Forces in vector form: kinematics extension

Forces are given in i,j (or column vector) form and the question extends into kinematics, requiring position, velocity or speed at a given time using constant-acceleration equations in vector form.

26 questions · Moderate -0.4

3.03d Newton's second law: 2D vectors
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Edexcel M1 2014 June Q5
12 marks Moderate -0.3
5. A particle \(P\) of mass 0.5 kg is moving under the action of a single force \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\).
  1. Show that the magnitude of the acceleration of \(P\) is \(2 \sqrt { 13 } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\). At time \(t = 0\), the velocity of \(P\) is \(( \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the velocity of \(P\) at time \(t = 2\) seconds. Another particle \(Q\) moves with constant velocity \(\mathbf { v } = ( 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  3. Find the distance moved by \(Q\) in 2 seconds.
  4. Show that at time \(t = 3.5\) seconds both particles are moving in the same direction.
Edexcel M1 2017 January Q2
9 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. A particle \(P\) of mass 0.5 kg moves under the action of a single constant force ( \(2 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j }\) )N.
    1. Find the acceleration of \(P\).
    At time \(t\) seconds, \(P\) has velocity \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). When \(t = 0 , \mathbf { v } = 4 \mathbf { i }\)
  2. Find the speed of \(P\) when \(t = 3\) Given that \(P\) is moving parallel to the vector \(2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j }\) at time \(t = T\)
  3. find the value of \(T\).
Edexcel M1 2018 January Q6
9 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular horizontal unit vectors.]
A particle \(P\) of mass 2 kg moves under the action of two forces, \(( 2 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) and \(( 4 \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\).
  1. Find the magnitude of the acceleration of \(P\). At time \(t = 0 , P\) has velocity ( \(- u \mathbf { i } + u \mathbf { j }\) ) \(\mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\), where \(u\) is a positive constant. At time \(t = T\) seconds, \(P\) has velocity \(( 10 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find
    1. the value of \(T\),
    2. the value of \(u\).
Edexcel M1 2022 January Q6
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal unit vectors.]
A particle \(P\) of mass 2 kg moves under the action of two forces, \(( p \mathbf { i } + q \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) and \(( 2 q \mathbf { i } + p \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are constants. Given that the acceleration of \(P\) is \(( \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 2 }\)
  1. find the value of \(p\) and the value of \(q\).
  2. Find the size of the angle between the direction of the acceleration and the vector \(\mathbf { j }\). At time \(t = 0\), the velocity of \(P\) is \(( 3 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) At \(t = T\) seconds, \(P\) is moving in the direction of the vector \(( 11 \mathbf { i } - 13 \mathbf { j } )\).
  3. Find the value of \(T\).
Edexcel M1 2016 October Q2
9 marks Moderate -0.3
2. [In this question \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular unit vectors in a horizontal plane.] Three forces, \(( - 10 \mathbf { i } + a \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N } , ( b \mathbf { i } - 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) and \(( 2 a \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants, act on a particle \(P\) of mass 3 kg . The acceleration of \(P\) is \(( 3 \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\)
  1. Find the value of \(a\) and the value of \(b\). At time \(t = 0\) seconds the speed of \(P\) is \(u \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) and at time \(t = 4\) seconds the velocity of \(P\) is \(( 20 \mathbf { i } + 20 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\)
  2. Find the value of \(u\).
OCR MEI M1 2008 June Q3
5 marks Moderate -0.8
3 An object of mass 5 kg has a constant acceleration of \(\binom { - 1 } { 2 } \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 2 }\) 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 2010 June Q3
8 marks Moderate -0.3
3 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 \(\left( \begin{array} { r } - 1 \\ 2 \\ 4 \end{array} \right) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\).
  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 H240/03 2018 June Q8
6 marks Moderate -0.8
8 In this question \(\binom { 1 } { 0 }\) and \(\binom { 0 } { 1 }\) denote unit vectors which are horizontal and vertically upwards respectively.
A particle of mass 5 kg , initially at rest at the point with position vector \(\binom { 2 } { 45 } \mathrm {~m}\), is acted on by gravity and also by two forces \(\binom { 15 } { - 8 } \mathrm {~N}\) and \(\binom { - 7 } { - 2 } \mathrm {~N}\).
