Vectors & Scalars (SQA National 5 Physics): Exam Questions

A trolley is released from the top of a slope and passes between two light gates P and Q.

The distance between the light gates is d.

The time taken for the card to pass through light gate P is t₁.

The time taken for the card to pass through light gate Q is t₂.

The length of the card on the trolley is .

The instantaneous speed of the trolley at light gate Q is given by

A seagull flies above a school playground. The seagull remains at a constant height above the ground during its flight.

The seagull flies from point A to point E following the route shown.

(i) By scale diagram or otherwise, determine the magnitude of the resultant displacement of the seagull from point A to point E.

[2]

(ii) By scale diagram or otherwise, determine the direction of the resultant displacement of the seagull from point A to point E.

[2]

The seagull takes 31 s to travel from point A to point E.

(i) Determine the average velocity of the seagull for this journey.

[3]

(ii) A student states that the average speed of the seagull between point A and point E is greater than the magnitude of the average velocity of the seagull between point A and point E.

Explain why the student is correct.

[2]

Which of the following contains one scalar quantity and one vector quantity?

The diagram shows a toy car at rest at the top of a slope.

The car is released and travels with a constant acceleration down the slope.

Which row in the table could show the speed of the toy car at P, the speed of the toy car at Q, and the average speed of the car between P and Q?

An aeroplane flies from Aberdeen to Glasgow.

The aeroplane flies 140 km due south (180) from Aberdeen, then 130 km due west (270) to Glasgow.

By scale diagram, or otherwise:

(i) determine the magnitude of the displacement from Aberdeen to Glasgow

[2]

(ii) determine the direction of the displacement from Aberdeen to Glasgow.

[2]

On the return journey, the aeroplane flies directly from Glasgow to Aberdeen.

The journey takes 0.50 hours.

(i) Calculate the average speed of the aeroplane for this journey.

[3]

(ii) Determine the average velocity of the aeroplane from Glasgow to Aberdeen.

[2]

Which of the following are both vectors?

A quadcopter is a drone with four rotating blades.

In a race, the quadcopter is flown along a route from point A to point E.

(i) By scale drawing or otherwise, determine the magnitude of the resultant displacement of the quadcopter from point A to point E.

[2]

(ii) By scale drawing or otherwise, determine the direction of the resultant displacement of the quadcopter from point A to point E.

[2]

The quadcopter takes 32∙5 s to complete the race.

Determine the average velocity of the quadcopter over the whole race.

A second quadcopter completes the race at an average speed of 1·25 m s^-1 .

The distance travelled by this quadcopter during the race is 37∙0 m.

Determine the difference in the times taken by the quadcopters to complete the race.

Which row in the table classifies speed, weight, and energy correctly?

A student uses the apparatus shown to determine the average speed and instantaneous speed of a trolley as it travels down a slope.

The trolley is released at X and travels down the slope.

The distance between X and the light gate at Y is d.

The time taken for the trolley to reach the light gate is t₁.

The length of the card on the trolley is .

The time taken for the card to pass through the light gate is t₂.

Which row in the table shows the measurements required to determine the average speed of the trolley between X and Y, and the instantaneous speed of the trolley at Y?

A pulse of light from a laser is transmitted from the Earth to the Moon.

The light reflects from a mirror on the Moon and is detected back on Earth 2.6 s after being transmitted.

The distance from the Earth to the Moon is

The triathlon is an endurance race consisting of three stages: swimming, cycling, and running.

The third stage of the triathlon involves running four laps of a 2.5 km course.

The triathlete takes 38 minutes to complete this stage.

(i) Determine the average speed of the triathlete for this stage.

[3]

(ii) State the magnitude of the average velocity of the triathlete for this stage.

[1]

Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

A security guard starts at the corner of a warehouse, walks round the warehouse as shown and arrives back at the same corner.

Which row in the table shows the total distance walked by the security guard and the magnitude of the displacement of the security guard from the start to the end of the walk?