PHYSICS FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
2026 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ If vector B is added to vector A, under what condition does the
resultant vector A + B have magnitude A + B?
A and B are parallel and in the same direction.
A and B are parallel and in opposite directions.
A and B are perpendicular.
Answer: A.
The magnitudes will add numerically only if the vectors are in the
same direction.
◉ Choose the correct response to make the sentence true: A
component of a vector is _____ larger than the magnitude of the
vector.
always
never
,sometimes
Answer: B.
From the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of a vector is always
larger than the absolute value of each component, unless there is
only one nonzero component, in which case the magnitude of the
vector is equal to the absolute value of that component.
◉ If at least one component of a vector is a positive number, the
vector cannot
have any component that is negative
be zero
have three dimensions
Answer: B.
From the Pythagorean theorem, we see that the magnitude of a
vector is nonzero if at least one component is nonzero.
◉ If A + B = 0, the corresponding components of the two vectors A
and B must be
equal
, positive
negative
of opposite sign
Answer: Each set of components, for example, the two x components
Ax and Bx, must add to zero, so the components must be of opposite
sign.
◉ Which of the following cannot possibly be accelerating?
An object moving with a constant speed
An object moving with a constant velocity
An object moving along a curve
Answer: B.
An object moving with constant velocity has Δv = 0, so, according to
the definition of acceleration, a = Δv/Δt = 0. Choice (1) is not correct
because a particle can move at a constant speed and change
direction. This possibility also makes (3) an incorrect choice.
◉ Consider the following controls in an automobile: gas pedal,
brake, steering wheel. The controls in this list that cause an
acceleration of the car are
all three controls
2026 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS ANSWERS UPDATED
REVIEW SET
◉ If vector B is added to vector A, under what condition does the
resultant vector A + B have magnitude A + B?
A and B are parallel and in the same direction.
A and B are parallel and in opposite directions.
A and B are perpendicular.
Answer: A.
The magnitudes will add numerically only if the vectors are in the
same direction.
◉ Choose the correct response to make the sentence true: A
component of a vector is _____ larger than the magnitude of the
vector.
always
never
,sometimes
Answer: B.
From the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of a vector is always
larger than the absolute value of each component, unless there is
only one nonzero component, in which case the magnitude of the
vector is equal to the absolute value of that component.
◉ If at least one component of a vector is a positive number, the
vector cannot
have any component that is negative
be zero
have three dimensions
Answer: B.
From the Pythagorean theorem, we see that the magnitude of a
vector is nonzero if at least one component is nonzero.
◉ If A + B = 0, the corresponding components of the two vectors A
and B must be
equal
, positive
negative
of opposite sign
Answer: Each set of components, for example, the two x components
Ax and Bx, must add to zero, so the components must be of opposite
sign.
◉ Which of the following cannot possibly be accelerating?
An object moving with a constant speed
An object moving with a constant velocity
An object moving along a curve
Answer: B.
An object moving with constant velocity has Δv = 0, so, according to
the definition of acceleration, a = Δv/Δt = 0. Choice (1) is not correct
because a particle can move at a constant speed and change
direction. This possibility also makes (3) an incorrect choice.
◉ Consider the following controls in an automobile: gas pedal,
brake, steering wheel. The controls in this list that cause an
acceleration of the car are
all three controls
