1.10h Vectors in kinematics: uniform acceleration in vector form

200 questions

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AQA M1 2008 June Q5
13 marks Moderate -0.8
5 The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are directed east and north respectively. A helicopter moves horizontally with a constant acceleration of \(( - 0.4 \mathbf { i } + 0.5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\). At time \(t = 0\), the helicopter is at the origin and has velocity \(20 \mathrm { i } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Write down an expression for the velocity of the helicopter at time \(t\) seconds.
  2. Find the time when the helicopter is travelling due north.
  3. Find an expression for the position vector of the helicopter at time \(t\) seconds.
  4. When \(t = 100\) :
    1. show that the helicopter is due north of the origin;
    2. find the speed of the helicopter.
AQA M1 2012 June Q6
10 marks Moderate -0.3
6 A child pulls a sledge, of mass 8 kg , along a rough horizontal surface, using a light rope. The coefficient of friction between the sledge and the surface is 0.3 . The tension in the rope is \(T\) newtons. The rope is kept at an angle of \(30 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal, as shown in the diagram. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{828e8db1-efcf-4878-8292-ba5bbd80115c-4_273_775_516_644} Model the sledge as a particle.
  1. Draw a diagram to show all the forces acting on the sledge.
  2. Find the magnitude of the normal reaction force acting on the sledge, in terms of \(T\).
  3. Given that the sledge accelerates at \(0.05 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\), find \(T\).
AQA M1 2013 June Q8
15 marks Moderate -0.3
8 A helicopter travels at a constant height above the sea. It passes directly over a lighthouse with position vector \(( 500 \mathbf { i } + 200 \mathbf { j } )\) metres relative to the origin, with a velocity of \(( - 17.5 \mathbf { i } - 27 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). The helicopter moves with a constant acceleration of \(( 0.5 \mathbf { i } + 0.6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\). The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are directed east and north respectively.
  1. Find the position vector of the helicopter \(t\) seconds after it has passed over the lighthouse.
  2. The position vector of a rock is \(( 200 \mathbf { i } - 400 \mathbf { j } )\) metres relative to the origin. Show that the helicopter passes directly over the rock, and state the time that it takes for the helicopter to move from the lighthouse to the rock.
  3. Find the average velocity of the helicopter as it moves from the lighthouse to the rock.
  4. Is the magnitude of the average velocity equal to the average speed of the helicopter? Give a reason for your answer.
AQA M1 2014 June Q7
11 marks Standard +0.3
7 Two particles, \(A\) and \(B\), move on a horizontal surface with constant accelerations of \(- 0.4 \mathbf { i } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) and \(0.2 \mathbf { j } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) respectively. At time \(t = 0\), particle \(A\) starts at the origin with velocity \(( 4 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). At time \(t = 0\), particle \(B\) starts at the point with position vector \(11.2 \mathbf { i }\) metres, with velocity \(( 0.4 \mathbf { i } + 0.6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Find the position vector of \(A , 10\) seconds after it leaves the origin.
    [0pt] [2 marks]
  2. Show that the two particles collide, and find the position vector of the point where they collide.
    [0pt] [9 marks]
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{788534a5-abbb-4d6a-87b2-c54e859a128a-16_1881_1707_822_153}
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{788534a5-abbb-4d6a-87b2-c54e859a128a-17_2484_1707_221_153}
Edexcel M1 Q6
14 marks Standard +0.3
6. The points \(A\) and \(B\) have position vectors \(( 30 \mathbf { i } - 60 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) and \(( - 20 \mathbf { i } + 60 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) respectively relative to an origin \(O\), where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular unit vectors. A cyclist, Chris, starts at \(A\) and cycles towards \(B\) with constant speed \(2.6 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\). Another cyclist, Doug, starts at \(O\) and cycles towards \(B\) with constant speed \(k \sqrt { } 10 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Show that Chris's velocity vector is \(( - \mathbf { i } + 2 \cdot 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find Doug's velocity vector in the form \(k ( a \mathbf { i } + b \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\). Given that Chris and Doug arrive at \(B\) at the same time,
  3. find the value of \(k\).
Edexcel M1 Q7
15 marks Standard +0.8
7. Two cyclists, Alice and Bobbie, travel from \(P\) to \(Q\) along a straight path. Alice starts from rest at \(P\) just as Bobbie passes her at \(3.5 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\). Bobbie continues at this speed while Alice accelerates at \(0.2 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\) for \(T\) seconds until she attains her maximum speed. At this moment both cyclists immediately start to slow down, with constant but different decelerations, and they come to rest at \(Q 80\) seconds after Alice started moving.
  1. Sketch, on the same diagram, the velocity-time graphs for the two cyclists. By using the fact that both cyclists cover the same distance, find
  2. the value of \(T\),
  3. the distance between \(P\) and \(Q\),
  4. the magnitude of Bobbie's deceleration.
