Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Executive
Preview

Physics

E
for the IB Diploma

PL
MULTI-COMPONENT SAMPLE
M
SA

Seventh edition Digital Access

Together with IB teachers

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Dear Teacher,

E
Welcome to the new edition of our Physics for the IB Diploma series, providing full support
for the new course for examination from 2025. This new series has been designed to flexibly
meet all of your teaching needs, including extra support for the new assessment.
This preview will help you understand how the coursebook, the workbook and the teacher’s
resource work together to best meet the needs of your classroom, timetable and students.

PL
This Executive Preview contains sample content from the series, including:
• A guide explaining how to use the series
A guide explaining how to use each resource
In developing this new edition, we carried out extensive global research with IB Physics
teachers – through lesson observations, interviews and work on the Cambridge Panel, our
online teacher research community. Teachers just like you have helped our experienced
authors shape these new resources, ensuring that they meet the real teaching needs of the
IB Physics classroom.
The coursebook has been specifically written to support English as a second language
learners with key subject words, glossary definitions in context and accessible language
M
throughout. We have also provided new features that help with active learning, assessment for
learning and student reflection. Numerous exam-style questions with answers in the digital
coursebook, which accompanies the print coursebook, ensure your students feel confident
approaching the assessment and have all the tools they need to succeed in their examination.
Core to the series is the brand-new digital teacher’s resource. It will help you support your
learners and confidently teach to the new IB Physics guide, whether you are new to teaching
SA

the subject or more experienced. For each topic there are lesson ideas and activities,
common misconceptions to look out for, worksheets, PowerPoint presentations, answers
to the coursebook, extra wrap-up activities and more. Also included is a practical guide to
help your students develop their academic writing.
Please take five minutes to find out how our resources will support you and your learners.
To view the full series, you can visit our website or speak to your local sales representative.
You can find their contact details here:
cambridge.org/gb/education/find-your-sales-consultant
Best wishes,
Micaela Inderst
Senior Commissioning Editor for the IB Diploma
Cambridge University Press

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

How to use this series

This suite of resources supports students and teachers of the IB Physics Diploma course.
All of the books in the series work together to help students develop the necessary knowledge
and scientific skills required for this subject.

E
The coursebook with digital access provides full coverage of the
latest IB Physics Diploma course.
Physics
for the IB Diploma
It clearly explains facts, concepts and practical techniques, and
COURSEBOOK uses real world examples of scientific principles. A wealth of
K. A. Tsokos
formative questions within each chapter help students develop

Seventh edition Digital Access

The workbook with digital access builds upon the

coursebook with digital access with further exercises
Together with IB teachers
PL
their understanding, and own their learning. A dedicated
chapter in the digital coursebook helps teachers and students
unpack the new assessment, while exam-style questions provide
essential practice and self-assessment. Answers are provided on
Cambridge GO, supporting self-study and home-schooling.

Physics
M
and exam-style questions, carefully constructed to for the IB Diploma
WORKBOOK
help students develop the skills that they need as Mark Farrington

they progress through their IB Physics Diploma

course. The exercises also help students develop
understanding of the meaning of various command
words used in questions, and provide practice in
responding appropriately to these.
SA

Second edition Digital Access

Together with IB teachers

The Teacher’s resource supports and enhances the coursebook

Physics with digital access and the workbook with digital access.
for the IB Diploma This resource includes teaching plans, overviews of required
background knowledge, learning objectives and success criteria,
common misconceptions, and a wealth of ideas to support lesson
planning and delivery, assessment and differentiation. It also
includes editable worksheets for vocabulary support and exam
practice (with answers) and exemplar PowerPoint presentations,
to help plan and deliver the best teaching.

Digital Teacher’s Resource

Together with IB teachers

4
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Physics

E
for the IB Diploma

PL COURSEBOOK

K. A. Tsokos
M
SA

Seventh edition Digital Access

Together with IB teachers

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

Contents
How to use this series vi 6 Relativity128
6.1 Reference frames and Lorentz
How to use this book vii
transformations129
Unit A Space, time and motion 1 6.2 Effects of relativity 137
6.3 Spacetime diagrams 146

E
1 Kinematics2
Unit B The particulate nature
1.1 Displacement, distance,
speed and velocity 3 of matter 159
1.2 Uniformly accelerated motion:
the equations of kinematics 7 7 Thermal energy transfers 160
1.3
1.4

2.1
2.2
2.3
Graphs of motion
Projectile motion

2 Forces and Newton’s laws

PL
Forces and their direction
Newton’s laws of motion
Circular motion

3 Work, energy and power

30

63
16
20

31
40
53
7.1
7.2

7.3
Particles, temperature and energy
Specific heat capacity and
change of phase
Thermal energy transfer

8 The greenhouse effect

8.1
8.2

9 The gas laws

Radiation from real bodies
Energy balance of the Earth
161

165
172

179
180
184

192
M
3.1 Work64
9.1 Moles, molar mass and the
3.2 Conservation of energy 72
Avogadro constant 193
3.3 Power and efficiency 80
9.2 Ideal gases 195
3.4 Energy transfers 82
9.3 The Boltzmann equation 203
4 Linear momentum 87 10 Thermodynamics209
SA

4.1 Newton’s second law in terms

10.1 Internal energy 210
of momentum 88
10.2 The first law of thermodynamics 215
4.2 Impulse and force–time graphs 90
10.3 The second law of thermodynamics 222
4.3 Conservation of momentum 93
10.4 Heat engines 228
4.4 Kinetic energy and momentum 96
4.5 Two-dimensional collisions 100 11 Current and circuits 236
5 Rigid body mechanics 105 11.1 Potential difference,
current and resistance 237
5.1 Kinematics of rotational motion 106
11.2 Voltage, power and emf 243
5.2 Rotational equilibrium and
11.3 Resistors in electrical circuits 246
Newton’s second law 109
11.4 Terminal potential difference
5.3 Angular momentum 122
and the potential divider 259

6
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Contents

Unit C Wave behaviour 269 19 Motion in electric and

magnetic fields 422
12 Simple harmonic motion 270 19.1 Motion in an electric field 423
12.1 Simple harmonic oscillations 271 19.2 Motion in a magnetic field 427
12.2 Details of simple harmonic motion 279
12.3 Energy in simple harmonic motion 285 20 Electromagnetic induction 434
12.4 More about energy in SHM 287 20.1 Electromagnetic induction  435
20.2 Generators and alternating current 449
13 The wave model 292
13.1 Mechanical pulses and waves 293 Unit E Atomic, quantum

E
13.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves 296 and nuclear physics 455
13.3 Electromagnetic waves 304
13.4 Waves extension 305 21 Atomic physics 456
21.1 The structure of the atom 457
14 Wave phenomena 307 21.2 Quantisation of angular momentum 463
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5

15.1
15.2
Multiple slits

15 Standing waves and resonance

Standing waves
PL
Reflection and refraction
The principle of superposition
Diffraction and interference
Single-slit diffraction

Standing waves on strings

308
314
317
324
328

335
336
337
22 Quantum physics
22.1
22.2
Photons and the photoelectric effect
Matter waves

23 Nuclear physics
23.1
23.2
23.3
Mass defect and binding energy
Radioactivity492
Nuclear properties and
485
468
469
479

484
M
the radioactive decay law 500
15.3 Standing waves in pipes 340
15.4 Resonance and damping 346 24 Nuclear fission 512
16 The Doppler effect 352 24.1 Nuclear fission 513

16.1 The Doppler effect at low speeds 353 25 Nuclear fusion and stars 520
16.2 The Doppler effect for sound 357
25.1 Nuclear fusion 521
SA

Unit D Fields 363 25.2 Stellar properties and

the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram 522
17 Gravitation364 25.3 Stellar evolution extension 529
17.1 Newton’s law of gravitation 365
Glossary535
17.2 Gravitational potential and energy 372
17.3 Motion in a gravitational field 379 Index000

18 Electric and magnetic fields 390 Acknowledgements000

18.1 Electric charge, force and field 391
18.2 Magnetic field and force 401
18.3 Electrical potential and
electrical potential energy 412

7
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

How to use this book

How to use this book

Throughout this book, you will find lots of different features that will help your learning. These are explained below.

UNIT INTRODUCTION
A unit is made up of a number of chapters. The key concepts for each unit are covered throughout
the chapters.

E
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Each chapter in the book begins with a list of learning objectives. These set the scene for each chapter,
help with navigation through the coursebook and indicate the important concepts in each topic.
•

GUIDING QUESTIONS
PL
A bulleted list at the beginning of each section clearly shows the learning objectives for the section.

This feature contains questions and activities on

subject knowledge you will need before starting
this chapter.

Links
EXAM TIPS
These short hints contain useful information that
will help you tackle the tasks in the exam.

SCIENCE IN CONTEXT
M
These are a mix of questions and explanation that refer This feature presents real-world examples
to other chapters or sections of the book. and applications of the content in a chapter,
encouraging you to look further into topics.
You will note that some of these features end
The content in this book is divided into Standard and
with questions intended to stimulate further
Higher Level material. A vertical line runs down the
thinking, prompting you to consider some of the
margin of all Higher Level material, allowing you to
benefits and problems of these applications.
easily identify Higher Level from Standard material.
SA

Key terms are highlighted in orange bold font at their

first appearance in the book so you can immediately
recognise them. At the end of the book, there is a NATURE OF SCIENCE
glossary that defines all the key terms.
Nature of Science is an overarching theme of the
IB Physics Diploma course. The theme examines
the processes and concepts that are central to
KEY POINTS
scientific endeavour, and how science serves and
This feature contains important key learning connects with the wider community. Throughout
points (facts) and/or equations to reinforce your the book, there are ‘Nature of Science’ features
understanding and engagement. that discuss particular concepts or discoveries from
the point of view of one or more aspects of Nature
of Science.

9
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

This section stimulates thought about critical These questions appear within each chapter
thinking and how we can say we know what we and help you develop your understanding.
claim to know. You will note that some of these The questions can be used as the basis for class
features end with questions intended to get you discussions or homework assignments. If you
thinking and discussing these important Theory can answer these questions, it means you have
of Knowledge issues. understood the important points of a section.

INTERNATIONAL MINDEDNESS WORKED EXAMPLE

E
Throughout this Physics for the IB Diploma Many worked examples appear throughout the text
course, the international mindedness feature to help you understand how to tackle different types
highlights international concerns. Science is a truly of questions.
international endeavour, being practised across
all continents, frequently in international or even
REFLECTION

globally implemented solutions.

CHECK YOURSELF
PL
global partnerships. Many problems that science
aims to solve are international and will require

These appear throughout the text so you can

check your progress and become familiar with
the important points of a section. Answers can be
found at the back of the book.
These questions appear at the end of each
chapter. The purpose is for you as a learner
to reflect on the development of your skills
proficiency and your progress against the
objectives. The reflection questions are intended
to encourage your critical thinking and inquiry-
based learning.
M
EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS
Exam-style questions at the end of each chapter provide essential practice and self-assessment. These are
signposted in the print coursebook and can be found in the digital version of the coursebook.
SA

SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST
These appear at the end of each chapter/section as a series of statements. You might find it helpful to rate how
confident you are for each of these statements when you are revising. You should revisit any topics that you rated
‘Needs more work’ or ‘Almost there’.

students unpack the new assessment and model exam

Free online material specimen papers. Additionally, answers to the Exam-style
question and Test your understanding are also available.
Additional material to support the Physics for the IB
Diploma course is available online. Visit Cambridge GO and register to access
these resources.
This includes Assessment guidance—a dedicated
chapter in the digital coursebook helps teachers and

10
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Unit A

Space, time

E
and motion PL
M
INTRODUCTION
This unit deals with Classical Mechanics. The basic concepts that we will use include position in space,
displacement (change in position), mass, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, energy and of course
time. These concepts, the relations between them and the laws they give rise to are discussed in the first
five chapters. This incredible structure that began with Newton's work detailed in his Principia is also called
Newtonian Mechanics. The Newtonian view of the world has passed every conceivable experimental test
SA

both on a local terrestrial scale as well as on a much larger scale when it is applied to the motion of celestial
bodies. It is the theory upon which much of engineering is based with daily practical applications.
Of course, no theory of Physics can be considered “correct” no matter how many experimental tests it
passes. The possibility always exists that new phenomena, new observations and new experiments may lead
to discrepancies with the theory. In that case it may be necessary to modify the theory or even abandon it
completely in favour of a new theory that explains the old as well as the new phenomena.
This is the case, too, with Newtonian Mechanics. In chapter 6 of this unit we will see that the Newtonian
concepts of space and time need to be revised in situations where the speeds involved approach the speed
of light. This is not to say that Newtonian Mechanics is useless; the theory of relativity that replaces it, does
becomes Newtonian Mechanics in the limit of speeds that are small compared to that of light. Laws that have
been derived with Newtonian Mechanics such as the conservation of energy, the conservation of momentum
and the conservation of angular momentum also hold in the theories that replace Newtonian Mechanics. There
is another limit in which Newtonian Mechanics is unable to describe observed phenomena. This is the physics
on a very small, atomic and nuclear scale. At these scales Newtonian Mechanics fails completely to describe
the observed phenomena and needs to be replaced by a new theory, Quantum Mechanics.

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Chapter 1

Kinematics

E
PL
M
SA

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this chapter you will:
• learn the difference between displacement and distance
• learn the difference between speed and velocity
• learn the concept of acceleration
• learn how to analyse graphs describing motion
• learn how to solve motion problems using the equations for constant acceleration
• learn how to describe the motion of a projectile
• gain a qualitative understanding of the effects of a fluid resistance force on motion
• gain an understanding of the concept of terminal speed.

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

If the line is horizontal, we use the symbol x to represent

GUIDING QUESTIONS the coordinate and position. If the line is vertical, we use
the symbol y. In general, for an arbitrary line, we use a
• Which equations are used to describe generic symbol, s, for position. So, in Figure 1.1, x = 6 m,
the motion of an object? y = −4 m, s = 0 and y = 4 m. It is up to us to decide
• How does graphical analysis help us to which side of zero we call positive and which side of
describe motion? zero we call negative; the decision is arbitrary.

b
y/m

Introduction –4
–3

E
This chapter introduces the basic concepts used to –2
describe motion. –1
First, we consider motion in a straight line with 0
constant velocity. We then discuss motion with constant 1
acceleration. Knowledge of uniformly accelerated 2
motion allows us to analyse more complicated motions,
such as the motion of projectiles.

1.1 Displacement,
distance, speed
and velocity
PL
We use graphical analysis when acceleration is
not constant.
a

c
–4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 x/m

s/m
d
y/m
3
4

4
3
2
1
0
M
–4
–3

–1
–2
–1

Straight line motion in one dimension means that the –2

0

particle that moves is constrained to move along a –3

1
2

straight line. The position of the particle is then given –4

3
4

by its coordinate on the straight line (Figure 1.1).

Position is a vector quantity—this is important when Figure 1.1: The position of a particle is determined by the
SA

discussing projectile motion but, while discussing coordinate on the number line.
motion on a straight line, we can just express position as
a positive or a negative number since here the vector can
The change in position is called displacement,
only point in one direction or the opposite.
Δs = sfinal − sinitial. Displacement is a vector.

13
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

Table 1.1 shows four different motions. Make sure you Distance is a scalar quantity but displacement is a
understand how to calculate the displacement and that vector quantity.
you understand the direction of motion.
Numerically, they are different if there is a change of
direction, as in Figure 1.2.
Initial Final Displacement Direction
position position of motion As the particle moves on the straight line its position
changes. In uniform motion in equal intervals of time,
12 m 28m +16 m Towards the position changes by the same amount.
increasing s
−6 m −14 m −8 m Towards For uniform motion the velocity, v, of the particle is
decreasing s the displacement divided by the time to achieve that
​ ​Δs
displacement: v = __ Δt
 ​​.
10 m −5 m −15 m Towards

E
decreasing s The average speed is the total distance travelled divided
by the time taken.
−20 m −15 +5 m Towards
increasing s Assume that the first motion in Figure 1.2 took 4.0 s to
​​ 20  ​​= 5.0 m ​​s​​  −1​​. The average
complete. The velocity is ___
Table 1.1: Four different motions. 4.0
speed is the same since the distance travelled is

Consider the two motions shown in Figure 1.2.

at −4 m and continues to its final position at 16 m.

The displacement is:
Δs = ​​s​ final​​​  − ​​sinitial

followed (20 m).

​  ​​​= 16 − (− 4) = 20 m PL
In the first motion, the particle leaves its initial position

The distance travelled is the actual length of the path

In the second motion, the particle leaves its initial

also 20 m.

Assume the second motion took 6.0 s to complete.

