1

Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Year 5 IBDP Physics 2016

2.1 Motion

1 The graph shows displacement against time. Describe the motion in as much detail as possible.

Time 0 – 20 s:
Object moving with constant velocity of 2 m s-1 from starting point to a point 40 m away in 20 s.
Time 20 – 30 s:
Object moving with constant velocity of 4 m s-1 from a point 40 m away back to the starting point in
10 s.

2 The graph shows the motion of a stone thrown vertically upwards. Calculate the maximum height
reached by the stone by
(a) first finding the average speed of the stone,
(b) finding the area under the graph.

final speed  initial speed 0  12

(a) Average speed =   6ms 1
2 2
Maximum height = Average speed  Total Time  6  12  72m

(b) Maximum height = Area under graph = 1212  72m

1
2
 2
3 The graph shows, in idealized form, a velocity-time graph for a typical short journey.

(a) Calculate the acceleration at each stage of the journey and display your answers on an
acceleration-time graph.
(b) Sketch a displacement-time graph for this journey.

25  0
(a) Time 0-10 s : Acceleration =  2.5ms 2
10
Time 10-30 s : Acceleration = 0ms 2
0  25
Time 30-35 s : Acceleration =  5.0ms 2
5
-2
a/ms

2.5
35
t/s
10 30

-5

s/m

687.5
625
125
t/s
10 30 35
 3
4 A baby buggy rolls down a ramp which is 15 m long. It starts from rest, accelerates uniformly, and
takes 5.0 s to reach the bottom.
(a) Calculate its average velocity as it moves down the ramp.
(b) What is its velocity at the bottom of the ramp?
(c) What is its acceleration down the ramp?

Total displacement 15
(a) Average velocity =   3.0ms 1
Time 5.0
Final velocity  0
(b)  3.0  Final velocity  6.0 m s -1
2
6.0  0
(c) Acceleration =  1.2ms 2
5.0

5 One type of aeroplane has a maximum acceleration on the ground of 3.5 m s-2.
(a) For how many seconds must it accelerate along a runway in order to reach its take-off speed of
115 m s-1?
(b) What is the minimum length of runway needed to reach this speed?

(a) Using v  u  at  115  0  3.5t  t  32.9s  33s

at  s  0  3.532.9  1890m  1900m

1 2 1
(b) Using s  ut 
2

2 2

6 Use the following two equations for uniform acceleration,

v = u + at and s=½(u+v)t
to produce
(a) an equation linking u, v, a and t.
From definition of acceleration,
Final velocity - Initial velocity v  u
a   v  u  at
Time t

(b) an equation linking s, u, a and t.

s
1
u  v t  1 u  u  at t  1 2u  at t  ut  1 at 2
2 2 2 2

7 The best throwers in the world are baseball pitchers. They can release a ball travelling at 40 m s-1. In
so doing they accelerate the baseball through a distance of 3.6 m. Calculate, taking g as 9.81 m s-2,
(a) the average speed of the ball during the throw,
(b) the time during which the ball is being accelerated,
(c) the average acceleration of the baseball.

final speed  initial speed 40  0

(a) Average speed =   20ms 1
2 2
(b) 20  t  3.6  t  0.18s
40  0
(c) Acceleration =  222ms 2  220ms 2
0.18
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-1 -2
8 A ball is thrown vertically upwards at 19.6 m s . Taking g as 9.8 m s .
(a) Make a table showing its velocity after 1.0 s, 2.0 s, 3.0 s and 4.0 s.
(b) What is the displacement after 2.0 s and 4.0 s?
(c) How far does it travel in the first 4.0 s?

(a) Taking upward as positive,

Using v  u  at  v  19.6   9.8(1.0)  9.8ms 1

t/s 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

V / m s-1 9.8 0.0 -9.8 -19.6

at  19.62.0   9.8(2.0) 2  19.6m

1 2 1
(b) Using s  ut 
2 2
Using s  ut  at 2  19.64.0   9.8(4.0) 2  0.080m  0m ???
1 1
2 2
(c) 39.2 m

9 A man throws a ball straight up into the air and catches it again. Take the upward direction to be
positive and sketch a velocity-time graph for the ball, assuming that air resistance to be negligible.
How could you use your graph to find the height reached by the ball?
-1
v/ms

A
t 2t
t/s
B

-v

Area under graph A = Area under graph B = height reached by ball

10 Parachutists hit the ground at about 6.0 m s-1. How high a platform is needed for them to jump off in
order to give them practice at hitting the ground at this speed? [ g = 9.81 m s-2 ]

Assuming initial velocity of parachutists is 0 m s-1 and taking downward as positive,

Using v  u  2as  6.0  0  29.81s  s  1.8m
2 2 2
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11 The diagram shows a velocity-time graph for a ball bouncing vertically on a hard surface. [ Take g as
9.81 m s-2 ]

(a) Explain the shape of the graph.

