Chapter 5: Vectors

Worksheet 1
True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1.

The process of breaking a vector into its components is called vector resolution.

____ 2. The direction of a vector is defined as the angle that the vector makes with the x-axis, measured
clockwise.
____ 3. Multiple vectors can be added together by adding their x-components into one horizontal vector, then
adding their y-components into one vertical vector, and finding the vector sum of those 2 vectors.
____ 4.

It is NOT possible to divide a vector quantity by a scalar quantity.

____ 5.

It is NOT possible to add or subtract a combination of vector quantities and scalar quantities.
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____ 6.
The resultant between 2 vectors can be found by placing the vectors
a. tip to tip.
c. tail to tail.
b. tip to tail.
d. tip to midpoint.
____ 7.
A wolf spider runs 75 cm west, then turns and runs 50 cm south. Which choice gives the correct
solution for the resultant?
a. R2 = 752 + 502
c. R2 = 752 502
b. R2 = 752 + 502 - 2(75)(50) cos 60
d. R2 = 752 502 - 2(75)(50) cos 90
____ 8.
Kelsey the triathelete swims 1.5 km east, then bikes 40 km north, and then runs 10 km west.
Which choice gives the correct solution for the resultant?
a. R2 = 402 + 8.52
c. R2 = 102 402
2
2
2
b. R = 40 + 10 - 2(40)(1.5) cos 10
d. R2 = 102 402 2(1.5)(10) cos 40
____ 9.
a.
b.
c.
d.

The sine of an angle is

the length of the side opposite the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.
the length of the side adjacent the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.
the length of the side adjacent the angle divided by the length of the opposite side.
the length of the hypotenuse divided by the length of the side adjacent the angle.

____ 10.
The cosine of an angle is
a. the length of the side opposite the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.
b. the length of the side adjacent the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.
c. the length of the side adjacent the angle divided by the length of the opposite side.
d. the length of the hypotenuse divided by the length of the side adjacent the angle.
____ 11.
The tangent of an angle is
a. the length of the side opposite the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.
b. the length of the side adjacent the angle divided by the length of the hypotenuse.

c. the length of the side opposite the angle divided by the length of the adjacent side.
d. the length of the hypotenuse divided by the length of the side adjacent the angle.
Completion
Complete each statement.
12. If two vectors are at right angles to each other, the resultant can be found by using _________________

Problems
1. A car is driven 125.0 km due west then 65.0 km due south. What is the
magnitude
of its displacement? Solve this problem both graphically and
mathematically,
and check your answers against each other.

2. Two shoppers walk from the door of the mall to their car. They walk
250.0 m
down a lane of cars, and then turn 90 to the right and walk an
additional 60.0 m.
How far is the shoppers car from the mall door? Solve this problem both
graphically
and mathematically, and check your answers against each other.

3. An ant crawls on the sidewalk. It first moves south a distance of

5.0 cm. It then turns west and crawls 4.0 cm. What is the magnitude of
the
ants displacement?

4. Sudhir walks 0.40 km in a direction 60.0 west of north then goes 0.50
km due west. What is his displacement?

5. You first walk 8.0 km north from home then walkeast until your
displacement from home is 10.0 km. How far east did you walk?

6. In a coordinate system in which the positive x-axis is east, for what

range of angles is the x-component positive? For what range is it
negative?

7. Could a vector ever be shorter than one of its components? Could a

vector ever be equal in length to one of its components? Explain

8. Two ropes tied to a tree branch hold up a childs swing as shown in

Figure. The tension in each rope is 2.28 N. What is the combined force
(magnitude and direction) of the two ropes on the swing?