Edexcel M1 Q6
17 marks Standard +0.3
  1. At noon, two boats \(P\) and \(Q\) have position vectors \(( \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\) and \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 8 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\) respectively relative to an origin \(O\), where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are unit vectors in the directions due East and due North respectively. \(P\) is moving with constant velocity \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\) and \(Q\) is moving with constant velocity \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\).
    1. Find the position vector of each boat at time \(t\) hours after noon, giving your answers in the form \(\mathrm { f } ( t ) \mathrm { i } + \mathrm { g } ( t ) \mathrm { j }\), where \(\mathrm { f } ( t )\) and \(\mathrm { g } ( t )\) are linear functions of \(t\) to be found.
    2. Find, in terms of \(t\), the distance between the boats \(t\) hours after noon.
    3. Calculate the time when the boats are closest together and find the distance between them at this time.
    4. A particle starts from rest and accelerates at a uniform rate over a distance of 12 m . It then travels at a constant speed of \(u \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) for a further 30 seconds. Finally it decelerates uniformly to rest at \(1.6 \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\).
    5. Sketch the velocity-time graph for this motion.
    6. Show that the total time for which the particle is in motion is
    $$\frac { 5 u } { 8 } + 30 + \frac { 24 } { u } \text { seconds. }$$
  2. Find, in terms of \(u\), the total distance travelled by the particle during the motion.
  3. Given that the total time for the motion is \(39 \cdot 5\) seconds, show that \(5 u ^ { 2 } - 76 u + 192 = 0\).
  4. Find the two possible values of \(u\) and the total distance travelled in each case.
Edexcel M1 Q3
9 marks Moderate -0.3
3. In a simple model for the motion of a car, its velocity, \(\mathbf { v }\), at time \(t\) seconds, is given by $$\mathbf { v } = \left( 3 t ^ { 2 } - 2 t + 8 \right) \mathbf { i } + ( 5 t + 6 ) \mathbf { j } \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }$$
  1. Calculate the speed of the car when \(t = 0\).
  2. Find the values of \(t\) for which the velocity of the car is parallel to the vector \(( \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } )\).
  3. Why would this model not be appropriate for large values of \(t\) ?
Edexcel M1 Q2
9 marks Moderate -0.3
2. A ball of mass 2 kg moves on a smooth horizontal surface under the action of a constant force, \(\mathbf { F }\). The initial velocity of the ball is \(( 2 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\) and 4 seconds later it has velocity \(( 10 \mathbf { i } + 9 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular, horizontal unit vectors.
  1. Making reference to the mass of the ball and the force it experiences, explain why it is reasonable to assume that the acceleration is constant.
  2. Find, giving your answers correct to 3 significant figures,
    1. the magnitude of the acceleration experienced by the ball,
    2. the angle which \(\mathbf { F }\) makes with the vector \(\mathbf { i }\).
OCR MEI M1 Q2
6 marks Standard +0.3
2 The directions of the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are east and north.
The velocity of a particle, \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), at time \(t \mathrm {~s}\) is given by $$\mathbf { v } = \left( 16 - t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathbf { i } + ( 31 - 8 t ) \mathbf { j }$$ Find the time at which the particle is travelling on a bearing of \(045 ^ { \circ }\) and the speed of the particle at this time.
[0pt] [6]
OCR MEI M1 Q4
8 marks Moderate -0.3
4 The three forces \(\left. \begin{array} { r } - 1 \\ 14 \\ - 8 \end{array} \right) \mathrm { N } , \left( \begin{array} { r } 3 \\ - 9 \\ 10 \end{array} \right) \mathrm { N }\) and \(\mathbf { F } \mathrm { N }\) act on a body of mass 4 kg in deep space and give it an acceleration of \(\left. \quad \begin{array} { r } - 1 \\ 2 \\ 4 \end{array} \right) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\).
  1. Calculate \(\mathbf { F }\). At one instant the velocity of the body is \(\left. \begin{array} { r } - 3 \\ 3 \\ 6 \end{array} \right) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Calculate the velocity and also the speed of the body 3 seconds later.
OCR MEI M1 Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 The position vector of a toy boat of mass 1.5 kg is modelled as \(\mathbf { r } = ( 2 + t ) \mathbf { i } + \left( 3 t - t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathbf { j }\) where lengths are in metres, \(t\) is the time in seconds, \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal, perpendicular unit vectors and the origin is O .
  1. Find the velocity of the boat when \(t = 4\).
  2. Find the acceleration of the boat and the horizontal force acting on the boat.
  3. Find the cartesian equation of the path of the boat referred to \(x\) - and \(y\)-axes in the directions of \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\), respectively, with origin O . You are not required to simplify your answer.
