NCERT Solutions for Class 11

Physics
Chapter 4 - Motion in a plane

1. State, for each of the following physical quantities, if it is a scalar or a

vector. Volume, mass, speed, acceleration, density, number of moles, velocity,
angular frequency, displacement, angular velocity.
Ans. Scalar. Mass, volume, density, angular frequency, number of moles, speed.
Vector. Acceleration, angular velocity, velocity, displacement.

A scalar quantity is specified by its magnitude. Mass, volume, density, angular

frequency, number of moles, speed are some of the scalar physical quantities.

A vector quantity is specified by its magnitude and the direction associated with it.
Acceleration, angular velocity, velocity, displacement belong to this category.

2. Pick out the two scalar quantities in the following list.

Force, angular momentum, work, current, linear momentum, electric field,
average velocity, magnetic moment, relative velocity.
Ans. Work and current are examples of scalar quantities.

Work done is said to be the dot product of force and displacement. As the dot
product of two quantities is always a scalar, work is considered as a scalar physical
quantity.

Current is described by its magnitude. Its direction is not considered.

Thus, it is a scalar quantity.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 1

3. Pick out the only vector quantity in the following list. Temperature,
pressure, impulse, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational
potential, coefficient of friction, charge.
Ans: Impulse

It is given by the product of force and time. As force is a vector quantity, its
product with time gives a vector quantity.

4. State with reasons, whether the following algebraic operations with scalar
and vector physical quantities are meaningful.
(a) Adding any two scalars.
Ans: Not meaningful.
The addition of two scalar quantities will be meaningful only if they both represent
the same physical quantity.

(b) Adding a scalar to a vector of the same dimensions.

Ans: Not meaningful.

The addition of a vector quantity with a scalar quantity is considered not

meaningful.

(c) Multiplying any vector by any scalar.

Ans: Meaningful.

A scalar can be multiplied with a vector. Force is multiplied with time to give
impulse.

(d) Multiplying any two scalars.

Ans: Meaningful.

A scalar, respective of the physical quantity, can be multiplied with another scalar
having the same or different dimensions.

(e) Adding any two vectors.

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Ans: Not meaningful.
The addition of two vector quantities is considered meaningful only if they both
represent the same physical quantity.

(f) Adding a component of a vector to the same vector.

Ans: Meaningful
A component of a vector can be added to the same vector as both of them have the
same dimensions.

5. Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons, if it is true or
false.

(a) The magnitude of a vector is always a scalar.

Ans: True.

The magnitude of a vector is a number. So, it is a scalar.

(b) Each component of a vector is always a scalar.

Ans: False.

Each component of a vector is a vector.

(c) The total path length is always equal to the magnitude of the displacement
vector of a particle.
Ans: False.

The total path length is scalar, whereas displacement is a vector quantity.

So, the total path length is greater than the magnitude of displacement. It is equal
to the magnitude of displacement only when a particle is moving in a straight line.

(d) The average speed of a particle (defined as total path length divided by the
time taken to cover the path) is either greater or equal to the magnitude of
average velocity of the particle over the same interval of time.
Ans: True.

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It is because the total path length is always greater than or equal to the magnitude
of displacement of a particle.

(e) Three vectors not lying m a plane can never add up to give a null vector.
Ans: True.

Three vectors, which do not lie in a plane, can’t be represented by the sides of a
triangle taken in the same order.

6. Establish the following vector inequalities geometrically or otherwise.

(a) | a  b || a |  | b |

(b) | a  b || a |  | b |

(c) | a  b || a |  | b |

(d) | a  b || a |  | b |
When does the equality sign above apply?

Ans: Let a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP

as shown below.

| OM || a | ...  i 

| MN || OP || b | ...  ii 

| ON || a  b | ...  iii 

As each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides in a triangle,

In OMN ,

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ON  (OM  MN)

| a  b || a |  | b | ...(iv)

If a and b act along a straight line in the same direction, then.

| a  b || a |  | b | ...(v)

Combine equations (iv) and (v)

| a  b || a |  | b |

Let a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP , as

shown below.

| OM || a | ...  i 

| MN || OP || b | ...  ii 

| ON || a  b | ...  iii 

As each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides in a triangle,

In OMN ,

ON  MN  OM

ON  OM  MN

| ON || OM  OM | ( OP  MN)

| a  b |‖ a |  | b ‖  (iv)

If a and b act along a straight line in the same direction, then.

