250+ TOP MCQs on Vector Algebra Basics | Class 12 Maths

Mathematics Multiple Choice Questions on “Vector Algebra Basics”.

1. Which of the following holds true for a vector quantity?
a) It has only magnitude
b) It has only direction
c) A vector has both direction and magnitude
d) A vector can never be negative
Answer: c
Clarification: A quantity which has both magnitude and direction is called a vector quantity. The quantity which has only magnitude but no direction is called a scalar quantity.

2. A scalar quantity has only magnitude and no direction.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The given statement is true. The quantity which has only magnitude and no direction is called scalar quantity.
Example: Time. Time is a scalar quantity which has only magnitude and no direction.

3. Which of the following id the correct symbol for denoting a given vector A?
a) |A|
b) [A]
c) (vec{A})
d) (underset{A}{rightharpoonup })
Answer: c
Clarification: The correct way denoting a vector given vector A is (vec{A}).

4. Which of the following is used to represent the magnitude of vector (vec{A})?
a) (hat{A})
b) |(vec{A})|
c) (underset{A}{leftrightarrow})
d) (vec{A})
Answer: b
Clarification: The correct way of representing the magnitude of a given vector A is|(vec{A})|. The magnitude of a vector is the distance between the initial and the terminal points of a vector.

5. For a given vector A, |(vec{A})| can be less than zero.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The given statement is false.|(vec{A})| denotes the magnitude of the vector and since length of the line of the line can never be negative,|(vec{A})|<0 has no meaning.

6. Which of the given qualities is a vector?
a) Speed
b) Time
c) Weight
d) Volume
Answer: a
Clarification: Speed is a vector quantity as it has both magnitude and direction. Time, weight, volume have only magnitude and no direction. Hence, they all are scalar quantity.

7. Which of the following is not a vector quantity?
a) Speed
b) Density
c) Force
d) Velocity
Answer: b
Clarification: Density is a scalar quantity as it has only magnitude but no direction. Speed, force, velocity has both magnitude and direction. Therefore, they all are vectors.

8. Which of the below given is a vector quantity?
a) 8 kg
b) 4 seconds
c) 6 Newton
d) 90 cm³
Answer: c
Clarification: 6 Newton is a vector quantity as it is a force. Force is a vector quantity which has both magnitude and direction.

9. Which of the following is a scalar quantity?
a) 80m³
b) 5 Newton
c) 7 m/s towards east
d) 55m/s²
Answer: a
Clarification: 80 cm³ is a scalar quantity as it is denoting volume. Volume is a scalar quantity and has only magnitude but no direction.

10. If l, m, n are the direction cosines of a position vector (vec{a}), then which of the following is true?
a) l²+m²-n²=0
b) lmn=1
c) l²+m²+n²=1
d) l² m²+n²=1
Answer: c
Clarification: Consider (vec{a}) is the position vector of a point M(x,y,z) and α, β, γ are the angles, made by the vector (vec{a}) with the positive directions of x, y and z respectively. The cosines of the angles, cos⁡α, cos⁡β, cos⁡γ are the direction cosines of the vector (vec{a}) denoted by l, m, n, then
cos²⁡α+cos²⁡β+cos²⁡γ=1 i.e.l²+m²+n²=1.