SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

MOTION IN A PLANE:
1) State and explain parallelogram law of vectors Derive an expression for the magnitude and
direction of the resultant.
Statement:
If two vectors are represented by two adjacent sides of a parallelogram both in magnitude and direction,
the diagonal of the parallelogram represents the sum of the vectors in magnitude and direction.
From the figure shown below, OABD is a parallelogram, two vectors P and Q are two vectors
represented by OA and OD. According to the parallelogram law of vectors OB represents the sum of the
vectors.
Magnitude of the resultant:
From the Figure shown, from triangle OBC,

OB 2  OC 2  CB 2

R 2  (OA  AC ) 2  CB 2

R 2  OA 2  AC 2  2OA. AC  CB 2

From triangle ABC,

AC  Q cos  and BC  Q sin 

R 2  P 2  Q 2 cos 2   2 P.Q cos   Q 2 sin 2 

R 2  P 2  Q 2 cos 2   Q 2 sin 2   2 P.Q cos 

R 2  P 2  Q 2 (cos 2   sin 2  )  2 P.Q cos 

R 2  P 2  Q 2 (1)  2 P.Q cos 

R 2  P 2  Q 2  2 P.Q cos 

R  P 2  Q 2  2 P.Q cos 

Direction of the resultant: The resultant makes an angle of  with the horizontal. So from triangle OBC

CB
Tan 
OC

CB
Tan 
OA  AC

Q sin 
Tan 
P  Q cos 

1|Page
  Q sin  
  Tan 1  
 P  Q cos  

2. If the magnitude of the sum of two vectors is equal to the magnitude of the difference of the two
vectors, find the angle between the two vectors.
   
A B  A B

A 2  B 2  2 AB cos   A2  B 2  2 AB cos 

A 2  B 2  2 AB cos   A 2  B 2  2 AB cos 

2 AB cos   2 AB cos 

4 AB cos   0

cos   0

  900
3. Define Unit vector, Null vector and position vector.

Unit Vector: The vector whose magnitude is one is called as unit vector. iˆ, ˆj and kˆ Are the unit vectors
along X, Y and Z axis.
Null Vector: The vector whose magnitude is zero is called as null vector. For example, for a vertically
projected body the velocity vector has magnitude zero at the highest point.
Position Vector: The Vector representing the position of a particle is known as position vector.

For example, Position of a particle in space can be represented as xiˆ  yjˆ  z kˆ .

4. Show that the trajectory of a projectile is parabola.

Projectile:
An object projected at angle with the horizontal is known as projectile.
Let us consider a body thrown with velocity ‘u’ at an angle ‘  ’ with the horizontal as shown in the figure.

The components of initial velocity are u cos  and u sin  .

u cos  is along the horizontal. u sin  along the vertical.

u cos  is constant and u sin  changes uniformly due to gravity.

Along the Horizontal:

u x  u cos  , acceleration (a) = zero, displacement (x).

1
From s  ut  at 2
2

2|Page
 1
x  u cos  t  (0)t 2
2
x  u cos  t

x
t    equation(1)
u cos 

Along the vertical:

u y  u sin  , acceleration (a) = -g, displacement (y).

1
From s  ut  at 2
2

1
y  u sin  t  ( g )t 2
2

1
y  u sin  t  gt 2    equation(2)
2
Substituting equation (1) in equation (2),
2
 x  1  x 
y  u sin    g 
 u cos   2  u cos  

u sin  1 x2
y x g 2
u cos  2 u cos 2 

1 g
y  tan  x  x2
2 u cos 
2 2

The above equation is similar to equation of parabola y  Ax  Bx 2 where A and B are constants.

Hence the trajectory of projectile is parabola.

u 2 sin 2  u 2 sin 2
5. Show that the Maximum height of projectile is H  and Range is R  .
2g g

Let ‘u’ be the initial velocity of the projectile,  is the angle of projection.

Maximum height: The height of the projectile where the vertical component of velocity is zero is called
maximum height of a projectile.
Initial velocity is u sin  , acceleration is (-g) Final velocity is zero.

