Velocity from two position vectors

Given position vectors at two different times for an object moving with constant velocity, find the velocity vector and/or speed.

8 questions · Moderate -0.8

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Edexcel M1 2007 June Q7
14 marks Standard +0.3
  1. A boat \(B\) is moving with constant velocity. At noon, \(B\) is at the point with position vector \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\) with respect to a fixed origin \(O\). At 1430 on the same day, \(B\) is at the point with position vector \(( 8 \mathbf { i } + 11 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\).
    1. Find the velocity of \(B\), giving your answer in the form \(p \mathbf { i } + q \mathbf { j }\).
    At time \(t\) hours after noon, the position vector of \(B\) is \(\mathbf { b } \mathrm { km }\).
  2. Find, in terms of \(t\), an expression for \(\mathbf { b }\). Another boat \(C\) is also moving with constant velocity. The position vector of \(C\), \(\mathbf { c k m }\), at time \(t\) hours after noon, is given by $$\mathbf { c } = ( - 9 \mathbf { i } + 20 \mathbf { j } ) + t ( 6 \mathbf { i } + \lambda \mathbf { j } ) ,$$ where \(\lambda\) is a constant. Given that \(C\) intercepts \(B\),
  3. find the value of \(\lambda\),
  4. show that, before \(C\) intercepts \(B\), the boats are moving with the same speed.
Edexcel M1 2002 November Q7
11 marks Moderate -0.8
7. Two helicopters \(P\) and \(Q\) are moving in the same horizontal plane. They are modelled as particles moving in straight lines with constant speeds. At noon \(P\) is at the point with position vector \(( 20 \mathbf { i } + 35 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\) with respect to a fixed origin \(O\). At time \(t\) hours after noon the position vector of \(P\) is \(\mathbf { p } \mathrm { km }\). When \(t = \frac { 1 } { 2 }\) the position vector of \(P\) is \(( 50 \mathbf { i } - 25 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\). Find
  1. the velocity of \(P\) in the form \(( a \mathbf { i } + b \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\),
  2. an expression for \(\mathbf { p }\) in terms of \(t\). At noon \(Q\) is at \(O\) and at time \(t\) hours after noon the position vector of \(Q\) is \(\mathbf { q } \mathrm { km }\). The velocity of \(Q\) has magnitude \(120 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\) in the direction of \(4 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j }\). Find
    (d) an expression for \(\mathbf { q }\) in terms of \(t\),
    (e) the distance, to the nearest km , between \(P\) and \(Q\) when \(t = 2\). \section*{8.} \section*{Figure 4}
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{14703bfa-abd8-4a8d-bc18-20d66eea409e-6_695_1153_322_562}
    Two particles \(A\) and \(B\), of mass \(m \mathrm {~kg}\) and 3 kg respectively, are connected by a light inextensible string. The particle \(A\) is held resting on a smooth fixed plane inclined at \(30 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal. The string passes over a smooth pulley \(P\) fixed at the top of the plane. The portion \(A P\) of the string lies along a line of greatest slope of the plane and \(B\) hangs freely from the pulley, as shown in Fig. 4. The system is released from rest with \(B\) at a height of 0.25 m above horizontal ground. Immediately after release, \(B\) descends with an acceleration of \(\frac { 2 } { 5 } g\). Given that \(A\) does not reach \(P\), calculate
    (a) the tension in the string while \(B\) is descending,
    (b) the value of \(m\). The particle \(B\) strikes the ground and does not rebound. Find
  3. the magnitude of the impulse exerted by \(B\) on the ground,
  4. the time between the instant when \(B\) strikes the ground and the instant when \(A\) reaches its highest point.
Edexcel M1 2014 January Q2
6 marks Moderate -0.8
2. A particle \(P\) is moving with constant velocity ( \(2 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Find the speed of \(P\). The particle \(P\) passes through the point \(A\) and 4 seconds later passes through the point with position vector ( \(\mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j }\) ) m.
  2. Find the position vector of \(A\).
Edexcel M1 2001 January Q4
9 marks Moderate -0.8
4. A particle \(P\) moves in a straight line with constant velocity. Initially \(P\) is at the point \(A\) with position vector \(( 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) relative to a fixed origin \(O\), and 2 s later it is at the point \(B\) with position vector \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\).
  1. Find the velocity of \(P\).
  2. Find, in degrees to one decimal place, the size of the angle between the direction of motion of \(P\) and the vector \(\mathbf { i }\).
    (2 marks)
    Three seconds after it passes \(B\) the particle \(P\) reaches the point \(C\).
  3. Find, in m to one decimal place, the distance \(O C\).
Edexcel M1 Q4
7 marks Easy -1.2
4. A particle \(P\) moves in a straight line with constant velocity. Initially \(P\) is at the point \(A\) with position vector \(( 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\) relative to a fixed origin \(O\), and 2 s later it is at the point \(B\) with position vector \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\).
  1. Find the velocity of \(P\).
  2. Find, in degrees to one decimal place, the size of the angle between the direction of motion of \(P\) and the vector \(\mathbf { i }\). Three seconds after it passes \(B\) the particle \(P\) reaches the point \(C\).
  3. Find, in m to one decimal place, the distance \(O C\).
AQA M1 2006 June Q6
9 marks Moderate -0.8
6 The points \(A\) and \(B\) have position vectors \(( 3 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } )\) metres and \(( 6 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } )\) metres respectively. The vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are in a horizontal plane.
  1. A particle moves from \(A\) to \(B\) with constant velocity \(( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\). Calculate the time that the particle takes to move from \(A\) to \(B\).
  2. The particle then moves from \(B\) to a point \(C\) with a constant acceleration of \(2 \mathbf { j } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\). It takes 4 seconds to move from \(B\) to \(C\).
    1. Find the position vector of \(C\).
    2. Find the distance \(A C\).
Edexcel M1 2024 October Q3
Moderate -0.8
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal unit vectors and position vectors are given relative to a fixed origin.]
A ship \(A\) is moving with constant velocity.
At 1 pm , the position vector of \(A\) is \(( 25 \mathbf { i } + 10 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\).
At 3 pm , the position vector of \(A\) is \(( 55 \mathbf { i } + 34 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\).
At time \(t\) hours after 1 pm , the position vector of \(A\) is \(\mathbf { r } _ { A } \mathrm {~km}\).
  1. Show that \(\mathbf { r } _ { A } = ( 25 + 15 t ) \mathbf { i } + ( 10 + 12 t ) \mathbf { j }\) The speed of \(A\) is \(V \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\)
  2. Find the value of \(V\). A ship \(B\) is moving with constant velocity \(( 20 \mathbf { i } - 6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\) At 1 pm , the position vector of \(B\) is \(( 35 \mathbf { i } + 51 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\).
    At 2:30 pm, \(B\) passes through the point \(P\).
  3. Show that \(A\) also passes through \(P\).
Edexcel M1 Q1
6 marks Easy -1.2
A bee flies in a straight line from \(A\) to \(B\), where \(\overrightarrow{AB} = (3\mathbf{i} - 12\mathbf{j})\) m, in 5 seconds at a constant speed. Find
  1. the straight-line distance \(AB\), [2 marks]
  2. the speed of the bee, [2 marks]
  3. the velocity vector of the bee. [2 marks]