IGCSE Cambridge (CIE) Physics 3 hours 23 questions

Theory Questions

Motion
Speed & Velocity / Acceleration / Distance-Time Graphs / Speed-Time Graphs /
Calculating Acceleration from Speed-Time Graphs / Freefall

Easy (5 questions) /49 Scan here to return to the course

Hard (10 questions) /84

Total Marks /200

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Easy Questions
1 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for a car.

On Fig. 1.1, the labels W, X, Y and Z show the points when the car’s motion changed.

On Fig. 1.2, draw a line from each section of the graph to the correct description of the
motion.

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 (3 marks)

(b) Calculate the distance that the car travels between 30 s and 60 s.

distance travelled = ...................................................... m

(3 marks)

(c) State, using Fig. 1.1, whether the acceleration or deceleration of the car is greater.

(1 mark)

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2 (a) During part of a race, a skier travels a distance of 200 m in a time of 6.4 s.

Calculate the average speed of the skier.

average speed = ................................................ m/s

(3 marks)

(b) Fig. 4.1 shows a speed–time graph for the skier in another part of the race.

Describe the motion of the skier at each point P, Q, R and S on the graph.

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 (4 marks)

(c) Skis are strapped to a skier’s feet and are longer and wider than the skier’s feet.

Explain how the skis prevent the skier from sinking into soft snow.

(2 marks)

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3 (a) During a training flight, a fighter jet travelling at 300 m/s makes a turn to avoid bad
weather.

Fig. 1.1

Compare the speed and velocity between points A and B in Fig. 1.1.

(3 marks)

(b) The speed-time graph of a different test flight is presented to an analyst.

State how she uses the graph to determine the distance travelled during the test flight.

(1 mark)

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(c) The speed-time graph for the initial part of the fighter jet's test flight is shown in Fig 1.2:

Fig. 1.2

(i) State the length of time for which the jet is travelling at constant speed.

[1]

(ii) Calculate the distance covered by the jet during this time.

[2]

(3 marks)

(d) Extended tier only

For a brief time, the engine cuts out and the jet is in free fall.

Describe the shape and the gradient of the speed-time graph during this time.

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 (2 marks)

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4 (a) An elevator in the Empire State Building is travelling at constant speed downward as it
passes three levels.

This takes 5.0 seconds and each level has a height of 4.0 m. Calculate the speed of the
elevator. State the correct units in your answer.

(5 marks)

(b) Extended tier only

From this constant speed, it takes the elevator 1.5 s to come to rest.

Calculate the deceleration of the elevator.

deceleration = ...................................................... m/s2

(3 marks)

(c) Extended tier only

Once everyone has left the elevator, the cable breaks. A device which measures speed
over time was found in the elevator when a team investigated the incident.

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 The data from this are shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig 1.1

(i) Calculate the gradient of the speed-time graph.

[3]

(ii) When the elevator's cable completely snapped, the elevator is in freefall. Explain how
the gradient shows this.

[1]

(4 marks)

(d) Describe the motion of the elevator after 5.0 s and explain how the graph shows this.

(2 marks)

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5 (a) The UKTRA (UK tractor racing association) hold an annual race between tractors. The
distance time graphs of two tractors are shown on Fig. 1.1.

Fig 1.1

Describe the motion of tractor B from a time of 0 s to 12 s.

(4 marks)

(b) State which tractor has the greatest initial speed and explain how the graph shows this.

(2 marks)

(c) Calculate the initial speed of tractor B.

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 (3 marks)

(d) This year, the UKTRA racecourse is particularly treacherous. After 12 s, tractor A drives
off a steep cliff and is briefly in free fall before landing.

Describe the gradient of the distance-time graph of tractor A after 12 s and before
landing.

(1 mark)

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Medium Questions
1 (a) Model trains move along a track passing through two model stations. Students analyse
the motion of a train. They start a digital timer as the train starts to move. They record
the time that it enters Station A and the time it enters Station B.

Fig 1.1 below shows the time on entering Station A and the time on entering Station B.

Calculate the time taken from the train entering Station A to the train entering Station B.
State your answer in seconds.

time taken = ....................................................... s

(1 mark)

(b) A faster train takes 54 s to travel from Station A to Station B. The distance between the
stations is 120 m.