− 8.0 ​​ = − 1.3 m ​​s​​  −1​​and the average
The velocity is ​​ ____
6.0
​​  24  ​​ = 4.0 m ​​s​​  −1​​. So, in uniform motion,
speed is ___
6.0
average speed and velocity are not the same when there
is change in direction.
This implies that for uniform motion:
s − ​s​  ​​
v = ​​ ______  ​​
initial
t−0
M
position at 12 m, arrives at position 20 m and then
comes back to its final position at 4 m. which can be re-arranged to give:
s = ​​s​ initial​​​  + vt
(Notice how we use s for final position, rather than ​​s​ f​​​ or ​​
–4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 s /m
s​ final​​​, and we will write si for ​​s​ initial​​​ for simplicity). So for
motion with constant velocity:
SA

s = ​​s​ i​​​  + vt

–4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 s /m
EXAM TIP
Figure 1.2
This formula can only be used when the velocity
The second motion is an example of motion with is constant.
changing direction. The change in the position of this
particle (its displacement) is:
This formula gives, in uniform motion, the position s of
Δs = ​​s​ final​​​  − ​​sinitial
​  ​​​= 4 − 12 = − 8 m the moving object t seconds after time zero, given that
the constant velocity is v and the initial position is ​​s​ i​​​.
But the distance travelled by the particle (the length of
the path) is 8 m in the outward trip and 16 m on the
return trip, making a total distance of 24 m. So, we must
be careful to distinguish distance from displacement:

14
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

This means that a graph of position against time is

a straight line and the graph of velocity against time
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.1
is a horizontal straight line (Figure 1.3). Two cyclists, A and B, start moving at the same time.
The initial position of A is 0 km and her velocity is
s +20 km h−1. The initial position of B is 150 km away
from A and he cycles at a velocity of −30 km h−1.

∆s a D
 etermine the time and position at which they
will meet.
∆t
b W
 hat is the displacement of each cyclist when
∆s
they meet?

E
∆t c O
 n another occasion the same experiment is
performed but this time B starts 1 h after A.
When will they meet?
0 t
Answer
Velocity

0
PL Time
a T
 he position of A is given by the formula
sA = 0 + 20t.
The position of B is given by the formula
sB = 150 − 30t.
 hey will meet when they are at the same
T
position, i.e. when sA = sB. This implies:
20t = 150 − 30t
50t = 150
t = 3.0 h
M
Figure 1.3: In uniform motion the graph of position against
The common position is found from either
time is a straight line with non-zero gradient. The graph of
velocity against time is a horizontal straight line. sA = 20 × 3.0 = 60 km or sB = 150 − 30 × 3.0 =
60 km.
Positive velocity means that the position s is increasing. b T
 he displacement of A is 60 km − 0 = 60 km.
Negative velocity means that s is decreasing. Observe That of B is 60 km − 150 km = −90 km.
SA

that the area under the v versus t graph from t = 0 to

time t is vt. c sA = 0 + 20t as before. When t h go by, B will
have been moving for only t − 1 h.
From s = si + vt we deduce that s − si = vt and so the
area in a velocity-against-time graph is the displacement. Hence sB = 150 − 30(t − 1).

CHECK YOURSELF 1 They will meet when sA = sB:

An object moves from A to B at speed 15 m s−1 20t = 150 – 30(t − 1)

and returns from B to A at speed 30 m s−1. 50t = 180
t = 3.6 h
What is the average speed for the round trip?

15
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1 A car must be driven a distance of 120 km in 2.5 h. During the first 1.5 h the average speed was
70 km h−1. Calculate the average speed for the remainder of the journey.
2 Find the constant velocity for each motion whose position–time graphs are shown in Figure 1.4.

s/m s/m s /m s /m
25 25 25 25
20 20 20 20
15 15 15 15

E
10 10 10 10
5 5 5 5
0 0 t /s 0 t /s 0 t /s t /s
0 1 0 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 05 1 0 2 1 3 2 4 3 5 4 5
s/m s/m s /m s /m
10

25
210
215
220
225
5
0

Figure 1.4
1
10

25
210
215
220
225
5
0
2 1 3

PL
2 4 3 5 4
0

210
5
1
t /s 25 t /s 25
210
215
220
225
230
5
0

215
220
225
230
5

2 1 3 2 4 3 5
t /s
4 5
t /s
M
3 Draw the position–time graphs for an object moving in a straight line with velocity–time graphs as
shown in Figure 1.5. The initial position is zero.
In each case, state the displacement at 4 s.

a v/ m s21 b v /m s21
5 2
SA

4 1

3 0 t /s
1 2 3 4 5

2 21

1 22

0 t /s 23
0 1 2 3 4 5
Figure 1.5

16
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
4 Two cyclists, A and B, have displacements 0 km  s soon as the fly reaches cyclist B it
A
and 70 km, respectively. immediately turns around and flies towards
cyclist A, and so on until cyclist A and
At t = 0 they begin to cycle towards each cyclist B meet.
other with velocities 15 km h−1 and
20 km h−1, respectively. a Find the position of the two cyclists and
the fly when all three meet.
 t the same time, a fly that was sitting on
A
cyclist A starts flying towards cyclist B with b Determine the distance travelled
a velocity of 30 km h−1. by the fly.

E
1.2 Uniformly a s / m 30

25

accelerated motion: the 20

equations of kinematics
Defining velocity in
non-uniform motion PL
How is velocity defined when it is not constant? We have
to refine what we did in Section 1.1. We now define the
average velocity as:
​​  Δs ​​
 ​​v​​  ¯ = __
15

10

b s / m 30
5

25
0 1 2 3 4 5
t/s
M
Δt
20
where Δs is the total displacement for the motion and
Δt the total time taken. We would like to have a concept 15
of velocity at an instant of time, the (instantaneous)
10
velocity. We need to make the time interval Δt very, very
small. The instantaneous velocity is defined as: 5
Δs ​​
v = ​​ lim​​​​ ​​ __
SA

0
Δt→0 Δt 0 1 2 3 4 5
t/s
In other words, instantaneous velocity is the rate of
change of position. This definition implies that velocity Figure 1.6: a In uniformly accelerated motion the graph
is the gradient of a position-against-time graph. of position against time is a curve. b The gradient (slope)
of the tangent at a particular point gives the velocity at
Consider Figure 1.6a. Choose a point on this curve. that point.
Draw a tangent to the curve at the point. The gradient
Δs ​​ and,
of the tangent line is the meaning of v = ​​ lim​​​​ ​​ __
Δt→0 Δt
therefore, also of velocity.

17
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

In Figure 1.6b the tangent is drawn at t = 3.0 s. We can

use this to find the instantaneous velocity at t = 3.0 s.
The gradient of this tangent line is:
​​  25 − 1.0  ​​ = 6.0 ​​m s​​  −1​​
_______
5.0 − 1.0
To find the instantaneous velocity at some other instant
of time we must take another tangent and we will find
a different instantaneous velocity. At the point at t = 0
it is particularly easy to find the velocity: the tangent is
horizontal and so the velocity is zero.

E
From now on we drop the word instantaneous and refer Figure 1.8: This fighter jet is accelerating.
just to velocity. The magnitude of the velocity is known
as the (instantaneous) speed.
When the acceleration is positive, the velocity is
When the velocity changes we say that we have increasing (Figure 1.8). Negative acceleration means
acceleration. The average acceleration is defined as that v is decreasing.
Δv ​​. So for a body that accelerates from a velocity
¯ = ​​ __
​​ a ​​
Δt

the average acceleration is a ​​

3.0
To define instantaneous acceleration or just simply
acceleration, we use the same idea as for velocity.
PL
of 2.0 m​​  s​​  −1​​ to a velocity of 8.0 m​​  s​​  −1​​in a time of 3.0 s
8.0 − 2.0
​​ ¯ = ​​ ________

We let the time interval Δt get very small and define

acceleration as:
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.
 ​​ = 2.0 m​​  s​​  −2.​​

Δv ​​. It is the gradient of a velocity-against-time

a = ​​ lim​​​​ ​​ __
Δt→0 Δt
graph. Acceleration is a vector.
For constant acceleration there is no difference between
instantaneous acceleration and average acceleration.
Suppose we choose a time interval from t = 0 to some
arbitrary time t later. Let the velocity at t = 0 (the initial
velocity) be u and the velocity at time t be v. Then:
​​  Δv ​​ = ____
a = __
Δt

v = u + at
​​  v − u ​​
t−0

which can be re-arranged to:

M
Uniformly accelerated motion means that the For uniformly accelerated motion, this formula gives the
acceleration is constant: the graph of velocity against velocity v of the moving object t seconds after time zero,
time is a non-horizontal straight line (Figure 1.7). given that the initial velocity is u and the acceleration
In equal intervals of time the velocity changes by the is a.
same amount.
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.2
SA

v
A particle has an initial velocity 12 m s−1 and moves
with a constant acceleration of −3.0 m s−2. Determine
the time at which the particle stops instantaneously.
∆v
Answer
∆t
∆v At some point it will stop instantaneously; that is,
its velocity v will be zero.
∆t
We know that v = u + at.
Substituting values gives:
0 t
0 = 12 + (−3.0) × t
Figure 1.7: In uniformly accelerated motion the graph of
velocity against time is a straight line with non-zero slope. 3.0t = 12
Hence t = 4.0 s.

18
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

Consider the graph of velocity against time in Figure 1.9. We get a final formula if we combine s = ​​s​ i​​​  + ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
2
Imagine approximating the straight line with a staircase. with v = u + at.
The area under the staircase is the change in position
​​  v −a ​​.
From the second equation, we find t = ____ u
since at each step the velocity is constant. If we make
the steps of the staircase smaller and smaller, the area Substituting in the first equation we get:
under the line and the area under the staircase will be
a + ​​   ​​ a ​​​(​  a ​ )
v − ​​
s − ​​si​  ​​​ = u  ​​ ____u __ 1 v − u ​​​  2​​ = __
____ ​​  uv ​u​​  ​ __
__ 1 __
2
​v​​  ​ __
2
uv __ 1 __ ​u​​  ​
2

indistinguishable and so we have the general result that: 2 a ​​ − ​​  a  ​​  + ​​   ​​ ​​  a ​​ − ​​  a ​​ + ​​   ​​ ​​  a  ​​
2 2
​v​​  ​ − ​ ​​
2
= ​​ ______ u​​  ​
2

2a
KEY POINT
This becomes:
The area under the curve in a velocity against
​​v​​  2​​ = ​​u​​  2​​  + 2a​​(s − ​si​  ​​)​​ or ​​v​​  2​​ = ​​u​​  2​​  + 2aΔs
time graph is the change in position; in other

E
words, the displacement. Usually ​​si​  ​​​= 0 so this last equation is usually written as ​​
v​​  2​​ = ​​u​​  2​​  + 2as.

From Figure 1.9 this area is (the shape is a trapezoid): This formula is useful to solve problems in which no
information about time is available.
Δs = ( )
​  u + ​
​​ ____ v ​​t

Velocity

v
2

PL In summary, for motion along a straight line with

constant acceleration:

​v = u + at​
Δs = ​​(____ )
​  u + ​
v ​​t
2
Δs = ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
2
​​v​​  ​​ = ​​u​​  ​​+ 2aΔs
2 2

Graphs of position against time for uniformly

accelerated motion are parabolas (Figure 1.10). If the
M
u
parabola ‘holds water’ (concave up) the acceleration is
positive. If its concave down, the acceleration is negative.
0 t Time a s b s
Figure 1.9: The straight-line graph may be approximated
by a staircase. 0
t
SA

But v = u + at, so this becomes: 0

t
Δs = ( ​  u + u  ​
​​ ________ )
+ at ​​t = ut + ​​ __
1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
2 2
Figure 1.10: Graphs of position s against time t for
So we have two formulas for position in the case of uniformly accelerated motion. a Positive acceleration.
uniformly accelerated motion (recall that Δs = s − ​si​  ​​  ): b Negative acceleration.
s = ​si​  ​​  + ​​(____ )
​  u + ​ (​   ​ )
u + v ​​t
v ​​t or Δs = ​​ ____
2 2

s = ​​s​ i​​​  + ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​ or Δs = ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​

2 2

19
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

EXAM TIP WORKED EXAMPLE 1.3

Table 1.2 summarises the meaning of the A particle has an initial velocity 2.00 m s−1.
gradient and area for the different motion graphs. Its acceleration is a = 4.00 m s−2.
Find its displacement after 10.0 s.
Graph of … Gradient Area Answer
position velocity Displacement is the change of position, i.e. ∆s = s − si.
against time We use the equation:
velocity acceleration change in Δs = ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
against time position, i.e. 2

E
displacement = 2.00 × 10.0 + 1/2 × 4.00 × 10. ​​0​​ 2​​

acceleration change in = 220 m

against time velocity

Table 1.2: Information that can be derived from

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.4
motion graphs

The equations of kinematics can be used

PL
only for motion on a straight line with constant
acceleration. (If the initial position is zero,
Δs may be replaced by just s.)

CHECK YOURSELF 2
The graph in Figure 1.11 shows the variation of
A car has an initial velocity of u = 5.0 m s−1.
After a displacement of 20 m, its velocity becomes
7.0 m s−1. Find the acceleration of the car.
Answer
Here, ∆s = s − si = 20 m.
So, use v2 = u2 + 2a∆s to find a.
7.02 = 5.02 + 2a × 20
M
position with time. 24 = 40a
Therefore, a = 0.60 m s−2.
s/m
1.0
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.5
0.5
SA

A body has an initial velocity of 4.0 m s−1. After 6.0 s

the velocity is 12 m s−1. Determine the displacement
0 t /s of the body in the 6.0 s.
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Answer
20.5 We know u, v and t. We can use:
Δs = ( )
​  v + ​
​​ ____ u ​​t
2
21.0
to get:
Δs = ( )
Figure 1.11
​  12 +  ​
​​ _______ 4.0 ​​  × 6.0
2

Indicate the intervals of times for which the Δs = 48 m

acceleration is:
a positive b negative c zero.

20
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
A slower method would be to use v = u + at to find the acceleration:
          12 = 4.0 + 6.0a
⇒        a = 1.333   m ​​s​​  −2​​
Then use the value of a to find ∆s:
Δs = ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
2
= 4.0 × 6.0 + ​​ __1 ​​ × 1.333 × 36
2

E
= 48  m

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.6

A ball, X, starts moving to the right from rest with a constant acceleration of 2.0 m s−2.

Determine the position of the balls when they meet. Describe what is going on.
Answer
Let the two balls meet t s after X starts moving.
The position of X is:
​​  1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​ = __
​​sX​  ​​​ = __
2 2
​​  1 ​​ × 2.0 × ​​t​​  2​​ = ​​t​​  2​​
PL
2.0 s later, a second ball, Y, starts moving to the right with a constant velocity of 9.0 m s−1.
Both balls start from the same position.
M
The position of Y is:
​​sY​  ​​​ = 9(t − 2)
(The factor t – 2 must be considered because, after t s, Y has actually been moving for only t − 2 seconds.)
These two positions are equal when the two balls meet, and so:
​​t​​  2 ​​= 9(t − 2)
SA

Solving the quadratic equation we find t = 3.0 s and 6.0 s. At these times the positions are 9.0 m and 36 m.
At 3.0 s Y caught up with X and passed it. At 6.0 s X caught up with Y and passed it. (Making position–time
graphs here is instructive.)

21
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.7

A particle starts out from the origin with velocity 10 m s−1 and continues moving at this velocity for 5 s.
The velocity is then abruptly reversed to −5 m s−1 and the object moves at this velocity for 10 s.
For this motion find:
a the change in position, i.e. the displacement
b the total distance travelled
c the average speed
d the average velocity

E
Answer
The problem is best solved using the velocity–time graph, which is shown in Figure 1.12.

v/m s–1 10

–5

–10
Figure 1.12
5

0
5
PL 10 15
t /s
M
a T
 he initial position is zero. So, after 5.0 s, the position is 10 × 5.0 m = 50 m (the area under the first part of the
graph). In the next 10 s, the displacement changes by −5.0 × 10 = −50 m (the area under the second part of the
graph). So the change in position (the displacement) = 50 − 50 = 0 m.
b T
 ake the initial velocity as moving to the right. The object moved towards the right, stopped and returned to its
starting position. (We know this because the displacement was 0.) The distance travelled is 50 m moving to the
right and 50 m coming back, giving a total distance travelled of 100 m.
SA

​​ 100 ​​ = 6.7 m ​​s​​  −1​​.

c The average speed is ___
15
d The average velocity is zero, since the displacement is zero.

22
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.8 WORKED EXAMPLE 1.9

An object with an initial velocity 20 m s−1 and initial An object is thrown vertically upwards with an initial
position of −75 m experiences a constant acceleration velocity of 20 m s−1 from the edge of a cliff that is
of −2 m s−2. Sketch the position–time graph for this 25 m from the sea below, as shown in Figure 1.14.
motion for the first 20 s.
Determine:
Answer
a the ball’s maximum height
Use the equation s = ​​s​ i​​​  + ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​. Substituting
2 b t he time taken for the ball to reach its
the values we know, the position is given maximum height
by s = −75 + 20t − t2. This is the function we must

E
graph. The result is shown in Figure 1.13. c the time to hit the sea

s /m 40 d the speed with which it hits the sea

20
(You may approximate g to 10 m s−2.)

20 m s–1

–20

–40

–60

–80
0

Figure 1.13
5 10

PL 15 20
t /s

25 m
M
At 5 s the object reaches the origin and overshoots
it. It returns to the origin 10 s later (t = 15 s).
The furthest it gets from the origin is 25 m.
The velocity at 5 s is 10 m s−1 and at 15 s it is Figure 1.14: A ball is thrown upwards from the edge
−10 m s−1. At 10 s the velocity is zero. of a cliff.

Answer
SA

A special acceleration We have motion on a vertical line so we will use

Assuming that we can neglect air resistance and other the symbol y for position (Figure 1.15a). We take the
frictional forces, an object thrown into the air will direction up to be positive. The zero for position is
experience the acceleration of free fall while in the the ball’s initial position.
air. This is an acceleration caused by the attraction
between the earth and the body. The magnitude of this
acceleration is denoted by g. Near the surface of the
earth g = 9.8 m s−2. The direction of this acceleration
is always vertically downwards. (We will sometimes
approximate g to 10 m s−2.)

