Physics Vector Theory Exercises

Defini3ons of Vectors Opera3ons

Vector Addi3on

If 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝, 𝑞) and 𝐵
*⃗ = (𝑚, 𝑛) then the vector sum of 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
*⃗ is 𝐴⃗ + 𝐵
*⃗ = (𝑝 + 𝑚 , 𝑞 + 𝑛)

Opposite of a Vector

If 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝, 𝑞) then the opposite of 𝐴⃗ is −𝐴⃗ = (−𝑝 , −𝑞)

Scalar Mul3plica3on of Vectors

If 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝, 𝑞) then the product of scalar "k" and 𝐴⃗ is k𝐴⃗ = (𝑘 ∙ 𝑝 , 𝑘 ∙ 𝑞)

Scalar Product of Two Vectors (a.k.a. "Dot" Product)

The scalar product for vector multiplication may be stated as follows:

If 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝, 𝑞) and 𝐵
*⃗ = (𝑚, 𝑛) then the scalar product of 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
*⃗ is 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
*⃗ = 𝑝𝑚 + 𝑞𝑛

Remarkable Rela3ons Between Vectors

If 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
*⃗ = 0 then the two vectors are perpendicular.

Chasles' Rela;on: ****⃗

𝑝𝑞 + ****⃗
𝑞𝑟 = ****⃗
𝑝𝑟

1 Quadrilateral RSTU is a parallelogram and M is S T

the point of intersec;on of its diagonals. M
Consider the following vector opera;on
statements: R U

1) ST + SR = 2MU

2) UT + UR = 2SM

3) RS + RU = RT

4) MT + MR + MS + MU = 0

5) SR - ST = RT

Which of these statements are true?

A) 1, 2 and 3 only B) 1, 2 and 5 only C) 2, 4 and 5 only D) 1, 3 and 4 only

2 In quadrilateral ABCD illustrated below, points M, N, O and P are the midpoints of segments AB, BC, CD and
DA respec;vely.

M
N C
B
P
O

Using the above figure, prove the following proposition: "The midpoints of the sides of any quadrilateral form
the vertices of a parallelogram."

 
3 Given u and v two vectors that are not opposite.
Which of the following is FALSE?

       
A) u •v =v •u C) 2(u + v ) = 2u + 2v
       
B) 2u • 3v = 6v • u D) 2u + 3v = 3u + 2v

4 Given the following prism having a rectangular E F

base.

A B

H
G

D C
Which vector is equivalent to the resultant of the expression AD + HE + AE ?

A) DH C) FB

B) BE D) BC
5 Given the regular hexagon on the right
B C

where AB = a

and BC = b .
A D

F E


Prove the following iden;ty: AB + AC + DE + EF = a .

6 The following figure represents a right prism.

H
G
E
D F
C

A B
Which of these statements is FALSE?

A) BC + GF = 0 C) AB • AD = 0

B) AB - FE = 0 D) EH + HF + FG - EG = 0

7 In the polygon below, ABCG is a square.

D and G are the midpoints of sides CG and AF, respec;vely. Side AB is parallel to side EF.

B C

D E

A F
G

Using the proper;es of vectors, show that CB + AC - FE + GF = GE .

8 Given the adjacent rhombus ABCD. B

Use vectors to prove the following statement:

A C
« The diagonals of the rhombus are perpendiculars. »

9 Given vector parallelogram PQRS .

Q R

P S

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) PQ + QR = PR

B) RP - SP = RS

C) PS + SR = RP

D) SQ + QR + RS = O

10 Consider rectangle ABCD shown below.

A B

D C

Which of the following statements is true?

A) DA + AB = AC C) AB Ÿ BC = DC + CB

B) AB Ÿ BC = AC D) AB Ÿ AD = AB Ÿ BC
11 Triangle ABC, shown on the right, is isosceles. B

Using vectors, show that median BM is equal to

BM =
1
2
(
BA + BC . )

A C
M

12 ( ) (
What is the resultant vector of CA - BA - DB - DA ? )

13 Given vectors AB , BC , CD , DA below:

B C

A D
Which proposi;on is TRUE?