The ball is released from rest and hits the ground at 4 m s-1 after 0.4 s, at 3.0 m s-1 after 1.0 s and at
2.4 m s-1 after 1.48 s. It rebounds with a velocity of 3.0 m s-1, 2.4 m s-1, and 2.0 m s-1, after the 1st, 2nd
and 3rd rebound respectively. It reaches a maximum height after each rebound at 0.7 s and 1.24 s
respectively.

(b) Use the graph to calculate three separate values for the acceleration of free fall.

40
Time 0 – 0.4 s: a   10ms 2
0.4
33
Time 0.4 – 1.0 s: a  10ms 2
0.6
 2.4  2.4
Time 1.0 – 1.48 s: a  10ms 2
0.48

(c) Calculate the height from which the ball was dropped and the height to which it bounced on
(i) its first bounce,

Height from which ball was dropped to which it bounced on its first bounce is equal to the area under
1
the graph from time 0 – 0.4 s   0.40  4  0.80m
2

(ii) its second bounce.

Height from which ball was dropped to which it bounced on its second bounce is equal to the area
1
under the graph from time 0.4 – 0.7 s or 0.7 – 1.0 s   0.30  3  0.45m
2
1
The height which the ball bounced to after the 2nd bounce is   0.24  2.4  0.288m  0.29m
2
 6
12 A kangaroo was seen to jump to a vertical height of 2.8 m. For how long was it in the air?
[ g = 9.81 m s-2 ]

Taking upwards direction as positive,

Given s  2.8m , g  9.81ms 2 and at maximum height, v  0ms 1
Using v 2  u 2  2as  0  u 2  2 9.812.8  u  7.41ms 1
Using v  u  at  0  7.41   9.81(t )  t  0.756s
Time it was in the air  2  0.756  1.5s

13 A ball was photographed stroboscopically as it was released and fell

freely. Eight images appear (the first two are overlapping) on
the photo which is reduced by a factor of eight and shown below.
Use the fact that the acceleration of the ball is 9.8 m s-2 to
discover the time interval between the flashes of the stroboscope.

Distance between the 1st and 7th images  5.8  8  46.4cm

Distance between the 1st and 8th images  7.2  8  57.6cm

Assume that the ball is released from rest,

Taking downward as positive,

Considering between the 1st and 7th images,

at  46.4  10 2  0  9.81t 2  t  0.308s

1 2 1
Using s  ut 
2 2

Considering between the 1st and 8th images,

at  57.6  10 2  0  9.81t 2  t  0.3427 s

1 2 1
Using s  ut 
2 2
Therefore time interval between flashes  0.3427  0.308  0.035s
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14 A stone is dropped from the top of a building to the ground. During the last second of its fall it moves
1
through a distance which is of the height of the building. How high is the building? [ 440 m ]
5
Taking downward as positive,

Considering from top of building to ground:

Given u  0ms 1 , g  9.81ms 2 , h , t

at  h  0  9.81t 2 .....(1)
1 2 1
Using s  ut 
2 2
1
Considering from top of building to of the height of building:
5
4
Given u  0ms 1 , g  9.81ms 2 , h , t  1
5
Using s  ut  at  h  0  9.81t  1 .....(2)
1 2 4 1 2

2 5 2

(2) 4 t  1
2
4 1
:  2
  1   t  9.47 s
(1) 5 t 5 t
Sub t into (1): h  0  9.819.47   440m
1 2

15 The graph shows the speeds of two cars A and B which are traveling in the same direction over a
period of time of 40 s. Car A traveling at a constant speed of 40 m s-1 overtakes car B at time t = 0. In
order to catch up with car A, car B immediately accelerates uniformly for 20 s to reach a constant
speed of 50 m s-1.
-1
speed /ms

50 B

40 A

25

0 20 40 time/s

(a) How far does car A travel during the first 20 s?

