Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Unit
Forces and Motion
367 practice questions
Topics covered
Practice questions
11–20 of 38 · Hard
Question 11
3 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A group of students investigate how a trolley moves down a ramp. They record the time taken for the trolley to travel different distances starting from rest.
Results collected by the students. Distance (m) Time (s) 0.5 2.0 1.0 2.8 1.5 3.4 (a)[2 marks]Using the table, calculate the average speed of the trolley between 0.5 m and 1.5 m.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why the average speed increases as the distance increases.
Question 12
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A cyclist travels in a straight line and accelerates from an initial velocity of to a final velocity of in 3.0 seconds. Calculate the cyclist’s acceleration. Explain what the negative and positive signs of velocity indicate, and describe what happens to the cyclist’s motion over this time.
Question 13
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A hiker takes a trip starting at point X, walking 2.0 km east to point Y, then 1.5 km north to point Z, all in a total time of 45 minutes.
(a)[2 marks]Calculate the hiker’s average speed for the journey. Give your answer in km/h.
(b)[3 marks]Calculate the hiker’s average velocity for the journey. Give your answer as a magnitude in km/h and a compass direction from X to Z (to the nearest degree).
Question 14
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →The velocity–time graph below shows the motion of a motorbike travelling in a straight line for 12 s. Use this information to answer the questions.
Velocity–time graph for a motorbike (a)[2 marks]Describe the motion of the motorbike from 0 to 2 seconds, and from 2 to 6 seconds.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the acceleration of the motorbike from 6 to 10 seconds.
Question 15
3 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A velocity–time graph is plotted for a skateboarder moving in a straight line. The table shows the velocity of the skateboarder at certain times:
Time / s Velocity / m/s 0 2 2 10 4 18 6 26 (a)[1 mark]Plot the four points for the velocity–time data on axes. Label both axes.
(b)[2 marks]Determine the gradient of the graph and use it to find the skateboarder’s acceleration.
Question 16
3 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →Describe, with reference to a velocity–time graph, how you would recognise when an object is decelerating and determine how to calculate the deceleration using the graph.
Question 17
5 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →The velocity–time graph below shows the motion of an object moving in a straight line over 12 seconds.
Velocity–time graph for an object (a)[4 marks]Calculate the total distance travelled by the object during the 12 seconds. Show your working using the area under the graph.
(b)[1 mark]Explain why the total distance travelled and the displacement of the object are equal or not equal for this motion.
Question 18
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A trolley starts from rest and accelerates steadily. After 2 s, its velocity is 4 m/s, and after a further 3 s, its velocity is 10 m/s.
(a)[2 marks]Sketch a velocity–time graph for the motion of the trolley for the first 5 seconds.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the total distance travelled by the trolley in 5 seconds by finding the total area under the velocity–time graph.
Question 19
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A go-kart travels with constant velocity for 2 seconds, then slows down uniformly to a stop in the next 3 seconds.
(a)[2 marks]The initial velocity is 8 m/s. Draw a labelled velocity–time graph for the go-kart’s motion over the 5 seconds.
(b)[2 marks]Using your graph, calculate the total distance travelled by the go-kart during the 5 seconds. Show your working.
Question 20
4 marks · Hard
Answer and see the solution →A heavy box is pulled to the right along a rough surface by two ropes. Rope X pulls with 120 N and rope Y pulls with 80 N, both horizontally to the right. Friction acts to the left with a force of 150 N. The box experiences no other horizontal forces.
(a)[3 marks]Calculate the resultant horizontal force on the box. State its size and direction.
(b)[1 mark]Explain what will happen to the speed of the box as a result of this force.