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| a  b ||| a |  | b || ...(v)

Combine equations (iv) and (v)

| a  b ||| a |  | b ||

Let a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PQRS

| OR || PS || b | ...(i)

| OP || a | ...(ii)

As each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides in a triangle,

In OPS ,

OS  OP  PS

| a  b || a |  | b |

| a  b || a |  | b | ...(iii)

If the two vectors act in a straight line but in opposite directions, then.

| a  b || a |  | b |

Combine equations (iii) and (iv)

| a  b || a |  | b |

Let a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PQRS

OS  PS  OP ...(i)

OS  OP-PS ...(ii)

| a  b || a |  | b | ...(iii)

The L.H.S is always positive and R.H.S can be positive or negative.

To make both quantities positive, take modulus on both sides.

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 ab  a  b

ab  a  b ...(iv)

If the two vectors act in a straight line but in the same direction.

ab  a  b ...(v)

Combine equation (iv) and equation (v) .

ab  a  b

7. Given a  b  c  d  0 , which of the following statements are correct.

(a) a, b,c , and d must each be a null vector.

Ans: Incorrect

To make a  b  c  d  0 , it is not necessary to have all four vectors as null vectors.

There are many other combinations which will give the sum zero.

(b) The magnitude of (a  c) equals the magnitude of (b  d ) .

Ans: Correct

a bcd  0

a  c  (b  d)

Take modulus on both sides.

| a  c || (b  d) || (b  d) |

So, the magnitude of (a  c ) is the same as the magnitude of (b  d )

(c) The magnitude of a can never be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of
b , c , and d .

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Ans: Correct

a bcd  0

a  (b  c  d)

Take modulus on both sides.

a | (b  c  d ) |

a | b |  | c |  | d | ...(i)

(b  c  d ) is the sum of vectors b , c and d . The magnitude of (b  c  d ) is less

than, or equal to the sum of the magnitudes of b , c and d . So, the magnitude of a
cannot be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of b , c and d. Equation (i)
shows that the magnitude of a is equal to or less than the sum of the magnitudes of
b , c and d

(d) b  c must lie in the plane of a and d if a and d are not collinear, and in
the line of a and d . If they are collinear?
Ans: Correct

For, a  b  c  d  0

a  (b  c)  d  0

The resultant sum of the vectors a , (b  c ) and d is zero only if (b  c ) lie in the
same plane as a and d

If a and d are collinear, then (b  c) is in the line of a and d . This is true in this
case and the vector sum of all the vectors will be zero.

8. Three girls skating on a circular ice ground of radius 200 m start from a
point P on the edge of the ground and reach a point Q diametrically opposite
to P following different paths as shown in Fig. 4.20 . What is the magnitude of

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the displacement vector for each? For which girl is this equal to the actual
length of the path skated?

Ans: The magnitudes of displacements are equal to the diameter of the ground.

Radius of the ground  200 m

Diameter of the ground  2  200  400 m

So, the magnitude of the displacement for each girl is 400 m which is equal to the
actual length of the path skated by girl B .

9. A cyclist starts from the centre O of a circular park of radius 1 km , reaches

the edge P of the park, then cycles along the circumference, and returns to the
centre along QO as shown in the following figure. If the round trip takes 10
min, what is the

(a) Net displacement.

Ans: The cyclist comes to the starting point after cycling for 10 minutes. So, his
net displacement is zero.

(b) Average velocity

Net displacement Total time

Ans: Average velocity Total time

As the net displacement of the cyclist is zero, his average velocity is also zero.

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(c) Average speed of the cyclist?
Ans:

Total path length

Average speed 
Total time

Total path length  OP  PQ  QO

1
 1  (2 1)  1
4

1
 2   3.570 km
2

Time taken  10 min

10

60

1
 h
6
 Average speed

3.570
  21.42 km / h
1

10. On an open ground, a motorist follows a track that turns to his left by an

angle of 60 after every 500 m . Starting from a given turn, specify the
displacement of the total at the third, sixth and eighth turn. Compare the
magnitude of the displacement with the total path length covered by the
motorist in each case.