Area under graph  40  20  800m
(b) Calculate the acceleration of car B in the first 20 s.
50  25
Acceleration   1.25ms 2  1.3ms 2
20
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(c) How far does car B travel in this time?

 25  50  20  750m

1
Area under graph 
2
(d) What additional time will it take for car B to catch up with car A?
800  750  10t  t  5s
(e) How far will each car have then traveled since t = 0?
For car A and car B: Distance travelled  40  25  1000m
(f) What is the maximum distance between the two cars before car B catches up with car A?
The cars are at their maximum distance when they are at the same speed:
40  25
For car B:  1.25  t  12s
t
1
Maximum distance between the two car   15  12  90m
2
[ 800 m, 1.25 ms-2 , 750 m, 5.0 s, 1 km, 90 m ]

16 The diagram shows a velocity-time graph for a journey lasting 65 s. It has been divided into six
sections for ease of reference.
-1
Velocity/ms
A B C D E F
30

20

-5 10 25 35 50 55 65 time/s

(a) Using information from the graph, obtain

(i) the velocity 10 s after the start,

From graph, 20ms 1

(ii) the acceleration in section A,
20  0
Acceleration   2.0ms 2
10
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(iii) the acceleration in section E,
 5  30
Acceleration   7.0ms 2
5
(iv) the distance travelled in section B,
Distance travelled  20 15  300m
(v) the distance travelled in section C.

 20  30  10  250m

1
Distance travelled 
2
[ 20 ms-1, 2.0 ms-2, - 7.0 ms-2, 300 m, 250 m ]

(b) Describe qualitatively in words what happens in sections E and F of the journey.

The car decelerates at a constant deceleration of 7.0 m s-2 and comes to instantaneous rest. It then
starts to accelerate with constant acceleration of 7.0 m s-2 in the opposite direction and reaches a
speed of 5.0 m s-1 when t = 55 s.

(c) On the diagram below sketch the shape of the corresponding distance-time graph. You are not
expected to make detailed calculations of the distance travelled.

A B C D E F

distance
from start/m

time/s
10 25 35 50 55 65
time/s

17 A cricketer throws a ball vertically upwards and catches it 3.0 s later. Neglecting air resistance, find

(a) the speed with which the ball leaves his hands, [ 15 m s-1 ]
Time to reach maximum height = 1.5 s
Taking upward as positive,
At maximum height, v = 0 m s-1

Using v  u  at  0  u   9.811.5  u  15ms

1
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(b) the maximum height to which it rises. [ 11.3 m ]
Using v 2  u 2  2as  0  152  2 9.81s  s  11.3m  11m

Draw a sketch graph showing how the velocity of the ball depends on time during its flight. Mark on
your graph the times at which

(i) the ball leaves the cricketer’s hands (t1),

(ii) it comes to its maximum height (t2),
(iii) it reaches his hands again (t3).
[There is no need to calculate further particular values of the velocity.]

v / m s-1

15

t1 t2 t3
t/s

- 15

You are told to neglect air resistance in these calculations. In fact, air resistance provides a retarding
force which is approximately proportional to the square of the speed of the ball. Without carrying out
any calculations, explain how air resistance would affect

(iv) the time taken for the ball to reach its maximum height,
The time taken to reach maximum height will be shorter since it experiences a greater retardation
instead of a retardation of 9.81 m s-2 with air resistance.

(v) the maximum height to which it rises,

The maximum height it rises will be shorter since there is work done against air resistance and hence
energy loss, the total initial kinetic energy will not be converted to gravitational potential energy.

if it were projected vertically upwards with the same speed as that calculated in (a) above.
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18 A table from a car driver’s handbook reads as follows:
-1
Speed / ms Thinking distance/m Braking distance/m Overall distance/m
5.0 3.0 1.9 4.9
10 6.0 7.5 13.5
15 9.0 17 26
20 12 30 42
25 15 47 62
30 18 68 86
35 21 92 113

The Thinking distance is the distance travelled by the car during the driver’s reaction time.
The Braking distance is the distance in which the car stops after the brakes have been applied.

