Vectors Worksheet
1) What is the difference between a vector and a scalar quantity?
2) Identify 4 different types of vector measurements.
3) Fill in the blank: When an arrow is used to represent a vector measurement the length
of the arrow represents the ________________________ of the measurement, while the
the ________________________________ of the arrow shows the direction of the
vector.
4) Frank and Joe’s car broke down and they are pushing it to the service station. Frank is
able to push the car by himself giving it a velocity of 2.1 m/s forward. Joe can push the
car so that it rolls at 1.8 m/s forward. How fast can Frank and Joe push the car together?
a) Sketch a picture using vectors.
b) Answer the question. Show your work.
5) Vectors the point in the same direction are said to be __________________________.
6) The tug of war: The senior class is having a tug of war with the junior class. The
seniors are pulling with a force of 50,000 Newton’s (the unit of force is called a
“Newton”) toward the East. The juniors can only pull with a total of 48,000 N toward the
West.
b) Who wins the tug-of-war?
c) What is the net force on the center of the rope? Show your work.
7) Vectors that oppose each other, like in the tug-of-war scenario, are called anti__________________________.
8) Add the following vectors graphically (draw a picture) and numerically (get a number
and a direction).
a) 20 m/s North + 30 m/s North
b) 17 m East+14 m West+28 m East
c) 354 Newtons Northeast + 642 Newtons Southwest
9) When you add vectors you must take into account the direction of the measurement.
So, when you add vectors that are parallel you actually _______________ the
magnitudes of the vectors. But, when you add vectors that are anti-parallel you are
actually ______________________ the magnitudes of the vectors.
10) An airplane flies at 200 km/hour.
a) What is the velocity of the plane if it encounters a 50 km/h tailwind (wind blowing
from behind)?
b) What is the velocity of the plane if it encounters a 30 km/h headwind (wind blowing at
the nose of the plane)?
11) When adding vectors graphically (using a picture) you should always place the
vectors
_______________________ to _________________________
12) A river flows to the East. A boat wants to cross the river by driving directly North.
a) Sketch a picture
b) In what general direction does the boat actually go?
c) Why?
13) Add the following vectors graphically (draw a picture) and numerically (get a
number and a general direction). Show your work.
a) 25 Newtons South and 25 Newtons East
b) 32 m/s East and 56 m/s North
14) The quarterback at the football game cannot find any open receivers and hangs on to
the football too long. Two defensive linemen tackle him. The first lineman pulls him
East with a force of 35 Newtons. The second lineman pulls with a force of 20 Newtons
at an angle of 195 degrees. What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on
the quarterback?
15) You have found a treasure map! Mr. Boehringer has a secret hoard of chocolate
hidden away! The directions are as follows:
Start at the goal post in the football field North of the school.
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
30 meters East
10 meters Northwest
8 meters West
80 meters South
50 meters Southeast
Where do you end up relative to the goal post?
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
40 meters East
10 meters Southeast
75 meters Northeast
20 meters East
X marks the spot