Vector
VECTORS FOR ACET — COMPLETE FROM SCRATCH
MODULE 0: What is a Vector? (Start here)
Scalar vs Vector
Scalar → only magnitude
Examples: 5 kg, 10 sec, ₹100
Vector → magnitude + direction
Examples: velocity, force, displacement
👉 In ACET, vectors live in 2D (x–y plane).
MODULE 1: Unit Vectors (Most important)
Axes
x-axis → right
y-axis → up
Unit vectors
î → unit vector along x-axis
ĵ → unit vector along y-axis
Magnitude:
∣ ı^ ∣=1 , ∣ ^ȷ ∣=1
Orthogonality:
ı^ ⋅ ^ȷ=0
MODULE 2: Writing a Vector (ACET loves this)
A vector in 2D is written as:
a⃗ =a ı^ + b ^ȷ
Meaning:
x-component = a
y-component = b
Example
a⃗ =3 ı^ −4 ^ȷ
→ Right 3 units, down 4 units
MODULE 3: Magnitude of a Vector
Formula:
∣ ⃗a ∣= √ a 2+ b2
Example
a⃗ =3 ı^ −4 ^ȷ∣ ⃗a ∣= √ 32 +¿ ¿
⚠️ACET loves this.
MODULE 4: Vector Addition & Subtraction
Addition
a⃗ + ⃗b=(a 1+ a2) ı^ +(b1 +b 2) ^ȷ
Subtraction
a⃗ −⃗b=(a1−a 2) ı^ +(b1−b 2) ^ȷ
Example
(2 ı^ +3 ^ȷ)+( 4 ı^ − ^ȷ )=6 ı^ +2 ^ȷ
MODULE 5: Dot Product (HIGH-YIELD)
Definition
⃗
a⃗ ⋅ b=a 1 b 1 + a2 b2
Unit vector rules (MEMORISE)
ı^ ⋅ ı^ =1
^ȷ ⋅ ^ȷ =1
ı^ ⋅ ^ȷ=0
Example
¿¿ 12−10=2
MODULE 6: Angle Between Two Vectors
Formula:
a⃗ ⋅ b⃗
cos θ=
∣ a⃗ ∣∣ ⃗b ∣
Special cases (ACET shortcut)
⃗ → Perpendicular
a⃗ ⋅ b=0
a⃗ ⋅ b⃗ >0→ Acute angle
a⃗ ⋅ b⃗ <0→ Obtuse angle
MODULE 7: Perpendicular Vectors (VERY COMMON)
Condition:
⃗
a⃗ ⋅ b=0
Example
3
(2 ı^ +3 ^ȷ)⋅(k ı^ − ^ȷ )=02 k−3=0 ⇒ k=
2
MODULE 8: Unit Vector Along a Given Vector
Formula:
⃗a
Unit vector =
∣ ⃗a ∣
Example
3 4
a⃗ =6 ı^ + 8 ^ȷ∣ ⃗a ∣=10 Unit vector = ı^ + ^ȷ
5 5
Solved examples
Perfect. Here are 10 ACET-level MCQs on VECTORS, exactly the difficulty, speed, and logic
you’ll face in the exam.
Solve first if you can — solutions are immediately below each question.
MCQ 1
If
^ 4 ^j
a⃗ =3 i+
then ∣ ⃗a ∣ equals:
A) 5
B) 7
C) 1
D) 25
✅ Solution
∣ ⃗a ∣= √ 32 + 42= √ 25=5
✔ Answer: A
MCQ 2
Find the magnitude of
⃗
b=5 ^
i−12 ^j
A) 13
B) 7
C) 17
D) 1
✅ Solution
∣ b⃗ ∣= √ 25+144= √ 169=13
✔ Answer: A
MCQ 3
If
^ ^j, b=4
a⃗ =2 i+3 ⃗ ^ ^j
i−
then a⃗ ⋅ b⃗ equals:
A) 11
B) 5
C) 0
D) −5
✅ Solution
⃗ × 4+3 ×(−1)=8−3=5
a⃗ ⋅ b=2
✔ Answer: B
MCQ 4
Two vectors are perpendicular if:
A) ∣ ⃗a ∣=∣ ⃗b ∣
B) a⃗ + ⃗b=0
⃗
C) a⃗ ⋅ b=0
D) a⃗ =b⃗
✅ Solution
Perpendicular ⇒ dot product zero.
✔ Answer: C
MCQ 5
If
^
a⃗ =k i+4 ^j
is perpendicular to
⃗
b=2 ^ ^j
i−
then k equals:
A) −2
B) 2
C) −½
D) ½
✅ Solution
⃗ 2 k−4=0 ⇒ k =2
a⃗ ⋅ b=0
✔ Answer: B
MCQ 6
The unit vector in the direction of
^ ^j
a⃗ =6 i+8
is:
^ 4 ^j
A) 3 i+
3 4
B) i^ + ^j
5 5
6 ^ 8 ^
C) i+ j
10 10
D) Both B and C
✅ Solution
Magnitude = 10
Unit vector = vector ÷ magnitude
Both B and C are equivalent.
✔ Answer: D
MCQ 7
If
^ ^j, ⃗b=i+
a⃗ =i− ^ ^j
then angle between them is:
A) 0°
B) 45°
C) 90°
D) 180°
✅ Solution
⃗
a⃗ ⋅ b=1−1=0
So vectors are perpendicular.
✔ Answer: C
MCQ 8
If
a⃗ ⋅ b⃗ >0
then angle between vectors is:
A) 90°
B) Acute
C) Obtuse
D) 180°
✅ Solution
Positive dot product ⇒ acute angle.
✔ Answer: B
MCQ 9
If
^ ^j, b=6
a⃗ =2 i+3 ⃗ ^ ^j
i+9
then the vectors are:
A) Perpendicular
B) Parallel
C) Equal
D) Unit vectors
✅ Solution
⃗
b=3 ⃗a
Same direction ⇒ parallel.
✔ Answer: B
MCQ 10
The magnitude of the vector
^ ^j
i+
is:
A) 1
B) √2
C) 2
D) 0
✅ Solution
^ ^j ∣=√ 12+ 12=√ 2
∣ i+
✔ Answer: B