(a) Explain why thinking distance is directly proportional to speed whereas braking distance is not.
Describe in words the relationship between braking distance and speed.

The thinking distance is directly proportional to speed because when the driver thinking, the car is
still moving at a constant speed (s = ut) whereas the braking distance depends on the deceleration of
the car or the braking force applied to the car. The relationship between braking distance and speed
is non-linear. The braking distance is proportional to the square of the speed.

(b) What constant value of negative acceleration has the author of the table used in calculating the
braking distances? [ 6.6 m s-2 ]

v 2  u 2  2as  0  5.0 2  2a1.9  a  6.6ms 2

(c) Calculate the overall stopping distance for a car traveling at 50 m s-1. [ 218 m ]

Thinking time: 3.0  5.0t  t  0.6s

Thinking distance: s  50  0.6  30m
Braking distance: v  u  2as  0  50  2 6.6s  s  189m
2 2 2

Overall stopping distance:  189  30  219m

(d) What would be the effects on the thinking distance and the braking distance of each of the
following conditions?

(i) The road is wet.

Think distance – same; Braking distance – longer

(ii) The driver is not fully alert.

Think distance – longer; Braking distance – same

(e) Calculate the overall stopping distance for a car traveling at a speed of 35 m s-1 down a hill at an
angle of 100 to the horizontal. [ 146 m ]

Thinking distance: s  35  0.6  21m

2 2 2
 o

Braking distance: v  u  2as  0  35  2  6.6  9.81sin 10 s  s  125m
Overall stopping distance:  125  21  146m
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-1
19 A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a cliff with a speed of 5.6 m s . The cliff is 37 m high.
Assuming that air resistance is negligible and that the acceleration of free fall is 9.8 m s-2, determine:

(a) the time taken for the stone to fall to the bottom of the cliff
Consider vertical motion,
Given u  0ms 1 , s  37m and g  9.8ms 2
Taking downward as positive,

at  37  0  9.8t 2  t  2.74s  2.7 s

1 2 1
Using s  ut 
2 2

(b) the distance of the stone from the base of the cliff when it lands
Consider horizontal motion,
s  ut  5.6  2.7  15.12m  15m

(c) the vertical component of the velocity of the stone when it lands
Consider vertical motion,
2
Given u  0ms 1 , s  37m and g  9.8ms
Taking downward as positive,
vH
Using v  u  at  0  9.82.7  26.46ms1  26ms1

(d) the velocity of the stone when it lands
v  v  vV2  5.62  262  26.59ms1  27ms1
2
H
vV
26
tan     77.8o  78o to the horizontal
5.6

20 A ball is thrown from horizontal ground at a speed of 24.0 m s-1 and at an angle of 30o to the
horizontal. The acceleration of free fall is 9.8 m s-2.

(a) Neglecting air resistance, determine:

(i) the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball
Horizontal component  24.0 cos 30 o  20.8ms 1  21ms 1

(ii) the initial vertical component of the velocity

Vertical component  24.0 sin 30 o  12ms 1

(iii) the maximum height reached by the ball

Consider vertical motion,
2
Given u  12.0ms 1 , v  0ms 1 and g  9.8ms
Taking upward as positive,
Using v  u  2as  0  12.0  2 9.8s  s  7.3m
2 2 2 2

(iv) the time taken to reach maximum height

Consider vertical motion,
2
Given u  12.0ms 1 , v  0ms 1 and g  9.8ms
Taking upward as positive,
Using v  u  at  0  12.0   9.8t  t  1.22s  1.2s
 13
(v) the horizontal distance from the point where the ball was thrown to the point where
it returns to ground level
Consider horizontal motion,
s  ut  21 2 1.2  50.4m  50m

(b) (i) Draw a sketch graph of the path of the ball. Mark any important points on your
graph.
(ii) On your graph, sketch a line (labelled T) to indicate the path the ball would have
taken if it had been thrown with the same speed but at an angle of 40o to the
horizontal.
(iii) On the same graph, draw a line (labelled A) to show the path the ball would have
taken if it had been thrown with the same speed at an angle of 30o, but air resistance
could not be neglected.

7.3 m
o
30 A

50 m

21 A tennis ball is thrown from a height 2.0 m above the ground with a speed of 40 m s-1 at an angle of
30o above the horizontal. As it is falling back to the ground, it strikes the top of a building which is 12
m above the ground, as shown below.

