Name: ________________________________________ Date: _____________________________
AP Physics 1 Vector Addition Practice
Show all your work using separate sheets.
For each problem, draw a sketch of the situation and use trigonometry to solve the problem.
To add/subtract vectors numerically by component,
- Clearly sketch the vectors (and their components) on a Cartesian plane. All vectors should be
drawn as arrows not lines.
- make a table of the vectors and their components so that the x- and y-components can be
added separately to find Rx and Ry
- sketch Rx, Ry and R on a Cartesian plane; find magnitude and direction of R using right
triangle trig
1. F1 and F2 are vectors shown below (N is a unit of force, it stands for Newton, not north)
F1 = 500N y
F2 = 300N
40o 50o
x
a) Add the vectors F1 and F2: F1+F2 = R1. Add graphically and numerically
b) Subtract the vector F2 from F1: F1 – F2 = R2. Subtract graphically and numerically
2. Alex walks 0.40 km in a direction 60˚ west of north, then goes 0.50 km due west. Find the
displacement by adding the vectors mathematically (by components).
3. A hiker’s trip consists of three segments. Path A is 8.0 km long heading 60˚ north of east. Path B is
7.0 km long in a direction 30˚ north of west. Path C is 4.0 km long heading 70˚ east of south. Find the
displacement of the hiker.
4. A car drives 60.0 miles directly north in one hour and then turns and drives 80.0 miles directly west in
one hour and 15 minutes.
a) What is the total distance the car drove?
b) What is the car’s total displacement for the trip? (magnitude and direction)
c) What was the car’s average velocity for the trip? (magnitude and direction)
d) What was the car’s average speed for trip?
5. Add together the following vectors graphically and numerically (by component), giving the magnitude
and direction of the resultant and the equilibrant.
–
Vector A: 300 m @ 60o Graphical method:
– o
Vector B: 450 m @ 100
o
– Vector C: 120 m @ -120
Component method:
6. A car drives 250. m in a direction 35.0o South of east.
a) How far South did they drive?
b) How far east did they drive?
The car then turns and drives for 400. m in a direction 65.0o north of east.
c) What is the total displacement in the north/south direction for the two parts of the trip?
d) What is the total displacement in the east/west direction for the two parts of the trip?
e) What is the magnitude and direction of the total displacement of the car for the entire trip?
7. A plane aims north and moves with a velocity of 200 m/s (relative to the air) (vPA). The wind blows
to the east at 30 m/s (relative to the ground) (vAG). The plane’s velocity relative to the ground (vPG) is
equal to the sum of these two velocities (VPG = vPA + vAG). Calculate the plane’s total velocity.
8. A river flows north at 4.00 m/s (relative to the ground) (vWG). A boat aims east with a velocity of 6.00
m/s (relative to the water) (vBW) trying to cross the river.
a) What is the boat’s total velocity (vBG)?
b) if the river is 100. m wide, how long does it take the boat to get across the river?
c) how far downstream does the boat end up
Answers:
1a) R1 = 583 N, 710 above the –x-axis 1b) R2 = 583 N, 9o above –x axis
2) R = 0.87 km, 13.30 N of W
3) R = 9.2 km 79.60 N of E
4a) 140mi b) 100 mi c) 44.44 mph, 53o W of N d) 62.2 mph
5.
6a) 143 m b) 205 m c) 219.5 m d) 374 m e) 434 m, 30o N of E
o
7. 202 m/s, 81.5 N of E
8. a) vBG = 7.21 m/s @ 56o E of N b) t = 16.7 s; c) ΔxN = 66.7 m
