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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane
NCERT Exercise

Question 1:
State, for each of the following physical quantities, if it is a scalar or a vector:
volume, mass, speed, acceleration, density, number of moles, velocity, angular frequency,
displacement, angular velocity.

Solution 1:
Scalar: Volume, mass, speed, density, number of moles, angular frequency
Vector: Acceleration, velocity, displacement, angular velocity
A scalar quantity is specified by its magnitude only. It does not have any direction associated
with it. Volume, mass, speed, density, number of moles, and angular frequency are some of the
scalar physical quantities.
A vector quantity is specified by its magnitude as well as the direction associated with it.
Acceleration, velocity, displacement, and angular velocity belong to this category.

Question 2:
Pick out the two scalar quantities in the following list:
Force, angular momentum, work, current, linear momentum, electric field, average
velocity, magnetic moment, relative velocity.

Solution 2:
Work and current are scalar quantities.
Work done is given by the dot product of force and displacement. Since the dot product of
two quantities is always a scalar, work is a scalar physical quantity.
Current is described only by its magnitude. Its direction is not taken into account.
Hence, it is a scalar quantity.

Question 3:
Pick out the only vector quantity in the following list:
Temperature, pressure, impulse, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational potential,
coefficient of friction, charge.

Solution 3:
Impulse
Impulse is given by the product of force and time. Since force is a vector quantity, its product

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

with time (a scalar quantity) gives a vector quantity.

Question 4:
State with reasons, whether the following algebraic operations with scalar and vector
physical quantities are meaningful:
(a) adding any two scalars,
(b) adding a scalar to a vector of the same dimension s,
(c) multiplying any vector by any scalar,
(d) multiplying any two scalars,
(e) adding any two vectors,
(f) adding a component of a vector to the same vector.

Solution 4:
(a) Not meaningful. The addition of two scalar quantities is meaningful only if they both
represent the same physical quantity.
(b) Not meaningful. The addition of a vector quantity with a scalar quantity is not meaningful.
(c) Meaningful. A scalar can be multiplied with a vector. For example, force is multiplied with
time to give impulse.
(d) Meaningful. A scalar, irrespective of the physical quantity it represents, can be multiplied with
another scalar having the same or different dimensions.
(e) Not meaningful. The addition of two vector quantities is meaningful only if they both
represent the same physical quantity.
(f) Meaningful A component of a vector can be added to the same vector as they both have the
same dimensions.

Question 5:
Read each statement below carefully and state with reasons, if it is true or false:
(a) The magnitude of a vector is always a scalar,
(b) each component of a vector is always a scalar,
(c) the total path length is always equal to the magnitude of the displacement vector of a particle.
(d) the average speed of a particle (defined as total path length divided by the time taken to cover
the path) is either greater or equal to the magnitude of average velocity of the particle over the
same interval of time,

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

(e) Three vectors not lying in a plane can never add up to give a null vector.

Solution 5:
(a) True. The magnitude of a vector is a number. Hence, it is a scalar.
(b) False. Each component of a vector is also a vector.
(c) False. Total path length is a scalar quantity, whereas displacement is a vector quantity. Hence,
the total path length is always greater than the magnitude of displacement. It becomes equal to the
magnitude of displacement only when a particle is moving in a straight line.
(d) True. It is because of the fact that the total path length is always greater than or equal to the
magnitude of displacement of a particle.
(e) True. Three vectors, which do not lie in a plane, cannot be represented by the sides of a
triangle taken in the same order.

Question 6:
Establish the following vector inequalities geometrically or otherwise:
(a) a b a b

(b) a b a b
(c) a b a b

(d) a b a b

When does the equality sign above apply?

Solution 6:
Let two vectors a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP, as
shown in the given figure

Here we can write

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

OM a ... i

MN OP b ... ii

ON a b ... iii

In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides.
Therefore, in OMN , we have:
ON OM MN

a b a b ... iv

If the two vectors a and b act along a straight line in the same direction, then we can write:

a b a b ... v

Combining equations (iv) and (v), we get:

a b a b

Let two vectors a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram OMNP, as
shown in the given figure.