Ans: The path is a regular hexagon with side 500 m .

Let the motorist start from P .

The motorist takes the third turn at S .

 Magnitude of displacement  PS

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 PV  VS

 500  500

 1000 m

Total path length  PQ  QR  RS

 500  500  500

 1500 m

The motorist takes the sixth turn at P , which is the starting point.
 Magnitude of displacement  0

Total path length  PQ  QR  RS  ST  TU  UP

 500  500  500  500  500  500

 3000 m

The motorist takes the eight turn at R .

 Magnitude of displacement  PR

 PQ 2  QR 2  2(PQ)  (QR) cos 60


 5002  5002  2  500  500  cos 60 
 1
 250000  250000   500000  
 2

 866.03 m

 500sin 60 
  tan 1   
 500  500 cos 60 

  30

Thus, the magnitude of displacement is 866.03 m at an angle of 30 with PR .

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Total path length  Circumference of the hexagon PQ  QR

 6  500  500  500

 4000 m

Turn Magnitude of Total path length

displacement

Third 1000 1500

Sixth 0 3000

Eighth 866.03; 30 4000

11. A passenger arriving in a new town wishes to go from the station to a hotel
located 10 km away on a straight road from the station. A dishonest cabman
takes him along a circuitous path 23 km long and reaches the hotel in 28 min .
What is

(a) the average speed of the taxi.

Ans: Total distance travelled  23 km

Total time taken,

28
 28 min  h
60

Average speed of the taxi,

Total distance travelled


Total time taken

(b) the magnitude of average velocity? Are the two equal?

Ans: Distance between the hotel and the station  10 km  Displacement of the car

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 10
 Average velocity 
28
60

 21.43 km / h

1
12. Rain is falling vertically with a speed of 30 ms . A woman rides a bicycle
1
with a speed of 10 ms in the north to south direction. What is the direction in
which she should hold her umbrella?
Ans: The described situation is.

vc  Velocity of the cyclist

v r  Velocity of falling rain

To protect herself from the rain, the woman should hold the umbrella in the
direction of the relative velocity of the rain with respect to the woman.

v  vc +v r

 30  (10)

 20 ms1

vc
tan  
vr

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 10
tan  
30

1
  tan 1  
3  

  tan 1 (0.333)

  18

So, the woman should hold the umbrella toward the south, at an angle of 18 with
the vertical.

13. A man can swim with a speed of 4.0 km / h in still water. How long does he
take to cross a river 1.0 km wide if the river flows steadily at 3.0 km / h and he
makes his strokes normal to the river current? How far down the river does
he go when he reaches the other bank?
1
Ans: Speed of the man v m  4 kmh

Width of the river  1km

Width of the river

Time taken to cross the river Speed of the rivera

1
 h
4

1
  60
4

 15 min
1
Speed of the river, v r  3 kmh

Distance covered with flow of the river  vr  t

1
 3
4

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 3
 km
4

3
 1000
4

 750 m

14. In a harbour, wind is blowing at the speed of 72 km / h and the flag on the
mast of a boat anchored in the harbour flutters along the N-E direction. If the
boat starts moving at a speed of 51km / h to the north, what is the direction of
the flag on the mast of the boat?
Ans: Velocity of the boat,

v b  51 kmh 1

Velocity of the wind,

v w  72 kmh 1

As the flag is fluttering in the north-east direction, the wind is blowing towards the
north-east direction. When the ship begins sailing toward the north, the flag will
start moving along the direction of the relative velocity of the wind with respect to
the boat.

The angle between v w and   v b   90  45

 

51sin(90  45)
tan  
72  51cos(90  45)

51sin(90  45)

72  51( cos 45)

1
51
 2
1
72  51
2

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 15

 51

72 2  51

51

72 1.414  51

51

50.800

   tan 1 (1.0038)

  4511

Angle with respect to the east direction is 45.11  45  0.11

So, the flag will flutter almost due east.