Calculate the average speed of this train.

average speed = .................................................. m/s

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 (3 marks)

(c) Fig. 1.2 shows the speed-time graph for a train travelling on a different part of the track.

Determine the total distance travelled by the train on this part of the track.

distance = ...................................................... m

(4 marks)

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2 (a) Extended tier only

Define acceleration.

(1 mark)

(b) Extended tier only

Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time axes for the graph of the motion of a car.

(i) The car starts from rest.

From time = 0 to time = 15 s, the car has a constant acceleration to a speed of 28 m/s.

From time = 15 s to time = 32 s, the car has a constant speed of 28 m/s.

From time = 32 s, the car has a constant deceleration of 2.0 m/s2 until it comes to rest.

On Fig. 1.1, draw the graph, using the space below for any calculations.

[5]

(ii) From time = 15 s to time = 32 s, the path of the car is part of a circle.

For this motion, state

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1. the direction of the resultant force on the car,

2. what happens to the velocity of the car.

[2]

(7 marks)

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3 (a) Some cyclists are racing around a track.

Fig.2.1 shows the speed-time graph for one cyclist.

(i) Tick the box that represents the cyclist travelling at constant speed.

□A

□B

□C

□D

[1]

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled by the cyclist in the first 5 seconds.

distance = ..................................................... m [3]

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 (4 marks)

(b) The length of the track is 250m.

Another cyclist goes around the track four times (four laps). This takes 80.0 seconds.

(i) Calculate the average speed of this cyclist.

average speed = ................................................. m/s [4]

(ii) A friend of the cyclist starts a stopwatch at the beginning of the race.

Fig.2.2 shows the reading on the stopwatch when the cyclist has gone around the track
once.

Fig.2.3 shows the reading on the stopwatch when the cyclist has gone around the track
twice.

Calculate the time taken for the cyclist to go around the track during the second lap.

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 time = ....................................................... s [1]

(5 marks)

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4 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows the speed–time graph of a person on a journey.

On the journey, he walks and then waits for a bus. He then travels by bus. He gets off the
bus and waits for two minutes. He then walks again. His journey takes 74 minutes.

For the whole journey calculate:

(i) the distance travelled

distance = ......................................................... [3]

(ii) the average speed.

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 average speed = ......................................................... [2]

(5 marks)

(b) Extended tier only

State and explain which feature of a speed–time graph shows acceleration.

(2 marks)

(c) Extended tier only

State and explain the acceleration of the person at time = 40 minutes.

(2 marks)

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5 (a) A person on roller skates makes a journey. Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the
journey.

The graph shows three types of motion.

Complete the table to show when each type of motion occurs. Use the letters shown on
Fig. 1.1. Add a letter to each of the blank spaces. The first row is done for you.

motion start of motion end of motion

acceleration W X

deceleration

constant speed

(2 marks)

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(b) Calculate the distance travelled between 60 s and 100 s.

distance = ..................................................... m

(3 marks)

(c) The size of the acceleration is greater than the deceleration.

Describe how Fig. 1.1 shows this.

(1 mark)

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6 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows a water tank that is leaking. Drops of water fall from the tank at a constant
rate.

A student uses a stopwatch to determine the time between two drops hitting the
ground.

He sets the stopwatch to zero. He starts the stopwatch when the first drop hits the
ground.

He stops the stopwatch after a further 30 drops have hit the ground.

The reading on the stopwatch is recorded and shown in Fig. 1.2.

(i) State the time taken for 30 drops to hit the ground.

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 time = ...................................................... s [1]

(ii) Calculate the average time between two drops hitting the ground.

time = ...................................................... s [2]

(iii) Explain why the student measures the time for 30 drops to hit the ground instead of
measuring the time for one drop to hit the ground.

[1]

(4 marks)

(b) Extended tier only

Fig. 1.1 shows that the drops get further apart as they get close to the ground.

State why the drops get further apart.

(1 mark)

(c) In another experiment the student determines the speed of a falling weight at different

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times. The speed–time graph for his results is shown in Fig. 1.3.

Calculate the distance fallen by the weight in the first 1.5 s.

distance = ...................................................... m

(3 marks)

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7 (a) A lorry is travelling along a straight, horizontal road. Fig. 1.1 is the distance-time graph
for the lorry.