23
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

CONTINUED CONTINUED

a y /m c T
 here are many ways to do this. One is to use the
20 m s–1 displacement arrow shown in blue in Figure 1.15a.
Then, when the ball hits the sea, y = −25 m.
Now use the formula y = ut − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​to find an
2
0 equation that only has the variable t:
− 25 = 20 × t − 5 × ​​t​​  2​​
​​t​​  2​​  − 4t − 5 = 0

–25 m  his is a quadratic equation. Using your calculator

T

E
you can find the two roots as −1.0 s and 5.0 s.
Choose the positive root to find the answer
t = 5.0 s.
 nother way of looking at this is shown in
A
Figure 1.15b. Here we start at the highest point

b 0

45 m
PL and take the direction down to be positive.
Then, at the top y = 0, at the sea y = +45 m and
a = +10 m s−2. Now, the initial velocity is zero
because we take our initial point to be at the top.
Using y = ut + ​ __1 ​ ​​  gt​​  2​​ with u = 0, we find:
   45 = 5 ​​t​​  2​​
⇒ t = 3.0 s
2

 his is the time to fall to the sea. It took 2.0 s to

T
reach the highest point, so the total time from
launch to hitting the sea is:
M
2.0 + 3.0 = 5.0 s.
d U
 se v = u − gt and t = 5.0 s to get v = 20 − 10 × 5.0
y /m = −30 m s−1. The speed is then 30 m s−1.

Figure 1.15: Diagrams for solving the ball’s motion. (If you prefer the diagram in Figure 1.15b for working
out part c and you want to continue this method for
SA

a Displacement upwards is positive. b The highest

point is the zero of position. Here we take displacement part d, then you would write v = u + gt with t = 3.0 s
downwards to be positive. and u = 0 to get v = 10 × 3.0 = +30 m s−1.)

a T
 he quickest way to get the answer to this part is
to use v2 = u2 − 2gy. (The acceleration is a = −g.) CHECK YOURSELF 3
At the highest point v = 0, and so:
A ball is thrown vertically upwards with a speed
0 = ​​20​​ 2​​ − 2 × 10y of 20 m s−1 and another vertically downwards
⇒ y = 20 m with the same speed and from the same height.
b A
 t the highest point the object’s velocity is zero. What interval separates the landing times of the
Using v = 0 in v = u − gt gives: two balls? (Take g = 10 m s−2.)

0 = 20 − 10 × t
​​  20 ​​ = 2.0 s
t = __
10

24
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

5 The initial velocity of a car moving on a straight 12 Two balls are dropped from rest from the same
road is 2.0 m s−1. It becomes 8.0 m s−1 after height. One of the balls is dropped 1.00 s after
travelling for 2.0 s under constant acceleration. the other. Air resistance is ignored.
Find the acceleration.
a Find the distance that separates the two
6 A car accelerates from rest to 28 m s−1 in 9.0 s. balls 2.00 s after the second ball is dropped.
Find the distance it travels.
b Explain what happens to the distance
7 A particle has an initial velocity of 12 m s−1 separating the balls as time goes on.
and is brought to rest over a distance of 45 m.
13 A particle moves in a straight line with an

E
Find the acceleration of the particle.
acceleration that varies with time as shown in
8 A particle at the origin has an initial velocity Figure 1.16. Initially the velocity of the object
of −6.0 m s−1 and moves with an acceleration is 2.00 m s−1.
of 2.0 m s−2. Determine when its position will
become 16 m. a / m s–2 9

PL
A plane starting from rest takes 15.0 s to take
off after speeding over a distance of 450 m on
the runway with constant acceleration.
Find the take-off velocity.
10 A particle starts from rest with constant
acceleration. After travelling a distance d the
speed is v. What was the speed when the
​​ d ​​?
particle had travelled a distance __
2
11 A car is travelling at 40.0 m s−1. The driver sees
6

Figure 1.16
0 2 4 6
t /s
M
an emergency ahead and 0.50 s later slams a Find the maximum velocity reached in the
on the brakes. The deceleration of the car first 6.00 s of this motion.
is 4.0 m s−2.
b Draw a graph of the velocity against time.
a Find the distance travelled before the
14 The graph in Figure 1.17 shows the variation
car stops.
of velocity with time of an object. Find the
b Calculate the stopping distance if the driver acceleration at 2.0 s.
SA

could apply the brakes instantaneously

without a reaction time. v /m s–1 8

c Calculate the difference in your answers to 6

a and b.
d Assume now that the car was travelling at 4
30.0 m s−1 instead. Without performing any
calculations, state whether the answer to c 2
would now be less than, equal to or larger
than before. Explain your answer.
0
0 1 2 3 4
t /s
Figure 1.17

25
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

CONTINUED
15 Your brand-new convertible is parked 15 m c the velocity just before hitting the sea
from its garage when it begins to rain. You do
not have time to get the keys, so you begin to d the distance the stone covers
push the car towards the garage. The maximum e the average speed and the average velocity
acceleration you can give the car is 2.0 m s−2 for this motion
by pushing and 3.0 m s−2 by pulling back on
the car. Find the least time it takes to put the 17 A ball is thrown upwards from the edge of a cliff
car in the garage. (Assume that the car and the with velocity 20.0 m s−1. It reaches the bottom
garage are point objects.) of the cliff 6.0 s later. Take g = 10 m s−2.

E
16 A stone is thrown vertically up from the edge a Determine the height of the cliff.
of a cliff 35.0 m from the sea (Figure 1.18).
b Calculate the speed of the ball as it hits
The initial velocity of the stone is 8.00 m s−1.
the ground.

v = 8.00 m s–1 18 A toy rocket is launched vertically upwards with

35.0 m
PL acceleration 3.0 m s−2. The fuel runs out when
the rocket reaches a height of 85 m.
a

c
Calculate the velocity of the rocket when
the fuel runs out.
Determine the maximum height reached
by the rocket.
Draw a graph to show the variation of
i the velocity of the rocket
M
ii t he position of the rocket from launch
Figure 1.18 until it reaches its maximum height
d Calculate the time the rocket takes to fall
Determine: to the ground from its maximum height.
a the maximum height of the stone
SA

b the time when it hits the sea

1.3 Graphs of motion

If the acceleration is constant the equations derived these equations do not apply and cannot be used.
in Section 1.2 hold and we can use them to analyse a But we can still analyse a motion using graphs.
motion problem. But if acceleration is not constant Our main tools will be those provided in Table 1.1.

26
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

Consider the graph of position against time shown in Working in exactly the same way we can find the shape
Figure 1.19. of the acceleration-against-time graph by examining
the gradient of the velocity graph we just obtained.
s/m The result is Figure 1.21.
1.0
a

0.5

0 t/s
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
t /s

E
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
20.5

21.0

PL
Figure 1.19: Position against time for accelerated motion.

We would like to predict the shape of the graph of

velocity against time. We use the fact that velocity is the
gradient of the position-against-time graph. We see that
at t = 0 the gradient is positive. As time increases the
gradient is still positive but gets smaller and smaller and
at t = 0.25 s it becomes zero. It then becomes negative.
It gets more and more negative, reaching its most
negative value at t = 0.5 s. It remains negative past
0.5 s but the curve gets less steep and the gradient
Figure 1.21: Acceleration graph corresponding to the
velocity graph of Figure 1.20.

CHECK YOURSELF 4
Look at the motion in Figure 1.22.

velocity
1.0
M
becomes zero again at 0.75 s. From then it becomes 0.8
positive and increases until 1.0 s. These observations 0.6
lead us to the velocity-against-time graph shown in 0.4
Figure 1.20. Note that it is the shape we are after, not 0.2
detailed numerical values of velocity; hence there is no 0 t /s
need to put numbers on the vertical axis. 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
20.2
SA

v 20.4

Figure 1.22

a State the time(s) at which the acceleration

is zero.
t/s
b State the time(s) at which the acceleration
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 is negative.
c At what time is the acceleration
most negative?
d At 2.3 s, do you expect the displacement
to be positive or negative and why?
Figure 1.20: The velocity graph corresponding to the graph
of Figure 1.19.

27
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

19 The graph in Figure 1.23 shows the variation 21 The graph in Figure 1.25 shows the variation
of the position of a moving object with time. of the position of a moving object with time.
Draw the graph showing the variation of the Draw the graph showing the variation of the
velocity of the object with time. velocity of the object with time.

s s

E
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Figure 1.23

PL t /s

20 The graph in Figure 1.24 shows the variation

of the position of a moving object with time.
Draw the graph showing the variation of the
velocity of the object with time.

s
Figure 1.25

22 The graph in Figure 1.26 shows the variation

t /s

of the velocity of a moving object with time.

Draw the graph showing the variation of the
position of the object with time. The initial
position is zero.

v
M
0 0.5 1 1.5 2
t /s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
SA

t /s Figure 1.26
Figure 1.24

28
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
23 The graph in Figure 1.27 shows the variation Draw a graph to show how velocity varies with
of the velocity of a moving object with time. time. The initial velocity is zero.
Draw the graph showing the variation of the
position of the object with time (assuming 26 The graph in Figure 1.30 shows how
the initial position to be zero). acceleration varies with time.

Acceleration

E
Time

0 1 2 3 4 Figure 1.30

Figure 1.27

PL
24 The graph in Figure 1.28 shows the variation

Draw the graph showing the variation of the

acceleration of the object with time.

v
t /s

of the velocity of a moving object with time.

Draw a graph to show how velocity varies with
time. The initial velocity is zero.
27 The graph in Figure 1.31 shows the position
against time of an object moving in a straight
line. Four points on this graph
have been selected.

D
M
A

B C

0 t

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 Figure 1.31

SA

t /s
Figure 1.28 a Is the velocity between A and B positive,
zero or negative?
25 The graph in Figure 1.29 shows how b What can you say about the velocity
acceleration varies with time. between B and C?
c Is the acceleration between A and B
positive, zero or negative?
Acceleration

d Is the acceleration between C and D

positive, zero or negative?

Time
Figure 1.29

29
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

CONTINUED
28 Sketch velocity–time plots (no numbers b A cart slides with negligible friction along
are necessary on the axes) for the a horizontal air track. When the cart hits
following motions. the ends of the air track it reverses direction
with the same speed it had right before
a A ball is dropped from a certain height impact. Assume the time of contact of
and bounces off a hard floor. The speed the cart and the ends of the air track are
just before each impact with the floor is negligibly small.
the same as the speed just after impact.
Assume that the time of contact with the c A person jumps from a hovering helicopter.
floor is negligibly small. After a few seconds she opens a parachute.

E
Eventually she will reach a terminal speed
and will then land.

1.4 Projectile motion THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

0
0 20 40 60 80
PL
Figure 1.32 shows the positions of two objects every
0.2 s: the first was simply allowed to drop vertically from
rest; the other was launched horizontally with no vertical
component of velocity. We see that in the vertical direction,
both objects fall the same distance in the same time and so
will hit the ground at the same time.

100
x/m
How do we understand this fact? Consider
Figure 1.33, in which a black ball is projected
horizontally with velocity v. A blue ball is
allowed to drop vertically from the same height.
Figure 1.33a shows the situation when the
balls are released as seen by an observer X
at rest on the ground. But suppose there is
an observer Y, who moves to the right with
​​  v  ​​with respect to the ground. What
velocity __
2
M
–1 does Y see? Observer Y sees the black ball
moving to the right with velocity ​ __v  ​and the blue
2
–2 ball approaching with velocity −​​ __v  ​​ Figure 1.18b).
2
The motions of the two balls are therefore
–3 identical (except for direction). So this observer
will determine that the two bodies reach the
ground at the same time. Since time is absolute
SA

–4
in Newtonian physics, the two bodies must reach
the ground at the same time as far as any other
y / m –5 observer is concerned as well.
Figure 1.32: A body dropped from rest and one launched
horizontally cover the same vertical distance in the
same time.

30
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

The green vector in Figure 1.35a shows the position

CONTINUED of the projectile t seconds after launch. The red arrows
in Figure 1.35b show the velocity vectors and their
a b components. Here the true vector nature of what
v –v we have been calling position comes into its own.
v 2 2
X Y v –v X Y The position of the projectile is determined by the
2 2
position vector r ​​​​  →, a vector from the origin to the position
of the projectile. The components of this vector are x
Figure 1.33: a A ball projected horizontally and one and y.
simply dropped from rest from the point of view a y /m 20
of observer X. Observer Y is moving to the right P

E
with velocity ​​ __v  ​​with respect to the ground. 15
2
b From the point of view of observer Y, the black and 10
the blue balls have identical motions. y
5
x
0 x /m
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0

PL
The motion of a ball that is projected at some angle can
be analysed by separately looking at the horizontal and
the vertical directions. All we have to do is consider two
motions, one in the horizontal direction in which there is
no acceleration and another in the vertical direction
in which we have an acceleration, g.
Consider Figure 1.34, where a projectile is launched at
an angle θ to the horizontal with speed u.
The components of the initial velocity vector are
​​ux​  ​​​ = u cos θ and ​​u​ y​​​ = u sin θ.
b y /m 20
–5

15
10

–5
5
0
0.5 1.0

Figure 1.35: a The position of the particle is determined if

1.5 2.0
x /m
M
At some later time t the components of velocity are vx we know the x- and y-components of the position vector.
and vy. In the x-direction there is zero acceleration and b The velocity vectors for projectile motion are tangents to
in the y-direction, the acceleration is −g and so: the parabolic path.

Horizontal direction Vertical direction

EXAM TIP
​​vx​  ​​​ = u cos θ ​​vy​  ​​​ = u sin θ − gt
SA

All that we are doing is using the formulas from

the previous section for velocity and position –
v = u + at and s = ut + ​​ __1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​– and rewriting them
u 2
separately for each direction x and y. In the
uy x-direction there is zero acceleration, and in the
y-direction there is an acceleration –g.

We would like to know the x- and y-components of the

θ
position vector. We now use the formula for position.
ux In the x-direction:

Figure 1.34: A projectile is launched at an angle θ to the x = uxt and so x = ut cos θ

horizontal with speed u. In the y-direction:y = ​​u​ y​​​  t − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​ and
2
so y = ut sin θ − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​  .
2

31
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

In summary:
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.11
Horizontal direction Vertical direction For a projectile launched at some angle above the
​​vx​  ​​​ = u cos θ ​​vy​  ​​​ = u sin θ − gt horizontal, sketch graphs to show the variation
with time of:
x = ut cos θ y = ut sin θ − ​​ __1 ​​​​  gt​​  2​​
2
a the horizontal component of velocity
The equation with ‘squares of speeds’ is a bit trickier
(carefully review the following steps). It is: b the vertical component of velocity
2 2
v = u − 2gy Answer

Since v2 = vx2 + vy2 and u2 = ux2 + uy2, and in addition The graphs are shown in Figure 1.36.

E
vx2 = ux2, this is also equivalent to:
vx
vy2 = uy2 − 2gy

EXAM TIP

PL
Always choose your x- and y-axes so that the
origin is the point where the launch takes place.

CHECK YOURSELF 5
A projectile is launched with kinetic energy K at 60°
to the horizontal. What is the kinetic energy of the
projectile at the highest point of its path?
2
​​ 1 ​​ ​​mv​​  2​​.)
(Kinetic energy is equal to __
0

vy

0
Time

Time
M
Figure 1.36: Answer to worked example 1.11
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.10
A body is launched with a speed of 18.0 m s−1
at the following angles: WORKED EXAMPLE 1.12
a 30° to the horizontal
SA

An object is launched horizontally from a

b 0° to the horizontal height of 20 m above the ground with speed
15 m s−1. Determine:
c 90° to the horizontal
a the time at which it will hit the ground
Find the x- and y-components of the initial
velocity in each case. b the horizontal distance travelled

Answer c the speed with which it hits the ground

a vx = u cos θ vy = u sin θ (Take g = 10 m s−2.)

vx = 18.0 × cos 30° vy = 18.0 × sin 30° Answer

vx = 15.6 m s−1 vy = 9.00 m s−1 a The launch is horizontal, i.e. θ = 0°, and so the
formula for vertical position is just y = − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​.
b vx = 18.0 m s−1 vy = 0 m s−1 2
The object will hit the ground when y = −20 m.
c vx = 0 vy = 18.0 m s−1

32
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

Figure 1.37 shows an object thrown at an angle of

CONTINUED
θ = 30° to the horizontal with initial speed 20 m s−1.
Substituting the values, we find: The position of the object is shown every 0.2 s.
Note how the dots get closer together as the object
− 20 = − 5​​t​​  2​​ rises (the speed is decreasing) and how they move apart
on the way down (the speed is increasing). It reaches
⇒      t = 2.0s
a maximum height of 5.1 m and travels a horizontal
b T
 he horizontal position is found from x = ut. distance of 35 m. The photo in Figure 1.38 shows an
Substituting values: example of projectile motion.

x = 15 × 2.0 = 30 m y /m
5
(Remember that θ = 0°.)

E
4
c Use v2 = u2 − 2gy to get:
3
v2 = 152 − 2 × 10 × (−20) y
2
u0
v = 25 m s−1
1

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.13

An object is launched horizontally with a velocity
of 12 m s−1. Determine:
a the vertical component of velocity after 4.0 s
b t he x- and y-components of the position vector
of the object after 4.0 s.
PL x 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Figure 1.37: A launch at of θ = 30° to the horizontal with

initial speed 20 m s−1.

