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The scalar product, also known as the Dot product of any two vectors \(\vec{A}\) and \(\vec{B}\) denoted as \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) and is given by the product of the magnitude of both vectors multiplied by the cosine of the angle between them. i.e.
\(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = AB cosθ
There are two ways of multiplying vectors
- Scalar product
- Vector product
The vector product, also known as the Cross product of any two vectors \(\vec{A}\) and \(\vec{B}\) denoted as \(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) and is given by the product of the magnitude of both vectors multiplied by the sine of the angle between them. i.e.
\(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) = AB sinθ
Very Short Answers Questions [1 Mark Questions]
Ques. The scalar product is also known as ______.
- Dot product
- Inner product
- Cross product
- Both a and b
Ans. The correct answer is d. Both a and b
Explanation: The scalar product is also known as the Dot product and Inner product. An inner product is a generalization of the dot product.
Ques. The scalar product gives the way of _______of two different vectors.
- Subtraction
- Addition
- Multiplication
- Division
Ans. The correct answer is c. Multiplication
Explanation: The scalar product gives the way of multiplication of two different vectors.
Ques. Scalar multiplication is denoted by a ______.
- Dot
- Comma
- Semicolon
- Dash
Ans. The correct answer is a. Dot
Explanation: The scalar multiplication of two vectors is represented by a Dot sign. For example, the scalar product of vector A and vector B is represented by \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\)
Ques. Which among the following is a vector quantity?
- Displacement
- Mass
- Density
- Temperature
Ans. The correct answer is a. Displacement
Explanation: A vector quantity is a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Among the following quantities in the option, only displacement has both magnitude and direction. Hence, it is a vector quantity.
Ques. Is electric charge a scalar quantity or vector quantity?
Ans. Electric charge is a scalar quantity because it has only magnitude but no sense of direction.
Short Answers Questions [2 Marks Questions]
Ques. What is the formula to represent the magnitude of the scalar product?
Ans. Consider two vectors A and B, and θ be the angle between these two vectors. Then the formula to represent the magnitude of the scalar product of vectors A and B is given by
\(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = AB cosθ
Where
- A is the magnitude of vector A
- B is the magnitude of vector B
- Cosθ is the cosine of the angle between vectors A and B.
Ques. What is the formula to represent the magnitude of the vector product?
Ans. Consider two vectors A and B, and θ be the angle between these two vectors. Then the formula to represent the magnitude of the vector product of vectors A and B is given by
\(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) = AB sinθ
Where
- A is the magnitude of vector A
- B is the magnitude of vector B
- sinθ is the sine of the angle between vectors A and B.
Ques. Define the Scalar product of two vectors.
Ans. The scalar product of two vectors \(\vec{A}\) and \(\vec{B}\) denoted as \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) and is given by the product of the magnitude of both vectors multiplied by the cosine of the angle between them. i.e.
\(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = AB cosθ
Ques. Define the vector product of two vectors.
Ans. The vector product of two vectors \(\vec{A}\) and \(\vec{B}\) denoted as \(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) and is given by the product of the magnitude of both vectors multiplied by the sine of the angle between them. i.e.
\(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) = AB cosθ
Read more:
| Relevant Concepts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scalar & Vector quantities | Real number | Magnitude of vectors |
| Pair of angles | Scalar triple product | Vector projection |
Long Answers Questions [3 Marks Questions]
Ques. State any four properties of the scalar product of two vectors.
Ans. The following are the properties of the scalar product of two vectors
- Scalar product is commutative i.e.\(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = \(\vec{B}.\vec{A}\)
- Scalar product is distributive i.e. \(\vec{A}.(\vec{B}+\vec{C}) = \vec{A}.\vec{B} + \vec{A}.\vec{C}\)
- Dot product of a vector with itself gives the square of its magnitude.
- If two vectors are parallel, then \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = AB cos0 = AB
Ques. Let there be two vectors |a| = 6 and |b| = 2 and θ = 60°. Find their scalar product.
