[In this question, the unit vectors i and j are due east and due north respectively - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Mechanics - Question 7 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 7
[In this question, the unit vectors i and j are due east and due north respectively. Position vectors are relative to a fixed origin O.]
A boat P is moving with c... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:[In this question, the unit vectors i and j are due east and due north respectively - Edexcel - A-Level Maths Mechanics - Question 7 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
Calculate the speed of P.
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Answer
To find the speed of boat P, we use the formula for speed given by the magnitude of the velocity vector: Speed=(−4)2+(8)2 km h−1
This simplifies to: Speed=16+64=80 km h−1
Thus, the speed of P is approximately 8.94 km h⁻¹.
Step 2
Write down p in terms of t.
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Answer
The position vector p of boat P as it moves over time can be expressed as:
p = (2i - 8j) + t(-4i + 8j)
This gives:
p = [2 - 4t]i + [-8 + 8t]j.
Step 3
Find the value of t when P is due west of Q.
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Answer
Boat P is due west of boat Q when their respective j-components are equal.
From the position vector of Q:
q = (18 - 6)i + (12 - 8)j
This can be simplified to:
q = 12i + 4j.
Setting the j-components equal gives: −8+8t=4
Solving for t: 8t=12 t=812=23=1.5 hours.
Step 4
Find the distance between P and Q when P is due west of Q.
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Answer
Using the calculated value of t from part (c), we substitute t = 1.5 into the position vector for P:
p = [2 - 4(1.5)]i + [-8 + 8(1.5)]j
This simplifies to:
p = [-4]i + [4]j.
Now we can find the position of Q at t = 1.5:
q = 12i + 4j.
To find the distance between P and Q: Distance=((−4−12)2+(4−4)2)=(−16)2=16 km.