At what point in time does the vertical velocity

component become zero? Setting vy = 0 we find:
        0 = u sin θ − gt
35
x /m
M
Answer θ
u sin ​​
⇒   t = ​​ _____
g
 he launch is again horizontal, i.e. θ = 0°,
a T
so substitute this value in the formulas.
The horizontal component of velocity is
12 m s−1 at all times.
 rom vy = −gt, the vertical component after
F
SA

4.0 s is vy = −40 m s−1.

b The coordinates after time t are:
x = ut y = − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​
2
x = 12 . 0 × 4 . 0 y = − 5 × 16
x = 48 m and y = − 80 m

Figure 1.38: A real example of projectile motion.

EXAM TIP
Worked example 1.13 is a basic problem—
you must know how to do this!

33
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

The time when the vertical velocity becomes zero is, of

course, the time when the object attains its maximum
WORKED EXAMPLE 1.14
height. What is this height? Going back to the equation A projectile is launched at 32.0° to the horizontal
for the vertical component of position, we find that when: with initial speed 25.0 m s−1. Determine the
​​  u sin
t = _____ θ maximum height reached. (Take g = 9.81 m s−2.)
g ​​
y is given by: Answer

g sin θ − ​​   ​​  g ​​​(​  g ​ )

2
​  ​​​ = u ​​ _____
​​ymax θ
u sin ​​ __ 1 u sin θ ​​​  ​​
_____ The vertical velocity is given by ​​v​ y​​​ = u sin θ − gt and
2
becomes zero at the highest point. Thus:
​  ​​​ = ______
y​​ max
2
​  θ
​​  ​u​​  ​ ​sin​​  ​​
2

​​  u sin
t = _____ θ
2g g ​​

E
What about the maximum displacement in the ​​  25.0 × sin ​​
____________
t =    32.0°
horizontal direction (called the range)? At this point 9.81
y is zero. We can find the time by setting y = 0 in the t = 1.35 s
formula for y but it is easier to notice that since the path Substituting in the formula for y, y = ut sin θ − ​​ __1 ​​  ​​gt​​  2​​,
is symmetrical the time to cover the range is double the 2
we get:
​​  2u sin
time to get to the top, so t = ______ θ
g ​​. ​​ 1 ​​  × 9.81 × ​​1.35​​  2​​

EXAM TIP
You should not remember these formulas by
heart. You should be able to derive them quickly.

Therefore the range is:

​2 u​​  ​  sin θ ​​
x = ​​ __________
2

g
cos θ
PL y = 25 × sin 32.0° × 1.35 − __
y = 8.95 m
Equivalently, 0 = ​​(u sin θ)​​  2​​ − 2gy ⇒
y = ​​ 
​​(25.0
  
× sin 32.0°)​​​ 2​
____________

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.15

2 × 9.81
 ​​ = 8.95 m

A projectile is launched horizontally from a

2
M
A bit of trigonometry allows us to rewrite this as:
height of 42 m above the ground. As it hits the
​​  ​u​​  ​  sin
x = ______
2
2θ ground, the velocity makes an angle of 55° to the
g ​​
horizontal. Find the initial velocity of launch.
One of the identities in trigonometry is (Take g = 9.8 m s−2.)
2 sin θ cos θ = sin 2θ.
Answer
The maximum value of sin 2θ is 1, and this happens
when 2θ = 90° (θ = 45°). In other words, we obtain The time it takes to hit the ground is found from
SA

the maximum range with a launch angle of 45°. y = − ​​ __1 ​​ ​​gt​​  2​​. (Here θ = 0° since the launch
This equation also says that there are two different 2
angles of launch that give the same range for the same is horizontal.)
initial speed. These two angles add up to a right angle. The ground is at y = −42 m and so:
(Can you see why?)
         − 42 = − ​​ __1 ​​  × 9.8 ​​t​​  2​​
2
CHECK YOURSELF 6 ⇒           t = 2.928 s
Using ​​vy​  ​​​ = u sin θ − gt, when the projectile hits
On earth the maximum height and range of a
the ground:
projectile are H and R, respectively. The projectile
is launched with the same velocity on a planet vy = 0 − 9.8 × 2.928
where the acceleration of free fall is 2g. What are
vy = −28.69 m s−1
the maximum height and range of the projectile
on the planet?

34
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

which accelerates it downwards. As the speed increases,

CONTINUED the force of air resistance also increases. Eventually,
We know the angle the final velocity makes with this force will become equal to the weight and so the
the ground (Figure 1.39). Hence: acceleration will become zero: the body will then move
at constant speed, called terminal speed, vT. This speed
||
​vy​  ​​
tan 55° = ​​ __
​  ​v​   ​​​ ​​ can be found from:
x

​​  28.69  ​​

⇒ ​​vx​  ​​​ = ______ mg = kvT
tan 55°
         ​​vx​  ​​​ = 20.09 ≈ 20 ​​m s​​  −1​​ which leads to:
mg
​​vT​  ​​​ = ___
​​   ​​
vx k
θ Figure 1.40 shows how the speed and acceleration

E
vary for motion with an air resistance force that is
proportional to speed. The speed eventually becomes
vy vy the terminal speed, and the acceleration becomes zero.
tan θ = v
x The initial acceleration is g.

a v / m s–1 30

Figure 1.39

Links
In projectile motion we have a single constant force
whose direction is always vertical. This force is the
weight of the body. When the body is projected at an
angle to the vertical the result is motion along a path
PL b a / m s–2 10
20

10

0
0 5 10 15 20
t/s
M
that is parabolic. There is one other instance where
again a force that is constant in magnitude and direction 8
acts on a body. This is the case of motion of an electric
charge in a uniform electric field. So we expect that 6
a charge projected at an angle in a region of uniform
electric field will also result in motion along a parabolic 4
path and what we have learned in this chapter will apply
SA

to that case as well. See Chapter 19. 2

0
Fluid resistance 0 5 10 15 20
t/s
The discussion of the previous sections has neglected
Figure 1.40: a The variation with time of a speed.
air resistance forces. In general, whenever a body moves
b Acceleration in motion with an air resistance force
through a fluid (gas or liquid) it experiences a fluid
proportional to speed.
resistance force that is directed opposite to the velocity.
Typically F = kv for low speeds and F = kv2 for high
speeds (where k is a constant). The magnitude of this The effect of air resistance forces on projectiles is very
force increases with increasing speed. pronounced. Figure 1.41 shows the positions of a
projectile with (red) and without (blue) air resistance
Imagine dropping a body of mass m from some height. forces. With air resistance forces the range and maximum
Assume that the force of air resistance on this body is height are smaller and the shape is no longer symmetrical.
F = kv. Initially, the only force on the body is its weight,

35
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

The projectile hits the ground at a steeper angle.

WORKED EXAMPLE 1.16
y /m
1500 The force of air resistance in the motion described
by Figure 1.40 is given by F = 0.653v.
1000 Determine the mass of the projectile.
Answer
500
The terminal speed is 30 m s−1 and is given by
mg
0 ​​vT​  ​​​ = ___
​​   ​​. Hence:
k
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500
x/m 0.653 × ​​
30
m = ​​ ________

E
9.8
Figure 1.41: The effect of air resistance on
m ≈ 2 . 0 kg
projectile motion.

NATURE OF SCIENCE
The simple and the complex

PL
Careful observation of motion in the natural world
led to the equations for motion with uniform
acceleration along a straight line that we have
used in this section. Thinking about what causes an
object to move links to the idea of forces. However,
although the material in this section is perhaps
some of the ‘easiest’ material in your physics course,
it does not enable you to understand the falling
of a leaf off a tree. The falling leaf is complicated
because it is acted upon by several forces: its
weight, but also air resistance forces that constantly
vary as the orientation and speed of the leaf change.
In addition, there is wind to consider as well as the
fact that turbulence in air greatly affects the motion
of the leaf. So the physics of the falling leaf is far
away from the physics of motion along a straight line
at constant acceleration. But learning the principles
of physics in a simpler context allows its application
in more involved situations.
M
TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING
29 A ball rolls off a table with a horizontal speed of 31 For an object thrown at an angle of 40° to the
2.0 m s−1. The table is 1.3 m high. Calculate how horizontal at a speed of 20 m s−1, draw graphs of:
far from the table the ball will land.
SA

a horizontal velocity against time

30 Two particles are on the same vertical line.
They are thrown horizontally with the same b vertical velocity against time
speed, 4.0 m s−1, from heights of 4.0 m c acceleration against time.
and 8.0 m.
32 Determine the maximum height reached by
a Calculate the distance that will separate the an object thrown with speed 24 m s−1 at 40°
two objects when both land on the ground. to the horizontal.
b The particle at the 4.0 m height is now 33 An object is thrown with speed 20.0 m s−1 at
launched with horizontal speed u such an angle of 50° to the horizontal. Draw graphs
that it lands at the same place as the to show the variation with time of:
particle launched from 8.0 m.
Calculate u. a the horizontal position
b the vertical position

36
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
34 A cruel man takes aim horizontally at a chimp ii the angle to the horizontal the ball was
that is hanging from the branch of a tree, as launched at,
shown in Figure 1.42.
iii the acceleration of free fall on
The chimp lets go of the branch as soon as the this planet.
hunter pulls the trigger. Treating the chimp and
the bullet as point particles, determine if the b Make a copy of the graph and draw two
bullet will hit the chimp. arrows to represent the velocity and the
acceleration vectors of the ball at t = 1.0 s.
c The ball is now launched under identical

E
conditions from the surface of a different
planet where the acceleration due to
gravity is twice as large. Draw the path of
the ball on your graph.
36 A stone is thrown with a speed of 20.0 m s−1 at

Figure 1.42
PL
35 A ball is launched from the surface of a planet.
Air resistance and other frictional forces are
neglected. The graph in Figure 1.43 shows
an angle of 48° to the horizontal from the edge
of a cliff 60.0 m above the surface of the sea.

37 a
a

b
Calculate the velocity with which the stone
hits the sea.
Discuss qualitatively the effect of air
resistance on your answer to a.
State what is meant by terminal speed.
A ball is dropped from rest. The force of air
M
the position of the ball every 0.20 s. resistance on the ball is proportional to the
ball’s speed. Explain why the ball will reach
y /m 10 terminal speed.
38 A projectile is launched with speed u at ​45°​to
8
the horizontal. The projectile is at height h at
two different times.
SA

6
a Show that the horizontal distance ________
separating those points is ​​ __ug ​​ ​​√​u​​  2​ − 4gh. ​​
4
b Deduce, using the result in part a, the
maximum height reached by this projectile.
2
39 A projectile is launched with some speed at
0 some angle to the horizontal. At 1.0 s and at
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 5.0 s the height of the projectile from the
x/m ground is the same. What is the maximum
Figure 1.43 height reached by this projectile?
(Take g = 10 m s–2.)
a Use this graph to determine:
i the components of the initial velocity
of the ball,

37
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: COURSEBOOK

SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST

Nearly Ready to
I am able to ... Section Not yet
there move on
define and distinguish between the concepts of position,
displacement, average and instantaneous velocity and average 1.1
and instantaneous acceleration
solve problems using the equations of kinematics 1.2
analyse motion through graphs 1.3

E
solve problems with projectile motion 1.4
describe the effect of air resistance force on projectile motion 1.4

REFLECTION

PL
Do you understand the difference between distance and displacement? Do you understand the difference
between speed and velocity? Are you confident using the equations of kinematics? Do you know what
information a graph of position versus time gives? Do you know what information a graph of velocity versus
time gives? Can you explain why a body reaches terminal speed if it is acted upon by a speed dependent
resistance force? Do you understand how to solve problems with projectile motion? Can you describe the
effect of air resistance on the path of a projectile?

EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS
M
You can find questions in the style of IB exams online in the digital coursebook.

CHECK YOURSELF ANSWERS

c Most negative at 1.0 s.
1 Let d be the distance between A and B and
SA

​​t1​  ​​​, ​​t​ 2​​​the travel times back and forth. Then d The displacement from 0 s to 1.0 s is about
d = ​​15 t​ 1​​​ = ​​30 t​ 2​​​, i.e. ​​t1​  ​​​ = 2 ​​t2​  ​​​. The average the same in magnitude as that from 1.0 s
2 × 30 ​t​  ​​ to 2.0 s so the displacement at 2.3 s will
speed is then v ​​ ​​  ​t​  ​​ 2d
​​  ¯ = _____ _______
+ ​t​   ​​​​ = ​​   ​​2 = 20 ​​m s​​  −1​​ be positive.
1 2 3 ​t2​  ​​
2 Positive for 1.0 s on, because curve is concave 5 1 ​​ ​​mu​​  2​​. At the highest point, KE = __
K = ​​ __ ​​ 1 ​​ ​​mu​​  2​​ ​​
up, negative for 0 s to 1.0 s and zero at 1.0 s. 2 2
​​  1 ​​ ​​mu​​  2​​  × ​​ __
cos​​  ​​ ​​  60​​  ​​ = __
2 °
​​  K ​​.
1 ​​ = __
2 4 4
3 It takes 2 s to get to the maximum height and
2 to return so the required time is 4 s. 6 Both H and R are inversely proportional to the
acceleration of free fall and so both are halved.
4 a Zero at about 0.4 s and 1.6 s.
b Negative from 0.4 s to 1.6 s.

38
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Physics

E
for the IB Diploma
PL
M
SA

Digital Teacher’s Resource

Together with IB teachers

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Table of contents
About the authors 00
How to use this series 00
How to use this Teacher’s Resource 00
About the Guide (syllabus) 00

E
About the assessment (examinations) 00
Integrating TOK in your Science lesson 00
A guide to academic writing 00
Teaching notes

Unit A

2
1.3
1.4
Kinematics

Kinematics
1.1
1.2 PL
Displacement, distance, speed and velocity
Uniformly accelerated motion: the equations of kinematics
Graphs of motion
Projectile motion

Forces and Newton’s laws

2.1 Forces and their direction
00

00

00
00
00
00
00

00
00
M
2.2 Newton’s laws of motion 00
2.3 Circular motion 00

3 Work, energy and power 00

3.1 Work 00
3.2 Conservation of mechanical energy 00
3.3 Power and efficiency 00
SA

3.4 Energy transfers 00

4 Linear momentum 00
4.1 Newton’s second law in terms of momentum 00
4.2 Impulse and force–time graphs 00
4.3 Conservation of momentum 00
4.4 Kinetic energy and momentum 00
4.5 Two-dimensional collisions 00

41
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

5 Rigid body mechanics 00

5.1 Kinematics of rotational motion 00
5.2 Rotational equilibrium and Newton’s second law 00
5.3 Angular momentum 00

6 Relativity 00
6.1 Reference frames and Lorentz transformations 00
6.2 Effects of relativity 00
6.3 Spacetime diagrams 00

Unit B The particulate nature of matter 00

E
7 Thermal energy transfers 00
7.1 Particles, temperature and energy 00
7.2 Specific heat capacity and change of phase 00
7.3 Thermal energy transfer 00

9
The greenhouse effect
8.1
8.2

9.2
9.3
PL
Radiation from real bodies
Energy balance of the Earth

The gas laws

9.1 Moles, molar mass and the Avogadro constant
Ideal gases
The Boltzmann equation

10 Thermodynamics
10.1
10.2
Internal energy
00
00
00

00
00
00
00

00
00
M
The first law of thermodynamics 00
10.3 The second law of thermodynamics 00
10.4 Heat engines

11 Current and circuits 00

11.1 Potential difference, current and resistance 00
11.2 Voltage, power and emf 00
11.3 Resistors in electrical circuits 00
SA

11.4 Terminal potential difference and the potential divider 00

Unit C Wave behaviour 00

12 Simple harmonic motion 00

12.1 Simple harmonic oscillations 00
12.2 Details of simple harmonic motion 00
12.3 Energy in simple harmonic motion 00
12.4 More about energy in SHM 00

42
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

13 The wave model 00

13.1 Mechanical pulses and waves 00
13.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves 00
13.3 Electromagnetic waves 00
13.4 Waves extension 00

14 Wave phenomena 00
14.1 Reflection and refraction 00
14.2 The principle of superposition 00
14.3 Diffraction and interference 00
14.4 Single-slit diffraction 00

E
14.5 Multiple slits 00

15 Standing waves and resonance 00

15.1 Standing waves 00
15.2 Standing waves on strings 00
15.3 Standing waves in pipes 00
15.4

16.1
16.2

Unit D

17.1
17.2
Fields

17 Gravitation
PL
Resonance and damping

16 The Doppler effect

The Doppler effect at low speeds
The Doppler effect for sound

Newton’s law of gravitation

Gravitational potential and energy
00

00
00
00

00

00
00
00
M
17.3 Motion in a gravitational field 00

18 Electric and magnetic fields 00

18.1 Electric charge, force and field 00
18.2 Magnetic field and force 00
18.3 Electrical potential and electrical potential energy 00

19 Motion in electric and magnetic fields 00

SA

19.1 Motion in an electric field 00

19.2 Motion in a magnetic field 00

20 Electromagnetic induction 00
20.1 Electromagnetic induction 00
20.2 Generators and alternating current 00

Unit E Nuclear and quantum physics 00

21 Atomic physics 00
21.1 The structure of the atom 00
21.2 Quantization of angular momentum 00

43
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

22 Quantum physics 00
22.1 Photons and the photoelectric effect 00
22.2 Matter waves 00

23 Nuclear physics 00
23.1 Mass defect and binding energy 00
23.2 Radioactivity 00
23.3 Nuclear properties and the radioactive decay law 00

24 Nuclear fission 00
24.1 Nuclear fission 00

E
25 Nuclear fusion and stars 00
25.1 Nuclear fusion 00
25.2 Stellar properties and the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram 00
25.3 Stellar evolution extension 00

Digital resources

Worksheets
PowerPoints
End of chapter tests
Specimen papers
Coursebook answers
PL
The following items are available on Cambridge GO. For more information on how to access and use your
digital resource, please see inside front cover.

