Home / IGCSE Physics (0625) 1.5.5 Scalars and vectors Paper 3

IGCSE Physics (0625) 1.5.5 Scalars and vectors Paper 3

Question

Fig. 4.1 shows a heavy ball B of weight W suspended from a fixed beam by two ropes P and Q.

P and Q are both at an angle of 45° to the horizontal. The tensions in P and Q are each 30 N.
(a) In the space below, draw a scale diagram to find the resultant of the tensions in P and Q. Use
a scale of 1.0 cm to represent 5.0 N. Label the forces and show their directions with arrows.

resultant = …………………

(b) State the direction of the resultant.
(c) State the magnitude of W. magnitude of W = ………………………..

Answer/Explanation

Answer:

(a) 2 lines at 90° to each other of same length labelled 30N or 6cm
both lines 6.0 ± 0.2cm.
arrows on the two lines drawn, either head to tail
OR a complete square shown with diagonal and arrows on adjacent sides
resultant in range 40–45 N
(b) (vertically) upwards
(c) same as value in (a), only if answer to (a) is a force
OR 40–45 N

Question

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

Answer/Explanation

Answer:

(a) Size / magnitude (NOT distance) and direction 

(b) Vectors towards East and North with arrows correct by eye
Complete triangle or rectangle for candidate’s vectors  Resultant with correct arrow  Resultant 94 to 96m/s by scale OR 95m/s by calculation *Unit penalty applies  Angle measured 13.5° – 15.5° OR 15° by calculation

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