From the equation v 2  u 2  2as

02  u 2 sin 2   2( g ) H

u 2 sin 2 
H
2g

3|Page
Horizontal range: The horizontal displacement of a projectile is known as range.
2u sin 
Initial velocity is u cos  , acceleration is (zero) time is time of flight ( T  )
g

1
From the equation s  ut  at 2
2
2
 2u sin   1  2u sin  
R  u cos     (0)  
 g  2  g 

 2u sin  
R  u cos   0
 g 

2u 2 cos  sin 
R
g

u 2 sin 2
R
g

5. Show that the Maximum Height is one-fourth of the Maximum range.

When the angle of projection is 450 the Range is maximum.
At 450, the Maximum height is

u 2 sin 2 45
H
2g
2
 1 2
u  
H 
2
2g

1
u2  
2
H  
2g

u2
H       equation(1)
4g

The Maximum Range is

u 2 sin 2
R
g

u 2 sin 2(45)
Rmax 
g

u 2 sin 90
Rmax 
g

4|Page
 u2
Rmax       equation(2)
g

From equation 1 and 2, substituting Rmax value in Hmax we can say that the maximum height is one-fourth
of the maximum range.
LAWS OF MOTION
6. Define the momentum and impulse. State and explain the law of conservation of momentum.
Give an example.
Momentum: The product of mass of an object and its velocity is defined as momentum.
Impulse: The product of force and time of action of force is called as Impulse.
Law of conservation of momentum:
When the external force is acted on a system is zero, the momentum of the system is constant.
If m1, m2, u1 and u2 are masses and initial velocities of two particles of a system, v1, v2 are their final
velocities.

If external force is zero, then m1u1  m2u2  m1v1  m2 v2

Example:
1) The recoiling of the gun after firing a bullet.
2) Explosion of a bomb into two pieces.
3) Motion of a rocket.
Example:
7. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of friction.
Advantages:
1) Holding the objects is possible due to friction.
2) Safe walking is possible due to friction.
3) Nails and screws can be fixed into the walls due to friction.
4) Lighting a match stick is possible due to friction.
Disadvantages:
1) Wear and tear of machines is due to friction.
2) Heat generates due to friction.
3) Friction results large amount of power loss.
8. Explain the method of minimising the friction.
The following methods are used to reduce friction:

5|Page
1) Polishing: When surfaces are polished, irregularities of the surfaces are minimised. So friction
reduces.
2) Ball-Bearings: Ball bearings convert sliding motion into rolling motion. So friction reduces.
3) Lubricants: Lubricants cover the irregularities and reduces the friction.
4) Streamlining: By making front portion of vehicles in curved shape (streaming) the friction due to
fluids can be reduced.
9. State the laws of rolling friction.
Laws of rolling friction:
1) Rolling friction is directly proportional to normal reaction.
f N

f  r N ; Where r is known as coefficient of rolling friction.

2) Rolling friction depends on area of contact.

3) Rolling friction depends on radius of rolling body.
10. Show that pulling a lawn roller is easier than pushing.
While pulling:
Let us consider a lawn roller of mass M is on a rough horizontal surface.

Let the roller is pulled by a force F at an angle of  with the horizontal as shown in the figure.

From the figure N  F sin   Mg

N  Mg  F sin   equation(1)

While pushing:
Let us consider a lawn roller of mass M is on a rough horizontal surface.

Let the roller is pushed by a force F at an angle of  with the horizontal as shown in the figure.

From the figure N  Mg  F sin   equation(2)

6|Page
From equation (1) and equation (2) it clear that Normal reaction in the second case is more than the
normal reaction in the first case.
When Normal reaction is more friction is also more. So friction while pushing is more. So it is difficult
to push the lawn roller, and it is easy to pull the lawn roller than pushing.
SYSTEM OF PARTICLES and ROTATIONAL MOTION
11. Distinguish between centre of mass and centre of gravity.

Centre of mass Centre of gravity

1 The centre of mass of a body is the point The centre of gravity of a body is the point
where entire mass is said to be where weight of the body acts through.
concentrated.
2 It is defined to describe the nature of It is defined to know the stability of the body.
motion of the body.
3 It refers to mass of the body It refers to weight of the body.
4 It is independent of acceleration due to It depends on acceleration due to gravity
gravity

12. Define the vector product. Explain the properties of vector product with the examples?
Vector product:
If the product of two vectors is a vector, such product is known as vector product or cross product.
 
If P, Q are two vectors, their vector product is
  
R  P XQ  PQ sin  .

Properties of Vector product:

1) Cross product doesn’t obey commutative property.
       
P XQ  Q XP But P XQ  Q XP

2) Cross product obeys distributive law over addition and subtraction.

             
P X (Q  R )  ( P XQ  PXR) And P X (Q  R )  ( P XQ  PXR)

3) If the angle between two vectors is zero, the product is a null vector.
 
P XQ  PQ sin 0
 
P XQ  0
 
4) If the angle between two vectors is 900, P XQ  PQ

Examples:
1) Angular momentum is the cross product of position vector and linear momentum.
  