00
00
00
00
00
M
Workbook answers 00
Worksheet answers 00
End of chapter tests answers 00
Specimen paper answers (model answers) 00
Glossary 00
SA

Acknowledgements 00

44
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

How to use this

Teacher’s Resource
This digital Teacher’s Resource contains both general guidance and teaching notes that help you deliver the
content for the IB Physics course. You will find answers to the Coursebook and the Workbook questions on the
supporting resources area of Cambridge GO—they are freely available to teachers only.

E
There are teaching notes for each sub-chapter of the Coursebook. You can see an overview of where all topics
are covered in the teaching plan in the ‘Resources’ column. Each set of teaching notes contains various features
to help you deliver the topics covered in a unit/chapter.
At the start of each chapter is a teaching plan for the chapter. This summarises the topics covered in the chapter,
including the number of learning hours recommended for each topic, an outline of the learning content, and the

Sub-chapter

This icon
Approximate
number of
learning
hours
PL
resources from this series that can be used to deliver the topic.

Teaching plan
Learning content Resources

in the resources section indicates material that is available from Cambridge GO.
M
Each chapter also includes information on any background knowledge that learners should have before studying
content covered in the chapter.

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

• Explain what an electromagnetic spectrum represents, the different types of radiations and their
uses, the quantitative relationship between wavelength, frequency and energy of the radiations.
SA

Syllabus overview
• At the start of each unit is a syllabus overview, which gives a brief outline of the content knowledge,
practical skills and opportunities to cover assessment objectives covered in that section of the syllabus.
It also provides links to related topic areas in other parts of the syllabus.
• The learning plan will enable you to identify the related learning intentions and success criteria from the
coursebook chapter.

45
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

LEARNING PLAN

Learning objectives Success criteria

There is also a feature highlighting any common misconceptions associated with particular learning topics.
Potential misunderstandings are identified, along with methods of eliciting evidence of these misconceptions
from your class and suggestions on how to overcome them.

Misconception How to identify How to overcome

E
For each topic, there is a selection of lesson starter ideas, main teaching ideas and plenary ideas. You can pick
out individual ideas that meet the needs of your class. The activities include suggestions for how they can be
differentiated or used for assessment.

PL
Differentiation ideas are provided for each topic, with ‘stretch and challenge’ activities, ideas to extend learning
opportunities and ‘support’ activities, ideas and modifications for learners who need extra practice or help.
The cross-curricular links feature provides suggestions for linking to other areas of study within the Standard
Level and Higher Level IB curriculum. Cross-topic links allow students to make connections between the
different syllabus sections of the IB Physics course. They encourage students to approach Physics as a holistic
topic and help them develop the skills required for approaching exam questions, which often drawn on several
areas of the course.

This Teacher’s Resource includes a range of digital materials that you can download from Cambridge GO.
M
(For more information about how to access and use your digital resource, please see inside front cover.)
You will find the glossary of terms for the Coursebook and Workbook and also answers to activities, worksheets
and end of chapter tests within and at the end of this resource.
To help with lesson planning, a blank lesson plan template is available to download from Cambridge GO as part
of this digital Teacher’s Resource.
More information about these approaches to learning and teaching is available to download from Cambridge
GO as part of this digital Teacher’s Resource.
SA

46
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

1 Kinematics
Teaching plan
Sub-chapter Approximate Learning content Resources
number of
learning
hours
1.1 1 • Students learn the differences Coursebook

E
Displacement, between displacement and
distance, speed distance and between velocity Section 1.1.
and velocity and speed. Test your understanding 1–4.
Exam-style questions
Workbook

1.2 Uniformly
accelerated
motion: the
equations of
kinematics
2

PL • Students learn to use the

equations of motion.
Exercise 1.1
Teacher’s resource

Coursebook
Section 1.2.
Test your understanding 5–18.
Exam-style questions
Workbook
Exercise 1.2
M
Teacher’s resource
1.3 Graphs 2 • Students learn to sketch and Coursebook
of motion interpret displacement–time and
velocity–time graphs Section 1.3.
Test your understanding 19–28.
Exam-style questions
SA

Workbook
Exercise 1.2
Teacher’s resource
1.4 Projectile 2 • Students learn to apply the Coursebook
motion equations of motion in the
horizontal and vertical directions Section 1.4.
• Students consider the Test your understanding 29–39.
effects of fluid resistance on
projectile motion Exam-style questions
Workbook
Exercise 1.4
Teacher’s resource

2 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

47
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

• Students should be familiar with the units • Some students may have seen speed–time or
for distance (m), time (s), speed (m/s) and distance–time graphs.
acceleration (m/s2), although they may not • Students should be able to rearrange
have seen negative indices in units, such as equations that contain addition/subtraction,
in m s–1 and m s–2. multiplication/division and square/square
• Students may have already have used root functions.
the equation linking average speed, • Students should be able to sketch and
distance and time taken, and also the interpret graphs that are straight lines or
equation linking acceleration, change in curves and be familiar with the meaning
speed and time taken. of gradient.

E
Syllabus overview
• This chapter covers the equations of motion in a straight line under zero or uniform acceleration and
distinguishes between scalar and vector quantities in the context of motion.
•

PL
Students also get practice in sketching and interpreting graphs showing the variation of displacement with
time, velocity with time and acceleration with time.
The calculations of projectile motion are included, and students qualitatively describe the effects of fluid
resistance on motion.

1.1 Displacement, distance, speed and velocity

LEARNING PLAN

Learning objectives Success criteria

M
• Learn the difference between displacement • Students should be able to describe the
and distance. meaning of each term correctly.
• Learn the difference between speed • Students should be able to give a definition,
and velocity. in words or as an equation, for each term.
SA

Common misconceptions
Misconception How to identify How to overcome
Velocity is just a more scientific After students learn about Students can remember which
word for speed and means the scalars and vectors and the quantity is scalar and which is
same thing. meanings of speed and velocity, vector by their initial letters.
ask for a definition of each. v stands for velocity and vector;
s stands for speed and scalar.
Students may use the symbol s The symbol s will be used Not all symbols are derived
to mean speed. incorrectly. from English language words.
The origin of s comes from the
Latin word spatium (pronounced
‘space-ium’) meaning the
distance between two locations.

3 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

48
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Starter ideas
1 How far have you gone? (2 minutes)
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: Ask students to sit in the same positions as they did in the previous lesson that was
held in the same room. Now ask them to discuss with a learning partner how far they have travelled since
the previous lesson. The answer could be several kilometres, for example, around the school, to home and
back, and so on. Alternatively, the answer could be no distance, because they have ended up in the same
place as last time. Use the idea to introduce the difference between distance and displacement.

2 How fast? (10 minutes)

Resources: A number of photographs, pictures or videos from the internet of animals, runners, cars,
aeroplanes, the Earth moving round the sun and so on.

E
Description and purpose: Ask students to place the objects in the pictures in order from slowest to fastest.
In groups, students can suggest values for the top speed of each object. Groups can then compare their
results. As students discuss results, it should become clear that speeds can be measured in different units.
Write some typical results on the board so that students can self-assess their estimates. Ask: Do you
understand the different units that you use?
Challenge students to come up with as many different units for speed as they can. Ask: What units might an

total distance .
from __________
total time
PL
astronomer use to measure the speed of a galaxy moving away from us?

Main teaching ideas

1 Using the equation for average speed (20 minutes)
Resources: Calculators, Coursebook Test Your Understanding questions
Description and purpose: Briefly explain the equation for speed. Point out that average speed is calculated

Introduce the SI system of units. Explain the need for an international system. Ensure that all students can
rearrange this equation successfully. Do they understand how to convert between different units of distance,
such as millimetres, centimetres and kilometres? Do they understand how to convert between seconds,
minutes and hours?
M
Teach students how to set out their answers clearly, with the formula, substitutions, calculations and units
all being shown. For example:
distance = speed × time
= 3.6 × 5.2
= 18.72
= 19 m (to two significant figures)
You should make this an essential requirement when setting out answers: ask students to add the necessary
SA

detail if they do not show their working in homework or class exercises. The aim is for students to give this
detail automatically. Note: using the same number of significant figures for the answer as in the data is not
always necessary at this stage. But you might like to introduce it so that students get into a good habit.
Students can use Test Your Understanding question 1 from the Coursebook to practise the calculation.
Assessment ideas: Give students questions and ask them to mark each other’s work. They can explain in
their own words to each other why an answer is incorrect.
Differentiation: Some students prefer to use a formula triangle to display the relationship between speed,
distance and time. This may be helpful at the start, but they will eventually need to be able to rearrange
simple formulae without aids. Encourage students to stop using aids as soon as they are confident.
Reflection: If students have made mistakes in calculations, ask them to consider how they might avoid this
in the future.
Language focus: The word ‘per’ in units, such as metres ‘per’ second, means ‘in each’. So, 5 m s−1 means
5 metres in each second.

4 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

49
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

2 Measuring speed in the laboratory (20 minutes or up to 1 hour

with practical investigation)
Resources: Light gate or motion sensor or prepared ticker-tape, stopwatches, metre rulers
Practical guidance: Students are introduced to a single light gate and timer. They investigate speed using a
single light gate timer or motion sensor. You could use a demonstration if a light gate is available. Or you
could show a video. If you search the internet for ‘measuring speed or velocity with light gates or motion
sensors’ you will find a useful video. Readings can be taken from the video.
Give students a simple task. An example is using a light gate to measure how fast can they move their hand.
Or they could measure how fast a ball travels after it has fallen 1.0 m from rest in air.
If timers are not available, prepare a ticker-timer trace and create photocopies for the students. Ask students
to measure the average speed between various specified points on the paper. Measurements should be
repeated. The ideas of average and uncertainty can be introduced using the readings of time that are taken.

E
This uncertainty can be compared with the uncertainty when using a stopwatch.
After students have made measurements of average speed, ask them to discuss the difficulties in using the
apparatus. Students should suggest possible causes of error and how they may be reduced.
Alternatively–or in addition–students can measure their reaction time and determine an average speed of a
ball rolling down a slope.
Safety: Students should not stand on desks or chairs to drop objects.

PL
Assessment ideas: Students should write a report of their method, make a table their readings and show
their calculations. Groups of students can look at each other’s accounts. They can suggest which is the best
from their group. They share it with you or the class. A good report should state clearly the experimental
procedure used. It should state specifically which measurements were made. The best report might talk
about the specific difficulties faced in the experiment. From time to time, you can check the account of each
student and the progress shown in their books.
Differentiation: More confident students can use the uncertainties in their time and distance measurements
to calculate the maximum and minimum values of speed that are possible with their readings.
Reflection: Ask students to consider the purpose of experiments, investigations and practical
demonstrations in the course.
Language focus: The word ‘gate’ in light gate is derived from the type of mechanical gate that can be open
M
or closed; the light gate operates a switch for a timer, and that switch can be open or closed.

Plenary ideas
1 Question game (10 minutes or more depending on the number of questions)
Resources: A selection of prepared questions on the topic, calculators, small pieces of paper
Description and purpose: Play a simple game with groups of students sitting in lines or rows. Read out a
problem or display it on the screen. For example, ‘a car travels at 50 km/h for 10 minutes; how far does it
SA

travel?’ Each group member copies and completes the problem in their books. The person at the back writes
the solution out on a piece of paper.
When their answer is complete, the person sitting at the back passes the answer to the person in front.
That person looks at the completed problem. If they agree with the answer, they pass it to the person in
front of them. If the answer is incorrect in any way, including lack of an equation or lack of a unit, they
pass the answer back. This should all take place in silence. If a student is handed a problem back, they must
correct it and pass it forward again.
Points can be awarded for the team where the person at the front raises a hand to show that the answer has
been checked and is correct for all the students in their team. For the next problem, each student moves one
seat forward. The student at the front moves to the back and is the one next to answer on file paper.
Assessment ideas: Assessment is part of the activity where students determine whether answers are
correct or not.

5 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

50
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Homework ideas
1 Units of speed
Ask students to find out what units of speed are commonly used in everyday life. Prompt also for the units
used by ships (knots) and aircraft (knots and Mach). Students should also include conversions with their
one unit of choice (m s–1, km/h, mph etc.)

2 Coursebook or Workbook questions

Ask students to answer any from: Coursebook Test your Understanding questions 1–4, or Exam-style
questions xx–xx, or questions from Workbook Exercise 1.1.

1.2 Uniformly accelerated motion:

E
the equations of kinematics
LEARNING PLAN

Learning objectives

PL
• Learn the concept of acceleration
• Learn how to solve motion problems using
the equations for constant acceleration

Common misconceptions
Success criteria

• Students can define acceleration both in

words and with an equation
• Students can use the equations of kinematics
to find any variable when given any three of
the other variables
M
Misconception How to identify How to overcome
Students may assume that Ask students what they After defining acceleration as
acceleration always means an understand by the term a change in velocity, ask
increase in speed. acceleration. (a) whether this must always
be an increase and (b) whether
speed must change. Explain that
in later topics (circular motion
SA

and simple harmonic motion)

they will encounter different
examples of this.
Students can sometimes think Students will claim that a Students need to recognise
they are missing one or calculation is not possible. terms such as ‘from rest’ or
more of the variables in the ‘dropped’ or ‘comes to a stop’
kinematics equations. means that either u or v is
zero, even when no number is
provided. ‘Dropped’ also implies
that a will be the acceleration of
free fall.

6 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

51
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Starter ideas
1 Thinking about acceleration and average speed (5 minutes)
Resources: Tennis ball
Description and purpose: Drop the ball and tell students that 1.0 s after you let go, the speed of the ball is
approximately 10 m s−1. Ask them how to find the distance travelled using the formula distance = speed × time.
Ask students whether they can use the final speed or the initial speed. Ask why it is not possible to use either
on its own.

Main teaching ideas

1 Deriving the equations of motion (20–40 minutes depending on the students’
mathematical abilities)

E
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: Students’ ability to derive the equations of motion from the definitions of velocity
and acceleration removes any idea that the equations are abstract. This means you need to set the derivation
out in a logical fashion, as in the Coursebook. Emphasise each step.
Show students the derivation. Give them a blank sheet of paper. Without notes, they explain to another

2
v2 = u2 + 2as PL
student how each equation is derived. They should only look at their notes if they do not know how to
proceed. The student being given the explanation should ask questions during the explanation.
Assessment ideas: At the end of the lesson, ask students to explain in words what they have to do to derive
v = u + at
s = ut + __1 at2

Students are likely to forget how to start one of the steps. Repetition helps in remembering. The same
question can be used as a starter for the next lesson.
You can also listen to the explanations given by each student to establish whether they have understood.
Differentiation: Confident students with good mathematical skills (who are able to integrate simple
equations) can use this skill to derive s = ut +__1 at2 by calculating the expression ∫uv atdt.
M
2
Reflection: Ask students: What were some of the most challenging parts in dealing with the equations of
motion. Why?

2 Acceleration experiments (1 hour)

Resources: Ramp of adjustable height, metre rulers, stopwatches, suitable ball (such as tennis ball, golf ball),
trolley or toy car
Practical guidance: After learning about the equations of motion and using them in calculations, students
SA

should undertake a practical exercise involving these equations. Students can simply roll a ball down a slope
over different distances, measure the time taken and plot a graph of s against t2.
You should be aware that the calculated, theoretical speed of a ball rolling down a ramp will be greater than
the actual speed because some of the gravitational potential energy is transferred to rotational kinetic energy
and not all to translational kinetic energy. This is beyond the scope of the IB Physics syllabus—but it is
worth keeping in mind.
Safety: Place a suitable object should at the end of the bench or table to prevent the ball or trolley from
continuing onto the floor; if ramps are placed on the floor, then they should be positioned so they are not a
tripping hazard for other groups.
Assessment ideas: Assess the final experimental write-up, including table of results and graph.
Differentiation: Students who need more challenge could be asked to research Galileo’s odd number rule.
Students who need support can be encouraged to set out calculations, line by line, following the rule of ‘one
equals sign per line’.
Reflection: Ask students to include suggestions for improvement in their write-up.

7 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

52
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Plenary ideas
1 Starter revisited (10 minutes)
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: Return to the initial starter where the ball was dropped. Ask students how many
ways they can show that the ball travels four times further when dropped for 2 s than it does for 1 s.
Which method did students find easiest to use? Why?
Assessment ideas: Students could hand their working in as exit slips.

Homework ideas
1 Practice calculations

E
Students will need to practice choosing the correct kinematics equation from the variables given and
then practice rearranging and solving them. Any source of questions—whether from the Coursebook,
Workbook, Worksheets or online—could contribute to this.

