Class 12 Maths MCQ – Vector Algebra

1. What does a vector represent?

a) Only magnitude
b) Only direction
c) Both magnitude and direction
d) Neither magnitude nor direction

Answer:

c) Both magnitude and direction

Explanation:

By definition, a vector has both magnitude (how much) and direction (which way).

2. If two vectors are parallel, their cross product is:

a) Zero
b) Maximum
c) One
d) Undefined

Answer:

a) Zero

Explanation:

The cross product of parallel vectors is zero since they don't enclose any area.

3. The dot product of two perpendicular vectors is:

a) 0
b) 1
c) Negative
d) Maximum

Answer:

a) 0

Explanation:

Dot product of two perpendicular vectors is zero since cos(90°) is 0.

4. If |a| = 3 and |b| = 4, what is the maximum value of the dot product a.b?

a) 7
b) 12
c) 5
d) 0

Answer:

b) 12

Explanation:

Maximum value of a.b is |a||b|cos(0°) = |a||b|.

5. A unit vector is a vector with magnitude:

a) 0
b) 1
c) 10
d) 100

Answer:

b) 1

Explanation:

A unit vector has a magnitude of one.

6. Which of the following is not a scalar quantity?

a) Time
b) Mass
c) Velocity
d) Temperature

Answer:

c) Velocity

Explanation:

Velocity has both magnitude and direction, making it a vector.

7. If a and b are two vectors, then a x (b x a) is:

a) Zero vector
b) b
c) a
d) -a

Answer:

d) -a

Explanation:

Using vector triple product rule, a x (b x a) = (a.b)a – (a.a)b = -|a|^2b + (a.b)a. When a and b are orthogonal, the result is -a.

8. What does the cross product of two vectors result in?

a) A scalar
b) A vector
c) A matrix
d) A zero

Answer:

b) A vector

Explanation:

The cross product of two vectors gives another vector.

9. If the vectors a and b are collinear, then:

a) a x b = 0
b) a.b = 0
c) a + b = 0
d) |a + b| = |a – b|

Answer:

a) a x b = 0

Explanation:

For collinear vectors, their cross product is zero.

10. Which operation on two vectors produces a scalar?

a) Cross product
b) Dot product
c) Summation
d) Division

Answer:

b) Dot product

Explanation:

The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar.

11. If a vector has zero magnitude, it is called:

a) Zero vector
b) Unit vector
c) Negative vector
d) Scalar vector

Answer:

a) Zero vector

Explanation:

A vector with no magnitude and arbitrary direction is a zero vector.

12. The vectors a, b, and c are said to be coplanar if:

a) a.b = 0
b) a x b = 0
c) a.(b x c) = 0
d) |a + b + c| = 0

Answer:

c) a.(b x c) = 0

Explanation:

If the scalar triple product is zero, the vectors are coplanar.

13. If a.b = a.c and |b| = |c|, then:

a) b = c
b) b = -c
c) a is perpendicular to b and c
d) a, b, c are collinear

Answer:

c) a is perpendicular to b and c

Explanation:

Given conditions imply b – c is perpendicular to a.

14. The angle between the vectors i and j is:

a) 0°
b) 45°
c) 90°
d) 180°

Answer:

c) 90°

Explanation:

i and j are perpendicular unit vectors.

15. If |a| = 5 and |b| = 7, and the angle between them is 60°, then a.b is:

a) 35
b) 17.5
c) 21
d) 30

Answer:

c) 21

Explanation:

a.b = |a||b|cos(60°) = 5*7*0.5 = 21.

16. If the vectors a and b are orthogonal, their dot product is:

a) Zero
b) Maximum
c) One
d) Minimum

Answer:

a) Zero

Explanation:

Dot product of orthogonal vectors is zero since the angle between them is 90°.

17. The magnitude of the vector 3i – 4j is:

a) 5
b) 7
c) 9
d) 12

Answer:

a) 5

Explanation:

Square root of (3^2 + (-4)^2) is 5.

18. The projection of a vector a on b is given by:

a) (a.b)/|b|
b) |a|cos(θ)
c) a x b
d) (a x b)/|b|

Answer:

a) (a.b)/|b|

Explanation:

The projection is the component of a in the direction of b.

19. If a + b = c, then b is:

a) a – c
b) c – a
c) a + c
d) -a + c

Answer:

b) c – a

Explanation:

Rearranging the given equation, we get b = c – a.

20. The unit vector in the direction of the vector 4i + 3j is:

a) (4/5)i + (3/5)j
b) 4i + 3j
c) 7i + 7j
d) i + j

Answer:

a) (4/5)i + (3/5)j

Explanation:

To find the unit vector, divide each component by the magnitude of the vector.

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