Here, we have:

OM a ... i

MN OP b ... ii

ON a b .... iii

In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides.
Therefore, in OMN, we have:
ON+MN>OM
ON+OM>MN
OP MN

ON OM OM
 a b a b .... iv

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

If the two vectors a and b act along a straight line in the same direction, then we can write:

a b a b .... v
Combining equations (iv) and (v), we get:

a b a b

Let two vectors a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PORS, as
shown in the given figure.

Here we have:
| OR | | PS | | b | .....................(i )
| OP | | a | ................................(ii)
In a triangle, each side is smaller than the sum of the other two sides. Therefore, in ΔOPS, we
have:
OS OP PS
a b a b
a b a b .... iii

If the two vectors act in a straight line but in opposite directions, then we can write:
a b a b ... iv

Combining equations (iii) and (iv), we get:

a b a b

Let two vectors a and b be represented by the adjacent sides of a parallelogram PORS, as
shown in the given figure.

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

The following relations can be written for the given parallelogram

OS PS OP ... i
OS OP PS .. ii

a b a b ... iii

The quantity on the LHS is always positive and that on the RHS can be positive or
negative. To make both quantities positive, we take modulus on both sides a s:

a b a b

a b a b ... iv

If the two vectors act in a straight line but in the same directions, then we can write:

a b a b ... v

Combining equations (iv) an d (v), we get:

a b a b

Question 7:
Given a b c d 0 , which of the following statements are correct:
(a) a, b, c, and d must each be a null vector,
(b) The magnitude of (a + c) equals the magnitude of (b+ d),
(c) The magnitude of a can never be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of b, c, and d,
(d) b + c must lie in the plane of a and d if a and d are not collinear, and in the line of a and d, if
they are collinear?

Solution 7:
(a) Incorrect
In order to make, a b c d 0 it is not necessary to have all the four given vectors to be null
vectors. There are many other combinations which can give the sum zero.
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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

(b) Correct
a b c d 0
a c(b d )

Taking modulus on both the sides, we get:

| a c | | (b d ) | | b d |
Hence, the magnitude of ( a c) is the same as the magnitude of (b d)

(c) Correct
a b c d 0
a (b c d )
Taking modulus both sides, we get the magnitude of a to be equal to the magnitude of
(b c d ) :
a | (b c d ) |
| a | | b | | c | | d | ................(i)
Now, b c d is the sum of vectors b , c and d . Therefore, the magnitude of b c d is less

than, or equal to the sum of the magnitudes of b , c and d . Hence,

the magnitude of a can never be greater than the sum of the magnitudes of b , c and d
. Equation (i) shows that the magnitude of a is equal to or less than the sum of the
magnitudes of b , c and d .

(d) Correct
For, a b c d 0
a (b c) d 0
The resultant sum of the three vectors a , (b c), and d can be zero only if (b c) lie in the same
plane as a and d .
If a and d are collinear, then it implies that the vector (b c) is in the line of a and d . This
implication holds true in this scneario and the vector sum of all the vectors will be zero.

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Question 8:
Three girls skating on a circular ice ground of radius 200 m start from a point P on the edge of
the ground and reach a point Q diametrically opposite to P following different paths as shown
in Fig. 4.20. What is the magnitude of the displacement vector for each? For which girl is this
equal to the actual length of the path skated?

Solution 8:
Displacement is given by the minimum distance between the initial and final positions of a
particle. In the given case, all the girls start from point P and reach point Q. The magnitudes of
their displacements will be equal to the diameter of the ground. Radius of the ground = 200 m

Diameter of the ground = 2 × 200 = 400 m

Hence, the magnitude of the displacement for each girl is 400 m. This is equal to the actual
length of the path skated by girl B.

Question 9:
A cyclist starts from the centre O of a circular park of radius 1 km, reaches the edge P of the
park, then cycles along the circumference, and returns to the centre along QO as shown in the
following figure. If the round trip takes 10 min, what is the
(a) net displacement,
(b) average velocity, and
(c) average speed of the cyclist?

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Solution 9:
(a) Displacement is given by the minimum distance between the initial and final positions of a
body. In the given case, the cyclist comes to the starting point after cycling for 10 minutes. Hence,
his net displacement is zero.

(b) Average velocity is given by the relation:

Net displacement
Average velocity =
Total time
Since the net displacement of the cyclist is zero, his average velocity will also be zero.

