Kinematics with position vectors

Questions involving particles moving with constant velocity, where position vectors are functions of time and collision or closest approach must be determined.

9 questions · Standard +0.4

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OCR MEI M1 2015 June Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.3
3 The map of a large area of open land is marked in 1 km squares and a point near the middle of the area is defined to be the origin. The vectors \(\binom { 1 } { 0 }\) and \(\binom { 0 } { 1 }\) are in the directions east and north. At time \(t\) hours the position vectors of two hikers, Ashok and Kumar, are given by: $$\begin{array} { l l } \text { Ashok } & \mathbf { r } _ { \mathrm { A } } = \binom { - 2 } { 0 } + \binom { 8 } { 1 } t , \\ \text { Kumar } & \mathbf { r } _ { \mathrm { K } } = \binom { 7 t } { 10 - 4 t } . \end{array}$$
  1. Prove that the two hikers meet and give the coordinates of the point where this happens.
  2. Compare the speeds of the two hikers.
Edexcel AEA 2022 June Q5
11 marks Challenging +1.8
  1. An aeroplane leaves a runway and moves with a constant speed of \(V \mathrm {~km} / \mathrm { h }\) due north along a straight path inclined at an angle \(\arctan \left( \frac { 3 } { 4 } \right)\) to the horizontal.
A light aircraft is moving due north in a straight horizontal line in the same vertical plane as the aeroplane, at a height of 3 km above the runway. The light aircraft is travelling with a constant speed of \(2 V \mathrm {~km} / \mathrm { h }\).
At the moment the aeroplane leaves the runway, the light aircraft is at a horizontal distance \(d \mathrm {~km}\) behind the aeroplane. Both aircraft continue to move with the same trajectories due north.
  1. Show that the distance, \(D \mathrm {~km}\), between the two aircraft \(t\) hours after the aeroplane leaves the runway satisfies $$D ^ { 2 } = \left( \frac { 6 } { 5 } V t - d \right) ^ { 2 } + \left( \frac { 3 } { 5 } V t - 3 \right) ^ { 2 }$$ Given that the distance between the two aircraft is never less than 2 km ,
  2. find the range of possible values for \(d\).
AQA M3 2007 June Q2
10 marks Standard +0.3
2 The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i } , \mathbf { j }\) and \(\mathbf { k }\) are directed due east, due north and vertically upwards respectively. Two helicopters, \(A\) and \(B\), are flying with constant velocities of \(( 20 \mathbf { i } - 10 \mathbf { j } + 20 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\) and \(( 30 \mathbf { i } + 10 \mathbf { j } + 10 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) respectively. At noon, the position vectors of \(A\) and \(B\) relative to a fixed origin, \(O\), are \(( 8000 \mathbf { i } + 1500 \mathbf { j } + 3000 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) and \(( 2000 \mathbf { i } + 500 \mathbf { j } + 1000 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) respectively.
  1. Write down the velocity of \(A\) relative to \(B\).
  2. Find the position vector of \(A\) relative to \(B\) at time \(t\) seconds after noon.
  3. Find the value of \(t\) when \(A\) and \(B\) are closest together.
AQA M3 2010 June Q4
15 marks Standard +0.3
4 The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i } , \mathbf { j }\) and \(\mathbf { k }\) are directed east, north and vertically upwards respectively. At time \(t = 0\), the position vectors of two small aeroplanes, \(A\) and \(B\), relative to a fixed origin \(O\) are \(( - 60 \mathbf { i } + 30 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km }\) and \(( - 40 \mathbf { i } + 10 \mathbf { j } - 10 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km }\) respectively. The aeroplane \(A\) is flying with constant velocity \(( 250 \mathbf { i } + 50 \mathbf { j } - 100 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\) and the aeroplane \(B\) is flying with constant velocity \(( 200 \mathbf { i } + 25 \mathbf { j } + 50 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km } \mathrm { h } ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Write down the position vectors of \(A\) and \(B\) at time \(t\) hours.
  2. Show that the position vector of \(A\) relative to \(B\) at time \(t\) hours is \(( ( - 20 + 50 t ) \mathbf { i } + ( - 10 + 25 t ) \mathbf { j } + ( 40 - 150 t ) \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km }\).
  3. Show that \(A\) and \(B\) do not collide.
  4. Find the value of \(t\) when \(A\) and \(B\) are closest together.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{01071eb0-2c48-4028-8cd3-6021ce86d7e5-13_2484_1709_223_153}
AQA M3 2011 June Q4
15 marks Standard +0.3
4 The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i } , \mathbf { j }\) and \(\mathbf { k }\) are directed due east, due north and vertically upwards respectively. A helicopter, \(A\), is travelling in the direction of the vector \(- 2 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } + 6 \mathbf { k }\) with constant speed \(140 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). Another helicopter, \(B\), is travelling in the direction of the vector \(2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } + 2 \mathbf { k }\) with constant speed \(60 \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Find the velocity of \(A\) relative to \(B\).
