Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

|

Scalars & Vectors (CIE A Level Physics)

Exam Questions

1 hour22 questions
1
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1 mark

Which pair contains one vector and one scalar quantity?

A Displacement Acceleration
B Force Kinetic energy
C Momentum Velocity
D Power Speed

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    2
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    1 mark

    Two physical quantities P and Q are added together. The sum of P and Q is R, as shown in the diagram.

    q9-easy-1-1-cie-ial-physics

    Which quantity could be represented by P and by Q?

    • Kinetic energy

    • Power

    • Speed

    • Velocity

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    3
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    1 mark

    The arrow represents the vector R.

    q10-1-easy-1-1-cie-ial-physics

    Which diagram does not represent R as two perpendicular components?

    • cie-ial-images437png

    • cie-ial-images438png

    • cie-ial-images439png

    • cie-ial-images440png

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    4
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    1 mark

    Fig 1.1 shows a resultant force F at an angle of θ to the horizontal. The horizontal component F subscript x and vertical component F subscript y are labelled on the diagram.

    cie-1-4-mcq-easy-q4-cie-ial-physics

    What is the horizontal component of F equal to?

    • F space sin space straight theta

    • F space cos space straight theta

    • F space tan space straight theta

    • F subscript y space cos space straight theta

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    5
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    1 mark

    Which one of the following statements is true?

    • A scalar quantity has both magnitude and direction

    • A scalar quantity has only direction

    • A vector quantity has only magnitude

    • A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction

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    1
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    1 mark

    The speed of an aeroplane in still air is 200 km h-1. The wind blows from the west at a speed of 85.0 km h-1.

    In which direction must the pilot steer the aeroplane in order to fly due north?

    • 23.0° east of north

    • 23.0° west of north

    • 25.2° east of north

    • 25.2° west of north

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    2
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    1 mark

    Vectors P and Q are drawn to scale.

    q4-medium-1-2-cie-ial-physics

    Which diagram represents the vector (PQ)?

    • cie-ial-images441png

    • cie-ial-images442png

    • cie-ial-images443png

    • cie-ial-images444png

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    3
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    1 mark

    A vector has magnitude R and perpendicular components P and Q, as shown in the diagram.

    q7-1-1-medium-cie-ial-physics

    Which row correctly describes the perpendicular components?

     

    Vertical component

    Horizontal component

    A

    B

    C

    D

    Q

    R cos θ

    R cos θ

    R sin θ

    sin θ

    P

    R sin θ

    R cos θ

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      4
      Sme Calculator
      1 mark

      A resultant force of 20 N is 30° to the horizontal.

      What is the horizontal and vertical component of the resultant force?

       

      Horizontal

      Component / N

      Vertical Component / N

      A

      17

      10

      B

      10

      17

      C

      11.5

      10

      D

      17

      11.5

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        5
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        1 mark

        Fig 1.1 shows three coplanar forces which are in equilibrium.

        cie-1-4-mcq-med-q5-cie-ial-physics

        What is the value of force F?

        • 5 N

        • 8.7 N

        • 11 N

        • 15 N

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        6
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        1 mark

        A ship’s speed in still water is 20 km h−1. A current coming from the east pushes the ship at a constant speed of 5 km h−1. At what bearing should the captain direct the ship so that it travels perfectly due north?

        • 014.5°

        • 075.5°

        • 284.5°

        • 345.5°

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        1
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        1 mark

        Two forces, each of 10 N, act at a point P as shown in the diagram. The angle between the force vectors is 120° cie-ial-images3

        What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

        • 5 N

        • 10 N

        • 17 N

        • 20 N

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        2
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        1 mark

        The diagrams represent systems of coplanar forces acting at a point. The lengths of the force vectors represent the magnitudes of the forces.

        Which system of forces is in equilibrium?

        • mVHLqCWI_cie-ial-images4

        • cie-ial-images5

        • cie-ial-images6

        • cie-ial-images7

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        3
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        1 mark

        A glider is descending at a constant speed at an angle of 15° to the horizontal. The diagram shows the directions of the lift L, air resistance R and weight W acting on the glider.

        cie-ial-images9

        Which vector triangle could represent the forces acting on the glider?

        • cie-ial-images10

        • cie-ial-images11

        • cie-ial-images12

        • cie-ial-images13

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        4
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        1 mark

        Figure 1.1 shows two coplanar forces, R and N, which act at point P. The angle between the forces is theta, where theta greater than 90 .

        cie-mcq-1-4-q4-cie-ial-physics

        What is the magnitude of the resultant force F equal to?

        • square root of R squared plus N squared minus F squared end root

        • square root of R squared plus N squared minus 2 R N space cos space left parenthesis 180 minus theta right parenthesis end root

        • square root of R squared plus N squared minus 2 R N space cos italic space left parenthesis theta right parenthesis end root

        • R squared plus N squared minus 2 R N space sin left parenthesis F right parenthesis

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        5
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        1 mark

        A boat is being pulled along by two equal forces of 700 kN, both at angle θ to the direction of motion. The boat experiences a resistive force of 40 kN. The net force on the boat is 1270 kN.

        What is the value of theta?

        • 29°

        • 57°

        • 25°

        • 61°

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