(c) Average speed of the cyclist is given by the relation:

Averagespeed = Total path length
Total time
Total path length = OP + PQ + QO
1 1
1 42 11 2 2
3.570km
10 1
Time taken = 10 min 60 6 h

3.570
Average speed= =21.42 km/h 1
6

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Question 10:
On an open ground, a motorist follows a track that turns to his left by an angle of 60° after
every 500 m. Starting from a given turn, specify the displacement of the motorist at the third,
sixth and eighth turn. Compare the magnitude of the displacement with the total path length
covered by the motorist in each case.

Solution 10:
The path followed by the motorist is a regular hexagon with side 500 m, as shown in the
given figure

Let the motorist start from point P.

The motorist takes the third turn at S.
∴Magnitude of displacement = PS = PV + VS = 500 + 500 = 1000 m Total path length = PQ + QR + RS = 500 + 500 +500 = 1500 m

The motorist takes the sixth turn at point P, which is the starting point.
∴Magnitude of displacement = 0

Total path length = PQ + QR + RS + ST + TU + UP = 500 +

500 + 500 + 500 + 500 + 500 = 3000 m The motorist takes
the eight turn at point R ∴Magnitude of displacement = PR

PQ 2 QR 2 2 PQ . QR cos 60

5002 5002 2 500 500 cos 60

1

250000 250000 500000

2
866.03m
500 sin 60

tan 1 30
500 500 cos 60
Therefore, the magnitude of displacement is 866.03 m at an angle of 30 with PR.
Total path length = Circumference of the hexagon + PQ + QR = 6 × 500 + 500 +
500 = 4000 m

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

The magnitude of displacement and the total path length corresponding to the required
turns is shown in the given table
Turn Magnitude of displacement (m) Total path length (m)

Third 1000 1500

Sixth 0 3000
Eighth 866.03; 30 4000

Question 11:
A passenger arriving in a new town wishes to go from the station to a hotel located 10 km
away on a straight road from the station. A dishonest cabman takes him along a circuitous path
23 km long and reaches the hotel in 28 min. What is
(a) the average speed of the taxi,
(b) the magnitude of average velocity? Are the two equal?

Solution 11:
28
(a) Total distance travelled = 23 km Total time taken = 28 min 60 h
Total distance travelled
∴Average speed of the taxi = Total time taken

23
49.29km / h
28
60

(b) Distance between the hotel and the station = 10km = Displacement of the car
10
Average velocity 28 21.43km / h
60

Therefore, the two physical quantities (average speed and average velocity) are not equal.

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Question 12:
Rain is falling vertically with a speed of 30 m s–1 . A woman rides a bicycle with a speed of 10
m s–1 in the north to south direction. What is the direction in which she should hold her
umbrella?

Solution 12:
The described situation is shown in the given figure.

Here.
vc = Velocity of the cyclist
vr = Velocity of falling rain
In order to protect herself from the rain, the woman must hold her umbrella in the
direction of the relative velocity (v) of the rain with respect to the woman.
v vrvc
3010 20 m / s
v 10
tan c

vt 30
1
tan 1
3
tan 1 0.333 18

Hence, the woman must hold the umbrella toward the south, at an angle of nearly 18 with the
vertical.

Question 13:
A man can swim with a speed of 4.0 km/h in still water. How long does he take to cross a river
1.0 km wide if the river flows steadily at 3.0 km/h and he makes his strokes normal to the river
current? How far down the river does he go when he reaches the other bank?

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Solution 13:
Speed of the man vm 4 km / h
Width of the river = 1 km
Width of the river
Time taken to cross the river
Speed of the rivera
1 1
4h 4 60 15min
Speed of the river, vr 3 km / h
Distance covered with flow of the river vr t
1 3
3 4 4 km
3
4 1000 750m

Question 14:
In a harbour, wind is blowing at the speed of 72 km/h and the flag on the mast of a boat
anchored in the harbour flutters along the N-E direction. If the boat starts moving at a speed
of 51 km/h to the north, what is the direction of the flag on the mast of the boat?

Solution 14:
Velocity of the boat, vb 51 km / h
Velocity of the wind, vw 72 km / h
The flag is fluttering in the north-east direction. It shows that the wind is blowing toward the
north-east direction. When the ship begins sailing toward the north, the f lag will move along
the direction of the relative velocity vwb of the wind with respect to the boat.

