Vectors

Worksheet 3

Velocity Vectors

Q1. W19/qp22/q8

i. A particle 𝐴 travels with a speed of 6.5m𝑠 −1 in the direction −5𝑖 − 12𝑗. Find the velocity, 𝑣𝐴 , of
𝐴. [2]
ii. A particle 𝐵 travels with velocity 𝑣𝐵 = − 12𝑖 − 9𝑗. Find the speed, in m𝑠 −1 , of 𝐵. [2]

Particle 𝐴 starts moving from the point with position vector 20𝑖 − 7𝑗 . At the same time particle 𝐵 starts
moving from the point with position vector − 67𝑖 + 11𝑗 .

iii. Find 𝑟𝐴 , the position vector of 𝐴 after 𝑡 seconds, and 𝑟𝐵 , the position vector of 𝐵
after 𝑡 seconds. [2]
iv. Find the time when the particles collide and the position vector of the point of collision. [3]

Q2. S19/qp11/q5

A particle 𝑃 is moving with a velocity of 20m𝑠 −1 in the same direction as (34).

i. Find the velocity vector of 𝑃. [2]

At time 𝑡 = 0s, 𝑃 has position vector (12) relative to a fixed point 𝑂.

ii. Write down the position vector of 𝑃 after 𝑡 s. [2]

A particle 𝑄 has position vector (17

18
) relative to 𝑂 at time 𝑡 = 0 s and has a velocity vector
8
(12 ) m𝑠 −1 .

iii. Given that 𝑃 and 𝑄 collide, find the value of t when they collide and the position vector of the
point of collision. [3]
Q3. S17/qp12/q3(a)(b)

Vectors 𝑖 and 𝑗 are unit vectors parallel to the 𝑥-axis and 𝑦-axis respectively.

a. The vector 𝑣 has a magnitude of 3 √5 units and has the same direction as 𝑖 – 2𝑗 . Find 𝑣 giving
your answer in the form 𝑎𝑖 + 𝑏𝑗, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers. [2]
b. The velocity vector 𝑤 makes an angle of 30° with the positive 𝑥-axis and is such that |𝑤 | = 2.
Find 𝑤 giving your answer in the form √𝑐𝑖 + 𝑑𝑗, where 𝑐 and 𝑑 are integers. [2]

Q4. S14/qp12/q10

In this question 𝑖 is a unit vector due East and 𝑗 is a unit vector due North. At 12 00 hours, a ship leaves a
port 𝑃 and travels with a speed of 26kmℎ−1 in the direction 5𝑖 + 12𝑗.

i. Show that the velocity of the ship is (10𝑖 + 24𝑗) kmℎ−1 . [2]
ii. Write down the position vector of the ship, relative to 𝑃, at 16 00 hours. [1]
iii. Find the position vector of the ship, relative to 𝑃, 𝑡 hours after 16 00 hours. [2]

At 16 00 hours, a speedboat leaves a lighthouse which has position vector (120𝑖 + 81𝑗) km, relative to
𝑃, to intercept the ship. The speedboat has a velocity of (−22𝑖 + 30𝑗) kmℎ−1 .

iv. Find the position vector, relative to 𝑃, of the speedboat 𝑡 hours after 16 00 hours. [1]
v. Find the time at which the speedboat intercepts the ship and the position vector, relative to 𝑃,
of the point of interception. [4]
Q5. S12/qp12/q12(Either)

At 12 00 hours, a ship has position vector (54𝑖 + 16𝑗) km relative to a lighthouse, where i is a unit
vector due East and 𝑗 is a unit vector due North. The ship is travelling with a speed of 20 km h–1 in the
direction 3𝑖 + 4𝑗.

i. Show that the position vector of the ship at 15 00 hours is (90𝑖 + 64𝑗) km. [2]
ii. Find the position vector of the ship 𝑡 hours after 12 00 hours. [2]

A speedboat leaves the lighthouse at 14 00 hours and travels in a straight line to intercept the ship.
Given that the speedboat intercepts the ship at 16 00 hours, find

iii. the speed of the speedboat, [3]

iv. the velocity of the speedboat relative to the ship, [1]
v. the angle the direction of the speedboat makes with North. [2]

Q6. W16/qp23/q9

In this question 𝑖 is a unit vector due east and 𝑗 is a unit vector due north. Units of length and velocity
are metres and metres per second respectively. The initial position vectors of particles 𝐴 and 𝐵, relative
to a fixed point 𝑂, are 𝑖 + 5𝑗 and 𝑞𝑖 – 15𝑗 respectively. 𝐴 and 𝐵 start moving at the same time. A moves
with velocity 𝑝𝑖 – 3𝑗 and 𝐵 moves with velocity 3𝑖 – 𝑗.

i. Given that 𝐴 travels with a speed of 5m𝑠 −1 , find the value of the positive constant 𝑝. [1]
ii. Find the direction of motion of 𝐵 as a bearing correct to the nearest degree. [2]
iii. State the position vector of 𝐴 after 𝑡 seconds . [1]
iv. State the position vector of 𝐵 after 𝑡 seconds. [1]
v. Find the time taken until 𝐴 and 𝐵 meet. [2]
vi. Find the position vector of the point where 𝐴 and 𝐵 meet. [1]
vii. Find the value of the constant 𝑞. [1]
Q7. W13/qp23/q11

In this question 𝑖 is a unit vector due east and 𝑗 is a unit vector due north. At time 𝑡 = 0 boat 𝐴 leaves
the origin 𝑂 and travels with velocity (2𝑖 + 4𝑗) kmℎ−1 . Also at time 𝑡 = 0 boat 𝐵 leaves the point with
position vector (– 21𝑖 + 22𝑗) km and travels with velocity (5𝑖 + 3𝑗) kmℎ−1 .

i. Write down the position vectors of boats 𝐴 and 𝐵 after 𝑡 hours. [2]
ii. Show that 𝐴 and 𝐵 are 25 km apart when 𝑡 = 2. [3]
iii. Find the length of time for which 𝐴 and 𝐵 are less than 25km apart. [5]
 Answers
Q1. W19/qp22/q8
Q2. S19/qp11/q5

Q3. S17/qp12/q3(a)(b)
Q4. S14/qp12/q10
Q5. S12/qp12/q12(Either)

Q6. W16/qp23/q9
Q7. W13/qp23/q11