  1. Find the acceleration vector of the particle.
  2. Find the position vector of the particle after 10 seconds.
Edexcel Paper 3 2022 June Q3
9 marks Standard +0.3
  1. \hspace{0pt} [In this question, \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal unit vectors.]
A particle \(P\) of mass 4 kg is at rest at the point \(A\) on a smooth horizontal plane.
At time \(t = 0\), two forces, \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 } = ( 4 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) and \(\mathbf { F } _ { 2 } = ( \lambda \mathbf { i } + \mu \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\), where \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are constants, are applied to \(P\) Given that \(P\) moves in the direction of the vector ( \(3 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j }\) )
  1. show that $$\lambda - 3 \mu + 7 = 0$$ At time \(t = 4\) seconds, \(P\) passes through the point \(B\).
    Given that \(\lambda = 2\)
  2. find the length of \(A B\).
OCR MEI Paper 1 2019 June Q11
5 marks Moderate -0.8
11 In this question, the unit vector \(\mathbf { i }\) is horizontal and the unit vector \(\mathbf { j }\) is vertically upwards. A particle of mass 0.8 kg moves under the action of its weight and two forces given by ( \(k \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j }\) ) N and \(( 4 \mathbf { i } + 3 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\). The acceleration of the particle is vertically upwards.
  1. Write down the value of \(k\). Initially the velocity of the particle is \(( 4 \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\).
  2. Find the velocity of the particle 10 seconds later.
OCR MEI Paper 1 2023 June Q12
7 marks Moderate -0.8
12 In this question the unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are horizontal and vertically upwards respectively. A particle has mass 2 kg .
  1. Write down its weight as a vector. A horizontal force of 3 N in the \(\mathbf { i }\) direction and a force \(\mathbf { F } = ( - 4 \mathbf { i } + 12 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) act on the particle.
  2. Determine the acceleration of the particle.
  3. The initial velocity of the particle is \(5 \mathbf { i } \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\). Find the velocity of the particle after 4 s .
  4. Find the extra force that must be applied to the particle for it to move at constant velocity.
AQA M1 2009 January Q6
10 marks Moderate -0.3
6 Two forces, \(\mathbf { P } = ( 6 \mathbf { i } - 3 \mathbf { j } )\) newtons and \(\mathbf { Q } = ( 3 \mathbf { i } + 15 \mathbf { j } )\) newtons, act on a particle. The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are perpendicular.
  1. Find the resultant of \(\mathbf { P }\) and \(\mathbf { Q }\).
  2. Calculate the magnitude of the resultant of \(\mathbf { P }\) and \(\mathbf { Q }\).
  3. When these two forces act on the particle, it has an acceleration of \(( 1.5 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\). Find the mass of the particle.
  4. The particle was initially at rest at the origin.
    1. Find an expression for the position vector of the particle when the forces have been applied to the particle for \(t\) seconds.
    2. Find the distance of the particle from the origin when the forces have been applied to the particle for 2 seconds.
AQA M1 2010 June Q7
11 marks Moderate -0.3
7 A particle, of mass 10 kg , moves on a smooth horizontal surface. A single horizontal force, \(( 9 \mathbf { i } + 12 \mathbf { j } )\) newtons, acts on the particle. The unit vectors \(\mathbf { i }\) and \(\mathbf { j }\) are directed east and north respectively.
  1. Find the acceleration of the particle.
  2. At time \(t\) seconds, the velocity of the particle is \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\). When \(t = 0\), the velocity of the particle is \(( 2.2 \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\) and the particle is at the origin.
    1. Find the distance between the particle and the origin when \(t = 5\).
    2. Express \(\mathbf { v }\) in terms of \(t\).
    3. Find \(t\) when the particle is travelling north-east.
      \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}]{5d474771-fe32-47c6-8bf3-60ff7a25dd12-15_2484_1709_223_153}
AQA M1 2016 June Q2
3 marks Moderate -0.8
2 Three forces \(( 4 \mathbf { i } + 7 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N } , ( p \mathbf { i } + 5 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) and \(( - 8 \mathbf { i } + q \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { N }\) act on a particle of mass 5 kg to produce an acceleration of \(( 2 \mathbf { i } - \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\). No other forces act on the particle.