A) AB + BC + CD = DA C) (
AB + BC = - DA + AB )
B) AB + BC = CD + DA D) AB + CD = 0

14. Chasles' relation for vector addition may be stated as follows:

i) Write an expression represen;ng Chasles' relation for any number of vectors (i.e. the general case).

ii) Demonstrate that this rela;on is true using a graphical representa;on of vectors.

iii) Demonstrate that this rela;on is true using a component representa;on of vectors.
15. The "scalar" product for vector multiplication may be stated as follows:

If 𝐴⃗ = (𝑝, 𝑞) and 𝐵
*⃗ = (𝑚, 𝑛) then the scalar product of 𝐴⃗ and 𝐵
*⃗ is 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
*⃗ = 𝑝𝑚 + 𝑞𝑛

i) Show that if 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵
*⃗ = 0 then the two vectors are perpendicular.

ii) Show that 𝐴⃗ ∙ 𝐵

*⃗ = W𝐴⃗W × W𝐵
*⃗ W × 𝑐𝑜𝑠 ( 𝜃!" ) where 𝜃!" is the angle between the two vectors.

iii) Derive the Cosine Law using vector addi;on and the scalar product rela;on.

ANSWERS

1) D

2 Example of an appropriate method

MN = MB + BN =
1
2
1 1 1
AB + BC = AB + BC = AC
2 2 2
( )
1 1 1
PO = PD + DO = AD + DC = AD + DC = AC
2 2 2
1
2
( )
Vectors MN and PO are therefore parallel and of equal length.

Quadrilateral MNOP is therefore a parallelogram.

3) D

4) A
5 Example of an appropriate method

Hypothesis: 
B b C
1. ABCDEF is a regular hexagon 
a

2. AB = a
A D

BC = b 
-a
 
Conclusion : AB + AC + DE + EF = a F -b E

Proof Reasons

1. a) AC = AB + BC 1. a) Chasles' rela;on

  b) By subs;tu;on
b) AC = a + b

2. a) DE = - AB 2. a) DE and AB are non-collinear

vectors by defini;on of a regular
 hexagon.
b) DE = - a

b) By subs;tu;on
3. a) EF = - BC 3. a) EF and BC are non-collinear
vectors by defini;on of a regular

b) EF = - b polygon.

b) By subs;tu;on
4. AB + AC + DE + EF = 4. By vector addi;on

     
a + a + b +-a +-b = a

6) B
7 Example of an appropriate solu;on

CB + AC - FE + GF = GE to be proved

1. GA + AC - FE + DE = GE
by subs;tu;on since CB = GA and GF = DE

2. GA + AC + EF + DE = GE
because EF is the vector opposite to FE

3. GA + AC + CD + DE = GE
by subs;tu;on since EF = CD

4. GC + CE = GE
according to Chasles’ Rela;on GA + AC = GC and CD + DE = CE

5. GE = GE
according to Chasles’ Rela;on GC + CE = GE

8 Example of an appropriate method

AC = AB + BC Chasles Rela;on
BD = BC + CD Chasles Rela;on

Scalar product
( ) (
AC • BD = AB + BC • BC + CD )
= (AB + BC ) • (BC - AB ) as CD = - AB defini;on of a rhombus
2 2
= AB • BC - AB + BC - BC • AB by distribu;vity
2 2
= - AB + BC
2 2
= - AB + BC defini;on of scalar product
= c2 - c2 c = length of one side of the rhombus
=0

Since AC • BD = 0, AC ^ BD Scalar product theorem

9) C

10) D
11 Example of an appropriate solu;on

1) According to Chasles’ Rela;on

BM = BA + AM

2) According to Chasles’ Rela;on

BM = BC + CM

3) Hypothesis
1
AM = AC (Isosceles Triangle)
2

4) Similarly
-1
CM = AC
2

5) By adding (1) and (2), we get

2BM = BA + BC + AM + CM

6) Subs;tu;ng in (3) and (4) , we get

1 -1
2BM = BA + BC + AC + AC
2 2

7) Simplifying (6), we get

2BM = BA + BC

8) Therefore,
BM =
1
2
(BA + BC )
12 Example of an appropriate solu;on

Statement Jus;fica;on
(CA - BA) - (DB - DA) Given

CA - BA - DB + DA Distribu;on of a scalar over the sum of vectors

CA + AB + BD + DA Defini;on of an opposite vector

CA Chasles’ Rela;on

Answer: The resultant vector is CA .

13) D