  2. Initially, the position vectors of \(A\) and \(B\) are \(( 4 \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km }\) and \(( - 3 \mathbf { i } + 6 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { km }\) respectively, relative to a fixed origin. Write down the position vector of \(A\) relative to \(B , t\) hours after they leave their initial positions.
  3. Find the distance between \(A\) and \(B\) when they are closest together.
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{0590950d-145c-4ae2-bc3c-f61a9433d158-10_2486_1714_221_153}
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{0590950d-145c-4ae2-bc3c-f61a9433d158-11_2486_1714_221_153}
Edexcel M4 2002 June Q5
14 marks Challenging +1.2
5. At time \(t = 0\) particles \(P\) and \(Q\) start simultaneously from points which have position vectors \(( \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } + 3 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) and \(( - \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m }\) respectively, relative to a fixed origin \(O\). The velocities of \(P\) and \(Q\) are \(( \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) and \(( 2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) respectively.
  1. Show that \(P\) and \(Q\) collide and find the position vector of the point at which they collide. A third particle \(R\) moves in such a way that its velocity relative to \(P\) is parallel to the vector ( \(- 5 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k }\) ) and its velocity relative to \(Q\) is parallel to the vector \(( - 2 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } - \mathbf { k } )\). Given that all three particles collide simultaneously, find
    1. the velocity of \(R\),
    2. the position vector of \(R\) at time \(t = 0\).
WJEC Further Unit 3 2019 June Q3
10 marks Standard +0.8
3. The position vectors \(\mathbf { r } _ { A }\) and \(\mathbf { r } _ { B }\), in kilometres, of two small aeroplanes \(A\) and \(B\) relative to a fixed point \(O\) are given by $$\begin{aligned} & \mathbf { r } _ { A } = ( 60 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } + 4 \mathbf { k } ) + ( 168 \mathbf { i } + 132 \mathbf { j } ) t \\ & \mathbf { r } _ { B } = ( 62 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { k } ) + ( 160 \mathbf { i } + p \mathbf { j } + q \mathbf { k } ) t \end{aligned}$$ where \(t\) denotes the time in hours after 9:00 a.m. and \(p , q\) are constants.
The aeroplanes \(A\) and \(B\) are on course to collide.
  1. Show that \(p = 140\) and \(q = 4\).
  2. Find an expression for the square of the distance between \(A\) and \(B\) at time \(t\) hours after 9:00 a.m.
  3. Both aeroplanes have systems that activate an alarm if they come within 600 m of each other. Determine the time when the alarms are first activated.
OCR Mechanics 1 2018 December Q7
6 marks Moderate -0.8
7 A particle \(P\) moves with constant acceleration \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 2 }\). At time \(t = 0\) seconds \(P\) is at the origin. At time \(t = 4\) seconds \(P\) has velocity \(( 2 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\).
  1. Find the displacement vector of \(P\) at time \(t = 4\) seconds.
  2. Find the speed of \(P\) at time \(t = 0\) seconds.
Edexcel M1 Q7
Moderate -0.3
7. Two ships \(P\) and \(Q\) are travelling at night with constant velocities. At midnight, \(P\) is at the point with position vector \(( 20 \mathbf { i } + 10 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\) relative to a fixed origin \(O\). At the same time, \(Q\) is at the point with position vector \(( 14 \mathbf { i } - 6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\). Three hours later, \(P\) is at the point with position vector \(( 29 \mathbf { i } + 34 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { km }\). The ship \(Q\) travels with velocity \(12 \mathbf { j } \mathrm {~km} \mathrm {~h} ^ { - 1 }\). At time \(t\) hours after midnight, the position vectors of \(P\) and \(Q\) are \(\mathbf { p } \mathrm { km }\) and \(\mathbf { q } \mathrm { km }\) respectively. Find
  1. the velocity of \(P\), in terms of \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\),
  2. expressions for \(\mathbf { p }\) and \(\mathbf { q }\), in terms of \(t\), i and \(\mathbf { j }\). At time \(t\) hours after midnight, the distance between \(P\) and \(Q\) is \(d \mathrm {~km}\).