15. The ceiling of a long hall is 25 m high. What is the maximum horizontal
1
distance that a ball thrown with a speed of 40 ms can go without hitting the
ceiling of the hall?
1
Ans: Speed of the ball, 40 ms

Maximum height, h  25 m

In projectile motion, the maximum height reached, by a body projected at an angle

 is.

u 2sin 2θ
h=
2g

 40 
2
sin 2θ
25=
2  9.8

sin 2θ=0.30625

sinθ=0.5534

θ=sin 1  0.5534 

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 16

θ=33.60

u 2sin2θ
R=
The horizontal range is g

 40 
2
 sin2  33.60
R=
9.8

1600  sin67.2
R=
9.8

1600  0.922
R=
9.8

R=150.53m

16. A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal distance of 100m

.How much high above the ground can the cricketer throw the same ball?

Ans: Maximum horizontal distance, R=100m

The cricketer will throw the ball to the maximum horizontal distance when the
angle of projection is 45 , i.e.,   45
The horizontal range for a projection velocity v , is.

u 2 sin 2
R
g

u 2 sin 90
100 
g

u2
 100 ...(i)
g

The ball will reach the maximum height when it is thrown vertically upward. For
this type of motion, the final velocity is zero at the maximum height H .

Acceleration, a  g

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 17

Use the third equation of motion.

v2  u 2  2 gH

1 u2
H 
2 g

1
H  100
2

H  50 m

17. A stone tied to the end of a string 80 cm long is whirled in a horizontal

circle with a constant speed. If the stone makes 14 revolutions in 25s , what is
the magnitude and direction of acceleration of the stone?

Ans: Length of the string,  80 cm  0.8 m

Number of revolutions  14

Time taken  25 s

Frequency,

Number of revolutions 14
v  Hz
Time taken 25

Angular frequency,   2 v

22 14
 2 
7 25

88
 rads 1
25

Centripetal acceleration, a e   r
2

2
 88 
    0.8
 25 

 9.91ms2

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 18

The direction of centripetal acceleration is always along the string, towards the
center, at all points.

18. An aircraft executes a horizontal loop of radius 1.00 km with a steady speed
of 900 km / h. Compare its centripetal acceleration with the acceleration due to
gravity.

Ans: Radius of the loop, r  1km  1000 m

Speed of the aircraft, v  900 kmh 1

5
 900 
18

 250 ms1

Centripetal acceleration,

v2
ae 
r

(250) 2

1000

 62.5 ms2
2
Acceleration due to gravity, g  9.8 ms

ac 6.25

g 1000

ac  6.38g

The Centripetal acceleration is 6.38 times the acceleration due to gravity.

19. Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons, if it is true or
false.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 19

(a) The net acceleration of a particle m circular motion is always along the
radius of the circle towards the centre.
Ans: False

In circular motion, the net acceleration of a particle is not always directed along the
radius of the circle toward the centre. It happens only in the case of uniform
circular motion.

(b) The velocity vector of a particle at a point is always along the tangent to
the path of the particle at that point.
Ans: True
At a point on a circular path, a particle appears to move tangentially to the circular
path.
Thus, the velocity vector of the particle is always along the tangent at a point.

(c) The acceleration vector of a particle in uniform circular motion averaged

over one cycle is a null vector.
Ans: True

In uniform circular motion, the acceleration vector points towards the centre of the
circle. The average of these vectors over one cycle is a null vector.

20. The position of a particle is given by r  3.0ti  2.0t j  4.0 km

2

Where t is in seconds and the coefficients have the proper units for r to be in
metres.

(a) Find the v and a of the particle?

Ans: v(t)  (3.0i  4.0 j) : a  4.0 j

The position of the particle is.

r  3.0i  2.0t 2 j  4.0k

Velocity, v of the particle is.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 20

 dr
v
dt

v
d
dt

3.0ti  2  Ot 2 j  4.0k 
 v  3.0i  4.0t

Acceleration of the particle is.

dv
a
dt

d
a (3.0i  4.O j)
dt

 a  4.O j

The velocity vector, v  3.0iˆ  4.0tjˆ

At t  2.0 s .

v  3.0i  8.0 j

(b) What is the magnitude and direction of velocity of the particle at t  2.0 s?
Ans: The magnitude of velocity is.

| v | 32  (8) 2

| v | 73

| v | 8.54 m / s

 vy 
  tan 1  
And  vx 

 8 
 tan 1  
 3 

  tan 1 (2.667)

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 21

 69.45

The negative sign indicates that the direction of velocity is 8.54 ms1 , 69.45 below
the x  axis.