  1. Find the resultant force acting on the particle in terms of \(p\) and \(q\).
  2. \(\quad\) Find \(p\) and \(q\).
  3. Given that the particle is initially at rest, find the displacement of the particle from its initial position when these forces have been acting for 4 seconds.
    [0pt] [3 marks]
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 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
8 marks Moderate -0.8
1 Force \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 }\) is \(\binom { 6 } { 13 } \mathrm {~N}\) and force \(\mathbf { F } _ { 2 }\) is \(\binom { 3 } { 5 }\), where \({ } _ { 0 }\) and \(\binom { 0 } { 1 }\) are vectors east and north respectively.
  1. Calculate the magnitude of \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 }\), correct to three significant figures.
  2. Calculate the direction of the force \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 } - \mathbf { F } _ { 2 }\) as a bearing. Force \(\mathbf { F } _ { 2 }\) is the resultant of all the forces acting on an object of mass 5 kg .
  3. Calculate the acceleration of the object and the change in its velocity after 10 seconds.
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.
WJEC Unit 4 2024 June Q8
7 marks Standard +0.3
  1. Three forces \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 } , \mathbf { F } _ { 2 }\) and \(\mathbf { F } _ { 3 }\) are acting on an object of mass 3 kg such that
$$\begin{aligned} & \mathbf { F } _ { 1 } = ( \mathbf { i } + 8 c \mathbf { j } + 11 c \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { N } , \\ & \mathbf { F } _ { 2 } = ( - 14 \mathbf { i } - c \mathbf { j } - 12 \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { N } , \\ & \mathbf { F } _ { 3 } = ( ( 15 c + 1 ) \mathbf { i } + 2 c \mathbf { j } - 5 c \mathbf { k } ) \mathrm { N } , \end{aligned}$$ where \(c\) is a constant. The acceleration of the object is parallel to the vector \(( \mathbf { i } + \mathbf { j } )\).
  1. Find the value of the constant \(c\) and hence show that the acceleration of the object is \(( 6 \mathbf { i } + 6 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 2 }\).
  2. When \(t = 0\) seconds, the object has position vector \(\mathbf { r } _ { 0 } \mathrm {~m}\) and is moving with velocity \(( - 17 \mathbf { i } + 8 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { ms } ^ { - 1 }\). When \(t = 4\) seconds, the object has position vector \(( - 13 \mathbf { i } + 84 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m }\). Find the vector \(\mathbf { r } _ { 0 }\).
AQA M1 2010 January Q5
14 marks Moderate -0.8
5 The constant forces \(\mathbf { F } _ { 1 } = ( 8 \mathbf { i } + 12 \mathbf { j } )\) newtons and \(\mathbf { F } _ { 2 } = ( 4 \mathbf { i } - 4 \mathbf { j } )\) newtons act on a particle. No other forces act on the particle.
  1. Find the resultant force acting on the particle.
  2. Given that the mass of the particle is 4 kg , show that the acceleration of the particle is \(( 3 \mathbf { i } + 2 \mathbf { j } ) \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 2 }\).
  3. At time \(t\) seconds, the velocity of the particle is \(\mathbf { v } \mathrm { m } \mathrm { s } ^ { - 1 }\).
    1. When \(t = 20 , \mathbf { v } = 40 \mathbf { i } + 32 \mathbf { j }\). Show that \(\mathbf { v } = - 20 \mathbf { i } - 8 \mathbf { j }\) when \(t = 0\).
    2. Write down an expression for \(\mathbf { v }\) at time \(t\).
    3. Find the times when the speed of the particle is \(8 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\).
WJEC Unit 4 Specimen Q6
8 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. An object of mass 4 kg is moving on a horizontal plane under the action of a constant force \(4 \mathbf { i } - 12 \mathbf { j } \mathrm {~N}\). At time \(t = 0 \mathrm {~s}\), its position vector is \(7 \mathbf { i } - 26 \mathbf { j }\) with respect to the origin \(O\) and its velocity vector is \(- \mathbf { i } + 4 \mathbf { j }\).
