Scalar & Vector Quantities — Homi Bhabha Class 9 Physics MCQs with Solutions
Free Homi Bhabha Class 9 Physics Scalar & Vector Quantities MCQs with step-by-step solutions (9 questions). Part of Motion & Kinematics. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
▶ Practise Scalar & Vector Quantities online (free)
Questions with solutions
Q1 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · medium · theory
Which of the following groups contains ONLY vector quantities?
A. Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force ✓ Correct
B. Distance, speed, mass, time
C. Displacement, speed, energy, force
D. Speed, velocity, distance, force
Solution: Vectors need magnitude AND direction: displacement, velocity, acceleration and force qualify; distance, speed, mass, time and energy are scalars.
Q2 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · medium · theory
Assertion (A): The distance covered by a body can never be negative. Reason (R): Distance is a scalar quantity that only has magnitude.
A. A is true but R is false
B. A is false but R is true
C. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
D. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
Solution: Distance is a scalar (magnitude only), so it is always positive or zero — R correctly explains A.
Q3 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · medium · theory
A quantity that depends only on the initial and final positions of a body, and not on the path taken, is:
A. Speed
B. Displacement ✓ Correct
C. Total path length
D. Distance
Solution: Displacement is the straight line from start to finish; it is path-independent, unlike distance.
Q4 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · hard · numerical
Two forces of 3 N and 4 N act on a body at right angles to each other. The magnitude of their resultant is:
A. 5 N ✓ Correct
B. 1 N
C. 7 N
D. 12 N
Solution: For perpendicular vectors the resultant $= \sqrt{3^2 + 4^2} = \sqrt{25} = 5$ N (not the scalar sum 7 N).
Q5 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · hard · numerical
A boy walks 6 m towards the east and then 8 m towards the north. The magnitude of his net displacement is:
A. 14 m
B. 2 m
C. 48 m
D. 10 m ✓ Correct
Solution: Perpendicular displacements add as vectors: $\sqrt{6^2 + 8^2} = \sqrt{100} = 10$ m (14 m is the total distance).
Q6 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · medium · theory
Which one of the following is a scalar quantity?
A. Speed ✓ Correct
B. Velocity
C. Displacement
D. Acceleration
Solution: Speed has magnitude only, so it is a scalar; velocity, displacement and acceleration are vectors.
Q7 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · easy · theory
Which one of the following is a vector quantity?
A. Mass
B. Distance
C. Speed
D. Displacement ✓ Correct
Solution: A vector needs both magnitude and direction. Displacement has a direction, while speed, distance and mass have magnitude only, so they are scalars.
Q8 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · medium · theory
Assertion (A): Temperature is a scalar quantity. Reason (R): Temperature has magnitude but no direction. Choose the correct option.
A. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓ Correct
C. A is false but R is true
D. A is true but R is false
Solution: Temperature is scalar because it is specified fully by a magnitude with no direction. That is exactly the reason given in R, so R correctly explains A.
Q9 — Scalar & Vector Quantities · hard · numerical
Two vectors of magnitudes 3 units and 4 units act at a single point. Which of the following can NOT be the magnitude of their resultant?
A. 1 unit
B. 5 units
C. 8 units ✓ Correct
D. 7 units
Solution: The resultant of two vectors lies between the difference and the sum of their magnitudes, that is from 4 minus 3 = 1 unit to 4 plus 3 = 7 units. So 1 to 7 are possible, but 8 units is not.