2 Title
Students can complete the Language Worksheet that accompanies this sub-topic.

1.3 Graphs of motion

LEARNING PLAN

Learning objectives
PL
• Learn how to analyse graphs
describing motion
Success criteria

• Students can sketch and interpret

displacement–time and velocity–time
graphs for objects in uniform and
non-uniform acceleration.
M
Common misconceptions
Misconception How to identify How to overcome
SA

Students will often use their After learning about and The graph should be a straight
preconceptions about the gaining practice sketching line with constant negative
motion of an object, and their velocity–time graphs, ask gradient, cutting the t axis at the
sketch graph will follow the students to sketch a v-t graph line’s midpoint.
path of the object rather than for a ball being thrown vertically Hold a ball and move it, as if in
show the correct variation of the upward and returning to the slow motion, up and back down,
quantity. thrower’s hand. Tell them that asking students to describe both
down is to be taken as negative. its velocity and acceleration as
Some may draw a graph that it moves.
slopes up from the origin and
At the highest point, its velocity
down again to the t axis.
is zero, but it is still accelerating
downward because the velocity
is only zero for an instant.

8 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

53
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Starter ideas
1 Describing graphs (10 minutes)
Resources: Various distance–time and/or speed–time graphs
Description and purpose: The activity is suitable for students who have seen some graphs describing motion
before. Show students the range of graphs that show the relationship between distance and time, such as
the ones in the Coursebook, Figure 1.10 (without the explanations). Ask them to describe what each graph
shows about the quantity on the y-axis. Students discuss the graphs in groups. They copy them into their
books with explanations. They then review one another’s work. Each student can suggest what is good in the
explanation from another student and how it might be improved. You can listen to the discussions to decide
whether they really have understood that the slope is velocity and that it can be positive or negative.

2 Graph role-play (5 minutes or more depending on the number of graphs used)

E
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: Sketch a displacement–time or velocity–time graph on the board, as in Figure 1.12
in the Coursebook. Invite a student to walk around the room showing the movement indicated by the graph.
Repeat for other graphs. You can see from the student’s movement around the room (and from comments
from other students) whether they have understood the graph.

Main teaching idea

PL
1 Plotting a displacement–time graph from experimental data (30 minutes)
Resources: Ball and stopwatch or light gates, adjustable ramp, metre rulers
Practical guidance: Students can use a stopwatch or light gates to time a ball rolling down a slope, such as
a tennis ball rolling from rest down the gap between two metre rules. They can measure the time taken to
roll a certain distance. They can repeat the experiment for different distances. They can produce tables and
graphs of the results.
Assessment ideas: Students can write an account of their method. You can assess their tables and graphs.
Each student can look at the table and graph of another student. You can ask questions such
as the following:
• Does each column of the table have a unit in the column header?
M
• Does each column have a consistent number of decimal places?
• Does the graph cover more than half the page?
• Does the graph have sensible, linear scales on both axes?
The main aim of the assessment is that each student will learn how to construct a table and draw a graph.
You can see which features are being missed and can explain why these features are needed.
Differentiation: More confident students can experiment to see whether a larger or heavier ball travels
further in the same time. If less confident students find planning difficult, you can help them. You should
SA

remind all students of the good features for a table and a graph.
Reflection: What are the important things to remember when drawing a graph? What are the most
important things to remember when constructing a table of results?
You can also ask students how they can find the speed from a distance–time graph. They should realise that
this is the gradient of the graph. You might explain the good features of obtaining a gradient from a graph.
Students can suggest ways in which they can improve their graphs or remember how to draw a good graph.
Language focus: Be careful when using phrases such as ‘how long it takes’ or ‘length of time’ because some
students may interpret this as two quantities: distance (long/length) and time. If this is likely to be confusing,
then refer to a ‘period of time’ or ‘time taken’ or ‘number of seconds’.

9 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

54
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Plenary ideas
1 Draw what I describe (3 minutes or more depending on number of graphs used)
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: You can provide sets of displacement–time or distance–time graphs. Ask students
to describe each motion. Alternatively, one student sketches a distance–time graph. They come to the front
and describe the motion to the class but do not show the graph. All the other students sketch the graph from
the description. They compare their graphs with the initial graph.
Assessment ideas: Assessment is part of the activity when they compare their graph with the original one.

Homework ideas

E
1 Workbook Exercise 1.3
Workbook Exercise 1.3 gives practice at sketching and interpreting graphs of motion.

2 Formula 1 telemetry
Formula 1 racing teams monitor their car’s performance on the track remotely. Part of this is a series of
graphs, and one of these is a speed–time graph. Ask students to research this for themselves or given a

LEARNING PLAN

Learning objectives
PL
printed version. Ask them to identify the speed–time graph and to explain why it is not appropriate in this
case to have a velocity–time graph. Then ask them to describe the motion of the car from the telemetry.
If time is shown, they can calculate acceleration.

1.4 Projectile motion

• Learn how to describe the motion of

Success criteria

• Students can use the equations of kinematics

M
a projectile separately in the vertical and horizontal
components and understand that these are
• Gain a qualitative understanding of the independent of each other
effects of a fluid resistance force on motion
• Students can, for example, sketch the
• Gain an understanding of the concept of parabolic path of a projecting when air
terminal speed resistance is neglected, then add the path
when air resistance is considered
SA

• Students can explain why, when dropped in a

fluid, the acceleration of an object decreases
to zero

10 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

55
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Common misconceptions
Misconception How to identify How to overcome
Students sometimes have Drop a ball vertically from the With practice, it is possible to
difficulty understanding that the edge of a bench. Then ask have two identical balls (tennis
horizontal and vertical motions whether the time taken to reach balls are ideal). One is rolled
are independent of one another. the ground will be affected if toward the edge of the bench,
the ball is first rolled across and the other is dropped from
the bench and allowed to the same height at the instant
roll off the edge. This can be the first one passes the edge.
done before or after learning Students can then see that they
about vertical and horizontal both take the same time to fall.

E
components of motion. Alternatively, you could ask
‘In which direction does
gravity act?’
Students sometimes use This will be apparent when Go back to the rules of
the wrong component calculations are marked. trigonometry in a right-angled
in calculations. triangle and ensure students are

Fluid resistance is a type

of friction.
PL Students may class air resistance
as a type of friction.
secure with working out sine and
cosine. Then practice resolving
velocities in a variety of directions
(including vertical and horizontal)
into vertical and horizontal
components.
Friction occurs when surfaces rub
together. Fluid resistance occurs
because of the displacement
of the fluid particles and the
resulting way that they flow
around the moving object.
M
Starter ideas
1 The monkey and hunter problem (5 minutes)
Resources: n/a
Description and purpose: The activity allows students to think about motion of a projectile.
Draw a simple diagram of a monkey hanging from the branch of a tree, and a hunter with a gun pointed
horizontally at the monkey, possibly from an elevated position. Ask the question: ‘If the monkey lets go of
SA

the branch and falls at the same time as the bullet leaves the gun, what will happen?’
Allow students to discuss the answer (Note: arriving at the correct answer at this stage is not essential).
Then explain that, in this topic, students will find the answer to the problem.

2 Components of a vector (10 minutes)

Resources: Measuring tape, calculators
Description and purpose: Walk across a room and ask: ‘I have walked 5 m; how can we find out how far
I have walked south or east?’ ‘How can we work out my velocity north and east?’ Students work out for
themselves that components are of the form d cos θ and d sin θ. Students may forget these formulae.
Asking them to derive them themselves may trigger the process of being able to work the formulae out if
they later forget them. Students will show whether they can recall the correct use of trigonometry in a right-
angled triangle readily by the speed and accuracy of their answers.

11 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

56
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Main teaching ideas

1 Projectile motion visualised (10 minutes)
Resources: A smooth rectangular or square board, at least 1 m in the longest dimension that can have
5–10 cm squares drawn on it, or can have white paper attached to its surface; ball bearing or marble;
paint or ink (optional)
Description and purpose: Reproduce the movement shown in Coursebook Figure 1.32. Incline the board
slightly and release the ball from the top left corner to simulate ‘vertical’ motion. Then hold the ball at the
top right and give it a slight push across parallel to the top edge. Students should see the parabolic path.
To make this clearer, the ball can be dipped in ink and rolled across white paper attached to the surface
of the board.
Assessment ideas: Ask students questions about how vector quantities such as velocity, displacement and

E
acceleration are acting at certain positions in the path of the ball.
Differentiation: Students who need challenge could be asked to show, mathematically, why acceleration has
no effect on horizontal motion (the component of the vertical vector is zero in the horizontal direction as
the cosine of 90° is 0).
Students who need support can be shown how the path of the ball relates to Coursebook Figure 1.32 and
prompted to see that horizontal velocity is constant.

PL
Reflection: Ask students why the board is only inclined at a very small angle in this demonstration.
Those who need support can suggest that it is to slow the motion of the ball. Those who need challenge can
explain that the small angle reduces the component of ‘vertical’ acceleration.
Language focus: The word parabola comes from a Greek word meaning ‘side-by-side’.
The parabola (when extended) is a symmetrical shape, and the significance of this can be used in
some projectile motion calculations.

2 The monkey and hunter experiment (20 minutes)

Resources: Monkey and hunter apparatus or a ball bearing or marble and a steel disc (the lid of a steel can
works well, but should be as large as possible); two horizontal benches or tables that are the same height.
Practical guidance: As with all demonstrations, you should trial this before using in the class, to make sure
it works and is convincing. You can find instructions online (search for ‘how to make your own monkey and
M
hunter apparatus’).
Description and purpose: To show that horizontal and vertical motion are independent.
Safety: Students should stand behind or parallel with the path of any projectile in the laboratory.
Assessment ideas: Ask students to explain, using ideas about vertical and horizontal components of
motion, why the bullet will always hit the monkey.
Differentiation: Students who need challenge can be asked to show, with calculation, whether the bullet will
hit the monkey if the hunter is at a lower level than the monkey and is firing at an upward angle.
SA

Reflection: Some, less cruel, modern variations of the problem involve scenarios such as a person throwing
a piece of fruit toward the monkey to feed it. Can students think of their own variation that would still work
in terms of physics?
Language focus: Many words and phrases in the monkey and hunter scenario do not occur in the physics
course outside of this example, so equivalent terms can be used.

3 Centre of gravity and projectile motion (5–10 minutes)

Resources: Coursebook Figure 1.38, video of a hammer being thrown—the hammer as a tool or the field
athletics version (optional)
Description and purpose: The purpose is to avoid misconception about the motion of some projectile objects
such as the stunt rider in Coursebook Figure 1.38. Care should be taken not to over-teach this, as it is not
on the syllabus. It may appear that there is some ‘up and down’ movement during the flight. However, a
rotating projectile object will rotate about its centre of gravity, and the centre of gravity itself will trace out a
parabolic path.

12 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

57
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Safety: If a real hammer is to be thrown, this should be done outside, preferably on a grass surface.
Assessment ideas: Students could put tracing paper over Figure 1.38 and trace out the parabola
for themselves.
Differentiation: Students who need challenge can be asked why they think the centre of gravity, and not all
parts of an object, follows a parabolic path.
Reflection: Ask students how easy or difficult they find visualising these concepts.
Language focus: Students may have used the term centre of gravity or centre of mass before. In practice,
for small objects on Earth, they can be considered as being the same. The former is the point at which
gravity acts and the latter is the point where the mass acts.

Plenary ideas

E
1 Falling balls (Time)
Resources: Two balls of approximately the same diameter but with different masses; a golf ball and a table
tennis ball work well.
Description and purpose: Drop the balls at the same time from overhead, but do not stand on a desk or chair.
Observe that the denser ball hits the ground first every time. Ask students to explain using ideas about air

Homework ideas
1 Practice questions
PL
resistance why this happens. After all, the acceleration is the same for both, and air resistance should be the
same because they have the same surface area and same shape.
Assessment ideas: This activity can be extended to a homework. If students have not met the equation
F = ma, then this can be introduced as a hint.

Homework should be differentiated according to need. For example, some students may need more practice
at resolving vectors into components, while others may need practice at more complex projectile problems,
such as objects projected at upward and downward angles off cliffs or tall buildings. Students should always
be reminded of the symmetrical nature of the parabola, which may cut some steps from their calculations.
M
2 Falling balls (plenary extension)
If the Falling Balls plenary has been used, ask students to explain why the less dense ball reaches terminal
speed first. Scaffolding can be provided as this is challenging. The force of air resistance is the same on both
balls when their speed is the same, but because of F = ma, that force of air resistance has a greater
decelerating effect on the ball with less mass.
SA

CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS
• The concepts of scalars and vectors arises again in many later topics, such as in Chapter 2,
Forces and Newton’s Laws.
• An understanding of speed and velocity is required at many points in the course, such as with
momentum in Chapter 4 and wave speed in Chapters 13 and 14.
• Gravitation and gravitational fields are studied in more depth in Chapter 17.

13 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

58
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

Links to digital resources

• An internet search for ‘monkey and hunter apparatus’ will give results on how to make your own and where
to buy equipment.
• Search online for ‘projectile motion simulation’ to find downloadable apps where students can visualise
projectile motion.
• Set a search engine to find images, and search for ‘velocity-time graphs’ or ‘displacement-time graphs’ to get
examples of these.
• Use an online video website to search for ‘kinematics’ to get different explanations of concepts.

Differentiation
Stretch and challenge

E
• Students can explore the concepts of scalar and vector quantities further and describe why, for example, time
and electric current are scalar even though people refer to time and current moving in a particular direction.
• Students with secure mathematical ability could be given problems that require the use of the equations of
kinematics and simultaneous equations together.
• Ask students to discuss the question, ‘If the position and speed of every object or particle can be predicted,
then why can we not predict the future?’
Support
•
•

•
PL
Ask students to consider when fluid resistance or air resistance is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.
Students may need reminding of the definitions of sine and cosine and the use of Pythagoras’s theorem in
right-angled triangles.
Students may need help with selecting suitable linear scales for graphs. Scales should usually start at, and
include, zero on both axes, then use increments that are multiples or submultiples of 1, 2 or 5. The scale
should be chosen so that the plotted points cover more than half of the grid in both directions.

Assessment ideas
Students can answer the Test Your Understanding questions at the end of each sub-chapter, or they can
M
answer specific questions from Exercises 1.1–1.4 in the Workbook.
• Students can work in groups to produce mind maps (spider diagrams) of the concepts in this topic.
• Students can work in pairs and be asked to plan their own mini-lesson to explain or demonstrate one of the
more concepts that they found more difficult, then deliver this to the rest of the class.

Downloadables
SA

Language worksheets
1.1 Kinematics 1
Students match key words to definitions, and remember what information is represented by graphs
in kinematics.

1.2 Kinematics 2
Students ‘translate’ everyday definitions of key terms into scientific definitions.

1.3 Kinematics 3
Students write out the names of units used in kinematics, and state whether the quantities are scalar
or vector.

14 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

59
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: TEACHER’S RESOURCE

PowerPoints
Some questions and graphs—mostly from the course book—which can be displayed to spark discussion and/or
use as a starting point for definitions and other key information from the chapter.

Tests
End of chapter test: 10 multiple choice questions about kinematics.

Answers:
End of chapter test
1C

E
2B
3C
4B
5A
6D
7D
8B
9A
10 C

PL
M
SA

15 Physics for the IB Diploma – Bonsall © Cambridge University Press 2023

60
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

Name Date

1.1 Kinematics 1
1 What is …? Match up the question with its correct answer.

What is … Answer

E
a … the change in position vector? Instantaneous acceleration

b … the rate of change of displacement? Position vector

c … the rate of change of velocity?

d … the magnitude of velocity vector?

over the time?

PL
e … the displacement experienced by a body

f … the distance covered by a body over

the time?
g … a straight line vector that connects the point
Average speed

Instantaneous speed

Displacement

Distance
M
of reference to the location of a body at a Instantaneous velocity
certain time?
h … the actual length of the trajectory travelled
by a body? Average velocity

2 Write one or two sentences to answer these questions.

SA

a What does ‘motion is relative in physics’ mean?

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 1

61
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

b What is kinematics?

3 Match the information to the correct part of the graph that it is represented by.

E
Information Represented by …

a instantaneous acceleration … the area under a velocity against time graph.

b instantaneous velocity

c displacement experienced by a
moving body

d the change of velocity (not

velocity) experienced by a
moving body
PL … area under an acceleration against time graph.

... the gradient of a velocity against time graph.

… the gradient of a position against time graph.

M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 2

62
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

Name Date

1.2 Kinematics 2
Occasionally, everyday words take on new scientific meanings. Translate these daily life definitions
into scientific words and scientific definitions.
Word bank:

E
acceleration velocity position vector

displacement distance kinematics

Everyday definition Key term Scientific definition

To speed up or to slow down

How fast an object moves in a certain
direction

A study about motion

The location of a body

The total movement of a body without

considering the direction
PL
M
How far a body is displaced in a motion

Can you state some examples based on your definition?

SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 3

63
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

Name Date

1.3 Kinematics 3
It is important to understand the correct units for a quantity so that you can answer exam questions
correctly. Write down the correct quantities that are measured in these units.

Units (SI or non-SI base units) Correct quantities

E
km, feet, m

m s−1, km h−1

m s−2

s, h

PL
It is also important to understand the type of quantities in this kinematics chapter: is the quantity
scalar or vector? State whether each of these quantities is a scalar or a vector.

Quantity

average speed
Scalar or vector?

scalar
M
average velocity

acceleration

velocity

distance
SA

displacement

speed

position

average acceleration

time

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 4

64
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

Name Date

Answers
1.1
1 a Displacement; b Instantaneous velocity; c Instantaneous acceleration; d Instantaneous

E
speed;
e Average velocity; f Average speed; g Position vector; h Distance

2 a Motion in physics depends on the point of reference that we choose to measure the
position vector of a moving body.

PL
b Kinematics is a branch of physics, developed in classical mechanics, that describes the
motion of points, bodies and also systems of objects without considering the forces that
cause the object or system of objects to move.