21. A particle starts from the origin at t  0 s with a velocity of 10.07 and moves
in the x  y plane with a constant acceleration of (8.0i  2.0 j)ms
-2

(a) At what time is the x  coordinate of the particle 16 m ? What is the y 

coordinate of the particle at that time?
1
Ans: Velocity of the particle, v  10.0 j ms

Acceleration of the particle a  (8.0i  2.0 j)

dv
a  8.0i  2.0 j
But, dt

dv  (8.0i  2.0 j)dt

Integrate both sides.

v(t)  8.0i  2.0 j  u

Where,

u  Velocity vector of the particle at t  0

v  Velocity vector of the particle at time 

dr
v
But dt

dr  vdt  (8.0ti  2.0t j  u)dt

Integrate the equations with. at t  0; r  0 and at t  t; r  r

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 22

 1 1
r  ut  8.0t 2 i  2.0t 2 j
2 2

 ut+4×0t 2 i +t 2 j

 (10.0 j)t  4.0t 2 i  i 2 j


xi  y  4.0t 2 i  10t  t 2 j 
Equate the coefficients of i and j .

x  4t 2
1
 x 2
t  
4

And y  10t  t
2

When x  16 m .
1
 16  2
t  
 4

t  2s

 y  10  2  (2)2  24m

(b) What is the speed of the particle at the time?

Ans:
Velocity of the particle is.

v(t)  8.0ti  2.0t  u

At t  2 s

v(t)  8.0  2i  2.0  2 j  10 j

 16i  14 j

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 23

 Speed of the particle.

| v | (16) 2  (14) 2

 256  196

 452

 21.26 ms1

22. i and j are unit vectors along x  and y -axis respectively. What is the
magnitude and direction of the vectors i  j and i.j ? What are the components
of a vector a  2i  3j along the directions of i  j and i  j ?

Ans: Consider a vector P

P i j

Px i  Py j  i  j

Compare the components on both sides.

Px =Py =1

P  Px 2  Py 2

P  12  12

P 2 ...(i)

So, the magnitude of the vector i  j is 2

Let  be the angle made by P , with the x- axis.

So,

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 24

 P 
tan =  x 
 Py
 

1
 =tan 1  
 
1

 =45 ...(ii)

So, the vector i  j makes an angle of 45 with the x- axis

Let  be the angle made by Q , with the x- axis.

Q i j

Qx i  Qy j  i  j

Qx  Qy  1

| Q | Q 2x  Q 2y

| Q | 2

So, the magnitude of the vector i  j is 2 .

Let  be the angle made by the vector Q , with the x- axis.

 Qy 
 tan    
 Qx 

 1
   tan 1   
 
1

  45

So, the vector i  j makes and angle of 45 with the axis.

Compare the coefficients of i and j

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 25

A  2i  3j

A x i +A y j=2i +3 j

Let A make an angle  with the x- axis

A 
 tan    x 
 Ay
 

3
  tan 1  
 
2

 tan 1 (1.5)

 56.31

Angle between (2iˆ  3 ˆj ) and (iˆ  ˆj )

  56.31  45  11.31

A , along the direction of P making an angle  

A 
 tan    x 
 Ay
 

tan   (Acos )P

(i  j)
tan   (A cos11.31)
2

0.9806
tan   13  (i  j)
2

tan   2.5(i  j)

25
tan    2
10

5
tan   (v)
2

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 26

Let  be the angle between (2iˆ  3 ˆj ) and (iˆ  ˆj )

   45  56.31  101.31

Component of vector A , along the direction of Q , making an angle 

 ( A cos  )Q

(iˆ  ˆj )
 ( A cos  )
2

ˆ
 13 cos  901.31 
(i +j)
2

13
 sin11.30 (i  j)
2

 2.550  0.1961(i  j)

 0.5(i  j)

5
  2
10

1

2

23. For any arbitrary motion in space, which of the following relations are
true.

(a) vaverage =    v  t1  +v  t 2  
1
2

Ans: False. As the motion of the particle is arbitrary, the average velocity of the
particle cannot be given by this equation.
[r(t 2 )-r(t1 )]
(b) vaverage =
(t 2 -t1 )

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 27

Ans: True. The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by the given
equation.