The angle between vw and – vb 90 45

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

51sin 90 45

tan 72 51cos 90 45
1

51
51sin 45 2
1
72 51 cos 45
72 51
2
51 51 51

72251 72 1.414 51 50.800

1 0
tan (1.0038) 4511
Angle with respect to the east direction 45.11 – 45 0.11 Hence,
the flag will flutter almost due east.

Question 15 :
The ceiling of a long hall is 25 m high. What is the maximum horizontal distance that a ball
thrown with a speed of 40 m s–1 can go without hitting the ceiling of the hall?

Solution 15:
Speed of the ball, u = 40 m/s
Maximum height, h = 25 m
In projectile motion, the maximum height reached by a body projected at an angle θ, is given
by the relation:
h u sin 2g
2 2

25 40 sin 2 9.82 2

sin2 0.30625
sin 0.5534
–1
sin 0.5534 33.60
2
u sin 2
Horizontal range, R
g
2
40 sin 2 33.60
9.8
1600 sin 67.2
9.8
1600 0.922 150.53m
9.8
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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Question 16:
A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal distance of 100 m. How much high
above the ground can the cricketer throw the same ball?

Solution 16:
Maximum horizontal distance, R = 100 m
The cricketer will only be able to throw the ball to the maximum horizontal distance when the
angle of projection is 45 , i.e., 45
The horizontal range for a projection velocity v, is given by the relation:
R u2 sin 2 g
u2
100 sin 90 g
u2
100 .. i
g
The ball will achieve the maximum height when it is thrown vertically upward. For such
motion, the final velocity v is zero at the maximum height H.
Acceleration, a –g
Using the third equation of motion:
v 2 u 2 2gH
1 u2 1
H 100 50m 2 g 2

Question 17:
A stone tied to the end of a string 80 cm long is whirled in a horizontal circle with a constant
speed. If the stone makes 14 revolutions in 25 s, what is the magnitude and direction of
acceleration of the stone?

Solution 17:
Length of the string, l = 80 cm = 0.8 m
Number of revolutions = 14
Time taken = 25 s
Frequency, v Number of revolutions 14 Hz
Timetaken 25
Angular frequency, 2

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

22 14 88 1
2 7 25 25 rad s
Centripetal acceleration, ae 2r
2
88

0.8

9.91 m / s2
The direction of centripetal acceleration is always directed along the string, toward the
centre, at all points.

Question 18:
An aircraft executes a horizontal loop of radius 1.00 km with a steady speed of 900 km/h.
Compare its centripetal acceleration with the acceleration due to gravity.

Solution 18:
Radius of the loop, r = 1 km = 1000 m
5
Speed of the aircraft, v = 900 km/h 900 18 250 m / s

v2
Centripetal acceleration, ae
r
250 2
62.5 m / s2
1000
Acceleration due to gravity, g = 9.8 m / s2
ac 62.5
6.38
g 9.8

The Centripetal acceleration is 6.38 times the acceleration due to gravity.

Question 19:
Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons, if it is true or false:
(a) The net acceleration of a particle in circular motion is always along the radius of the circle
towards the centre
(b) The velocity vector of a particle at a point is always along the tangent to the path of the
particle at that point
(c) The acceleration vector of a particle in uniform circular motion averaged over one cycle is

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

a null vector

Solution 19:
(a) False
The net acceleration of a particle in circular motion is not always directed along the
radius of the circle toward the centre. It happens only in the case of uniform circular
motion.
(b) True
At a point on a circular path, a particle appears to move tangentially to the circular path.
Hence, the velocity vector of the particle is always along the tangent at a point.
(c) True
In uniform circular motion (UCM), the direction of the acceleration vector points toward the
centre of the circle. However, it constantly changes with time. The average of these vectors
over one cycle is a null vector.

Question 20:
The position of a particle is given by
r=3.0t i-2.0t 2 j+4.0 k m
Where t is in seconds and the coefficients have the proper units for r to be in metres.
(a) Find the v and a of the particle?
(b) What is the magnitude and direction of velocity of the particle at t = 2.0 s?

