Vector Algebra & Applications

30 Practice Questions for Mathematics & Physics

Designed for Comprehensive Conceptual and Analytical Practice

Part I: Multiple Choice Questions (1–15)

1. Find the magnitude of the vector ⃗a = 3î − 4ĵ + 12k̂.

(A) 5 (B) 7 (C) 13 (D) 15

2. What is the unit vector in the direction of the vector ⃗v = 2î − ĵ + 2k̂?
1
(A) 3 (2î − ĵ + 2k̂) (B) 15 (2î − ĵ + 2k̂) (C) 2î − ĵ + 2k̂ (D) √1 (2î
3
− ĵ + 2k̂)

3. Find the value of m if the vectors ⃗a = mî + 2ĵ + k̂ and ⃗b = 4î − 2ĵ + 2k̂ are perpendicular to
each other.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 0.5 (D) −0.5

4. Determine the angle between the vectors p⃗ = î + ĵ and ⃗q = ĵ + k̂.

(A) π/4 (B) π/3 (C) π/6 (D) π/2

5. Find the scalar projection of the vector ⃗a = î − 2ĵ + k̂ on the vector ⃗b = 4î − 4ĵ + 7k̂.
(A) 19/9 (B) 9/19 (C) 5/9 (D) 2

6. If |⃗a| = 3, |⃗b| = 4, and the scalar product ⃗a · ⃗b = 6, find the angle between ⃗a and ⃗b.
(A) 30◦ (B) 45◦ (C) 60◦ (D) 90◦

7. Compute the cross product ⃗a × ⃗b where ⃗a = î − ĵ and ⃗b = ĵ + k̂.

(A) î + ĵ + k̂ (B) −î − ĵ + k̂ (C) î − ĵ (D) −î + k̂

8. Find the area of a triangle whose adjacent sides are represented by ⃗a = 3î+ ĵ+4k̂ and ⃗b = î− ĵ+ k̂.
√ √ √
(A) 42 (B) 12 42 (C) 21 (D) 6

9. If ⃗a and ⃗b are unit vectors and θ is the angle between them, then ⃗a + ⃗b is a unit vector if θ is
equal to:
(A) π/3 (B) π/2 (C) 2π/3 (D) π

10. Find the scalar triple product [⃗a ⃗b ⃗c] for ⃗a = î − 2ĵ + 3k̂, ⃗b = 2î + ĵ − k̂, and ⃗c = ĵ + k̂.
(A) 0 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) −4

11. Find the position vector of a point R which divides the line joining P (î+2ĵ − k̂) and Q(−î+ ĵ + k̂)
internally in the ratio 2 : 1.
1
(A) 3 (−î + 4ĵ + k̂) (B) 13 (î + 3ĵ) (C) −î + 4ĵ + k̂ (D) None of these

12. A force F⃗ = 2î − ĵ − k̂ moves an object from point A(1, 2, 3) to point B(5, 4, 1). Find the work
done by the force.
(A) 4 units (B) 8 units (C) 10 units (D) 0 units

13. Find the torque of a force F⃗ = −3î + ĵ + 5k̂ acting at a point ⃗r = 7î + 3ĵ + k̂ about the origin.

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 (A) 14î − 38ĵ + 16k̂ (B) 14î + 38ĵ + 16k̂ (C) −14î − 38ĵ − 16k̂ (D) ⃗0

14. What are the direction cosines of the vector ⃗r = î + 2ĵ + 3k̂?
(A) (1, 2, 3) (B) ( √114 , √214 , √314 ) (C) ( 16 , 26 , 36 ) (D) None of these

15. If |⃗a × ⃗b| = ⃗a · ⃗b, what is the angle between the non-zero vectors ⃗a and ⃗b?
(A) 0◦ (B) 45◦ (C) 90◦ (D) 180◦

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Part II: Short Answer & Computational Questions (16–25)

16. Show that the vectors ⃗u = 2î − 3ĵ + 4k̂ and ⃗v = −4î + 6ĵ − 8k̂ are collinear.

17. Find a vector of magnitude 6 units which is perpendicular to both vectors ⃗a = 4î − ĵ + 3k̂ and
⃗b = −2î + ĵ − 2k̂.

18. If ⃗a, ⃗b, ⃗c are unit vectors such that ⃗a +⃗b +⃗c = ⃗0, find the exact numerical value of ⃗a ·⃗b +⃗b ·⃗c +⃗c ·⃗a.

19. Find the volume of the parallelepiped whose coterminous edges are represented by the vectors
⃗a = 2î − 3ĵ + 4k̂, ⃗b = î + 2ĵ − k̂, and ⃗c = 3î − ĵ + 2k̂.

