1

1 (a) State the factors which completely describe a vector quantity.

...................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) An aeroplane is flying towards the east in still air at 92 m / s.

A wind starts to blow at 24 m / s towards the north.

Draw a vector diagram to find the resultant velocity of the aeroplane. Use a scale of
1.0 cm = 10 m / s.

resultant speed = .......................................................

angle between resultant and easterly direction = [5]

15.1 Scalars & Vectors

 2

2 (a) Underline the vectors in the following list of quantities.

density energy force mass ve

elocity volume [2]

3 On a windy day, a parachutist of mass 85 kg jumps from an aeroplane.

Fig. 3.1 shows the parachutist falling through the air at a constant vertical velocity of 8.4 m / s
downwards.

8.4 m / s

Fig. 3.1

(a) Distinguish between speed and velocity.

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [1]

15.1 Scalars & Vectors

 3

(b) As the parachutist falls, the wind is moving him towards the right of the diagram, at a
horizontal velocity of 6.3 m / s.

(i) On Fig. 3.1, draw an arrow to show the horizontal velocity of the parachutist. [1]
(ii) On the grid below, draw a vector diagram to determine graphically the size and
direction of the resultant velocity of the parachutist.

size = ........................................................

direction = [4]

15.1 Scalars & Vectors

 4

4 (i) State why force is a vector quantity.

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) A 20 N force and a 15 N force act at the same time on an object of mass 14 kg.

Calculate

(i) the maximum possible force on the object due to these two forces,

force = .................................................................... [1]

(ii) the acceleration caused by a resultant force equal to this maximum force.

acceleration = ..................................................................... [2]

(c) Fig. 6.1 shows a river in which the velocity of the flowing water is 0.85 m / s parallel to the river
banks.

river bank

velocity of swimmer
velocity relative to water
of water NOT TO
45 1.2 m / s
SCALE
0.85 m / s

Fig. 6.1

15.1 Scalars & Vectors

 5

A swimmer sets off from one bank. The velocity of the swimmer relative to the water is 1.2 m / s
at 45° to the river banks, as shown in Fig. 6.1.

In the space below, draw a scale diagram to determine the resultant velocity of the swimmer
relative to the river banks. This velocity is the resultant of the two velocities shown on Fig. 6.1.
Label this resultant on your diagram.

resultant velocity = ........................................................................ [3]

15.1 Scalars & Vectors