OCR MEI M1 Q6
5 marks Moderate -0.8
6 An object of mass 5 kg has a constant acceleration of \(\binom { - 1 } { 2 } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\) for \(0 \leqslant t \leqslant 4\), where \(t\) is the time in seconds.
  1. Calculate the force acting on the object. When \(t = 0\), the object has position vector \(\binom { - 2 } { 3 } \mathrm {~m}\) and velocity \(\binom { 4 } { 5 } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the position vector of the object when \(t = 4\).
OCR MEI M1 Q7
5 marks Moderate -0.8
7 An object of mass 5 kg has a constant acceleration of \(\binom { - 1 } { 2 } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 2 }\) for \(0 \leqslant t \leqslant 4\), where \(t\) is the time in seconds.
  1. Calculate the force acting on the object. When \(t = 0\), the object has position vector \(\binom { - 2 } { 3 } \mathrm {~m}\) and velocity \(\binom { 4 } { 5 } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the position vector of the object when \(t = 4\).
OCR MEI M1 Q1
7 marks Moderate -0.5
1 The velocity of a model boat, \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { 1 }\), is given by $$\mathbf { v } = \binom { 5 } { 10 } + t \binom { 6 } { 8 }$$ where \(t\) is the time in seconds and the vectors \(\binom { 1 } { 0 }\) and \(\binom { 0 } { 1 }\) are east and north respectively.
  1. Show that when \(t = 2.5\) the boat is travelling south-east (i.e. on a bearing of \(135 ^ { \circ }\) ). Calculate its speed at this time. The boat is at a point O when \(t = 0\).
  2. Calculate the bearing of the boat from O when \(t = 2.5\).
OCR MEI M1 Q2
18 marks Moderate -0.3
2 In this question, positions are given relative to a fixed origin, O. The \(x\)-direction is east and the \(y\)-direction north; distances are measured in kilometres. Two boats, the Rosemary and the Sage, are having a race between two points A and B.
The position vector of the Rosemary at time \(t\) hours after the start is given by $$\mathbf { r } = \binom { 3 } { 2 } + \binom { 6 } { 8 } t , \text { where } 0 \leqslant t \leqslant 2 .$$ The Rosemary is at point A when \(t = 0\), and at point B when \(t = 2\).
  1. Find the distance AB .
  2. Show that the Rosemary travels at constant velocity. The position vector of the Sage is given by $$\mathbf { r } = \binom { 3 ( 2 t + 1 ) } { 2 \left( 2 t ^ { 2 } + 1 \right) }$$
  3. Plot the points A and B . Draw the paths of the two boats for \(0 \leqslant t \leqslant 2\).
  4. What can you say about the result of the race?
  5. Find the speed of the Sage when \(t = 2\). Find also the direction in which it is travelling, giving your answer as a compass bearing, to the nearest degree.
  6. Find the displacement of the Rosemary from the Sage at time \(t\) and hence calculate the greatest distance between the boats during the race.
OCR MEI M1 Q1
19 marks Standard +0.3
1 A small firework is fired from a point O at ground level over horizontal ground. The highest point reached by the firework is a horizontal distance of 60 m from O and a vertical distance of 40 m from O , as shown in Fig. 7. Air resistance is negligible. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{362d5995-bd39-4b07-b6a4-63eb1dd3e69d-1_611_1047_486_538} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 7}
\end{figure} The initial horizontal component of the velocity of the firework is \(21 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Calculate the time for the firework to reach its highest point and show that the initial vertical component of its velocity is \(28 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Show that the firework is \(\left( 28 t - 4.9 t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathrm { m }\) above the ground \(t\) seconds after its projection. When the firework is at its highest point it explodes into several parts. Two of the parts initially continue to travel horizontally in the original direction, one with the original horizontal speed of \(21 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and the other with a quarter of this speed.
  3. State why the two parts are always at the same height as one another above the ground and hence find an expression in terms of \(t\) for the distance between the parts \(t\) seconds after the explosion.
  4. Find the distance between these parts of the firework
    (A) when they reach the ground,
    (B) when they are 10 m above the ground.
  5. Show that the cartesian equation of the trajectory of the firework before it explodes is \(y = \frac { 1 } { 90 } \left( 120 x - x ^ { 2 } \right)\), referred to the coordinate axes shown in Fig. 7.
OCR MEI M1 Q6
7 marks Moderate -0.5
6 The force acting on a particle of mass 1.5 kg is given by the vector \(\binom { 6 } { 9 } \mathrm {~N}\).
  1. Give the acceleration of the particle as a vector.
  2. Calculate the angle that the acceleration makes with the direction \(\binom { 1 } { 0 }\).
  3. At a certain point of its motion, the particle has a velocity of \(\binom { - 2 } { 3 } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Calculate the displacement of the particle over the next two seconds.
