plumiVectors and components: OCR A‑Level Physics B questions
OCR A-Level Physics B past-paper questions on 4.2.1 Vectors and components, 2016–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q31(a)(ii)
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All 42 questions on Vectors and components, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q31(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use the grid in Fig 31.2 to draw the vectors for the horizontal and vertical components of the base jumper’s velocity 1.5 s after they have left the top of the
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following quantities are vectors? 1 displacement 2 speed 3 impulse A 1 only B 2 only C 1 and 3 only D All three Your answer [1]
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q21(a) (2 marks): Calculate the horizontal component of the tension T in the string. Horizontal component = N [2]
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the vertical component of the tension in the rope. vertical component = N [2]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): Which diagram shows the addition of three forces that have no resultant force? A B C D Your answer [1]
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (3 marks): On Fig. 3.1 draw arrows to represent the horizontal and vertical components of the ball’s velocity at time 2 s and use the diagram to calculate the magnitude of
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q8(a) (3 marks): The 500 g trolley moves with constant velocity along the slope when the 50 g mass is removed. Calculate the component of the weight of the 500 g trolley that ac
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Two scalar quantities are: A distance and acceleration B mass and potential energy C velocity and momentum D work done and force Your answer [1]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q12 (1 mark): A boat moves forwards at 5 m s–1 and is carried by the current at 3 m s–1 in a perpendicular direction. Calculate the resultant speed. 5 m s–1 3 m s–1 2.8 m s–1
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(a) (2 marks): The thrust force and the drag force on the rocket are shown in the diagram. State the resultant of these two forces. [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(b) (2 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the horizontal component of this resultant force. force = kN [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(c) (2 marks): Explain why the weight force has no effect on the horizontal acceleration. [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q1(a) (2 marks): Write down the horizontal and vertical components of velocity of the ball at the instant it is thrown. horizontal component, uH = m s–1 vertical component, uV =
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): Consider the situation represented in Fig. 8.2. An electron is travelling at 5.0 × 105 m s–1 at an angle of 25° to the direction of the magnetic field of streng
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q22(a) (1 mark): What is the magnitude of the vertical component of the lift force, L? magnitude of L = N [1]
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q22(b) (2 marks): The horizontal component of the tension is 5.8 N. Calculate the magnitude of the tension. tension T = N [2] The wind changes such that the direction of force L
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q22(c) (2 marks): Describe the changes in tension needed to keep the kite in equilibrium. [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q1(c) (2 marks): Calculate the angle θ with the horizontal at which the fragment hits the ground. angle = ° [2]
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the values of the velocity components of the corpuscle in the x- and y-directions just before it enters the glass block. component parallel to the vac
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): As the corpuscle enters the glass, due to an interaction with the vacuum-glass boundary it experiences a force into the glass perpendicular to the boundary, as
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): A car of mass 1100 kg moves up a hill of gradient 25°. F 25° The force F is a component of the weight of the car. What is the value of F, to 2 significant figur
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q6(b) (2 marks): Fig. 6.2 shows the trajectory of the lunar module as it left the surface of the Moon. 20 lunar module vertical enters orbit displacement around Moon from surfac
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which vector alters only the magnitude of the velocity? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q8 (1 mark): Which vector alters only the direction of the velocity? Your answer [1]
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q37(a)(ii) (1 mark): The initial horizontal and vertical components of the velocity are both 100 m s−1. Show that the size of the initial projection velocity v is about 140 m s−1. [
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why, for small angle θ of deflection, F can be given by the expression F ≈ – Tsx L . [2]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q17 (1 mark): An aircraft is flying with a velocity of 35 m s–1 westwards, relative to the air. A wind from the south pushes the aircraft northwards at a velocity of 12 m s–1
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q5(a) (3 marks): Calculate the acceleration a of the trolley along the ramp. a = m s–2 [3]
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A boat travels eastwards with a velocity of 12 m s−1. 5 A current from the south pushes the boat northwards at a velocity of 5 m s−1. 5 m s–1 12 m s–1 What is t
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q25 (1 mark): The diagram shows two boats P and Q sailing at constant velocity towards the finish line. finish line P 30° 7 m s–1 5 m s–1 45° Q 500 m Which statement is corre
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q41(b)(i) (4 marks): Show that the resultant force F on the third proton is about 4 # 10−10 N in the direction shown. Explain your reasoning. You may include a diagram in your answe
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q15 (1 mark): A force vector, F, is resolved into a vertical component Fy and a horizontal component Fx. The diagram is not to scale. Fy F 55° Fx = 5.0 N What is the magnitud
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q22 (3 marks): Tom runs on the circular track of radius 24 m shown in Fig. 22. He starts at point X and stops at point Y, which is one-quarter of the way around the track. Y N
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q23(a) (1 mark): Fig. 23 shows a weight vector W acting on a climber on an ice slope. The slope is at 50° to the horizontal. climber slope 50° W Fig. 23 Add to Fig. 23 two vecto
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q23(b) (2 marks): The climber of weight W = 600 N is held in equilibrium by a rope parallel to the slope. Calculate the magnitude of the tension in the rope. magnitude of tension
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which pair contains one vector and one scalar quantity? A velocity acceleration B displacement force C kinetic energy work done D momentum distance Your answer
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q11 (1 mark): The three forces in this vector diagram act in one plane on an object P. 3 N P 4 N 6 N What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant? A 1 N 5 B 1 N 3 C 1
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q3(c) (4 marks): A constant force of 300 N strikes the sail of a land yacht at an angle of 50° to the direction of motion of the vehicle as shown in Fig. 3.2. The mass of the ya
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): The diagram shows a block with weight W at rest on an inclined surface. The frictional force, F, prevents the block from sliding. N is the normal contact force.
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q13 (1 mark): A boat is travelling eastwards across the sea with a velocity of 12 m s–1. A wind from the south pushes the boat northwards at a velocity of 5 m s–1. 5 m s–1 12
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q25(b) (2 marks): Calculate the magnitude of T2 when θ = 35°. T2 = N [2]
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q25(c) (1 mark): Calculate the magnitude of H when θ = 35°. H = N [1]
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