Lesson 3.4.1.1

3.4.1.1 Scalars and vectors Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.4.1.1, Scalars and vectors: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Physics (7408), Unit 4: Mechanics and materials, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which of these is a scalar quantity?

    • force
    • mass
    • velocity
    • acceleration

  2. Which of these is a vector quantity?

    • mass
    • energy
    • velocity
    • speed

  3. Three coplanar forces are in equilibrium. How are the force vectors arranged when added head to tail?

    • They form a closed triangle
    • They all meet at a right angle
    • They are parallel to each other
    • They form a straight line

  4. What does equilibrium mean for an object moving at constant velocity?

    • It has a non-zero resultant force in its direction of motion
    • It is accelerating uniformly
    • It has zero mass
    • The resultant force on it is zero

  5. What is the resultant of two perpendicular forces of 3 N and 4 N?

    • 12 N
    • 5 N
    • 7 N
    • 1 N

  6. Why are resolved components at right angles useful?

    • They allow vectors to be added or solved using simple trigonometry
    • They always cancel out
    • They make forces scalars
    • They remove the need for any force

  7. A 10 N force acts at 30 degrees above the horizontal. What is its horizontal component?

    • 5.0 N
    • 11.5 N
    • 8.0 N
    • 8.7 N

  8. A 10 N force acts at 30 degrees above the horizontal. What is its vertical component?

    • 7.5 N
    • 8.7 N
    • 5.0 N
    • 3.0 N

  9. A 100 N weight rests on a smooth slope at 30 degrees. What is the component of weight along the slope?

    • 25 N
    • 87 N
    • 100 N
    • 50 N

  10. A 100 N weight rests on a smooth slope at 30 degrees. What is the component of weight perpendicular to the slope?

    • 100 N
    • 50 N
    • 87 N
    • 25 N

  11. An object moves at 6 m/s east and 8 m/s north. What is its resultant speed?

    • 2 m/s
    • 10 m/s
    • 48 m/s
    • 14 m/s

  12. Forces of 3 N and 4 N act at right angles on a point. What third force gives equilibrium?

    • 1 N, perpendicular to both
    • 3 N, at 90 degrees to both
    • 7 N, in the same direction as the resultant
    • 5 N, opposite to the resultant

  13. A runner completes one lap of a 400 m circular track and returns to the start. What is the displacement?

    • 800 m
    • 0
    • 200 m
    • 400 m

  14. Why is speed different from velocity?

    • Velocity is always larger than speed
    • Velocity includes direction, while speed does not
    • Speed is always negative
    • Speed includes direction, while velocity does not

  15. Which best describes acceleration?

    • The rate of change of speed, which is a scalar
    • The displacement divided by time
    • The rate of change of velocity, which is a vector
    • The force divided by mass squared

  16. A ball changes velocity from 5 m/s east to 5 m/s west. What is the change in velocity?

    • 5 m/s west
    • 10 m/s west
    • 0 m/s
    • 10 m/s east

  17. Forces of 6 N east, 6 N west and 2 N north act on a body. What is the state of the body?

    • In equilibrium, since the north force is small
    • Moving east at 2 m/s
    • In equilibrium, since the east and west forces cancel
    • Not in equilibrium, with a resultant of 2 N north

  18. Two forces of 2 N east and 2 N north act on a particle in equilibrium. What third force is needed?

    • 2.0 N towards the south
    • 2.8 N towards the south-west
    • 2.8 N towards the north-east
    • 4.0 N towards the south-west

  19. What is the direction of the resultant of 3 N north and 4 N east, measured from the east?

    • 37 degrees
    • 53 degrees
    • 25 degrees
    • 45 degrees

  20. Which statement about weight as a vector is correct?

    • It acts upward from the ground
    • It acts vertically downward
    • It has no direction
    • It acts horizontally

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