1.1.7 Resultant Vectors - Calculations
21 Exam-Style Questions | Papers 2, 4 & 6 | Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625
Paper 2 Focus
Multiple Choice Questions testing rapid calculation skills and rule checking. Time pressure: ~1 minute per question.
Two forces act on an object in the same direction: 15 N and 25 N. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?
A force of 30 N acts to the right and a force of 18 N acts to the left on the same object. What is the resultant force?
A boat travels at 5 m/s east and the current flows at 3 m/s north. The magnitude of the resultant velocity is closest to:
Two forces of 8 N and 6 N act at right angles to each other. Which formula gives the magnitude of the resultant?
A vector diagram shows two forces meeting at a point. The resultant is drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the second. This method is called:
Two perpendicular forces of 12 N and 5 N act on a box. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?
A force of 9 N acts horizontally and a force of 12 N acts vertically on the same object. The direction of the resultant force relative to the horizontal is closest to:
🎯 Key Exam Skills Summary
Paper 2 Skills
- • Quick mental math
- • Rule recognition (same/opposite/perpendicular)
- • Distractor analysis
- • Formula identification
Paper 4 Skills
- • Show ALL working
- • Clear vector diagrams
- • Correct formula statements
- • Use mark scheme keywords
Paper 6 Skills
- • Accurate scale drawing
- • Precise measurement (±0.1 cm)
- • Error analysis
- • Compare graphical vs calculated
⚠️ Common Examiner Traps
- • Trap 1: Adding perpendicular vectors directly (must use Pythagoras!)
- • Trap 2: Forgetting direction in final answer (magnitude AND direction required)
- • Trap 3: Using tan⁻¹(adjacent/opposite) instead of tan⁻¹(opposite/adjacent)
- • Trap 4: Not stating scale in Paper 6 (automatic mark loss!)
- • Trap 5: Drawing vectors tail-to-tail instead of head-to-tail
Keep reading — this lesson marks itself done automatically.