) I
B) II
C) III
D) IV
Answer: B
9. The sum of the squares of the rectangular components of a vector is equal to:
A) The square of the vector’s magnitude
B) Twice the vector’s magnitude
C) The magnitude itself
D) Zero
Answer: A
10. A vector of magnitude 10 N makes an angle of 30° with the x-axis. Its y-component
is:
A) 5 N
B) 8.66 N
C) 10 N
D) 0 N
Answer: A
11. A force of 50 N is applied at an angle of 60° with the horizontal. Its horizontal
component is:
A) 25 N
B) 43.3 N
C) 50 N
D) 0 N
Answer: A
12. For the same force (Q11), the vertical component is:
A) 25 N
B) 43.3 N
C) 50 N
D) 86.6 N
Answer: B
13. A displacement vector has components dx = 3 m, dy = 4 m. Its magnitude is:
A) 5 m
B) 7 m
C) 1 m
D) 12 m
Answer: A
14. The angle of the displacement vector (Q13) with the x-axis is:
A) 37°
B) 45°
C) 53°
D) 60°
Answer: C
15. A vector of magnitude 20 units makes an angle of 120° with the positive x-axis. Its
x-component is:
A) +10 units
B) –10 units
C) +17.32 units
D) –17.32 units
Answer: B
16. The y-component of the vector in Q15 is:
A) +17.32 units
B) –17.32 units
C) +10 units
D) –10 units
Answer: A
17. Two perpendicular forces of 6 N and 8 N act at a point. The magnitude of their
resultant is:
A) 2 N
B) 10 N
C) 14 N
D) 48 N
Answer: B
18. The direction of the resultant (Q17) with respect to the 6 N force is:
A) 37°
B) 53°
C) 45°
D) 90°
Answer: B
19. A vector has components Ax = -5, Ay = 5. Its magnitude and direction are:
A) 5√2, 135°
B) 5, 135°
C) 5√2, 45°
D) 5, 45°
Answer: A
20. If a vector’s x-component is zero but y-component is positive, the vector points:
A) Along positive x-axis
B) Along negative x-axis
C) Along positive y-axis
D) Along negative y-axis
Answer: C
21. To add several vectors using the rectangular components method, the first step is:
A) Add the vectors graphically
B) Resolve each vector into x and y components
C) Find the angle of each vector
D) Multiply the magnitudes
Answer: B
22. After resolving vectors into components, the x-component of the resultant is:
A) Sum of all y-components
B) Sum of all x-components
C) Difference of x-components
D) Product of x-components
Answer: B
23. The magnitude of the resultant vector R from components Rx and Ry is:
A) Rx + Ry
B) √(Rx² + Ry²)
C) Rx² + Ry²
D) |Rx| + |Ry|
Answer: B
24. The angle of the resultant with the x-axis is given by:
A) tan⁻¹(Rx/Ry)
B) tan⁻¹(Ry/Rx)
C) sin⁻¹(Rx/R)
D) cos⁻¹(Ry/R)
Answer: B
25. Three forces act: F1 = 10 N east, F2 = 10 N north, F3 = 10 N west. The resultant
magnitude is:
A) 30 N
B) 20 N
C) 10 N
D) 0 N
Answer: C
26. For the same forces (Q25), the direction of the resultant is:
A) East
B) West
C) North
D) South
Answer: C
27. Vectors: A = 3i + 4j, B = 2i - j. Their sum is:
A) 5i + 3j
B) 5i + 5j
C) i + 5j
D) 5i - 3j
Answer: A
28. Magnitude of the sum from Q27 is:
A) √34
B) 5
C) 7
D) √26
Answer: A
29. A particle moves 3 m east, then 4 m north, then 6 m west. Its net displacement
magnitude is:
A) 13 m
B) 7 m
C) 5 m
D) 1 m
Answer: C
30. The direction of the net displacement in Q29 is:
A) North of East
B) North of West
C) South of East
D) South of West
Answer: B
31. Two forces of 12 N and 5 N act perpendicularly. The resultant is:
A) 17 N
B) 7 N
C) 13 N
D) 60 N
Answer: C
32. A vector has components Ax = 3 cm, Ay = 4 cm. Another vector has Bx = 1 cm, By =
-2 cm. The x-component of the resultant is:
A) 2 cm
B) 4 cm
C) 5 cm
D) 3 cm
Answer: B
33. The y-component of the resultant for Q32 is:
A) 6 cm
B) 2 cm
C) 3 cm
D) -2 cm
Answer: B
34. The magnitude of the resultant for Q32 is:
A) √20 cm
B) √18 cm
C) √10 cm
D) 6 cm
Answer: A
35. A force F = 4i + 3j Newton acts on a body. The magnitude of force is:
A) 7 N
B) 5 N
C) 1 N
D) 12 N
Answer: B
36. In the rectangular component method, if the sum of all x-components is zero but
sum of all y-components is not zero, then the resultant:
A) Is zero
B) Is along the y-axis
C) Is along the x-axis
D) Has no direction
Answer: B
37. A vector is represented as 5i - 5j. Its angle with the positive x-axis is:
A) 45°
B) –45° (or 315°)
C) 135°
D) 225°
Answer: B
38. If A = Ax i + Ay j and B = Bx i + By j, then the magnitude of A + B equals:
A) √[(Ax+Bx)² + (Ay+By)²]
B) √(Ax²+Ay²) + √(Bx²+By²)
C) √(Ax+Bx)² + √(Ay+By)²
D) (Ax+Bx) + (Ay+By)
Answer: A
39. The advantage of rectangular components over graphical addition is:
A) It is always approximate
B) It gives exact analytical results
C) It works only for two vectors
D) It requires a protractor
Answer: B
40. Two vectors have magnitudes 6 and 8. Their resultant cannot be:
A) 2
B) 10
C) 14
D) 0
Answer: D
41. If R = A + B and R = A + B (magnitudes), then the angle between A and B is:
A) 0°
B) 90°
C) 180°
D) 60°
Answer: A
42. If R = |A - B|, then the angle between A and B is:
A) 0°
B) 90°
C) 180°
D) 60°
Answer: C
43. A force of 100 N is resolved into two perpendicular components. If one component
is 60 N, the other component is:
A) 40 N
B) 80 N
C) 160 N
D) 120 N
Answer: B
44. The direction of a vector with components Ax = -1, Ay = -√3 is:
A) 60°
B) 120°
C) 240°
D) 300°
Answer: C