Calculate
(i) the greatest height above the ground reached by the ball
Consider vertical motion,
2
Given u  40 sin 30 o ms 1 , v  0ms 1 and g  9.8ms
Taking upward as positive,
 
Using v 2  u 2  2as  0 2  40 sin 30 o  2 9.8s  s  20.4m
2

Greatest height above ground  20.4  2  22.4m  22m

(ii) the time taken by the ball to reach this height

Using v  u  at  0  40 sin 30   9.8t  t  2.04s  2.0s
o
 14
(iii) the time taken by the ball to reach the point of impact with the building
Consider vertical motion,
Given u  40 sin 30 o ms 1 , s  10m and g  9.8ms 2
Taking upward as positive,
 20  20 2  4 4.9 10
at  10  20t   9.8t  t 
1 2 1
Using s  ut  2

2 2 2 4.9
t  0.583s  0.58s or t  3.5s

(iv) the horizontal distance travelled by the ball up to the point of impact with the building.
Consider horizontal motion,
s  ut  40 cos 30 o  3.50  121m  120m

(v) Draw graphs to represent the variation with time of

1 the horizontal component of the velocity
2 the vertical component of the velocity

v / m s-1

34.6

t/s

v / m s-1

20.0

2.04 3.50
t/s
 15
-1
22 The figure below shows an aeroplane flying horizontally at a steady speed of 67 m s . A parachutist
falls from the aeroplane freely for 80 m (vertical height) before the parachute opens. For the
purpose of calculation, you may assume that air resistance is negligible before the parachute opens.

(i) Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant velocity of the parachutist when he
has fallen 80 m.

Consider vertical motion,

Given u  0ms 1 , s  80m and g  9.8ms 2
Taking downward as positive,
Using v  u  2as  v  0  29.880  v  39.6ms
2 2 2 1

1 1
Magnitude of resultant velocity  39.6  67  77.8ms  78ms
2 2

39.6
tan      30.6 o  310 to the horizontal
67

(ii) Sketch a simple diagram and draw two labelled paths, P and Q, of the parachutist during the
free-fall, assuming that
1 for path P, air resistance is negligible,
2 for path Q, air resistance cannot be neglected.

67 m s-1

Q
 16
-1
23 A basketball player is running to the right with a speed of 1.0 m s and he throws the ball at a speed
of 7.5 m s-1 at 50o above the horizontal and at a height 2.0 m above the ground as shown below. He
manages to make a good deciding score and helps the team win in the game.

(a) Draw a vector diagram to show the addition of the two velocities of the shot at the moment of
release.

7.5 m s-1

50o
1 m s-1

(b) Hence, or otherwise, calculate the resultant velocity of the two velocities.

5.75 m s-1

5.82 m s-1
1 1
Resultant velocity  5.75  5.82  8.18ms  8.2ms
2 2

5.75
tan      44.7 o  45 o to the horizontal
5.82

(c) Calculate the maximum height of the ball from the ground.
Consider vertical motion,
2
Given u  7.5 sin 50 o ms 1 , v  0ms 1 and g  9.8ms
Taking upward as positive,
 
Using v 2  u 2  2as  0 2  7.5 sin 50 o  2 9.8s  s  1.68m
2

Greatest height above ground  1.68  2  3.68m  3.7m

 17
(d) Calculate the horizontal distance from the basketball player to the rim of the hoop in order to
execute this perfect throw.
Consider vertical motion,
Given u  7.5 sin 50 o ms 1 , s  1.5m and g  9.8ms 2
Taking upward as positive,
 5.75  5.75 2  4 4.9 1.5
Using s  ut  at  1.5  5.75t   9.8t  t 
1 2 1 2

2 2 2 4.9
t  0.392s or t  0.782s
Consider horizontal motion,
s  ut  5.82  0.782  4.55m  4.6m

24 Describe qualitatively the effect of air resistance on the trajectory of a projectile.

 Air resistance will result in a drag

 Drag force will be proportional to the speed of the projectile
 Drag force will act in the opposite direction to the velocity
 The result is that the projectile motion is not symmetric about the maximum. It is no longer
parabolic.
 Maximum height is lower than without air resistance
 Maximum range is shorter