-- A singe vector with a magnitude of zero produces a zero resultant.
-- Two vectors with equal magnitudes and opposite directions produce a zero resultant.
Two.Equal magnitudes in opposite directions.
Yes, the Triangle Inequality states that the sum of the magnitudes of two vectors can never be equal to the magnitude of the sum of those two vectors. Mathematically, if vectors a and b are non-zero vectors, then |a| + |b| ≠ |a + b|.
First of all, you have to define what you mean by "vector product".-- The "dot product" is zero if the vectors are perpendicular, regardless of their magnitudes.-- The "cross product" is zero if the vectors are collinear or opposite, regardless of their magnitudes.-- Perhaps when you say "product", you mean the "result" of two vectors, whicha mathematician or physicist would cal their "sum".The sum of two vectors is zero if their magnitudes are equal and their directionsdiffer by 180 degrees.An infinite number of other possibilities exist for a sum of zero, depending on themagnitudes and directions of two vectors.
With equal angles between them - which in this case results in 360° / 3 = 120° separation between the angles.
It can be done with any number of them except 1, if they're pointed in theappropriate directions.With any number ' N ' of equal vectors all acting at the same point, their sum iszero (null) if their directions are uniformly distributed and the angle betweeneach adjacent pair is 360/N degrees.-- With two, they have to point in exactly opposite directions.-- With three, they have to be spaced with 120 degrees between adjacent vectors.-- With four, space them 90 degrees apart.etc.
Two is the minimum number of vectors that will sum to zero.
Yes, they certainly can.Simplest example:(10 pounds north) + (4 pounds south) + (6 pounds south) = Zero.But any number of non-zero vectors, more than one, can add up to zeroif they have the right magnitudes and directions.
There is no minimum.
If none of the individual vectors has a magnitude of zero, thenthe minimum number that can combined to make zero is two.
Two.Equal magnitudes in opposite directions.
Yes, the Triangle Inequality states that the sum of the magnitudes of two vectors can never be equal to the magnitude of the sum of those two vectors. Mathematically, if vectors a and b are non-zero vectors, then |a| + |b| ≠ |a + b|.
Yes. Any number of vectors, two or more, can result in zero, if their magnitudes and directions are just right. One vector can result in zero only if its magnitude is zero.
3
First of all, you have to define what you mean by "vector product".-- The "dot product" is zero if the vectors are perpendicular, regardless of their magnitudes.-- The "cross product" is zero if the vectors are collinear or opposite, regardless of their magnitudes.-- Perhaps when you say "product", you mean the "result" of two vectors, whicha mathematician or physicist would cal their "sum".The sum of two vectors is zero if their magnitudes are equal and their directionsdiffer by 180 degrees.An infinite number of other possibilities exist for a sum of zero, depending on themagnitudes and directions of two vectors.
Sure. For one example, if their magnitudes are equal and their directions are spaced 120 degrees apart, then they add to zero. There are an infinite number of other sets of magnitudes and directions that add to zero, i.e. have a zero resultant.
Three One is obviously out. Two is out because if two unequal forces n and p act on an object the resultant with the minimum force in magnitude is |n - p|, which will never be 0 if n =/= p. Three can be easily resolved with a quick example. Imagine an object with three concurrent forces acting on it. Two forces, n = 3 N and p = 4 N, create an angle with each other such that the resultant is 5 N. 180 degrees from the resultant, a force, r = 5 N, is acting on the object. Thus three unequal vectors on an object can result in 0.
Three. Equal forces, two.