A LevelPhysicsCIETopic Questions1. Physical Quantities & Units1.4 Scalars & Vectors

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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Scalars & Vectors (CIE A Level Physics)

Topic Questions

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1
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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1
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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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Vectors P and Q are drawn to scale.

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

Which diagram represents the vector (P – Q)?

  • cie-ial-images441png

  • cie-ial-images442png

  • cie-ial-images443png

  • cie-ial-images444png

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3
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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
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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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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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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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