Solution 20:
v t = 3.0i-4.0t j ;a=-4.0j

The position of the particle is given by:

r = 3.0i-2.0t2 j+4.0k
Velocity, v of the particle is given as:
d r d
v dt dt 3.0t i 2.0t
2
j 4.0 k

v 3.0i 4.0t j
Acceleration of the particle is given as:
d v d
a dt dt 3.0i 4.0t j

a 4.0 j

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

We have velocity vector. v 3.0 i 4.0t j

At t 2.0s :
v 3.0i 8.0j
The magnitude of velocity is given by:

v 328 2 73 8.54m / s
v
y
Direction,tan 1
v
x
8

tan 1 tan 1 2.667

3
69.45

The negative sign indicates that the direction of velocity is below the x-axis.
8.54 m/s, 69.45° below the x-axis.

Question 21:
A particle starts from the origin at t = 0 s with a velocity of 10.0 j and moves in the x-y plane

with a constant acceleration of 8.0i 2.0 j ms 2

(a) At what time is the x-coordinate of the particle 16 m? What is the y-coordinate of the particle
at that time?
(b) What is the speed of the particle at the time?

Solution 21:
Velocity of the particle, v 10.0j m / s
Acceleration of the particle a 8.0i 2.0 j

Also,
dv
But, a 8.0i 2.0 j
dt

Integrating both sides:

vt 8.0i 2.0 j u

Where,
u Velocity vector of the particle at t = 0

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

v Velocity vector of the particle at time t

But= v d r
dt

d r vdt 8.0t i 2.0t j u dt

Integrating the equations with the conditions: at t = 0; r = 0 and at t = t; r = r

1 2 1 2
r ut 2 8.0t i 2 2.0t j
ut 4.0t 2 i t 2 j
10.0 j t 4.0t 2 i t 2 j

x i y j 4.0t 2 i 10t t 2 j

Since the motion of the particle is confined to the x-y plane, on equating the coefficients of
i and j ,

we get:
x 4t 2
1

t x 2
4
And y 10t t2
When x 16m :
1

16 2
t 2s 4
y 10 2 2 2 24m

Velocity of the particle is given by:

vt 8.0ti 2.0t j u
at t 2s
vt 8.0 2i 2.0 2 j 10 j

16i 14 j
Speed of the particle:

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

v 16 2 14 2

256 196 452

21.26 m / s

Question 22:
i and j are unit vectors along x- and y-axis respectively. What is the magnitude and direction
of the vectors i+ j, and i- j ? What are the components of a vector a=2i+3j along the directions
of i+ j and i- j ? [You may use graphical method]

Solution 22:
Consider a vector P
P i j

P, i Py j i j
On comparing the components on both sides, we get:
Px Py 1

P P x2 Py212 12 2 .. i

Hence, the magnitude of the vector i j is 2

Let be the angle made by the vector P ,with the x-axis, as shown in the following figure.

P
yP
tan x

1 1

tan 45 ... ii
1
Hence, the vector i j makes an angle of 45 with the x axis Let
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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Q i j
Qx i Q y j i j
Qx Qy 1

Q Qx2 Qy2 2 ... iii

Hence, the magnitude of the vector i j is 2

Let be the angle made by the vector Q , with the x- axis, as shown in the following figure.

Q
yQ
tan x

1 1

tan 45 .. iv
1
Hence, the vector i j makes and angle of – 45 with the axis.
It is given that:
On comparing the coefficients of i and j , we have
A 2i 3j
Ax i Ay j 2i 3j
Let A make an angle with the x-axis, as shown in the following figure
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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Ax

tan
Ay
3
tan 1

tan 1 1.5 56.31

Angle between the vectors 2i 3j and i j , 56.31 45 11.31 A , along
the direction of P making an angle '

i+ j
= P= A cos11.31
A cos θ 2

0.9806 i+ j
13×
=
2

2.5 i j

25 2

10
5

... v
2
Let ' be the angle between the vectors 2i+3j and i- j

'' 45 56.31 101.31

Component of vector A , along the direction of Q , making an angle ''

i j
A cos Q A cos 2
i
13 cos 901.31
j

13
2 sin11.30 i j
2.550 0.1961 i j 0.5
ij

5
10 2
 1
... iv

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Question 23:
For any arbitrary motion in space, which of the following relations are true:
1
(a) vaverage (v(t
1 ) v (t2 ))

2
[ r (t ) r (t )]
(b) vaverage 2 1

(t2 t1 )
(c) v(t ) v(0) at
1
(d) r (t ) r (0) v (0)t at 2

2
[v(t ) v(t )]
(e) aaverage 2 1

(t 2 t1 )

(The ‘average’ stands for average of the quantity over the time interval t1 to t2)

Solution 23:
(a) False. It is given that the motion of the particle is arbitrary. Therefore, the average velocity of
the particle cannot be given by this equation.