(c) v(t)=v(0)+at

Ans: False. The motion of the particle is arbitrary. The acceleration of the particle
may also be non-uniform. So, this equation cannot represent the motion of the
particle in space.

(d) r(t)=r(0)+v(0)t+   at 2
1
2

Ans: False. The motion of the particle is arbitrary, acceleration of the particle may
also be non-uniform. So, this equation cannot represent the motion of particle in
space.
[v(t 2 )-v(t1 )]
(e) a average =
(t 2 -t1 )

(The ‘average’ stands for average of the quantity over the time interval t1 to t2
)
Ans: True. The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by the given
equation.

24. Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons and examples,
if it is true or false.

A scalar quantity is one that.

(a) Is conserved in a process.
Ans: False. Energy is not conserved in inelastic collisions.

(b) Can never take negative values.

Ans: False. Temperature can take negative values.

(c) Must be dimensionless.

Ans: False. Total path length is a scalar quantity and has the dimension of length.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 28

(d) Does not vary from one point to another in space.
Ans: False. A scalar quantity like gravitational potential can vary from one point to
another in space.

(e) Has the same value for observers with different orientations of axes
Ans: True. The value of a scalar does not change for observers with different
orientations of axes.

25. An aircraft is flying at a height of 3400 m above the ground. If the angle
subtended at a ground observation point by the aircraft positions 10.0 s apart

is 30 , what is the speed of the aircraft?
Ans: The positions of the observer and the aircraft are shown below.

Height of the aircraft from ground, OR  3400 m


Angle subtended between the positions, POQ  30

Time  10 s

In PRO :

PR
tan15 
OR

PR  OR tan15

PR  3400  tan15

 PRO is similar to RQO

 PR  RQ

PQ  PR  RQ

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 29

PQ  2PR

PQ  2  3400 tan15

PQ  6800  0.268

PQ  1822.4 m

1822.4
  182.24 m / s
 Speed of the aircraft 10

Additional Exercise
26. A vector has magnitude and direction. Does it have a location in space?
Can it vary with tune? Will two equal vectors a and b at different locations in
space necessarily have identical physical effects? Give examples in support of
your answer.
Ans: No. A vector has no definite locations in space because it remains invariant
when displaced in such a way that its magnitude and direction remains the same. A
position vector has a definite location in space.

Yes. A vector can vary with time. The displacement vector of a particle moving
with a certain velocity varies with time is an example.
No. Two equal vectors present at different locations in space need not produce the
same physical effect. Consider the example of two equal forces acting on an object
at different points can cause the body to rotate, but their combination cannot
produce an equal turning effect.

27. A vector has both magnitude and direction. Does it mean that anything
that has magnitude and direction is necessarily a vector? The rotation of a
body can be specified by the direction of the axis of rotation, and the angle of
rotation about the axis. Does that make any rotation a vector?
Ans: No. A physical quantity having both magnitude and direction need not
necessarily be a vector.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 30

For example, current is a scalar quantity even though it has magnitude and
direction. The requirement for a physical quantity to be considered a vector is that
it should follow the law of vector addition.

No. The rotation of a body about an axis is not a vector quantity because it does
not follow the law of vector addition. However, a rotation by a small angle follows
the law of vector addition and is considered a vector.

28. Can you associate vectors with?

(a) The length of a wire bent into a loop.

Ans: No. A vector cannot be associated with the length of a wire bent into a loop
as the length of a loop does not have a definite direction.

(b) A plane area.

Ans: Yes. An area vector can be associated with a plane area. The direction of this
vector is represented by a normal drawn outward to the area.

(c) A sphere? Explain.

Ans: No. A vector cannot be associated with the volume of a sphere as it does not
have a specific direction. A null vector can be associated with the area of a sphere.


29. A bullet fired at an angle of 30 with the horizontal hits the ground 3.0 km a
way. By adjusting its angle of projection, can one hope to hit a target 5.0 km
away? Assume the muzzle speed to the fixed, and neglect air resistance.
Ans: No.