Ans. Given
- The magnitude of the first vector, |a| = 6
- The magnitude of the second vector, |b| = 2
- The angle between the two vectors, θ = 60°
The scalar product of vectors a and b is given by
\(\vec{a}.\vec{b}\) = abcos
⇒ \(\vec{a}.\vec{b}\) = 6 x 2 x cos60
⇒ \(\vec{a}.\vec{b}\) = 12cos60 = 12 x \(\frac{1}{2}\) = 6
Ques. If \(\vec{a}\) and \(\vec{b}\) are perpendicular vectors, \(|\vec{a} + \vec{b}|\) = 13 and \(|\vec{a}|\) = 5. Find the value of \(|\vec{b}|\).
Ans. Given \(|\vec{a} + \vec{b}|\) = 13
Squaring both sides we get
\(|\vec{a} + \vec{b}|\)2 = 169
⇒ \(|\vec{a}|\)2 + \(|\vec{b}|\)2 + 2\(|\vec{a}|\)\(|\vec{b}|\)cos = 169
Since, both the vectors are perpendicular to each other, therefore, θ = 90
⇒ \(|\vec{a}|\)2 + \(|\vec{b}|\)2 + 2\(|\vec{a}|\)\(|\vec{b}|\) cos90 = 169
⇒ \(|\vec{a}|\)2 + \(|\vec{b}|\)2 + 2\(|\vec{a}|\)\(|\vec{b}|\) x 0 = 169
Given \(|\vec{a}|\) = 5
⇒ 52 + \(|\vec{b}|\)2 = 169
⇒ \(|\vec{b}|\)2 = 169 – 25 = 144
⇒ \(|\vec{b}|\) = 12
Very Long Answers Questions [5 Marks Questions]
Ques. If the magnitude of two vectors is 4 and 6 and the magnitude of the scalar product is 12√2. What is the angle between the vectors?
Ans. Let the two vectors be A and B. Then it is given
- A = 4
- B = 6
- The magnitude of the scalar product, \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = 12√2
Let θ be the angle between the vectors A and B.
We have, \(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = AB cosθ
⇒ cosθ = \(\frac{\vec{A}.\vec{B}}{AB}\)
⇒ cosθ = 12√2/(4 x 6) = 1/√2
⇒ θ = cos-1 1/√2 = 45°
Ques. Find the angle between the force \(\vec{F}\) = \((5\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} + 5\hat{k})\) unit and displacement \(\vec{d}\) = \((3\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} - 3\hat{k})\) unit. Also, find the projection of the F vector on the d vector.
Ans. The magnitude of the F vector is given by
F = √(52 + 42 + 52) = √66 units
The magnitude of the d vector is given by
d = √(32 + 42 – 32) = √34 units
The scalar product of F and d is given by
\(\vec{F}\).\(\vec{d}\) = \((5\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} + 5\hat{k})\) . \((3\hat{i} + 4\hat{j} - 3\hat{k})\) = 16 unit
We have, \(\vec{F}\).\(\vec{d}\) = Fd cosθ
⇒ cosθ = \(\frac{\vec{F}.\vec{d}}{Fd}\)
⇒ cosθ = 16 /(√66 x √34) = 0.34
Now, projection of F on d = F cosθ = √66 x 0.34 = 2.76
Ques. Find the scalar and vector products of two vectors \(\vec{A} = (3\hat{i} – 4\hat{j} + 5\hat{k})\) and \(\vec{B} = (– 2\hat{i} + \hat{j} – 3\hat{k})\).
Ans. The scalar product of vectors A and B is given by
\(\vec{A}.\vec{B} = (3\hat{i} – 4\hat{j} + 5\hat{k}). (-2\hat{i}+\hat{j}-3\hat{k})\)
⇒\(\vec{A}.\vec{B}\) = – 6 – 4 – 15 = – 25
The vector product of vectors A and B is given by
\(\vec{A} \times \vec{B} = (3\hat{i} – 4\hat{j} + 5\hat{k}) \times (-2\hat{i}+\hat{j}-3\hat{k})\)
⇒ \(\vec{A} \times \vec{B}\) \(= (7\hat{i} – \hat{j} – 5\hat{k})\)
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