AQA M2 2013 January Q2
11 marks Standard +0.3
2 A particle moves in a horizontal plane. The vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular unit vectors in the horizontal plane. At time \(t\) seconds, the velocity of the particle, \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), is given by $$\mathbf { v } = 12 \cos \left( \frac { \pi } { 3 } t \right) \mathbf { i } - 9 t ^ { 2 } \mathbf { j }$$
  1. Find an expression for the acceleration of the particle at time \(t\).
  2. The particle, which has mass 4 kg , moves under the action of a single force, \(\mathbf { F }\) newtons.
    1. Find an expression for the force \(\mathbf { F }\) in terms of \(t\).
    2. Find the magnitude of \(\mathbf { F }\) when \(t = 3\).
  3. When \(t = 3\), the particle is at the point with position vector \(( 4 \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\). Find the position vector, \(\mathbf { r }\) metres, of the particle at time \(t\).
AQA M2 2007 June Q3
11 marks Moderate -0.3
3 A particle has mass 800 kg . A single force of \(( 2400 \mathbf { i } - 4800 t \mathbf { j } )\) newtons acts on the particle at time \(t\) seconds. No other forces act on the particle.
  1. Find the acceleration of the particle at time \(t\).
  2. At time \(t = 0\), the velocity of the particle is \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + 30 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). The velocity of the particle at time \(t\) is \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). Show that $$\mathbf { v } = ( 6 + 3 t ) \mathbf { i } + \left( 30 - 3 t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathbf { j }$$
  3. Initially, the particle is at the point with position vector \(( 2 \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\). Find the position vector, \(\mathbf { r }\) metres, of the particle at time \(t\).
AQA M2 2013 June Q3
8 marks Standard +0.3
3 A particle, of mass 10 kg , moves on a smooth horizontal plane. At time \(t\) seconds, the acceleration of the particle is given by $$\left\{ \left( 40 t + 3 t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathbf { i } + 20 \mathrm { e } ^ { - 4 t } \mathbf { j } \right\} \mathrm { m } \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }$$ where the vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular unit vectors.
  1. At time \(t = 1\), the velocity of the particle is \(\left( 6 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathrm { e } ^ { - 4 } \mathbf { j } \right) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). Find the velocity of the particle at time \(t\).
  2. Calculate the initial speed of the particle.
Edexcel M2 Q2
8 marks Standard +0.3
2. A particle \(P\) of mass 3 kg moves such that at time \(t\) seconds its position vector, \(\mathbf { r }\) metres, relative to a fixed origin, \(O\), is given by $$\mathbf { r } = \left( t ^ { 2 } - 3 t \right) \mathbf { i } + \frac { 1 } { 6 } t ^ { 3 } \mathbf { j }$$ where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular horizontal unit vectors.
  1. Find the velocity of \(P\) when \(t = 0\).
  2. Find the kinetic energy lost by \(P\) in the interval \(0 \leq t \leq 2\).
Edexcel M2 Q4
10 marks Moderate -0.3
4. The velocity \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\) of a particle \(P\) at time \(t\) seconds is given by \(\mathbf { v } = 3 t \mathbf { i } - t ^ { 2 } \mathbf { j }\).
  1. Find the magnitude of the acceleration of \(P\) when \(t = 2\). When \(t = 0\), the displacement of \(P\) from a fixed origin \(O\) is \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + 12 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular horizontal unit vectors.
  2. Show that the displacement of \(P\) from \(O\) when \(t = 6\) is given by \(k ( \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\), where \(k\) is an integer which you should find.
    (6 marks)
Edexcel M2 Q1
7 marks Moderate -0.5
  1. A particle \(P\) of mass 2 kg is subjected to a force \(\mathbf { F }\) such that its displacement, \(\mathbf { r }\) metres, from a fixed origin, \(O\), at time \(t\) seconds is given by
$$\mathbf { r } = \left( 3 t ^ { 2 } - 4 \right) \mathbf { i } + \left( 3 - 4 t ^ { 2 } \right) \mathbf { j }$$
  1. Show that the acceleration of \(P\) is constant.
  2. Find the magnitude of \(\mathbf { F }\).
Edexcel M2 Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A particle \(P\) moves such that at time \(t\) seconds its position vector, \(\mathbf { r }\) metres, relative to a fixed origin \(O\) is given by
$$\mathbf { r } = \left( \frac { 3 } { 2 } t ^ { 2 } - 3 t \right) \mathbf { i } + \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } t ^ { 3 } - k t \right) \mathbf { j } ,$$ where \(k\) is a constant and \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular horizontal unit vectors.
  1. Find an expression for the velocity of \(P\) at time \(t\).
  2. Given that \(P\) comes to rest instantaneously, find the value of \(k\).