LINEAR MOTION QUESTION AND ANSWER BOKLET

1. A large stone is dropped from a bridge into a river. Air resistance can be ignored
Which row describes the acceleration and the speed of the stone as it falls?

Ans: B
Reasoning: in the absence of air resistance, all objects accelerate by the same value
called acceleration due to gravity. This value is the same from the time the object was
dropped to the time it strikes the ground. This value is always a constant and it is
10m/s2. Therefore acceleration is the same as the object falls in an environment without
air resistance, However, because there is acceleration, then there is increase in velocity
as acceleration is the rate of change of velocity. Therefore velocity increases as the
object is accelerating.
2. A feather is released from rest until it reaches terminal velocity. How does acceleration
and velocity of the change at terminal velocity/

Ans : C
Reasoning: Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity that a body attains when falling in
air .Before a person reaches terminal velocity; velocity increases and acceleration
remain constant. After falling for some, his acceleration begins to decrease due to
increase in air resistance which comes due to increase in speed. At that point, a person
is moving at a non - uniform decreasing. When the drag force (Air resistance) becomes
equal to weight (down ward force), a person has zero acceleration and he is now moving
at a constant velocity. That constant velocity is called terminal velocity. So at terminal
velocity, a person is experiencing zero acceleration and constant speed.
3. An object moves at a constant speed for some time, and then begins to accelerate.
Which distance-time graph shows this motion?

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 Ans: C
Reasoning: In a distance time graph, a slope represents constant speed. A horizontal
line represents no motion, a line curved upwards means increasing speed and a line
curving downwards means decreasing speed. If the speed is increasing, then the car is
accelerating. If the speed is decreasing, then the car is decelerating. In option A, the car
was at rest and then moved at constant speed which is wrong. In option B, The car
began with a constant speed and the stopped. In option C, The car started with
constant speed and then it accelerated since the line is curving upwards denoting
increase in speed. This is correct description of the question. In option D, the car was
accelerating because the curve is bending upwards.
4. A car travels along a straight road. The speed-time graph for this journey is shown

.
During which labelled part of the journey is the resultant force on the car zero?
Ans: B
Reasoning: A resultant force is a single force that has the same effect as two or more
forces acting on the object. If a resultant force exists, then the body will accelerate in the
direction of the resultant force. This is in obedience to Newton second law of motion
which states that unbalanced force cause acceration which is directly proportional to

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 force and inversely proportional to mass. If the resultant is zero, it means there is no
accelerations the body moves at a constant t speed. From the above graph, we can
attest the following facts;
 Section A the car is moving at a constant acceleration. Since there is
acceration, it means there is a resultant force
 Section B the car is moving at a constant speed. Since there is no change in
speed, it means there is zero acceration. If there is zero acceration, it means
there is no resultant force acting on an object.
 Section C the car is moving at constant acceration since there is a slope, hence
there is a resultant force acting on it.
 Section D the car is moving with negative acceration( deceleration) due to
negative slope, hence there is a resultant force except that it is acting in
opposite direction to motion.
5. A train begins a journey from a station and travels 60 km in a time of 20 minutes. What is
the average speed of the train?
A 3.0 m / s B 5.0 m / s C 50 m / s D 60 m / s
Solution
Ans: B
Reasoning:
Average speed = total distance /total time
= 60 x 1000/ 20x60
= 6000 / 1200
= 5m/s
NOTE:
 We converted 60km into m because the SI unit of distance is metre. This was
done by using a conversion factor below:
1km = 1000m
60km = x
By cross multiplying, X = 60,000m
 Secondly, we converted 20 minutes into seconds because the SI unit of
time is seconds. This was done by the conversion factor below
1minute = 60seconds
20minutes = X
By cross multiplying, X = 1200seconds.
6. The graph shows how the speed of a van changes with time for part of its journey.

In which labelled section is the van decelerating?