3 a …the gradient of a velocity against time graph.

b …the gradient of a position against time graph.

c …the area under a velocity against time graph.

M
d …the area under an acceleration against time graph.

1.2
Everyday definition Key term Scientific definition

To speed up or to slow down acceleration the rate of change of velocity

SA

How fast an object moves in a velocity the rate of change of

certain direction displacement

A study about motion kinematics a branch of physics, developed

in classical mechanics, that
describes the motion of points,
bodies and also systems of
objects without considering the
forces that cause the object or
system of objects to move

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 1

65
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKSHEET 1.1

The location of a body position vector a straight-line vector that

connects the point of reference
to the location of a body at a
certain time

The total movement of a body distance a scalar quantity that defines

without considering the the total length of the trajectory
direction covered by a moving body
without consideration the
direction of motion
How far a body is displaced in a displacement the change in position vector
motion

E
1.3
Units (SI or non-SI base units) Correct quantities

km, feet, m

m s−1, km h−1

m s−2

s, h

Quantity
PL position, displacement, distance

velocity, average velocity, speed, average speed

acceleration

time

Scalar or vector?
M
average speed scalar

average velocity vector

acceleration vector

velocity vector
SA

distance scalar

displacement vector

speed scalar

position vector

average acceleration Vector

time scalar

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 2

66
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

End of chapter tests: 01 Kinematics

1 Cars X and Y start from the same place. They are both travelling to a destination 480 km
away.
Car X starts at time 0 and travels at a speed of 60 km h-1.
Car Y starts one hour later and travels at a speed of 80 km h-1.

E
Which car gets to the destination first, and what is the time between the arrivals of the two cars
at the destination?

Arrives first Time between arrivals/h

A X 1

D
X

Y
PL
2 The initial velocity of a body is 6.0 m s-1.
2

The graph shows the variation with time of the acceleration of the body.
M
SA

What is the velocity at t = 3 s?

9.0 m s-1
15 m s-1
18 m s-1
24 m s-1

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 1

67
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

3 The initial position of a body is 8.0 m. The graph shows the variation with time of the
velocity of the body.

E
What is the position at t = 6 s?
12 m
16 m
20 m
28 m
PL
4 A stone is thrown vertically upwards with speed 20 m s-1. How high does it get?
2m
20 m
M
40 m
80 m

5 A stone is thrown vertically downwards from the edge of cliff on a planet without an
atmosphere at t = 0.
At t = 1 s, the stone’s speed is 11 m s-1, and at t = 3 s it is 23 m s-1.
SA

What is the initial speed of the stone, and what is the acceleration of free fall on the planet?

Initial speed (m s-1) Acceleration of free fall (m s-2)

A 5 6

B 5 7

C 4 6

D 4 7

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 2

68
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

6 The velocity of an object varies with time as shown in the graph.

Which graph shows the variation with time of the acceleration of the object?

E
PL
7 Three statements are made for projectile motion in the presence of air resistance. The
M
statements compare this motion to that without air resistance.
I The horizontal distance travelled is less.
II The maximum height reached is less.
III The impact angle is steeper.
SA

Which are correct?

I and II
I and II
II and III
I, II and III

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 3

69
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

8 Two projectiles are launched horizontally on two different planets. The diagram shows
the positions of the projectiles every 0.5 s.
y
x

E
What can be concluded about the launch speed and the acceleration of free fall on the two
planets?

D
same

same

different

different
PL
Horizontal speed Acceleration of free fall

same

different

same

different
M
9 The diagram shows the position, every 0.40 s, of a projectile launched horizontally on a
planet.
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 4

70
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

What is the launch speed, and what is the acceleration of free fall on the planet?

Horizontal speed/m s-1 Acceleration of free fall/m s-2

A 10 8.0

B 10 10

C 8.0 8.0

E
D 8.0 10

10 Two projectiles, X and Y, are launched horizontally with the same speed. X is launched
from a height 4h and Y from a height h.

What is
PL
horizontal distance travelled by X
horizontal distance travelled by Y
when both land on the ground?
M
1
4
1
2
2
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 5

71
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: CHAPTER 1 TEST

Answers

1 C

2 B

3 C

4 B

E
5 A

6 D

7 D

8 B

9 A

10 C
PL
Note: All the questions here are reused; there are no new questions.
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press 2023 6

72
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

73
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

74
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

75
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

76
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

77
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

78
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

79
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

80
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

81
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

82
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Physics

E
for the IB Diploma

PL WORKBOOK

Mark Farrington
M
SA

Second edition Digital Access

Together with IB teachers

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

Contents
How to use this series vi 6 Relativity76
6.1 Reference frames and Lorentz
How to use this book vii
transformations78
Unit A Space, time and motion  1 6.2 Effects of relativity 80
6.3 Spacetime diagrams 83

E
1 Kinematics2
Unit B The particulate nature
1.1 Displacement, distance,
speed and velocity 3 of matter 93
1.2 Uniformly accelerated motion:
the equations of kinematics 5 7 Thermal energy transfers 94
1.3
1.4

2.1
2.2
2.3
Graphs of motion
Projectile motion

2 Forces and Newton’s laws

PL
Forces and their direction
Newton’s laws of motion
Circular motion

3 Work, energy and power

19

36
6
10

21
26
28
7.1
7.2

7.3
Particles, temperature, and energy
Specific heat capacity and
change of phase
Thermal energy transfer

8 The greenhouse effect

8.1
8.2

9 The gas laws

Radiation from real bodies
Energy balance of the Earth
96

98
100

110
111
112

121
M
3.1 Work37
9.1 Moles, molar mass and the
3.2 Conservation of mechanical energy 39
Avogadro constant 123
3.3 Power and efficiency 42
9.2 Ideal gases 125
3.4 Energy transfers 44
9.3 The Boltzmann equation 126
4 Linear momentum 50 10 Thermodynamics133
SA

4.1 Newton’s second law in terms

10.1 Internal energy 135
of momentum 51
10.2 The first law of thermodynamics 140
4.2 Impulse and force–time graphs 52
10.3 The second law of thermodynamics 143
4.3 Conservation of momentum 54
10.4 Real systems 149
4.4 Kinetic energy and momentum 55

5 Rigid body mechanics 62 11 Current and circuits 158

11.1 Potential difference,
5.1 Kinematics of rotational motion 64
current and resistance 161
5.2 Rotational equilibrium and
11.2 Voltage, power and emf 167
Newton’s second law 67
11.3 Resistors in electrical circuits 170
5.3 Angular momentum 69
11.4 Analysing circuits 173

84
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Contents

Unit C Wave behaviour 185 19 Motion in electric and

magnetic fields 306
12 Simple harmonic motion 186 19.1 Motion in an electric field 306
12.1 Simple harmonic oscillations 188 19.2 Motion in a magnetic field 309
12.2 Details of simple harmonic motion 189 19.3 Motion in perpendicularly
12.3 More about energy in simple orientated electric and magnetic fields 311
harmonic motion 194
20 Electromagnetic induction 318
13 The wave model 203 20.1 Electromagnetic induction 319
13.1 Mechanical waves 204 20.2 Generators and alternating current 323

E
13.2 Transverse and longitudinal waves 207
13.3 Electromagnetic waves 211 Unit E Nuclear and
13.4 Waves extension 212 quantum physics 335
14 Wave phenomena 218 21 Atomic physics 336
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5 Multiple slits

15 Standing waves and resonance

15.1
15.2
Standing waves
PL
Reflection and refraction
The principle of superposition
Diffraction and interference
Single-slit diffraction

Standing waves on strings

220
226
229
232
233

238
240
243
21.1
21.2

22.1
22.2
The structure of the atom
Quantisation of angular momentum

22 Quantum physics
Photons and the photoelectric effect
Matter waves

23 and 24 Nuclear physics and

Nuclear fission
349

362
337
341

350
353
M
15.3 Standing waves in pipes 244 23.1 Mass defect and binding energy 365
15.4 Resonance and damping 246 23.2 Radioactivity368
23.3 Nuclear properties and
16 The Doppler effect 252 the radioactive decay law 374
16.1 The Doppler effect at low speeds 253 24.1 Nuclear fission 377
16.2 The Doppler effect for sound 256
25 Nuclear fusion and stars 385
SA

Unit D Fields 265 25.1 Nuclear fusion 387

25.2 Stellar properties and
17 Gravitational fields 266 the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram 389
17.1 Newton’s law of gravitation 267 25.3 Stellar evolution extension 393
17.2 Gravitational potential and energy 270
17.3 Motion in a gravitational field 277 Glossary400

18 Electric and magnetic fields 286 Acknowledgements000

18.1 Electric charge, force and field 289
18.2 Magnetic field and force 293
18.3 Electrical potential and
electrical potential energy 296

85
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

How to use this series

This suite of resources supports students and teachers of the IB Physics Diploma course.
All of the books in the series work together to help students develop the necessary knowledge
and scientific skills required for this subject.

E
The coursebook with digital access provides full coverage of the
latest IB Physics Diploma course.
It clearly explains facts, concepts and practical techniques, and
uses real world examples of scientific principles. A wealth of
formative questions within each chapter help students develop

PL
their understanding, and own their learning. A dedicated
chapter in the digital coursebook helps teachers and students
unpack the new assessment, while exam-style questions provide
essential practice and self-assessment. Answers are provided on
Cambridge GO, supporting self-study and home-schooling.

The workbook with digital access builds upon the

coursebook with digital access with further exercises
M
and exam-style questions, carefully constructed to
help students develop the skills that they need as
they progress through their IB Physics Diploma
course. The exercises also help students develop
understanding of the meaning of various command
words used in questions, and provide practice in
responding appropriately to these.
SA

The Teacher’s resource supports and enhances the coursebook

with digital access and the workbook with digital access.
This resource includes teaching plans, overviews of required
background knowledge, learning objectives and success criteria,
common misconceptions, and a wealth of ideas to support lesson
planning and delivery, assessment and differentiation. It also
includes editable worksheets for vocabulary support and exam
practice (with answers) and exemplar PowerPoint presentations,
to help plan and deliver the best teaching.

86
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

How to use this book

How to use this book

A chapter outline appears at the start of every chapter to introduce the learning aims
and help you navigate the content.

CHAPTER OUTLINE KEY TERMS

In this chapter you will: Definitions of key

E
vocabulary are given
• describe the structure of the atom and the relative charges and masses
when the word is
of protons, neutrons and electrons
first introduced.
• describe how protons, neutrons and electrons behave in electric fields
You will also find
• deduce the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in atoms and ions definitions of these

Exercises
PL
Exercises help you to practice skills that are important for studying SL and
HL Physics.
The exercises are divided into Standard and Higher Level material. A vertical line runs
down the margin of all Higher Level material, allowing you to easily identify Higher
Level from Standard material.
Answers to the excercises are available on Cambridge GO.
words in the Glossary.

TIP
Tip boxes will help
you complete the
exercises, and give
you support in areas
that you might
find difficult.
M
EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS
Questions at the end of each chapter are more demanding exam-style questions,
some of which may require use of knowledge from previous chapters. Answers to
these questions can be found in digital form on Cambridge GO.
SA

87
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

E
PL
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Unit A

Space, time

E
and motion
PL
M
SA

Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

Chapter 1

Kinematics
CHAPTER OUTLINE
In this chapter, you will:
• use the terms displacement, distance, speed, velocity and acceleration
and identify which are scalar and which are vector quantities.
• determine instantaneous and average values of speed, velocity

E
and acceleration.
• use the equations of kinematics to solve problems with uniformly
accelerated motion.
• use and analyse appropriate graphs to represent the motion of objects;

•
this will include
•

•
PL
constructing displacement–time, velocity–time and acceleration–
time graphs.
estimating gradients of displacement–time graphs to find velocity,
and velocity–time graphs to find acceleration.
calculating areas under velocity–time graphs to find displacement
and under acceleration–time graphs to find change of velocity.
use error bars on graphs of displacement against time to estimate the
maximum and the minimum velocities, and on graphs of velocity against
M
time to estimate the maximum and minimum accelerations.
• resolve the motion of projectiles into horizontal and vertical components
and use them to solve problems.
• examine the qualitative effect of fluid resistance on the motion
of projectiles.
SA

KEY TERMS
position: the coordinate on the number line
displacement: change in position
distance: length of path followed
uniform motion: motion with constant velocity
average velocity: the displacement divided by the time to achieve that
Δs
displacement: v̄ = ___
Δt
(instantaneous) velocity: the rate of change of position; it is a vector

90
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
(instantaneous) speed: the magnitude of the instantaneous velocity
acceleration: the rate of change of velocity; it is a vector: a = ​​  Δv ​​  v − ​​
___  ​​ or _____ u
Δt t
acceleration of free fall: the acceleration, g, due to the pull of the Earth on
a body; g = 9.8 ms−2 near the surface of the Earth
position vector: the vector from the origin of a coordinate system to the
position of a particle
fluid resistance force: a speed-dependent force opposing the motion of a

E
body through a fluid
terminal speed: the constant speed attained when the resistance force
becomes equal to the force pushing the body
equations of kinematics: v = u + at, Δs = ut + __ ​​  1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​,
2
Δs = (
2 )
u + ​

PL
v ​​t, ​​v​​  2​​ = ​​u​​  2​​  + 2aΔs where, u = initial velocity, v = final
​​ ​ _____
velocity, s = displacement/distance moved, a = acceleration, t = time
components of a vector: two (or three in three dimensions) mutually
perpendicular vectors that, when added together, form the vector itself—
in practice, this usually involves the use of trigonometry:
​​vx​  ​​​ = v cos θ
​​vy​  ​​​ = v sin θ
where θ is the angle between the vector and the x-axis
M
Exercise 1.1 Displacement, distance,
speed and velocity
SA

The following questions will help you to improve your skill with calculations involving
displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.

1 a Explain the difference between distance and displacement.

b Explain the difference between speed and velocity.

2 Calculate the speed, in ms−1, of a:

a car that travels 200 km in 90 minutes; suggest why your answer is an

average speed

b sound wave that reaches an observer’s ears having travelled 1.5 km in 4.5 s

c transatlantic liner that takes five days to travel 6000 km.

91
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

3 A high-speed train travels between Beijing and Tianjin. If the train travels at a
speed of 97 ms−1, calculate the time it takes for the train to travel the
117 km journey.

4 Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our Sun. It is 3.78 × 1016 m from the Earth.
(The speed of light, c = 3.0 × 108 ms−1)

a Calculate the time it takes for light to travel from Proxima Centauri to
the Earth.

b How else could the distance from Proxima Centauri to the Earth be stated?

5 Calculate the acceleration in the following situations:

E
TIP
a A boy walking along the road changes his speed from 0.6 ms−1 to 1.2 ms−1 in
a time of 1 minute. To solve calculation
questions, begin by
b The velocity of an electron changes from 0.0 ms−1 to 2 × 107 ms−1 in a time writing the equation
of 4.0 ns. you want to use; then

7
c

PL
An aeroplane approaching an airport changes its speed from 90 ms−1 to
30 ms−1 in a time of 20 minutes.

An athlete running at a constant speed moves around a bend in the track.

Explain why the athlete has accelerated even though his speed has not changed.

A molecule of nitrogen in the air travels 3 cm horizontally and 4 cm vertically in

a time of 100 μs.

b
Calculate the magnitude of the overall displacement of the molecule.

Calculate the average speed of the molecule.

put in the numbers
and then write the
answer. Don’t forget
to use the correct
amount of significant
figures and don’t
forget to include the
correct units.
M
c Calculate the direction in which it has travelled relative to the horizontal.

d State its average velocity during the 100 μs period.

8 On the horizontal surface of a flat table, the co-ordinates, in cm, of a ball change
uniformly from (1, −1) to (5, 5) during a time of 4.0 s.
SA

a Calculate the magnitude of the overall displacement of the ball.

b Calculate the average speed of the ball.

c By writing the overall displacement of the ball as the x- and y-components of

a vector, calculate the angle to the x-axis of the motion of the ball.

d State the velocity of the ball during the 4.0 s period.

92
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

Exercise 1.2 Uniformly accelerated

motion: the equations of kinematics
The following questions will help you perfect your ability to use the equations of
kinematics (sometimes called ​suvat​equations) to solve problems involving uniformly
accelerated motion.

1 Figure 1.1 shows a velocity–time graph for part of a journey made by an

electric train.

E
v
Velocity/ms–1

Figure 1.1

b
0
0
Time/s
t

PL
If the train had travelled at the same speed as its initial speed throughout
the journey, state an algebraic expression for how far the train would
have travelled.

Copy the graph and shade in the region of the graph that represents your
M
answer to part a.
The remaining part of the graph shows the extra distance travelled by the train
because it was accelerating.

c v − ​​.
u
Show that the acceleration, a, of the train can be given as a = ​​ _____
t
d Show that the extra distance travelled by the train due to its acceleration can
SA

1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​.
be expressed as ​​ __
2
e Shade this region on your copy of the graph.

f State the algebraic expression for the total distance travelled during
the journey.

2 A passenger in a car starts a stopwatch when the car is travelling at 28.8 km

hour−1. The car accelerates with a constant acceleration of 2.0 ms−2 for the
next 10 s.
Calculate the:

a speed of the car after 10 s of acceleration (give your answer in ms−1)

b distance that the car has travelled during the 10 s period (give your
answer in m).

