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IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL · AHL 4: Vectors · AHL 4.12
Name Date
Kinematics with constant velocity Problem set A
Sketch first where it helps. Write the position vector as \(\mathbf{r} = \mathbf{r}_0 + t\mathbf{v}\), and use the same t in every component when two objects must meet.
Difficulty: first skills applying them stretch
Skills
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Find the bearing on which each object moves, to the nearest degree. The first component is east, the second north. Velocities are in km h⁻¹.
- (a) A ferry: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}4\\9\end{pmatrix}\)
- (b) A glider: \(\mathbf{v} = -7\mathbf{i} + 3\mathbf{j}\)
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Find the speed of each object. Give each answer exactly and to 3 significant figures. Velocities are in m s⁻¹.
- (a) A skater: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}8\\-5\end{pmatrix}\)
- (b) A drone: \(\mathbf{v} = 4\mathbf{i} + 7\mathbf{j} - 4\mathbf{k}\)
- (c) A kite: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}3\\-1\\5\end{pmatrix}\)
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Find the velocity vector of an object moving in the given direction at the given speed.
- (a) Direction \(\begin{pmatrix}8\\15\end{pmatrix}\), speed 51 m s⁻¹
- (b) Direction \(\mathbf{i} + 4\mathbf{j} + 8\mathbf{k}\), speed 27 m s⁻¹
- (c) A drone starts at the point (−4, 0, 9) and flies at 35 m s⁻¹ in the direction of \(6\mathbf{i} + 2\mathbf{j} + 3\mathbf{k}\). Write down its position vector at time \(t\) seconds.
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A particle moves with constant velocity \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}2\\-1.5\\0.5\end{pmatrix}\) m s⁻¹. At \(t = 0\) it is at the point (−3, 6, 2) (distances in metres, time in seconds).
- (a) Find the speed.
- (b) Write down an equation for the position vector at time t.
- (c) Does it pass through the point (5, 0, 4)? Give a reason.
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A weather balloon moves so that its position vector at time \(t\) seconds is \(\mathbf{r} = \begin{pmatrix}-2\\7\\4\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}3\\-2\\6\end{pmatrix}\), where distances are in metres.
- (a) Find the initial position of the object.
- (b) Find the speed of the object.
- (c) Find the distance of the object from the origin after 4 seconds.
In context
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Two balloons have position vectors \(\mathbf{r}_1 = \begin{pmatrix}2\\-4\\1\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}1\\3\\0.5\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2 = \begin{pmatrix}-5\\2\\4\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}2\\-1\\-0.5\end{pmatrix}\) at time \(t\) hours, where distances are in km. Find the distance between the balloons when \(t = 3\).
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Ship P starts at \(-12\mathbf{i} + 5\mathbf{j}\) km and moves with velocity \(6\mathbf{i} + 2\mathbf{j}\) km h⁻¹. Ship Q starts at \(3\mathbf{i} - 8\mathbf{j}\) km and moves with velocity \(\mathbf{i} - 3\mathbf{j}\) km h⁻¹. The unit vectors \(\mathbf{i}\) and \(\mathbf{j}\) point east and north.
- (a) Find expressions for the position vectors of P and Q after \(t\) hours.
- (b) Find the distance between P and Q after 2 hours.
- (c) Find the time at which P is due north of Q.
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Two submarines move in straight lines. Their position vectors at time \(t\) minutes are \(\mathbf{r}_1 = \begin{pmatrix}2\\-6\\8\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}2\\1\\-1\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2 = \begin{pmatrix}13\\-13\\0\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}-1\\2\\1\end{pmatrix}\).
- (a) Show that the paths cross, and find the point where they cross.
- (b) Show that the objects do not collide.
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Two particles move so that their position vectors at time \(t\) seconds are \(\mathbf{r}_1 = (1 + 3t)\mathbf{i} + (-2 + t)\mathbf{j} + (7 + 2t)\mathbf{k}\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2 = (9 - t)\mathbf{i} + (-4 + 2t)\mathbf{j} + (4 + 2t)\mathbf{k}\), where distances are in metres.
- (a) Find the speed of each particle.
- (b) Determine whether the particles meet.
Stretch
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Two helicopters search a coastline. Helicopter P starts at \(2\mathbf{i} - 8\mathbf{j}\) km and moves with velocity \(2\mathbf{i}\) km per minute. Helicopter Q starts at \(6\mathbf{i} + \mathbf{j}\) km and moves with velocity \(3\mathbf{i} - 3\mathbf{j}\) km per minute. The unit vectors \(\mathbf{i}\) and \(\mathbf{j}\) point east and north. Time \(t\) is in minutes.
- (a) Show that the distance between P and Q at time \(t\) is \(d = \sqrt{10t^2 - 46t + 97}\).
- (b) Use your calculator to find the least distance between them.
- (c) Find the time at which Q is due east of P.
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The position vectors of two drones at time \(t\) hours are \(\mathbf{r}_1 = \begin{pmatrix}1\\-2\\4\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}3\\2\\-1\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2 = \begin{pmatrix}5\\4\\-2\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}1\\-1\\2\end{pmatrix}\), with distances in km.
- (a) Show that the drones would collide, and find the position vector of the point of collision.
- (b) After 1 hour, the second drone changes its velocity to \(\begin{pmatrix}2\\0\\1\end{pmatrix}\) to avoid the collision. Find the distance between the two drones at the time they would have collided.
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Two hummingbirds move so that their position vectors at time \(t\) seconds are \(\mathbf{r}_1 = \begin{pmatrix}1\\2\\3.2\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}2\\1\\0.4\end{pmatrix}\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2 = \begin{pmatrix}7\\8\\0.5\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}0.5\\-0.5\\0.2\end{pmatrix}\), in metres. The base vectors \(\mathbf{i}\) and \(\mathbf{j}\) are in the horizontal plane and \(\mathbf{k}\) points upwards. Call them the first and second hummingbird.
- (a) Show that there is a time when the first hummingbird is vertically above the second hummingbird, and find this time.
- (b) Find the distance between them at that time.
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Distances are in kilometres and time in hours. A container ship moves with constant velocity \(36\mathbf{i}\) km h⁻¹ and at \(t = 0\) it is at the origin. A submarine is at the point (0, 0.6, −0.03) at \(t = 0\). It then moves with constant velocity in the direction of the vector \(30\mathbf{i} - 20\mathbf{j} + c\mathbf{k}\).
- (a) Given that the submarine reaches the container ship, find the value of \(c\).
- (b) Find the speed of the submarine.
jmaths.xyz · AI HL · AHL 4.12 Mixed practice: kinematics with constant velocity