Moderate

The scalar product of two vectors is zero, when

Correct answer: D. They are perpendicular to each other

  • A. They are parallel
  • B. They are anti-parallel
  • C. They are equal vectors
  • D. They are perpendicular to each other

Explanation

The scalar product of two vectors which are at right-angles is always 0. We say that such vectors are perpendicular or orthogonal. The converse of this statement is also true: if we have two non-zero vectors a and b and we find that their scalar product is zero, it follows that these vectors must be perpendicular.

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About Vectors and Equilibrium

Vectors have magnitude and direction, unlike scalars, and are combined by head-to-tail or parallelogram methods. Work covers rectangular components, equilibrium when the resultant force is zero, the scalar product for work and projections, and the vector product for torque and cross-product direction using the right-hand rule.

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