Question 1

The speed-time graph shown is for a car moving in a straight line.

15
speed
m/s

10

0
0 20 40 60 80
time/s

What is the acceleration of the car when the time is 40s?

A 0 m / s2 B 15 − 3 2 15 2
D (15 – 3) m / s 2
m/s C m/s
40 40

 Remember that on a Speed vs Time graph, the gradient of the

line gives the instantaneous acceleration of the car.

 Find the slope of the graph at 𝑡 = 40𝑠

2
Question 2

Two runners take part in a race.

The graph shows how the speed of each runner changes with time.

What does the graph show about the runners at time t ?

A. Both runners are moving at the same speed.

 At 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 = 𝑡, both runners have the same speed, as the graphs cross, hence

answer A is correct

 Answer B is incorrect – Runner 1 has CONSTANT acceleration

 Answer C is incorrect – you are not given any information about the relative

positions of the two runners

 Answer D is incorrect – Runner 2 is NOT slowing down, but accelerating at a

decreasing rate, which is not the same thing.

3
Question 3

A car travels along a straight road.

The speed-time graph for this journey is shown.

During which labelled part of the journey is the resultant force on the car zero?

speed
C
B
D

0
0 time

 Remember that on a Speed vs Time graph, the gradient (slope) of the line

gives the instantaneous acceleration of the car.

 A ZERO resultant Force is only possible if the acceleration is also ZERO.

 Look for a portion of the graph with ZERO slope (a horizontal line)

 Alternatively, look for a portion of the graph there is NO CHANGE IN

SPEED over time.

 Hence B is correct

 Answers A and C are incorrect – the car is accelerating

 Answer D is incorrect, the car is decelerating (undergoing negative

acceleration)

4
Question 4

A large stone is dropped from a bridge into a river. Air resistance can be ignored.

Which row describes the acceleration and the speed of the stone as it falls?

acceleration speed of
of the stone the stone

A constant constant
B constant increasing
C increasing constant
D increasing increasing

 Understand that this question deals with acceleration due to gravity.

 Remember that the acceleration due to gravity is constant, regardless of

the mass of the object. You can disregard Answers C and D

 An object that undergoes acceleration will experience a constant

increase in speed. You can disregard Answer A.

5
Question 5

Below are four statements about acceleration.

Which statement is not correct?

A. Acceleration always involves changing speed.

 Remember that acceleration is defined as EITHER a change in speed or a

change in direction

 The STATEMENT in answer A is incorrect, as acceleration may involve a

change of direction at a constant speed. This is the correct answer.

 All of the other statements about acceleration are true

6
Question 6

An object moves at a constant speed for some time, then begins to accelerate.

Which distance-time graph shows this motion?

distance distance

0 0
0 time 0 time

C D

distance distance

0 0
0 time 0 time

 Remember the following principles for distance-time graphs:

o A horizontal line implies ZERO speed

o A straight line with a positive slope implies a constant speed

o A straight line with a negative slope implies a constant speed, but in the in

the opposite direction, so you can disregard answers A and B.

o the gradient/slope of the graph gives the instantaneous speed.

7
Question 7

A heavy object is released near the surface of the Earth and falls freely. Air resistance can be
ignored.

Which statement about the acceleration of the object due to gravity is correct?
A The acceleration depends on the mass of the object. B
The acceleration depends on the volume of the object.
C The acceleration is constant.

D The acceleration is initially zero and increases as the object falls.

 Remember that the acceleration due to gravity is constant, regardless of the mass of the

object. You can disregard Answers A, B and D

9
Question 8

A car moves with constant speed and then constant acceleration.

A B C D

speed speed speed speed

0 0 0 0
0 time 0 time 0 time 0 time

 On a Speed vs Time graph, the gradient (slope) of the line gives the

instantaneous acceleration of the car.

 Constant speed means zero acceleration. This is represented as a horizontal

line on a speed-time graph.

 Constant acceleration is represented as a straight line with a positive slope on

a speed vs. time graph

 Hence answer C is correct

10
Question 9

A car travels 100 km. The journey takes two hours. The highest speed of the car is 80 km / h, and
the lowest speed is 40 km / h.

What is the average speed for the journey?

A 40 km / h B 50 km / h C 60 km / h D 120km / h

 Average Speed is calculated using the Total Distance and Total Time taken.

 Hence: 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝒌𝒎/𝟐 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔) = 𝟓𝟎𝒌𝒎/𝒉

 Hence answer B is correct

11
Question 12 .

The graph represents the motion of a car.

20
speed m
/s

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
time / s

What is the distance travelled by the car while it is moving at a constant speed?

A 100 m B 150 m C 250 m D 300 m

 Remember that on a Speed vs Time graph, the gradient (slope) of the line gives

the instantaneous acceleration of the car.

 When the car is travelling at a constant speed, it has NO acceleration; you need

to consider the part of the graph where the line is HORIZONTAL

 Use the formula triangle to develop a formula for distance, in terms of speed and

time

 Hence, 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 = 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅 × 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 = 𝟏𝟎𝒎/𝒔 × 𝟐𝟓 − 𝟏𝟓 𝒔 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝒎

 Alternatively, you can use the fact that the area under a Speed vs Time graph

gives the distance travelled to determine the same answer

14
Question 13

A car travels along the route PQRST in 30 minutes.

5km
Q 10km

T
5km
10km

R
P

What is the average speed of the car?

A 10 km / hour B 20 km / hour C 30 km / hour D 60 km / hour

 Use the formula triangle to develop a formula for distance, in terms of speed and

time

 Hence, 𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒/𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒

 Remember that the Average Speed is calculated using the Total Distance and Total

Time taken.

 Hence: 𝑺𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒅 = (𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒎 + 𝟓𝒌𝒎 + 𝟏𝟎𝒌𝒎 + 𝟓𝒌𝒎)/(𝟑𝟎 ÷ 𝟔𝟎) = 𝟔𝟎𝒌𝒎/𝒉

EXAM TIP: UNITS

The question uses the unit of minutes for time, BUT the answers require speed to be

given in kilometres per HOUR. You must first convert the minutes into hours BEFORE

calculating the speed.

16