AQA AS Level Physics Paper 2, June 2023: Question 9

1 mark · Easy difficulty · Multiple Choice

Identify the correct resultant displacement vector when two displacement vectors P and Q are added together.

Practise this question

Question

Multiple choice question 09 showing two displacement vectors labelled P (pointing up and right) and Q (pointing horizontally to the right). Below, four options A, B, C, and D show different vector arrows with answer boxes next to each one. The student must determine the resultant displacement vector when P and Q are added.
Question text

09 P and Q represent displacements.

What is the resultant displacement when P and Q are added?

[1 mark]

A

B

C

D

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme Mark scheme for question 09 indicating the correct answer is D.

09 D

How to answer it

Vector Addition of Displacements

What this question tests

This question assesses your understanding of vector addition using the tip-to-tail method. You need to demonstrate that you can combine two displacement vectors by placing the tail of the second vector at the tip of the first vector, and drawing the resultant from the start to the finish.

Question 09

Resultant Displacement

✅ Correct Answer

D

Mark: 1 / 1

💡 Key Knowledge

  • Displacement is a vector quantity (it has both magnitude and direction).
  • Vectors cannot be added by simple scalar addition unless they act in the exact same line.
  • The tip-to-tail rule preserves both the magnitude and direction of individual vectors during addition.

🧠 Exam Technique

Mentally (or using a scrap piece of paper) redraw vector P, then take vector Q and place its tail at the arrow head (tip) of vector P. The resultant vector must start at the tail of P and end at the tip of Q, pointing upwards and to the right, exactly matching option D.

❌ Common Errors

  • Adding the tails together (tail-to-tail), which is used for finding components or resultants via parallelograms but easily misread if arrow directions aren't carefully tracked.
  • Reversing the direction of the arrow so it points backwards from tip to tail.
  • Confusing vector addition with vector subtraction (which would reverse the direction of vector Q).

Topics

Physics · 3.4 Mechanics and materials

Question and mark scheme from the AQA AS Level Physics examination, Paper 2, June 2023. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.