Using Fig. 1.1, determine:

(i) the speed of the lorry at time t = 30 s

speed = ...........................................................[2]

(ii) the average speed of the lorry between time t = 60 s and time t = 120 s.

average speed = ...........................................................[2]

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 (4 marks)

(b) At time t = 30s, the total resistive force acting on the lorry is 1.4 × 104 N.

(i) Using Fig. 1.1, determine the magnitude of the acceleration of the lorry at time t = 30 s.

acceleration = ...........................................................[1]

(ii) Determine the forward force on the lorry due to its engine at time t = 30 s.

forward force = ...........................................................[1]

(2 marks)

(c) Extended tier only

Describe the motion of the lorry between time t = 60 s and time t = 130 s.

(2 marks)

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8 (a) A student reviews some data about athletes and footballers.

An athlete runs 12 km in 1.5 hours.

Calculate the athlete’s average speed in km/h.

average speed = ...................................................... km/h

(3 marks)

(b) Fig. 2.1 shows the speed-time graph for a footballer for the first 15.0 seconds of a game.

(i) Use the graph in Fig. 2.1 to calculate the distance travelled by the footballer during the
first 4.0 seconds.

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 distance = ...................................................... m [3]

(ii) Use the graph in Fig. 2.1 to determine when the footballer is moving with greatest
acceleration.

Between .............................. s and .............................. s.

Give a reason for your answer.

[2]

(5 marks)

(c) Another footballer has a mass of 72kg.

Calculate the weight of this footballer.

weight = ...................................................... N

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 (3 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) A student drops a ball from a high window.

The mass of the ball is 0.12 kg.

Calculate the weight of the ball.

weight = .................................................... N

(3 marks)

(b) Fig. 3.1 shows the speed of the ball while it is falling. The points S, T, U, V and W are
shown on the graph.

Draw one line from each section of the graph to the correct description of the motion.

One has been drawn for you.

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 (2 marks)

(c) Determine the distance fallen by the ball in section U – V of the graph.

distance = .................................................... m

(3 marks)

(d) State the distance fallen by the ball in section V – W of the graph.

distance = .................................................... m

(1 mark)

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2 (a) Extended tier only

A rocket is launched vertically upwards from the ground. The rocket travels with uniform
acceleration from rest. After 8.0 s, the speed of the rocket is 120 m/s.

Calculate the acceleration of the rocket.

acceleration = ........................................................ m/s2

(2 marks)

(b) (i) On Fig. 1.1, draw the graph for the motion of the rocket in the first 8.0 s.

[1]

(ii) Use the graph to determine the height of the rocket at 8.0 s.

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 height = ..................................................... [2]

(iii) From time = 8.0 s to time = 20.0 s, the rocket rises with increasing speed but with
decreasing acceleration.

From time = 20.0 s to time = 25.0 s, the rocket has a constant speed of less than 200 m
/ s.

On Fig. 1.1, draw the graph for this motion.

[3]

(6 marks)

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3 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows a speed-time graph for a student who is running.

Fig. 1.1

(i) Describe the movement of the student, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

[2]

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled by the student between 80s and 100s.

distance travelled = .......................................................m [3]

(5 marks)

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(b) An athlete runs 630 m in 130 s on a flat section of a road and then 254 m in 40 s on a
downhill slope.

Calculate the average speed for the total distance run by the athlete.

average speed = ...................................................m/s

(3 marks)

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4 (a) Extended tier only

A train of mass 5.6 × 105 kg is at rest in a station.

At time t = 0 s, a resultant force acts on the train and it starts to accelerate forward.

Fig. 1.1 is the distance-time graph for the train for the first 120 s.

(i) Use Fig. 1.1 to determine:

1. the average speed of the train during the 120 s

average speed = ...........................................................[1]

2. the speed of the train at time t = 100 s.

speed = ...........................................................[2]

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 (ii) Describe how the acceleration of the train at time t = 100 s differs from the
acceleration at time t = 20 s.

[2]

(5 marks)

(b) Extended tier only

(i) The initial acceleration of the train is 0.75 m/s2.

Calculate the resultant force that acts on the train at this time.

resultant force = ...........................................................[2]

(ii) At time t = 120 s, the train begins to decelerate.