Lr X p
7|Page
2) Torque is the cross product of position vector and force.
  
  r XF `

13. Define angular velocity. Derive a relation between linear velocity and angular velocity?
The rate of change of angular displacement of a particle is called angular velocity.

d

dt

Consider a particle moving on the circumference of a circle of radius r. Started at A and going along B
to C. The angular displacement between A and is  . d is the displacement in interval of time dt. Then
d
the angular velocity is    equation(1)
dt
At this instant of time, the linear velocity of the particles is given by
ds
v  equation(2)
dt
From the figure BC = ds.
We know, ds  rd
rd
So we can also write v 
dt
From equation (1) and (2)
v  r
14. Define angular acceleration and torque. Establish the relation between angular acceleration
and torque.
Angular acceleration:
The rate of change of angular velocity is called angular acceleration.

d
  equation(1) ; Where  and  are angular acceleration and angular velocity.
dt
Torque:
The rate of change of angular momentum is called as torque.

dL
  equation(2) ; Where  and L are torque and angular momentum.
dt
Relation between angular acceleration and torque:
From the equation 2 we can write

8|Page
 d ( I )
 Where I and  are moment of inertia and angular velocity.
dt

d
 I  equation(3)
dt
From equation 1 and 3 we can write

  I
GRAVITATION:
15. State Keplars laws of planetary motion.
Keplars I Law (Law of Orbits):
According to the Keplar’s first law, all planets revolve in the elliptical
orbits around sun.

Keplars II law (Law of areas): According to the law of areas, the line
joining the sun and the planet sweeps equal areas in equal intervals of time.

Keplars III law (Law of periods): According to the law of periods, the square of the period of
revolution is directly proportional to the cube of the mean distance between the sun and planet.
If T and R are the period of revolution and mean distance of a planet from sun, according to keplars III
law, T 2 R 3

16. Derive relation between acceleration due to gravity (g) and Universal gravitational constant (G).
Let M be the mass of earth, R is its radius. Let a small object of mass m is at a small height of h from the
surface of the earth.
The object experience gravitational force.

Mm
F G      equation(1)
( R  h)2

According to the Newton’s second law of motion

F  ma      equation(2)

From equations 1 and 2, we can write

Mm
ma  G
( R  h)2

GM
a
( R  h) 2

9|Page
Since acceleration is due to gravity we write a as g. For small heights R  h  R

GM
g
( R) 2

17. Define orbital velocity. Derive an expression for it.

Orbital velocity:
The Minimum horizontal velocity given to an object, such that it revolves around a planet is known as
orbital velocity of the planet.
Let M be the mass, R be the radius of a planet and m is the mass the object revolving around the planet at
a height h.
To revolve in a specific orbit, the gravitational force must act as centripetal force.

mv 2
The Centripetal force is F       (1)
Rh

GMm
The gravitational force is F       (2)
( R  h) 2

And from (1) and (2)

mv 2 GMm

R  h ( R  h) 2

GM
v2 
( R  h)

GM
v
( R  h)

For small heights R  h  R

GM
v
R

GM GM
g 2
and gR 
R R
So that

v  gR

18. Define Escape velocity. Derive an expression for it.

Escape velocity:
The velocity given to an object, such that it escapes from the gravitational field of a planet is known as
escape velocity of the planet.
10 | P a g e
Let M be the mass, R be the radius of a planet and m is the mass of the object escaping from the
gravitational field of the planet.
To escape from the gravitational field of the planet , the kinetic energy of projection must be equal to
negative gravitational potential energy.

1
The kinetic energy is K .E  mV 2      (1)
2
GMm
The gravitational potential energy is U        (2)
R
And to escape
K .E  U

Substitute 1 and 2 in the above equation we can write

1 2  GMm 
mv     
2  ( R) 

1 2 GM
v 
2 R
2GM
v2 
R

2GM
v
R

GM GM
g 2
and gR 
R R

So that v  2 gR

19. What are Geo stationary satellites? Write the uses of Geo stationary satellites.
Geo stationary satellite: The satellite whose period of revolution is equal to period of rotation of earth is
known as geo stationary satellite. The period of revolution of geo stationary satellite is 24 hours.
Uses of Geo stationary satellites:
1. To know the shape and size of the earth.
2. To study the changes in atmosphere.
3. To study the upper regions of the atmosphere.
4. To identify the minerals and natural resources present inside the earth.
5. To transmit the T.V programmes to the distant places.
6. To study the primary cosmic rays.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLIDS:

11 | P a g e
20. Define Young’s modulus, Bulk modulus and rigidity modulus.
Young’s modulus: The ratio of longitudinal stress to longitudinal strain is called as Young’s modulus.

LongitudinalStress
Youngs modulus(Y) =
LongitudinalStrain

Bulk modulus: The ratio of volume stress to volume strain is called as bulk modulus.

VolumeStress
Bulk modulus (B) =
VolumeStrain

Rigidity modulus: The ratio of shear stress to shear strain is called as Young’s modulus.

Shear Stress
Rigiditymodulus(η) =
Shear Strain

21. Define stress. Explain different types of stress

Stress: The ratio of restoring force per unit area is called stress.

