Equations of uniformly accelerated motion
3 marks · EasyDescribe how you would investigate the motion of a toy car rolling down a ramp, to see if it accelerates uniformly.
Work this out on paper, then compare with the answer and worked solution below. With a free account you can submit written answers for marking.
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Must show: Describe setup (toy car, ramp, ruler/timings), How to measure speed at various positions, Method for checking uniform acceleration
Common mistakes: Missing key step (e.g. not repeating measurements)
Show mark scheme and worked solution
Marking points
M1 · 1 mark · Describes setup: car, ramp, ruler/timer, marking distances
M2 · 1 mark · Describes method: timing or measuring speed/velocity at different distances/positions
B1 · 1 mark · States how to check or calculate if acceleration is uniform (e.g., comparing velocities, calculating acceleration at intervals)
Worked solution
Set up a ramp and place the toy car at the top.
Mark several points at equal distances down the ramp using a ruler.
Release the car from rest and use a stopwatch to time how long it takes to reach each mark.
Calculate the average speed between points.
Check if speed increases by a constant amount for each interval; if so, the acceleration is uniform.