  3. By finding an expression for \(\overrightarrow { P Q }\), show that $$d ^ { 2 } = 25 t ^ { 2 } - 92 t + 292$$ Weather conditions are such that an observer on \(P\) can only see the lights on \(Q\) when the distance between \(P\) and \(Q\) is 15 km or less. Given that when \(t = 1\), the lights on \(Q\) move into sight of the observer,
  4. find the time, to the nearest minute, at which the lights on \(Q\) move out of sight of the observer. Turn over
    1. In taking off, an aircraft moves on a straight runway \(A B\) of length 1.2 km . The aircraft moves from \(A\) with initial speed \(2 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). It moves with constant acceleration and 20 s later it leaves the runway at \(C\) with speed \(74 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Find
    2. the acceleration of the aircraft,
    3. the distance \(B C\).
    4. Two small steel balls \(A\) and \(B\) have mass 0.6 kg and 0.2 kg respectively. They are moving towards each other in opposite directions on a smooth horizontal table when they collide directly. Immediately before the collision, the speed of \(A\) is \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and the speed of \(B\) is \(2 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). Immediately after the collision, the direction of motion of \(A\) is unchanged and the speed of \(B\) is twice the speed of \(A\). Find
    5. the speed of \(A\) immediately after the collision,
    6. the magnitude of the impulse exerted on \(B\) in the collision.
    \begin{figure}[h]
    \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{94d9432d-1723-4549-ad5e-d4be0f5fd083-018_282_707_278_699}
    \end{figure} A smooth bead \(B\) is threaded on a light inextensible string. The ends of the string are attached to two fixed points \(A\) and \(C\) on the same horizontal level. The bead is held in equilibrium by a horizontal force of magnitude 6 N acting parallel to \(A C\). The bead \(B\) is vertically below \(C\) and \(\angle B A C = \alpha\), as shown in Figure 1. Given that \(\tan \alpha = \frac { 3 } { 4 }\), find
  5. the tension in the string,
  6. the weight of the bead.
    4. \begin{figure}[h]
    \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{94d9432d-1723-4549-ad5e-d4be0f5fd083-019_256_615_280_659}
    \end{figure} A box of mass 2 kg is pulled up a rough plane face by means of a light rope. The plane is inclined at an angle of \(20 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 2. The rope is parallel to a line of greatest slope of the plane. The tension in the rope is 18 N . The coefficient of friction between the box and the plane is 0.6 . By modelling the box as a particle, find
  7. the normal reaction of the plane on the box,
  8. the acceleration of the box.
    5. A train is travelling at \(10 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) on a straight horizontal track. The driver sees a red signal 135 m ahead and immediately applies the brakes. The train immediately decelerates with constant deceleration for 12 s , reducing its speed to \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\). The driver then releases the brakes and allows the train to travel at a constant speed of \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) for a further 15 s . He then applies the brakes again and the train slows down with constant deceleration, coming to rest as it reaches the signal.
  9. Sketch a speed-time graph to show the motion of the train,
  10. Find the distance travelled by the train from the moment when the brakes are first applied to the moment when its speed first reaches \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
  11. Find the total time from the moment when the brakes are first applied to the moment when the train comes to rest. 6. \begin{figure}[h]
    \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{94d9432d-1723-4549-ad5e-d4be0f5fd083-022_212_741_287_660}
    \end{figure} A uniform beam \(A B\) has mass 12 kg and length 3 m . The beam rests in equilibrium in a horizontal position, resting on two smooth supports. One support is at the end \(A\), the other at a point \(C\) on the beam, where \(B C = 1 \mathrm {~m}\), as shown in Figure 3. The beam is modelled as a uniform rod.
  12. Find the reaction on the beam at \(C\). A woman of mass 48 kg stands on the beam at the point \(D\). The beam remains in equilibrium. The reactions on the beam at \(A\) and \(C\) are now equal.
  13. Find the distance \(A D\). \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{94d9432d-1723-4549-ad5e-d4be0f5fd083-023_72_58_2632_1873}
    7. \begin{figure}[h]
    \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{94d9432d-1723-4549-ad5e-d4be0f5fd083-024_206_925_281_511}
    \end{figure} Figure 4 shows a lorry of mass 1600 kg towing a car of mass 900 kg along a straight horizontal road. The two vehicles are joined by a light towbar which is at an angle of \(15 ^ { \circ }\) to the road. The lorry and the car experience constant resistances to motion of magnitude 600 N and 300 N respectively. The lorry's engine produces a constant horizontal force on the lorry of magnitude 1500 N. Find
  14. the acceleration of the lorry and the car,
  15. the tension in the towbar. When the speed of the vehicles is \(6 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), the towbar breaks. Assuming that the resistance to the motion of the car remains of constant magnitude 300 N ,
  16. find the distance moved by the car from the moment the towbar breaks to the moment when the car comes to rest.
  17. State whether, when the towbar breaks, the normal reaction of the road on the car is increased, decreased or remains constant. Give a reason for your answer.