(b) True. The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by this equation.

(c) False. The motion of the particle is arbitrary. The acceleration of the particle may also be non-
uniform. Hence, this equation cannot represent the motion of the particle e in space.

(d) False. The motion of the particle is arbitrary; acceleration of the particle may also be non-
uniform. Hence, this equation cannot represent the motion of particle in space.

(e) True. The arbitrary motion of the particle can be represented by this equation.

Question 24:
Read each statement below carefully and state, with reasons and examples, if it is true or
false:
A scalar quantity is one that:
(a) is conserved in a process
(b) can never take negative values
(c) must be dimensionless
(d) does not vary from one point to another in space

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

(e) has the same value for observers with different orientations of axes

Solution 24:
(a) False. Despite being a scalar quantity, energy is not conserved in inelastic collisions.

(b) False. Despite being a scalar quantity, temperature can take negative values.

(c) False. Total path length is a scalar quantity. Yet it has the dimension of length.

(d) False. A scalar quantity such as gravitational potential can vary from one point to another in
space.

(e) True. The value of a scalar does not vary for observers with different orientations of axes.

Question 25:
An aircraft is flying at a height of 3400 m above the ground. If the angle subtended at a ground
observation point by the aircraft positions 10.0 s apart is 30 , what is the speed of the aircraft?

Solution 25:
The positions of the observer and the aircraft are shown in the given figure.

Height of the aircraft from ground, OR = 3400 m

Angle subtended between the positions, ∠POQ = 30

Time = 10 s
In ΔPRO:
PR
tan15
OR

3400 tan15
ΔPRO is similar to ΔRQO.
∴PR = RQ

PQ=PR+RQ
= 2PR = 2 × 3400 tan 15°
= 6800 × 0.268 = 1822.4 m

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane
1822.4
∴Speed of the aircraft 182.24m / s
10

Additional Exercise

Question 26:
A vector has magnitude and direction. Does it have a location in space? Can it vary with time?
Will two equal vectors a and b at different locations in space necessarily have identical
physical effects? Give examples in support of your answer.

Solution 26:
No. Generally speaking, a vector has no definite locations in space. This is because a vector
remains invariant when displaced in such a way that its magnitude and direction remain the
same. However, a position vector has a definite location in space.

Yes. A vector can vary with time. For example, the displacement vector of a particle moving
with a certain velocity varies with time.

No. Two equal vectors located at different locations in space need not produce the same
physical effect. For example, two equal forces acting on an object at different points can cause
the body to rotate, but their combination cannot produce an equal turning effect.

Question 27:
A vector has both magnitude and direction. Does it mean that anything that has magnitude
and direction is necessarily a vector? The rotation of a body can be specified by the direction
of the axis of rotation, and the angle of rotation about the axis. Does that make any rotation a
vector?

Solution 27:
No. A physical quantity having both magnitude and direction need not be considered a vector. For
example, despite having magnitude and direction, current is a scalar quantity. The essential
requirement for a physical quantity to be considered a vector is that it should follow the law of

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

vector addition.

No. Generally speaking, the rotation of a body about an axis is not a vector quantity as it does
not follow the law of vector addition. However, a rotation by a certain small angle follows the
law of vector addition and is therefore considered a vector.

Question 28:
Can you associate vectors with
(a) the length of a wire bent into a loop,
(b) a plane area,
(c) a sphere? Explain.
Solution 28:
(a) No. One cannot associate a vector with the length of a wire bent into a loop. Because length of
a loop does not have a definite direction.

(b) Yes. One can associate an area vector with a plane area. The direction of this vector is
represented by a normal drawn outward to the area.

(c) No. One cannot associate a vector with the volume of a sphere as it does not have a specific
direction. However, a null vector can be associated with the area of a sphere.