20. Determine whether the three position vectors ⃗a = î + 3ĵ + k̂, ⃗b = 2î − ĵ − k̂, and ⃗c = 7ĵ + 3k̂ are
coplanar.

21. Find the value of λ for which the vectors ⃗a = 2î − ĵ + k̂, ⃗b = î + 2ĵ − 3k̂, and ⃗c = 3î + λĵ + 5k̂
are coplanar.

22. Let ⃗a = î + 4ĵ + 2k̂, ⃗b = 3î − 2ĵ + 7k̂, and ⃗c = 2î − ĵ + 4k̂. Find a vector d⃗ which is perpendicular
to both ⃗a and ⃗b, satisfying ⃗c · d⃗ = 15.

23. Given ⃗a = î + ĵ + k̂ and ⃗b = ĵ − k̂, solve for a vector ⃗c such that ⃗a × ⃗c = ⃗b and ⃗a · ⃗c = 3.

24. Prove vectorially that the angle subtended by a diameter in a semicircle is a right angle.

25. For any arbitrary vector ⃗a, prove that the identity |⃗a × î|2 + |⃗a × ĵ|2 + |⃗a × k̂|2 = 2|⃗a|2 holds true.

Part III: Advanced & Application Problems (26–30)

26. An airplane travels 200 km due East and then turns to travel 150 km North 30◦ West. Determine
the resultant displacement vector in component form and find its magnitude.

27. A particle is acted upon by two constant forces F⃗1 = 4î + ĵ − 3k̂ and F⃗2 = 3î + ĵ − k̂. Find the
total work done when the particle is displaced from a point A(1, 2, 3) to a point B(5, 4, 1).

28. Prove the vector identity: [⃗a + ⃗b, ⃗b + ⃗c, ⃗c + ⃗a] = 2[⃗a ⃗b ⃗c].

29. Find both the vector and Cartesian equations of the line passing through the coordinates (2, 1, 3)
and parallel to the vector 3î + 2ĵ − 2k̂.

30. Calculate the shortest distance between the two skew lines whose vector equations are given by:

⃗r1 = (î + 2ĵ + k̂) + λ(î − ĵ + k̂)

⃗r2 = (2î − ĵ − k̂) + µ(2î + ĵ + 2k̂)

Answer Key

1. C 2. A 3. C
4. B 5. A 6. C
7. B 8. B 9. C
10. C 11. A 12. B
13. A 14. B 15. B

16. ⃗v = −2⃗u, hence they are scalar multiples and collinear.

3
17. ±2(î − 2ĵ − 2k̂)

18. −3/2

19. 7 cubic units

20. Coplanar, since their scalar triple product or the determinant of their components equals 0.

21. λ = −4

22. d⃗ = 35 (16î − ĵ − 6k̂)

23. ⃗c = 53 î + 32 ĵ + 23 k̂

24. Proof via dot product: P⃗A · P⃗B = 0 where P is a point on the arc and AB is the diameter.

|⃗a × î|2 = (a2y + a2z ) + (a2x + a2z ) + (a2x + a2y ) = 2(a2x + a2y + a2z ) = 2|⃗a|2 .
P
25. Proof by expansion:
√
⃗ = 125î + 75 3ĵ, Magnitude ≈ 180.28 km
26. R

27. 32 units

28. Proof expansion using scalar triple product properties.

x−2 y−1 z−3
29. Vector: ⃗r = (2î + ĵ + 3k̂) + t(3î + 2ĵ − 2k̂); Cartesian: 3 = 2 = −2
√
3 2
30. 2 units