Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 6e

Chapter 3 - Vectors

Which of the following are vector quantities?

1.
2.

your age, speed, mass

acceleration, velocity

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Scalars: your age, speed, mass. None of these

quantities has a direction. Vectors: acceleration,
velocity. For these quantities, the direction is
necessary to specify the quantity completely.

The magnitudes of two vectors A and B are A = 12

units and B = 8 units. Which of the following pairs of
numbers represents the largest and smallest
possible values for the magnitude of the resultant
vector
R = units,
A + B?
1. 14.4
4 units
2. 12 units, 8 units
3. 20 units, 4 units
4. none of these answers

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The resultant has its maximum magnitude A + B

= 12 + 8 = 20 units when vector A is oriented in
the same direction as vector B. The resultant
vector has its minimum magnitude A B = 12 8
= 4 units when vector A is oriented in the direction
opposite vector B.

If vector B is added to vector A, under what

condition does the resultant vector A + B have
magnitude A + B?
1.
2.
3.

A and B are parallel and

in the same direction.
A and B are parallel and
in opposite directions.
A and B are
perpendicular.

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The magnitudes will add numerically only if the

vectors are in the same direction.

Choose the correct response to make the sentence

true: A component of a vector is _____ larger than
the magnitude of the vector.
1.
2.
3.

always
never
sometimes

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From the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of

a vector is always larger than the absolute value
of each component, unless there is only one
nonzero component, in which case the magnitude
of the vector is equal to the absolute value of that
component.

If at least one component of a vector is a positive

number, the vector cannot

1.
2.
3.

have any component that

is negative
be zero
have three dimensions

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From the Pythagorean theorem, we see that the

magnitude of a vector is nonzero if at least one
component is nonzero.

If A + B = 0, the corresponding components of the

two vectors A and B must be

1.
2.
3.
4.

equal
positive
negative
of opposite sign

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Each set of components, for example, the two x

components Ax and Bx, must add to zero, so the
components must be of opposite sign.