Restoring force
Stress =
Area
Stress is of three types.
1) Longitudinal stress.
2) Volume stress.
3) Shear stress.
1) Longitudinal stress:
The Normal force applied to the surface per unit area of the cross-section is called longitudinal stress.

restoring force
Longitudinal stress =
Area
2) Volume stress:
The Normal force applied to the surface per unit area of the body is called volume stress.

restoring force
volume stress =
Area
3) Shear stress:
The Tangential force applied to the surface per unit area of the cross-section is called shear stress.

restoring force
shearing stress =
Area
22. Define strain. Explain different types of strain
Strain: The ratio of change in the dimension to the original dimension is called strain.

12 | P a g e
 Change in dimension
Strain =
Original dimension

Strain is of three types.

1) Longitudinal strain.
2) Volume strain.
3) Shear strain.
1) Longitudinal strain:
The ratio of change in the length of the wire to original length of the wire is called longitudinal strain.

change in the length

Longitudinal strain =
Original length

2) Volume stress:
The Normal force applied to the surface per unit area of the body is called volume stress.

change in volume
volume strain =
Original volume

3) Shear stress:
The Tangential force applied to the surface per unit area of the cross-section is called shear stress.

Change in dimension
shearing strain =
Original dimension

23. Define strain energy and derive the equation for the same. (or) Explain the concept of Elastic
potential energy in a stretched wire and hence obtain the expression for it.

Strain Energy: The energy possessed by a body when it is deformed is known as strain energy or elastic
potential energy.
1
strain energy = Force X elongation
2

Derivation: Let a wire of length ‘L’, area of cross-section ‘a’ subjected to a deforming force ‘F’ along the
length of the wire. The elongation of the wire is ‘l’.
Young’s modulus of the wire is
F/A
Y=
l/L
Yal
F=
L
The work done on elongating the wire is
work done = average force X elongation
W = FX l
0+F
W= Xl
2

13 | P a g e
  YAl 
0+  
W= 
L 
Xl
2
 YAl 2 
W = 
 2L 
 YAl 2 
W = 
 2L 
This work done is stored in the wire as potential energy (U)
 YAl 2 
U = 
 2L 
 YAl 2  AL
U = X
 2L  AL
 YAl 2  V
U = X
 2L  AL
YA( strain) 2
U XV
2A
Y X strain X strain
U XV
2
U Stress X strain

V 2
 U  Stress X strain
Potential energy per unit volume   
V  2
24. Explain the behaviour of wire under gradual increasing load.

A thin wire is suspended from a rigid support. Load is attached at its free end and
gradually increased and removed to study the behaviour of the wire.

A graph is drawn between strain on x axis and Stress on y axis and various points are
explained based on elasticity.

1. Proportionality Limit: From the graph from O to A stress is proportional to strain.

The Hooks law is obeyed. So the point A is called proportionality limit. Beyond A the wire doesn’t
follow Hooks law.

2. Elastic Limit: From the graph up to point B the wire has elastic nature. From A to B the wire doesn’t
follow Hooks law, but posses the elastic nature.

3. Permanent set: From the graph beyond the point B the wire looses elastic nature and acquires a
permanent set at C. The dotted line in the graph represents that.

4. Ultimate tensile strength: Beyond the point C strain increase rapidly for small increase in stress until
it reaches the point D. The stress corresponding to D is called ultimate tensile strength.

5. Breaking point: If the stress is further increased, the wire becomes thin and breaks beyond the point E.
So that the point E is called Breaking point.

THERMAL PROPERTIES OF MATTER:

14 | P a g e
25. Pendulum clocks generally go fast in winter and slow in summer. Why?

1 l
The time period of a simple pendulum is T 
2 g

T l

In winter the temperatures are small. Length of the pendulums also decreases. As a result the time period
also decreases. The clock goes fast.

In summer the temperatures are more. Length of the pendulums also increases. As a result the time period
also increases. The clock goes slow.

26. in what way the anomalous behaviour of water advantageous to aquatic animals?

The temperature of the cold countries falls below 00C. The water on the surface of the lake goes below
00C and gets frozen. Water has the greatest density at 40C. The water of 40C, reaches the bottom as the
temperature falls. This makes the aquatic animals to survive in cold countries.

27. Explain Conduction, Convection and radiation. Give examples for each case.

Conduction:
The process of transfer in which the heat transfer takes place without actual movement of molecules.
Example: Transfer of heat through Metals like, Copper, and Silver.....etc,
Convection:
The process of transfer in which the heat transfer takes place with the movement of molecules.
Example: Transfer of heat through liquids and gases like, water, and other liquids.... etc,

Radiation:
The process of transfer in which doesn’t require any medium is called as radiation.
Example: Transfer of heat through vacuum.

15 | P a g e