93
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

3 A girl drops her mobile phone from a window that is 15 m above the ground.
Taking the acceleration of the Earth’s gravitational field to be 10 ms−2 and
ignoring any effects of air friction:

a Sketch a velocity–time graph for the phone from when it leaves the girl’s hand
to when it hits the ground.

b Calculate the time it takes for the phone to hit the ground.

c Calculate the phone’s velocity just before it hits the ground.

4 A baseball pitcher practises by throwing a ball vertically into the air with an initial
velocity of 30 ms−1 and catching it when it falls back. TIP

E
Ignoring any effects of air resistance, and using g = 10 ms−2, calculate: If you consider
upwards as a positive
a how much time it will take for the ball to reach its highest point direction, then
acceleration due
b how far above the pitcher the ball reaches. to gravity, which is
5

6
speed of 6.0 ms−1.

PL
When a parachutist jumps from an aeroplane, he hits the ground with a landing

What is the minimum jump height required to simulate this landing speed?

As of July 2020, the world 100 m and 200 m athletics records were both held by
Usain Bolt. His times for these two events are 9.58 s for the 100 m and 19.19 s for
the 200 m.
If we model Usain Bolt’s running in both events by a uniform acceleration to his
maximum speed followed by a constant speed to the finish, calculate Usain Bolt’s
maximum speed. (You may assume that he runs at the same maximum speed in
downwards, must
be negative.

TIP
Consider first
sketching graphs of
his two journeys and
using what you know
M
both events and that there are no effects of air friction.) about speed-time
graphs to produce a
pair of simultaneous
Exercise 1.3 Graphs of motion equations.

The following questions will help you to improve your use of graphs and solve
SA

problems about journeys.

1 a Figure 1.2 shows a journey made by a pedestrian.

12
Distance/m

0
0 8 12
Time/s
Figure 1.2

94
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

Use the graph to find the:

i average speed of the pedestrian for the whole journey

ii speed of the pedestrian during the first 8 s.

b Figure 1.3 shows a velocity–time graph for a journey.

Velocity/ms–1

E
Time/s
Figure 1.3

What aspect of the journey is shown by the:

2
i

ii

Displacement / cm
gradient of the graph

area under the graph?

0.0
PL
In an experiment, Lucy measures the displacement of a moving object.
Her measurements are shown in Table 1.1. All of Lucy’s measurements of
displacement have an uncertainty of ± 1.0 cm.

Time / s 0.0 1.0

2.0
2.0

4.0
3.0

6.0
4.0

8.0
5.0

10.0
6.0

12.0
M
Table 1.1

a Use the results in the table to draw a graph of displacement against time.
TIP
b Add to your graph appropriate error bars for all points.
When drawing
SA

c Find, from the graph, the speed at which the object was moving. graphs, make sure
you always label the
d Use the error bars you have drawn to find the maximum and minimum speed axes with the correct
of the object. title and units.
e Hence state the speed of the object and its uncertainty.

95
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

3 The graph in Figure 1.4 shows the velocity of a projectile that is fired vertically
upwards from the ground until it momentarily comes to a stop. There are no
effects due to air friction.

60
50
Velocity / ms–1

40
30
20
10

E
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time / s
Figure 1.4

4
a

c
PL
Show that the graph is consistent with the Earth’s gravitational acceleration,
g, having the value 10 ms−2 (1 s.f.)

Use the graph to calculate the height at which the projectile came to a stop.

Copy and add to the graph a line to show how the projectile’s velocity would
change as it returns to the ground.

A speedboat moves at a constant speed of 9 ms−1 for 5 s, at which time it

accelerates at 2 ms−2 for 4 s.

a Sketch a graph of the speedboats journey over the 14 s period.

M
b Use the graph to calculate the distance travelled by the speedboat.

c Show that your answer to part b is consistent with the equation:

1 ​​ ​​at​​  2​​
s = ut + ​​  __
2
5 Figure 1.5 shows how the velocity of child’s toy varies during a 20 s period.
At t = 0, the toy’s velocity = 5 cms−1 and at t = 20 s, the toy’s velocity =
SA

−7.5 cms−1.

6
4
2
Velocity / cms–1

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
–2
Time / s
–4
–6
–8
–10
Figure 1.5

a Describe the motion of the toy during the 20 s period.

b Use the graph to calculate the acceleration of the toy.

96
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

c Use the graph to find the total displacement of the toy.

d i How far did the toy actually travel during the 20 s period?

ii Explain why your answers to c and d are different.

6 Table 1.2 shows how the velocity of an object varied during a period of 80 s.

Time / s 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Velocity / ms−1 0 2.0 4.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 3.0 0

Table 1.2

E
All of the velocity values in the table have an uncertainty of ± 0 . 5 ​​ms​​ −1.​​

a Draw a graph of velocity against time for the motion of the object.

7
b

PL
Use the graph to calculate the total displacement of the object.

Calculate the acceleration of the object during the first 30 s.

By adding suitable error bars to your graph find the maximum and minimum
values of the acceleration during the first 30 s.

Figure 1.6 shows how the acceleration of an initially stationary object varies with
time during a 30 s period.

2.5
Acceleration / ms–2

2
M
1.5

0.5

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
SA

Time / s
Figure 1.6

a Use the graph to determine the change of velocity of the object during the
first 20 s.

b Sketch a graph of velocity of the object against time for the 30 s period.

c Using your sketch, or otherwise, determine the total displacement of

the object.

97
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

Exercise 1.4 Projectile motion

This exercise contains questions to help you solve problems associated with projectile
motion without the effect of fluid resistance. Projectiles subject to the effects of fluid
resistance are examined qualitatively only.

1 A glass marble, rolling at 1.0 ms−1 along a table top, reaches the edge of the table
and falls to the floor. The height of the table top is 1.0 m above the floor.
Ignore any effects due to air friction and use g = 10 ms−2.

a Sketch a simple diagram to show the path that the marble takes after it leaves
the table top until it hits the floor.

E
b Explain the shape of the path you have drawn by considering the horizontal
and vertical components of the marble’s velocity.

c Calculate the time it takes for the marble to reach the floor after it leaves the
edge of the table.

2
d
the marble has travellled.

PL
When the marble hits the floor, calculate how far from the edge of the table

A plane flying horizontally at a speed of 70 ms−1 releases a crate of supplies for

some charity workers at their base on the ground below.

a If the plane had been 80 m above the ground when it released the crate, using
g = 10 ms−2 and assuming no effects due to air friction:

i calculate the vertical component of the crate’s velocity just before it hits
the ground,
M
ii hence determine the magnitude and direction of the crate’s velocity just
before it hits the ground.

b Where will the plane be relative to the crate when the crate hits the ground?

3 At a shooting gallery, a man fires a bullet from a rifle horizontally at a target.

SA

The target is 75.00 m away.

The bullet leaves the rifle at a speed of 150.0 ms−1.
Ignoring any effects of air friction on the bullet, and using g = 10 ms−2:

a calculate the time it takes for the bullet to hit the target,

b using the equation ​​v​​  2​​ = ​​u​​  2​​  + 2as, with the appropriate value for v, show that
the bullet hits the target 1.25 m below the horizontal,

c calculate the total velocity vector for the bullet just as it hits the target.

4 Mercurio, the human cannonball in a circus show, is fired from a cannon at an

initial velocity of 20 ms−1 at an angle of 30o above the horizontal.
How far away from the cannon should the net be placed to catch Mercurio if he is
to land at the same horizontal level as the cannon?
Assume no effects due to air friction and use g = 10 ms−2.

98
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

5 Two cricketers practise by throwing a cricket ball to each other, as shown in

Figure 1.7

ms –1
10
Cricketer A s Cricketer B
40°

E
Figure 1.7

Ignoring any effects of air friction and using g = 9.81 ms−2, calculate:

6
a

d
PL
the vertical component of the ball’s velocity as it leaves cricketer A’s hands,

the time it takes for the ball to reach its highest point,

the height, s, that the ball reaches above the cricketer’s hands,

how far apart, x, the two cricketers are.

A projectile is fired from ground level to the top of a building which is 200 m away
and 150 m high. If the projectile lands on the roof of the building 8.0 s later,
ignoring any effects due to air friction, determine the initial velocity of the
TIP
With questions like
M
projectile. Use g = 10 ms−2.
this, sketch a diagram
7 Physics questions about the motion of projectiles usually make the assumption to help you visualise
that there are no effects due to fluid resistance. It is a simplification that allows what is happening.
physicists to model the motion of projectiles easily. Sometimes, however, the
simple model and what happens in real life are not the same.
Figure 1.8 shows two ways in which the velocity of an object changes when it is
SA

dropped from a large height above the ground. Line A shows the simple model
that assumes no effects due to fluid resistance, and curve B shows what actually
happens in real life. Use g = 10 ms−2.

B
velocity

time
Figure 1.8

99
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

a State what the gradient of line A should be.

b Suggest why curve B is the shape it is. Your answer should make reference to
the gradient of the curve and why it is not constant.

c Suggest why curve B flattens out to a horizontal line. How do physicists

describe this motion?

d Sketch, on Figure 1.8, possible curves for an object of the:

i same mass but less density, labelled curve C,

ii same mass but greater density, labeled curve D.

E
8 Abdul is playing a game of lawn tennis. When he serves, he tries to hit the ball
from a height of 2.5 m. He wants the ball to travel 18.2 m horizontally before
landing on the other side of the net. The net is 0.91 m high at its lowest point and
is 11.9 m from Abdul.
Assume that the tennis ball travels horizontally from Abdul’s racket, and there are

d
PL
no effects due to air friction. Use g = 10 ms−2.

a Show that the time it takes for an object to fall, from rest, a distance of 2.5 m
is 0.707 s.

What does this suggest the initial horizontal speed of the tennis ball to be as
it leaves Abdul’s racket?

How much time will the tennis ball have taken to reach the net?

Show that the tennis ball will pass over the net.
M
In fact, according to the Lawn Tennis Association, the tennis ball may leave a
server’s racket at a speed of up to 230 km hr−1.

e Calculate the (faster) speed of the tennis ball in ms−1.

f How much time would this serve take for the ball to travel 18.2 m from
the server?
SA

g Is the time you calculated in part f sufficient for the ball to travel the vertical
distance of 2.5 m in order to land in the serving box on the other side of
the net?

h Suggest how a real serve in a tennis game differs from Abdul’s ‘ideal’ serve
described in this question. Outline what the effects of any differences are.

100
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

EXAM-STYLE QUESTIONS

Multiple choice questions

1 The following are three quantities used to describe the motion of a body:
i Displacement
ii Velocity
iii Acceleration
Which of the following correctly describes the vector nature of the quantities?
A i only

E
B i and ii only
C ii and iii only
D i, ii and iii
2 The following are three statements about the motion of a body:
i A body moving with constant speed cannot be accelerating.

3
B ii only
C iii only
D i and iii
PL
ii A body moving always in the same direction could be accelerating.
iii A body moving with a changing direction must be accelerating.
Which of the following is/are true?
A i only

Which of the following statements about the motion of a body is false?

A It is not possible to travel at a constant speed for 1 minute and have a displacement of zero.
M
B It is not possible to travel at a constant velocity for 1 minute and have a displacement that is zero.
C A body travelling for 1 minute with a changing velocity can have a final displacement of zero.
D A body travelling with a constant velocity for 1 minute must have a non-zero displacement.
4 A man walks eastwards a distance of 4.0 km and then moves northwards a distance of 3.0 km.
Which of the following statements correctly describes the overall displacement of the man?
A 7 km in a direction that is 53o north of eastwards
SA

B 7 km in a direction that is 37o north of eastwards

C 5 km in a direction that is 37o north of eastwards
D 5 km in a direction that is 53o north of eastwards
5 A racing car accelerates from rest at 4 ms−2 until it has travelled a distance of 50 m. The final speed
of the car is:
A 10 ms−1
B 12.5 ms−1
C 20 ms−1
D 25 ms−1

101
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

CONTINUED
6 In 1969 Neil Armstrong dropped a spanner whilst standing on the surface of the Moon, where
acceleration due to gravity is ​​ __ 1 ​​ of the Earth’s. The time it took to fall to the Moon’s surface was:
6
1 ​​ of the time it would have taken on the Earth
A ​​ __
6__
B ​​ __ √
​  1 ​ ​​ times the time it would have taken on the Earth
6
C 6 times the time it would have taken on the Earth
__
D ​​√6 ​​ times the time it would have taken on the Earth
7 Figure 1.9 shows four different journeys on the same velocity–time axes.

E
A
velocity

8
Figure 1.9
time

PLC

Which of the journeys shows an increasing acceleration?

The area under an acceleration–time graph is:
A Distance travelled
M
B Displacement
C Average velocity
D Change of velocity
Short answer questions
9 When a golfer hits a golf ball, the club head makes contact with the golf ball for a time of 0.4 ms.
During this time, the speed of the golf ball increases from rest to 80 ms−1.
SA

a Determine the average acceleration of the golf ball whilst in contact with the club head. [1]
b Determine the distance that the golf ball travels during this time. [2]
c High-speed photography has shown that during the contact between the club head and the ball,
the ball squashes rather than remaining rigid. Suggest a reason why your answer to part b is
supported by this observation. [1]

102
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
10 Learning to drive a car usually involves understanding how far a car will travel when a driver applies
the brakes in order to stop. This distance is called the stopping distance. It is made up of two
components: the thinking distance and the braking distance.
thinking distance = initial speed × driver reaction time
braking distance = distance travelled whilst coming to a stop
A typical healthy driver has a reaction time of about 0.5 s and a typical family car can decelerate at
about 5 ms−2.
a Complete Table 1.3. Some of the values have been calculated for you. [2]

E
Initial speed / ms−1 Thinking distance / m Braking distance / m Stopping distance / m

0 0 0 0

5 2.5 2.5 5

10

15

20

Table 1.3
PL
10
10

30

b Use the data in your completed table to construct a graph of stopping distance against initial speed.
c Use your graph to estimate the initial speed of a car that requires 40 m of stopping distance.
[2]
[1]
M
11 Figure 1.10 shows the velocity–time graph for a ball thrown vertically into the air and then caught
by the thrower.

5
Velocity/ms–1

SA

0
0.5 1.0 Time/s

–5

Figure 1.10

a Show on the graph where the ball has reached its highest point. [1]
b Use the graph to determine how high the ball reaches. [2]
c Explain how the graph shows that the overall displacement of the ball is zero. [2]

103
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

CONTINUED
12 A firework rocket shoots vertically from the ground with a constant acceleration of 20 ms−2 for 3.0 s,
after which the rocket stops burning its fuel. The rocket continues upwards until it reaches its
maximum height and then falls back to the ground. Assume there are no effects due to air friction
and use g = 9.81 ms−2.
a Sketch a velocity–time graph for the rocket’s journey. (It is not necessary to include any values on
the axes of your graph; only the shape is required.) [1]
b Calculate the maximum height reached by the rocket. [2]
c Calculate the total flght time of the rocket. [2]
13 A projectile is launched horizontally at a speed of 40 ms−1 from the top of a hill, 50 m above

E
the ground. Ignoring the effects of air friction, and using g = 9.81 ms−2, calculate the:
a time it takes for the projectile to hit the ground, [1]
b horizontal distance from the hill that the projectile travels, [1]
c total velocity vector of the projectile just before it hits the ground. [3]

18
16
14
PL
14 Figure 1.11 shows a velocity–time graph for a moving object.
Velocity / ms–1

12
10
8
6
4
2
0
M
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time / s

Figure 1.11

a Determine the acceleration of the object between t = 12 s and t = 20 s [1]

b Determine the total displacement of the object during its 25 s journey. [2]
SA

c Use your answer to part b to determine the average velocity of the object. [1]

104
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

1 Kinematics

CONTINUED
15 Figure 1.12 shows how the displacement of an object varies with time.

60
50
Displacement / m

40
30
C H
20 B

JA

E
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time / s

Figure 1.12

the graph, A, B and C.

PL
a Describe how the velocity of the object is varying during each of the labelled sections of

b Estimate the velocity of the object during the section of the graph labelled B.
c Calculate the average velocity of the object during its 30 s journey.
16 Figure 1.13 shows how the velocity of a wandering wild elephant varies with time.

1.5
1
[3]
[1]
[1]
M
Velocity / ms–1

0.5
0
0 50 100 150 200 250
–0.5 Time / minutes
–1
–1.5
SA

Figure 1.13

Use the graph to:

a Estimate the acceleration (in ms−2) of the elephant during the period 30 minutes to 80 minutes. [2]
b Determine the total displacement (in metres) of the elephant during the 200 minute journey. [2]
c Determine the average velocity (in ms−1) of the elephant for the whole journey. [1]

105
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
 Any references or material related to answers, grades, papers or examinations are based on the opinion of the author(s)

PHYSICS FOR THE IB DIPLOMA: WORKBOOK

CONTINUED
17 Figure 1.14 shows how the acceleration of an initially stationary object varies with time.

3
2
Acceleration / ms–1

1
0
–1 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Time / s
–2
–3

E
–4
–5

Figure 1.14

a Calculate how far the object moved in the first 5 s. [1]

PL
b Draw a graph of velocity of the object against time.
c Use your graph to determine the total displacement of the object during the 30 s journey.
18 Figure 1.15 shows the graph of velocity against time for a moving object.

1.5
1
[2]
[2]
Velocity / ms–1

0.5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
M
–0.5
Time / s
–1
–1.5

Figure 1.15
SA

a Estimate the maximum acceleration of the object. [2]

b State the total displacement of the object during the 60 s period. [1]
c Describe the way in which the object is moving. [1]

106
Original material © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.