SAT II Physics Practice Questions with Solutions
Vectors
Sat Physics subject questions on vectors similar to the questions in the SAT test are presented. Answers at the bottom of the page with also detailed solutions and explanations included.

  1. Which of the following is represented by a vector?

    I) velocity    II) speed    III) displacement    IV) distance     V) force    VI) acceleration

    A) I only

    B) III and IV only

    C) I , III, V and VI

    D) III, V and VI only

    E) None
  2. Which of the following is not represented by a vector?

    I) mass    II) electric field    III) magnetic field    IV) current     V) voltage    VI) work

    A)I , IV, V and VI

    B) II and III

    C) All

    D) I , IV and V only

    E) I and IV only
  3. A and B are vectors with angle θ between them such that 0 < θ < 90°. If | A |, | B | and | A + B | are the magnitudes of vectors A, B and A + B respectively, which of the following is true?

    A) | A + B | > | A | + | B |

    B) | A + B | = | A | + | B |

    C) | A + B | = √(| A |2 + | B |2)

    D) | A + B | < √(| A |2 + | B |2)

    E) | A + B | < | A | + | B |
  4. Which of the following is a unit vector in the same direction as vector A = 3 i - 4 j, where i and j are the unit vector along the x and y axis respectively?

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

    B) (9/5) i - (16/5) j

    C) (3/5) i - (4/5) j

    D) - (3/5) i + (4/5) j

    E) (3/25) i - (4/25) j
  5. If A and B are vectors, then A ·( A × B ) =

    A) | A | 3

    B) 0

    C) | A | 2

    D) 1

    E) | A |
  6. Vector U has a magnitude of 3 and points Northward. Vector V has a magnitude of 7 and points Eastward. | U + V | is the magnitude of vector U + V . Which of the following is true?

    A) | U + V | > 10

    B) | U + V | = 10

    C) | U + V | = √58

    D) | U + V | = √10

    E) | U + V | = 4
  7. Given vectors U = 2 i + 2j and V = 2i - 2j. What angle does the vector U - V make with the positive x - axis?

    A) 0 °

    B) 45 °

    C) -90 °

    D) 90 °

    E) -45 °
  8. Two forces F1 and F2 are used to pull an object. The angle between between the two forces is θ. For what value of θ is the magnitude of the resultant force equal to √(|F1|2 + |F2|2)

    A) 90 °

    B) 135 °

    C) 45 °

    D) 180 °

    E) 0 °
  9. Two forces F1 = 3i + bj and F2 = 9i + 12j act on the same object.(i and j are the unit vector along the positive x-and y- axes). For what value of b will the magnitude of the resultant force be minimum?

    A) 0

    B) - 12

    C) 9

    D) - 10

    E) 4
  10. Find m so that the vectors A = 5 i - 10 j and B = 2 m i + (1 / 2) j are parallel.

    A) 5

    B) - 40

    C) 8

    D) - 1 / 8

    E) - 5

Answers to the Above questions

  1. C
  2. A
  3. E
  4. C
  5. B
  6. C
  7. D
  8. A
  9. B
  10. D