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CAIE A-Level Physics 1.4.2 Addition and Subtraction of Coplanar Vectors

Practise adding and subtracting coplanar vectors by scale diagrams or components, preserving direction, checking resultants and explaining their physical meaning.

Syllabus
2028–2030
Course
Physics 9702
Level
AS

Exam points

  • Add coplanar vectors geometrically or by components, preserving direction and scale.
  • Subtract coplanar vectors and interpret the resulting displacement, force or velocity.
  • Check vector addition/subtraction with a diagram, components and the physical meaning of the resultant.

1.4.2—Add and subtract coplanar vectors question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

A ship at sea is travelling with a velocity of 13 ms−113 \mathrm{~ms}^{-1} in a direction 35∘35^{\circ} east of north in still water, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.1

The ship now experiences a tidal current. The water in the sea moves with a velocity of 2.7 ms−12.7 \mathrm{~ms}^{-1} to the west.

Calculate the resultant velocity component of the ship in the east direction.
resultant east component of velocity = ms−1\mathrm{ms}^{-1}

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