    1. Determine the velocity vector of the object at time \(t = 5 \mathrm {~s}\).
    2. Calculate the distance of the object from the origin when \(t = 2 \mathrm {~s}\).
    3. The diagram below shows an object of weight 160 N at a point \(C\), supported by two cables \(A C\) and \(B C\) inclined at angles of \(23 ^ { \circ }\) and \(40 ^ { \circ }\) to the horizontal respectively. \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{b35e94ab-a426-4fca-9ecb-c659e0143ed7-5_444_919_973_612}
    4. Find the tension in \(A C\) and the tension in \(B C\).
    5. State two modelling assumptions you have made in your solution.
    6. The rate of change of a population of a colony of bacteria is proportional to the size of the population \(P\), with constant of proportionality \(k\). At time \(t = 0\) (hours), the size of the population is 10 .
    7. Find an expression, in terms of \(k\), for \(P\) at time \(t\).
    8. Given that the population doubles after 1 hour, find the time required for the population to reach 1 million.
    9. A particle of mass 12 kg lies on a rough horizontal surface. The coefficient of friction between the particle and the surface is 0.8 . The particle is at rest. It is then subjected to a horizontal tractive force of magnitude 75 N .
      Determine the magnitude of the frictional force acting on the particle, giving a reason for your answer.
    10. A body is projected at time \(t = 0 \mathrm {~s}\) from a point \(O\) with speed \(V \mathrm {~ms} ^ { - 1 }\) in a direction inclined at an angle of \(\theta\) to the horizontal.
    11. Write down expressions for the horizontal and vertical components \(x \mathrm {~m}\) and \(y \mathrm {~m}\) of its displacement from \(O\) at time \(t \mathrm {~s}\).
    12. Show that the range \(R \mathrm {~m}\) on a horizontal plane through the point of projection is given by
    $$R = \frac { V ^ { 2 } } { g } \sin 2 \theta$$
  2. Given that the maximum range is 392 m , find, correct to one decimal place,
    i) the speed of projection,
    ii) the time of flight,
    iii) the maximum height attained.
CAIE M2 2014 November Q6
12 marks Standard +0.3
A particle of mass \(2\) kg moves under the action of a variable force. At time \(t\) seconds the force is \((6t - 3)\mathbf{i} + 4\mathbf{j}\) newtons, where \(\mathbf{i}\) and \(\mathbf{j}\) are perpendicular unit vectors. When \(t = 0\), the particle is at rest at the origin.
  1. Find the velocity of the particle when \(t = 4\). [4]
  2. Find the kinetic energy of the particle when \(t = 4\). [2]
  3. Find the distance of the particle from the origin when \(t = 2\). [6]
OCR MEI M1 2008 January Q2
7 marks Moderate -0.8
The force acting on a particle of mass 1.5 kg is given by the vector \(\begin{pmatrix} 6 \\ 9 \end{pmatrix}\) N.
  1. Give the acceleration of the particle as a vector. [2]
  2. Calculate the angle that the acceleration makes with the direction \(\begin{pmatrix} 1 \\ 0 \end{pmatrix}\). [2]
  3. At a certain point of its motion, the particle has a velocity of \(\begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 3 \end{pmatrix}\) m s\(^{-1}\). Calculate the displacement of the particle over the next two seconds. [3]
OCR AS Pure 2017 Specimen Q11
10 marks Moderate -0.8
In this question the unit vectors \(\mathbf{i}\) and \(\mathbf{j}\) are in the directions east and north respectively. Distance is measured in metres and time in seconds. A ship of mass 100 000 kg is being towed by two tug boats. • The cables attaching each tug to the ship are horizontal. • One tug produces a force of \((350\mathbf{i} + 400\mathbf{j})\) N. • The other tug produces a force of \((250\mathbf{i} - 400\mathbf{j})\) N. • The total resistance to motion is 200 N. • At the instant when the tugs begin to tow the ship, it is moving east at a speed of 1.5 m s\(^{-1}\).
  1. Explain why the ship continues to move directly east. [2]
  2. Find the acceleration of the ship. [2]
  3. Find the time which the ship takes to move 400 m while it is being towed. Find its speed after moving that distance. [6]