F.Sc.

Physics (Part-I) Solved Numerical Problems

NUMERICAL PROBLEMS
F.Sc. Physics, Chapter # 2: Vectors and Equilibrium

Q # 1. Suppose, in rectangular coordinate system, a vector ⃗ has its tail at the point ( ) and its tip at
( ). Determine the distance between these points.
Given Data: ( ) ( )
To Determine: | |
Calculations: ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂, ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ̂ )̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂

| | √ √ √

Q # 2. A certain corner of a room is selected as the origin of a rectangular coordinate system. If an insect is
sitting on an adjacent wall at a point having coordinates ( ), where the units are in meters, what is the
distance of the insect from this corner of the room.

Given Data: ( ) ( )
To Determine: | |
Calculations: ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂, ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ̂ )̂ ̂ ̂

| | √ √ √

Q # 3. What is the unit vector in the direction of the vector ⃗ ̂ ̂?

Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ̂
To Determine: ̂

Calculations: ⃗ | | √ √ √
⃗ ̂ ̂
̂
| |

Q # 4. Two particles are located at ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ and ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ respectively. Find both the magnitude of
vector (⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ) and its orientation with respect to the x-axis.
Given Data: ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ,̂ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂
To Determine: |⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ | , Orientation of (⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ )
Calculations: ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ̂ ̂) ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
|⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ | √( ) ( ) √ √

( ) ( )
 F.Sc. Physics (Part-I) Solved Numerical Problems
Q # 5. If a vector ⃗ is added to vector ⃗ , the result is ̂ ̂. If ⃗ is subtracted from ⃗ , the result is ̂ ̂.
What is magnitude of vector ⃗ ?
Given Data: ⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ), ⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ( )
To Determine: Magnitude of ⃗ |⃗ |

Calculations: Adding (1) & (2) ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ̂ ̂

Magnitude of ⃗ |⃗ | √( ) ( ) √ √

Q # 6. Given that ⃗ ̂ ̂ and ⃗ ̂ ̂, find the magnitude and angle of (a) ⃗ ⃗ , and

(b) ⃗ ⃗ ⃗.

Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ,̂ ⃗ ̂ ̂
To Determine: (i) |⃗ | , Orientation of ⃗

(ii) |⃗ | , Orientation of ⃗

Calculations: (i) ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
|⃗ | √( ) ( ) √ √

( ) ( )

(ii) ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ( ̂ )̂ ( ̂ )̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
|⃗ | √( ) ( ) √ √

( ) ( )

Q # 7. Find the angle between two vectors, ⃗ ̂ ̂ and ⃗ ̂ ̂.

Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗
To Determine: ( )

Calculations: ⃗ ⃗ ( ̂ ̂) ( ̂ )̂

|⃗ | √ √ √ |⃗ | √ √ √
⃗ ⃗
( ) ( )
√ √
Q # 8. Find the work done when the point of application of force ̂ ̂ moves in a straight line from point
( ) to the point ( ).
Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ,̂ Initial Point ( ), Final Point ( )
To Determine: Work Done
Calculations: Position Vector of Point A ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ,̂ Position Vector of Point B ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂
Displacement ⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ( ̂ )̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂
Work Done ⃗ ⃗ ( ̂ ̂) ( ̂ )̂
 F.Sc. Physics (Part-I) Solved Numerical Problems
Q # 9. Show that the three vectors ̂ ̂ ̂, ̂ ̂ ̂ and ̂ ̂ ̂ are mutually perpendicular.

Given Data: Let ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂, ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂, ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂

To Show: ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗ ⃗

Calculations: ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂) ( ̂ ̂ ̂) ⃗ ⃗

⃗ ⃗ ( ̂ ̂ ̂) ( ̂ ̂ ̂) ⃗ ⃗

⃗ ⃗ ( ̂ ̂ ̂) ( ̂ ̂ ̂) ⃗ ⃗

Q # 10. Given that ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ and ⃗ ̂ ̂ , find the projection of ⃗ on ⃗ .

Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂ ⃗ ̂ ̂
⃗⃗ ⃗⃗
To Determine: Projection of ⃗ on ⃗

Calculations: ⃗ ⃗ (̂ ̂ ̂) ( ̂ ̂)

|⃗ | √ ( ) √ √

⃗ ⃗
⃗ ⃗

Q # 11. Vector ⃗ , ⃗ and are 4 units north, 3 units west and 8 units east, respectively. Describe carefully
( )⃗ ⃗ ( )⃗ ( )⃗ .
In coordinate plane, we consider (by convention) directions of east, west, north and south along
respectively. Hence,
Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ⃗ ̂ ⃗ ̂
To Determine: ( ) ⃗ ⃗ ( )⃗ ⃗ ( )⃗ ⃗

Calculations: ( )⃗ ⃗ ̂ ( ̂) (̂ ̂) ( ̂) ̂

( )⃗ ⃗ ̂ ̂ (̂ ̂) ( ̂) ̂

( )⃗ ⃗ ( ̂) ̂ (̂ ̂) ( )

Q # 12. Consider a force ̂ ̂ ̂ (newton) acting on the point ̂ ̂ ̂ (m). What is the torque in N m
about the origin?
Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ̂ ̂( ) ̂ ̂ ̂( )

To Determine: ⃗

̂ ̂ ̂
Calculations: ⃗ ⃗ | | ̂| | ̂| | ̂| | ̂ ̂ ̂
 F.Sc. Physics (Part-I) Solved Numerical Problems
Q # 13. The line of action of force ̂ ̂, passes through a point whose position vector is ̂ ̂ . Find (a) the

moment of about the origin, (b) the moment of about the point of which the position vector is ̂ ̂.

Given Data: ⃗ ̂ ̂ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂

To Determine: ( ) ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ ( ) ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗

̂ ̂ ̂
Calculations: (i) ⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ | | ̂| | ̂| | ̂| | ̂ ̂ ̂

(ii) ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗ ̂ ̂ (̂ ̂) ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂

̂ ̂ ̂
⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗ | | ̂| | ̂| | ̂| | ̂ ̂ ̂ ̂

Q # 14. The magnitude of dot and cross products of two vectors are √ and 6 respectively. Find the angle between
vectors.
Given Data: For two vectors ⃗ & ⃗ , |⃗ ⃗ | √ |⃗ ⃗|

To Determine: ⃗ ⃗

Calculations: |⃗ ⃗ | √ √ ( )

|⃗ ⃗| ( )

Dividing (1) and (2): ( )

√ √ √

Q # 15. A load of 10 N is suspended from a clothes line. This distorts the line so that it makes an angle of
with horizontal at each end. Find the tension in the clothes line.
Given Data: Load
To Determine:

Calculations: As ∑

As ∑