Question 29 :
A bullet fired at an angle of 30° with the horizontal hits the ground 3.0 km a way. By
adjusting its angle of projection, can one hope to hit a target 5.0 km away? Assume the
muzzle speed to the fixed, and neglect air resistance.

Solution 29:
No.
Range, R = 3 km
Angle of projection, 30
Acceleration due to gravity, g 9.8 m / s2
Horizontal range for the projection velocity u0 , is given by the relation:

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane
u2 sin 2
R0
g
u2 3 g0
sin 60

u 02
2 3 ... i
g
The maximum range Rmax is achieved by the bullet when it is fired at an angle of 45° with
the horizontal, that is,
R u02
max .... ii
g
On comparing equations (i) a nd (ii), we get:
Rmax 3 3 2 1.732 3.46km

Hence, the bullet will not hit a target 5 km away

Question 30:
A fighter plane flying horizontally at an altitude of 1.5 km with speed 720 k m/h passes
directly overhead an anti-aircraft gun. At what angle from the vertical should the gun be fired
for the shell with muzzle speed 600 m s–1 to hit the plane? At what minimum altitude should
the pilot fly the plane to avoid being hit? (Take g =10 m s–2 ).

Solution 30:
Height of the fighter plane = 1.5 km = 1500 m
Speed of the fighter plane, v 720 km / h 200 m / s
Let be the angle with the vertical so that the shell hits the plane. The situation is shown in the
given figure.

Muzzle velocity of the gun, u 600 m / s

Time taken by the shell to hit the plane = t

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

Horizontal distance travelled by the shell uxt

Distance travelled by the plane vt

The shell hits the plane. Hence, these two distances must be equal.
u x t vt
u sin v
v

200 1
600 3.
1
33 sin 0.33
19.5
In order to avoid being hit by the shell, the pilot must fly the plane at an altitude (H) higher
than the maximum height achieved by the shell.
2 2
H u sin 90 2g
600 2 cos2
2g
360000 cos 2
19.5 2 10
18000 0.943 2
16006.482m
16km

Question 31:
A cyclist is riding with a speed of 27 km/h. As he approaches a circular turn on the road of
radius 80 m, he applies brakes and reduces his speed at the constant rate of 0.50 m/s every
second. What is the magnitude and direction of the net acceleration of the cyclist on the
circular turn?

Solution 31:
Speed of the cyclist, v 27km / h 7.5m / s
Radius of the circular turn, r = 80 m
Centripetal acceleration is given as:

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

v2
a
c r
7.5 2
80 0.7 m / s2

The situation is shown in the given figure:

Suppose the cyclist begins cycling from point P and moves toward point Q. At point Q, he
2
applies the breaks and decelerates the speed of the bicycle by 0.5 m/s .
This acceleration is along the tangent at Q and opposite to the direction of motion of the
cyclist.
Since the angle between ac and ar is 90 , the resultant acceleration a is given by:

a ac2 ar2

0.7 2 0.5 2
0.74 0.85 m / s
a
tan c

ar
Where is the angle of the resultant with the direction of velocity
0.7
tan 0.5 1.4
q tan 1 1.4 54.46

0.86 m / s2 ; 54.46 with the direction of velocity

Question 32:
(a) Show that for a projectile the angle between the velocity and the x-axis as a f unction of time
is given by
v gt
ttan 1 oy

v
ox

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 Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

(b) Show that the projection angle 0 for a projectile launched from the origin is given by
4h
m

0 tan 1
R
where the symbols have their usual meaning.

Solution 32:
Let vox and voy respectively be the initial components of the velocity of the projectile along
horizontal (x) and vertical (y) directions.
Let vx and vy respectively be the horizontal and vertical components of velocity at a point P.

Time taken by the projectile to reach point P = t

(a) Applying the first equation of motion along the vertical and horizontal directions, we get: v y v0
y gt

And v x vox

tanv y
v
oy
gt

v v
x ox
v gt
tan 1 oy
v
ox

u2 sin 2 2
0

(b) Maximum vertical height, hm ... i

2g
u2 sin 2 2
0

Horizontal range, R ... ii

g
Solving equations (i) and (ii), we get:
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Class XI – NCERT – Physics Chapter 4
Motion in a Plane

hm sin2 R
2sin2

sin sin 2
2sin cos
1 sin1
4 cos 4 tan

4h
tan m R
s
4h
tan 1 m R

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