Scalars, vectors and resolving vectorsEdexcel International A Level Physics: Subtopic test

1. 1
   A hiker walks 3.0 km due east and then 4.0 km due north, taking 2.0 hours in total.

   (a)

   Which pair of quantities for the hiker's walk are both vector quantities?

   [1 mark]

   • Adistance walked and average speed
   • Bdistance walked and displacement
   • Caverage speed and time taken
   • Ddisplacement and average velocity

   (b)

   What is the magnitude of the hiker's final displacement from the starting point?

   [1 mark]

   • A5.0 km
   • B7.0 km
   • C25 km
   • D3.5 km

   (c)

   Calculate the hiker's average speed and the magnitude of the hiker's average velocity.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 1: 4 marks

2. 2
   A child pulls a sledge across level snow using a rope. The tension in the rope is 80 N and the rope is at 30° above the horizontal.

   (a)

   What is the horizontal component of the tension in the rope?

   [1 mark]

   • A40 N
   • B69 N
   • C46 N
   • D92 N

   (b)

   What is the vertical component of the tension in the rope?

   [1 mark]

   • A69 N
   • B80 N
   • C40 N
   • D0 N

   (c)

   The child lifts the handle so that the rope is at 45° above the horizontal, with the tension unchanged. Calculate the new horizontal component of the tension.

   [2 marks]

   Total for question 2: 4 marks

3. 3
   A boat has a speed of 3.0 m s⁻¹ relative to the water and is steered at right angles to the banks of a straight river. The river flows at 1.5 m s⁻¹ parallel to the banks.

   (a)

   Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant velocity of the boat relative to the bank.

   [3 marks]

   (b)

   The river is 120 m wide. Calculate the time taken to cross the river and the distance the boat is carried downstream.

   [4 marks]

   Total for question 3: 7 marks

4. 4
   Two forces, of 30 N and 40 N, act at a point on a small object.

   (a)

   The forces act at an angle of 60° to each other. Describe how a scale drawing can be used to find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, and state the result you would expect.

   [6 marks]

   (b)

   A student says that the resultant of the 30 N force and the 40 N force is 70 N. Evaluate the student's statement.

   [6 marks]

   Total for question 4: 12 marks

End of questions