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IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL · AHL 4: Vectors · AHL 4.12

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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

  1. 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.

    −112345246810eastnorthv
    1. (a) A ferry: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}4\\9\end{pmatrix}\)
    2. (b) A glider: \(\mathbf{v} = -7\mathbf{i} + 3\mathbf{j}\)
  2. Find the speed of each object. Give each answer exactly and to 3 significant figures. Velocities are in m s⁻¹.

    1. (a) A skater: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}8\\-5\end{pmatrix}\)
    2. (b) A drone: \(\mathbf{v} = 4\mathbf{i} + 7\mathbf{j} - 4\mathbf{k}\)
    3. (c) A kite: \(\mathbf{v} = \begin{pmatrix}3\\-1\\5\end{pmatrix}\)
  3. Find the velocity vector of an object moving in the given direction at the given speed.

    1. (a) Direction \(\begin{pmatrix}8\\15\end{pmatrix}\), speed 51 m s⁻¹
    2. (b) Direction \(\mathbf{i} + 4\mathbf{j} + 8\mathbf{k}\), speed 27 m s⁻¹
    3. (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.
  4. 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).

    1. (a) Find the speed.
    2. (b) Write down an equation for the position vector at time t.
    3. (c) Does it pass through the point (5, 0, 4)? Give a reason.
  5. 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.

    1. (a) Find the initial position of the object.
    2. (b) Find the speed of the object.
    3. (c) Find the distance of the object from the origin after 4 seconds.

In context

  1. 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 \(t = 3\).

  2. 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.

    1. (a) Find expressions for the position vectors of P and Q after \(t\) hours.
    2. (b) Find the distance between P and Q after 2 hours.
    3. (c) Find the time at which P is due north of Q.
  3. 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 \(\mathbf{r}_2 = \begin{pmatrix}13\\-13\\0\end{pmatrix} + t\begin{pmatrix}-1\\2\\1\end{pmatrix}\).

    1. (a) Show that the paths cross, and find the point where they cross.
    2. (b) Show that the objects do not collide.
  4. 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.

    1. (a) Find the speed of each particle.
    2. (b) Determine whether the particles meet.

Stretch

  1. 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.

    1. (a) Show that the distance between P and Q at time \(t\) is \(d = \sqrt{10t^2 - 46t + 97}\).
    2. (b) Use your calculator to find the least distance between them.
    3. (c) Find the time at which Q is due east of P.
  2. 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.

    1. (a) Show that the drones would collide, and find the position vector of the point of collision.
    2. (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.
  3. 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.

    1. (a) Show that there is a time when the first hummingbird is vertically above the second hummingbird, and find this time.
    2. (b) Find the distance between them at that time.
  4. 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 \(30\mathbf{i} - 20\mathbf{j} + c\mathbf{k}\).

    1. (a) Given that the submarine reaches the container ship, find the value of \(c\).
    2. (b) Find the speed of the submarine.

jmaths.xyz · AI HL · AHL 4.12 Mixed practice: kinematics with constant velocity