Practice Questions

1 . If you drive west at 20 km/h for one hour, then drive east at 15 km/h for one hour, your net
displacement will be

5 km east.

35 km west.

35 km east.

5 km west.


2 .

A 200-lb force is pulling on an object, as shown. The sign of the x and y components of the force are

x (positive), y (positive).

x (positive), y (negative).

x (negative), y (positive).

x (negative), y (negative).


3 .

Three boys each pull with a 20-N force on the same object. The resultant force will be

zero.

20 N to the left.

20 N up.

20 N down.


4 . Consider a plane flying with groundspeed V
g
and airspeed V
a
in a wind with speed V. Which of the
following relationships is true?

V
g
will always equal V
a
+ V.

V
g
can be greater than V
a
+ V.

V
g
can be less than V
a
V.

V
g
can have any value between V
a
+ V and V
a
V.









5 . Two vectors, R and S, are known:

If vector S is subtracted from vector R, the vector T = R S is [Hint]









6 . Two vectors, R and S, are known:

If vector R is subtracted from vector S, the vector T = R S is [Hint]









7 . Two vectors, R and S, are known:

If vector S is added to the vector R, then the vector T = R + S is [Hint]









8 . If the acceleration vector of a body is perpendicular to the velocity vector, which of the following must
be true? [Hint]

The speed is changing.

The direction is changing.

Both the speed and the direction are changing.

The direction is not changing.


9 . A vector of magnitude 10 has an angle with the positive x axis (East) of 120 degrees. What are its
components? [Hint]

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7


10
.
A vector of magnitude 10 has an angle with the positive x axis (East) of 60 degrees. What are its
components? [Hint]

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7

5 and 8.7


11 . A vector has components x = 6 m and y = 8 m. What are its magnitude and direction? [Hint]

10 m and 30 degrees

14 m and 37 degrees

10 m and 53 degrees

14 m and 53 degrees


12
.
A vector has components x = 2 m and y = 2 m. What is its direction (angle with respect to
East)? [Hint]

45 degrees

135 degrees

225 degrees

45 degrees


13
.
Three vectors have components (x,y): A = (2,3), B = (4,7), and C = (6,3). What is the magnitude of the
resultant vector (D = A + B + C)?[Hint]

7

17.7

15

7


14
.
Three vectors have components (x,y): A = (2,3), B = (4,7), and C = (6,3). What is the magnitude of the
resultant vector (D = A B C)?[Hint]

13.6

15

52

7


15
.


Where in the above figure is the velocity positive? [Hint]

A

B

C

D

E

F


16
.
At which point in the figure in Question 15 is the velocity and acceleration zero? [Hint]

A

B

C

D

E

F


17
.
At which point in the figure in Question 15 is the velocity zero and the acceleration positive? [Hint]

A

B

C

D

E

F


18
.
At which point in the figure in Question 15 is the speed the greatest? [Hint]

A

B

C

D

E

F


19
.
At which point in the figure in Question 15 is the velocity zero and the acceleration negative? [Hint]

A

B

C

D

E

F


20
.
At which points in the figure in Question 15 are the velocity and acceleration negative? [Hint]

B, E, and F

A and C

C and D


21
.
At which points in the figure in Question 15 is the acceleration zero? [Hint]

B, E, and F

A and C

C and D


22
.
If the sum of two vectors equals zero, the magnitude of their difference is [Hint]

equal to the magnitude of either one.

equal to twice the magnitude of either one.

less than twice the magnitude of either one.


23
.
A sailboat traveling with a speed of 4 knots through the water heads directly upriver against a 3-knot
current. Its speed over ground is [Hint]

1 knot.

7 knots.

3 knots.

5 knots.


24
.
A sailboat traveling with a speed of 4 knots through the water heads directly downriver with a 3-knot
current. Its speed over ground is [Hint]

1 knot.

3 knots.

5 knots.

7 knots.


25
.
A sailboat traveling with a speed of 4 knots through the water heads directly across a river which has a
3-knot current. Its speed over ground is [Hint]

1 knot.

3 knots.

5 knots.

7 knots.