Topic-1: Physical Quantities, Units and Measurement

1. A microphone has a weight W of 6.0 N. It is suspended by wire X from the ceiling in a radio studio.
[5054/02/O/N/08/Q1]
Fig. 1.1 shows the microphone held in the correct position by a horizontal wire Y.

Fig.1.1
(a) The tension T in wire Y is 8.0 N. Use a vector diagram to determine the magnitude and
the direction of the resultant of W and T.

magnitude = ......................................................

direction = ...........................................................
[4]
(b) The microphone is at rest. State the tension in wire X.

tension in X = ............................................... [1]

Page 1 of 8
 [Total: 5]

2. A journey consists of two displacements: the first is 500 m in a northerly direction and the second is
200 m in an easterly direction. [ 5054/22/M/J/10/Q1]

(a) In the space below draw, to scale, a vector diagram of these displacements.

State the scale of your diagram.

On your diagram, show the two displacements and the resultant displacement.
Determine the size (magnitude) and direction of the resultant displacement.

scale = ...........................................................

size = .............................................................

direction = .............................................[3]

(b) Another journey covers a distance of 700 m. Describe how it is possible that this journey has no
resultant displacement.
Move 700 m in a particular direction and come back 700 m in the opposite direction.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………… [1]

[Total: 4]

3. A bus breaks down on a road with a 10° upward slope. The passengers get out and push the bus to the
top of the slope at a constant speed. Fig. 3.1 shows the passengers exerting a force on the bus parallel to
the line of the slope. [ 5054/22/O/N/10/Q10]

Fig.3.1

The total mass of the bus is 3200 kg.

(i) Calculate the weight of the bus.

weight = ..................................................... [1]

(ii) On Fig. 3.1, draw two arrows to show the direction of the weight of the bus and the direction of the
force exerted on the bus by the passengers. [1]

(iii) The total force exerted by the passengers on the bus is 17 000 N along the line of the slope. Use a
graphical method to determine the size and direction of the resultant of this force and the weight of the
bus. State the scale used.

Page 3 of 8
 scale = .........................................................................

size of resultant = ....................................................

direction of resultant = ....................................[4]

4. A parachutist of total weight 950 N falls vertically at a constant velocity of 6.5 m / s.
[5054/21/O/N/12/Q1]
A parachutist of total weight 950 N falls vertically at a constant velocity of 6.5 m / s.
(a) State the size and direction of the resistive (drag) force acting on the parachutist.

size of resistive
force: .............................................................................................................................................................

direction of resistive
force: ...................................................................................................................................................
[2]

(b) At a certain height, the wind starts to blow and the parachutist moves horizontally at a velocity of 4.5
m / s as he continues to fall. Use a graphical method to add together the horizontal and the vertical
velocities to determine the size of the resultant velocity of the parachutist. Label the velocities and state
the scale that you use.

Page 4 of 8
 size of velocity = ......................................................

scale = ........................................................................
[3]
[Total: 5]

5. A small boat travels with a velocity of 4.0 m / s due north in an area of still water. [ 5054/21/M/J/14/Q1]

(a) State what is meant by velocity.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) The boat travels from the area of still water into an area where the velocity of the water is 2.0 m / s
towards the north-east, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

Page 5 of 8
 Fig. 5.1 (not to scale)

Combining the initial velocity of the boat with the velocity of the water gives the resultant velocity of the
boat.

In the space on the page opposite, draw a vector diagram to show the resultant velocity. Use your diagram
to find the size and direction of the resultant velocity.

Page 6 of 8
 size of resultant velocity = ..............................................................................

direction of resultant velocity = ...............................................................[4]

[Total: 5]

6. Force is a vector quantity and mass is a scalar quantity. [ 5054/21/O/N/15/Q9]

Force is a vector quantity and mass is a scalar quantity.
(a) (i) State how a vector quantity differs from a scalar quantity.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) State one other vector quantity and one other scalar quantity.

vector
quantity ............................................................................................................................................................
...........

scalar
quantity ............................................................................................................................................................
............
[2]

(b) An aeroplane flies through the air in a straight line, with its engines at full power. The weight of the
aeroplane is 160 kN. There is also a force of 320 kN acting upwards on the aeroplane at 30° to the
horizontal.

In the space below, use a graphical method to determine the size and the direction of the resultant of these
two forces. Use a scale of 1.0 cm : 40 kN.

Page 7 of 8
 size of resultant force = ........................................................

direction of resultant force = .......................................................

[4]
[Total :7]

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