Range, R  3 km

Angle of projection,   30

Acceleration due to gravity, g  9.8 m / s

2

Horizontal range for the projection velocity is.

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 31

 u 02 sin 2
R
g

u 02
3 sin 60
g

u 02
2 3 ...(i)
g

The maximum range  Rmax  is achieved by the bullet when it is fired 45 with the
horizontal.

u 02
R max  ...(ii)
g

Compare (i) and (ii) .

R max  3 3

 2 1.732

 3.46 km

So, the bullet will not hit a target 5 km away.

30. A fighter plane flying horizontally at an altitude of 1.5 km with speed

720 kmh 1 passes directly overhead an antiaircraft gun. At what angle from the
1
vertical should the gun be fired for the shell with muzzle speed 600 ms to hit
the plane? At what minimum altitude should the pilot fly the plane to avoid
being hit? (Take g  10 ms1 ).

Ans: Height of the fighter plane  1.5 km  1500 m

Speed of the fighter plane, v  720 kmh 1  200 ms1

Let  be the angle with the vertical so that the shell hits the plane.

Muzzle velocity of the gun, u  600 m / s

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 32

Time taken by the shell to hit the plane  t

Horizontal distance travelled by the shell  u x t

Distance travelled by the plane  vt

The shell hits the plane. So, these two distances should be equal.

u x t  vt

u sin   v

v
sin  
u

200

600

1

3

 0.33

  sin 1 (0.33)  19.5

To avoid being hit by the shell, the pilot should fly the plane at an altitude (H)
higher than maximum height of shell.

u 2 sin 2 (90   )
H 
2g

(600) 2 cos 2 

2g

360000  cos 2 19.5


2 10

 18000  (0.943)2

 16006.482 m  16 km

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 33

 1
31. A cyclist 1 s riding with a speed of 27 kmh . As he approaches a circular
turn on the road of radius 80 m , he applies brakes and reduces his speed at the
1
constant rate of 0.50 ms every second. What is the magnitude and direction of
the net acceleration of the cyclist on the circular turn?

Ans: Speed of the cyclist, v  27 kmh 1  7.5 ms1

Radius of the circular turn, r  80 m

Centripetal acceleration is.

v2
ac 
r

(7.5) 2

80

 0.7ms2

Assume that the cyclist starts cycling from P and moves toward Q . At Q , he
applies the breaks and decelerates the speed of the bicycle by 0.5 ms2 . This
acceleration is along the tangent at Q and opposite to the direction of motion of the
cyclist.

As the angle between ac and ar is 90 , the resultant acceleration is.

a  a c2  a r2

 (0.7) 2  (0.5) 2

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 34

 0.74

 0.85ms1

ac
tan  
ar

Where  is the angle of the resultant with the direction of velocity

0.7

0.5

 1.4

  tan 1 (1.4)

  54.46

32. (a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the x 
axis as a function of time is given by

 voy  gt 
 (t)  tan 1  
 vox 

Ans: Let vox and voy be the initial components of the velocity of the projectile
along horizontal x and vertical y directions.

Let v x and v y be the horizontal and vertical components of velocity at a point P .

Time taken by the projectile to reach point P  t

Apply the first equation of motion along the vertical and horizontal directions.

v y  v 0y -gt

And vx  vax

vy
 tan  
vx

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 35

 voy  gt
tan  
vax

 vey  gt 
  tan 1  
 vox 

(b) Show that the projection angle  0 for a projectile launched from the origin
is given by

 4h m 
0  tan 1  
 R 

where the symbols have their usual meaning.

Ans: Maximum vertical height,

u o2 sin 2 2
hm = ...(i)
2g

Horizontal range,

u o2 sin 2 2
R ...(ii)
g

Solve equation (i) and equation (ii) .

hm sin 2 

R 2sin 2 

hm sin   sin 

R 2  2sin  cos 

h m 1sin 

R 4 cos 

hm 1
 tan 
R 4

 4h 
tan    m 
 R 

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 36

  4h m 
  tan 1  
 R 

Class XI Physics www.vedantu.com 37