State what is meant by deceleration.

[1]

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 (3 marks)

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5 (a) Extended tier only

A rocket is stationary on the launchpad. At time t = 0, the rocket engines are switched on,
and exhaust gases are ejected from the nozzles of the engines. The rocket accelerates
upward.

Fig. 1.1 shows how the acceleration of the rocket varies between time t = 0 and time t = tf.

Define acceleration.

(1 mark)

(b) On Fig. 1.2, sketch a graph to show how the speed of the rocket varies between time t = 0

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 and time t = tf.

(3 marks)

(c) Extended tier only

A rocket is now far from the Earth. The effect of the Earth’s gravity on the motion of the
rocket is insignificant. As the rocket accelerates, its momentum increases.

(i) State the principle of the conservation of momentum.

[2]

(ii) Explain how the principle of the conservation of momentum applies to the
accelerating rocket and the exhaust gases.

[2]

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 (4 marks)

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6 (a) A student watches a car race around a track. He uses a stopwatch to measure the time
for the car to make one lap of the track.

The student forgets to reset the stopwatch at the start of the race. Fig. 1.1 shows the
time on the stopwatch at the start and the time after going around the track once.

Calculate the time the car takes to go around the track once, in seconds.

time = ....................................................... s

(2 marks)

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(b) The length of the track is 4.0 km. The car goes around the track 20 times. The car takes
26 minutes and 40 seconds to complete the 20 laps.

Calculate the average speed of the car in m / s.

average speed = .................................................. m / s

(4 marks)

(c) Fig. 1.2 shows a speed-time graph for the car during part of the race.

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(i) State the section of the graph that shows the greatest acceleration.

...........................................................................................................................................

Explain your answer.

...........................................................................................................................................

[2]

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled by the car during the first 2.5 seconds.

distance = ...................................................... m [3]

(5 marks)

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7 (a) Extended tier only

Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for a vehicle accelerating from rest.

Calculate the acceleration of the vehicle at time = 30s.

acceleration = ...........................................................

(2 marks)

(b) Extended tier only

Without further calculation, state how the acceleration at time = 100 s compares to the
acceleration at time = 10 s. Suggest, in terms of force, a reason why any change has
taken place.

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 (3 marks)

(c) Determine the distance travelled by the vehicle between time = 120 s and time = 160 s.

distance = ...........................................................

(3 marks)

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8 (a) Extended tier only

Define acceleration.

(1 mark)

(b) Fig. 1.1 shows two speed–time graphs, A and B, and two distance–time graphs, C and D.

Describe the motion shown by:

(i) graph A

[2]

(ii) graph B

[2]

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(iii) graph C

[1]

(iv) graph D

[1]

(6 marks)

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9 (a) Extended tier only

Fig. 1.1 shows the axes of a distance-time graph for an object moving in a straight line.

(i) On Fig. 1.1, draw between time = 0 and time = 10 s, the graph for an object moving
with a constant speed of 5.0 m/s. Start your graph at distance = 0 m.

State the property of the graph that represents speed.

[2]

(ii) Between time = 10 s and time = 20 s the object accelerates. The speed at time = 20 s is
9.0 m/s.

Calculate the average acceleration between time = 10 s and time = 20 s.

acceleration = ...........................................................[2]

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 (4 marks)

(b) Fig. 1.2 shows the axes of a speed-time graph for a different object.

(i) The object has an initial speed of 50 m/s and decelerates uniformly at 0.35 m/s2 for
100 s.

On Fig. 1.2, draw the graph to represent the motion of the object.

[2]

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled by the object from time = 0 to time = 100 s.

distance = ...........................................................[3]

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 (5 marks)

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10 (a) Fig. 2.1 shows students getting onto a school bus.

A student describes part of the journey.

The bus accelerates from rest at a constant rate for 10 s. It reaches a maximum speed of
10 m/s.

The bus maintains a constant speed of 10 m/s for 60 s.

The bus then decelerates at a constant rate for 15 s, until it stops.

On Fig. 2.2, draw the speed-time graph for this part of the journey made by the bus.

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 (5 marks)

(b) On another part of the journey, the average speed of the bus is 7.5 m/s.

Calculate the distance the bus travels in 150 s.

distance = ..................................................... m

(3 marks)

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