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 Ans: B
Reasoning: You need to understand that deceleration is the negative change in
acceleration. In other words, it is the opposite of acceleration. Its shape is a slope that
falls from a certain velocity. From the above diagram, region A is constant speed, B is
constant deceleration, C. zero speed or no motion or the car has stopped moving and in
D it shows constant acceleration
7. An object is dropped from a helicopter. If the object hits the ground after 2s, calculate the
height from which the object was dropped.
A. 10m B. 15m C. 20m D. 25m
Ans: C
Reasoning: We need to know which equation of motion we are going to use. We gather
data first:
 S √ means we have s ( displacement)
 U √ meaning we have initial velocity. This is zero since the body falls from rest
 V X meaning we dint have final velocity because the statement is silent about it
 G √ Meaning we have acceleration due to gravity ( 10m/s 2) in the absence of air
resistance
 t √ meaning we have time. This is given in the statement as 2s
Therefore, we will an equation which has no V (final velocity). This equation is

8. What does the area under a speed-time graph represent

A .acceleration B average speed C .deceleration D .distance travelled
Ans: A [ Area is a speed –time graph represent acceration]
9. The graph shows how the speed of a car changes with time.

Between which two times is the car stationary?

A U and V B V and W C W and X D X and Y
Ans: D

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 Reasoning: In a speed time graph, when the car is stationary, it means it has zero
speed. Zero speed is along X and Y as these points are lying on the x –axis so y axis
value is Zero. The y –axis value is speed. Hence it is zero in these two regions. Check
also that U and V, the slope of the line is positive, hence uniform increase in velocity, V
and W it is moving with a constant speed .In region W and X , it is moving with uniform
deceleration.
10. The graph shows how the distance travelled by a vehicle changes with time.

11. Which row describes the speed of the vehicle in each section of the graph?

Ans: A
Reasoning: Slope in distance time graph means constant speed and a horizontal line
means zero speed since the car stopped moving..

SECTION B AND C TYPE OF QUESTIONS

12. The table below shows the variation of velocity with time for a body thrown vertically
upwards from the surface of a planet.

The distance- time graph below is for a motor cycle travelling along a straight road

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 (a) What does the negative velocity mean?
(b) Plot a graph of velocity against time.
(c) Use the graph in (b) above to find the
(i) Acceleration due to gravity on the planet.(=2ms−2)
(ii) Total distance travelled. .(=17m)
(d) If the body weighs34N on earth, what is its weight on the planet? (=6.8N)

Solution
(a) It means the velocity in the opposite direction of the original motion
(b)

POINTS TO NOTE WHEN PLOTTING A GRAPH

 The correct labelled axis scores 1 mark. Ensure that the graph is labelled
in both axes with correct SI unit as shown in the graph above
 The scale carries 1 mark. The scale should be made in such a way that it
should cover more than half of the graph paper. A standard graph paper has
12 x 2cm boxes in the y –axis and 9x 2cm boxes in the x- axis. Half of 12 is 6
and more than half is 7 and above. This means the highest value in the y-
axis can be divided by 7 0r 8 or 9 or 10 to come up a uniform scale for the
axis .In our graph, the highest mark in y – axis was 8. If we divide by 8, we
will get 1. This means 1 is the smallest number to use in the scale and the
difference between two consecutive points must be 1 throughout the scale.
The same should happen in the x- axis. The total number of 2cm boxes is 9.
Half of 9 is 4.5. More than half is 5. Therefore, 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 boxes can be
utilized in the X-axis. So we divide 5 by 5, we will again get 1 as the smallest
number to use in the scale of the x-axis
 Plotting the points scores 1 mark. We plot points using X0Y coordinate
system. Where X coordinate intersects with Y coordinate, we put a dot or a

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 cross. We use cross(X )or dots when plotting so that they are visible to the
marker
 Joining the plotted points with a smooth curve or best fit line carries 1
mark. If points are linear, you can join them with a ruler. If a] points are
scattered, you can just draw a best fit line on them so that others lie on top or
bottom of the nest fit. If it’s a curve, use a free hand. If a line is too thick, it
may not score as it is not smooth. A sharp pencil should be used when
drawing a best fit line.

C (i) We need to find the gradient of the slope. We pick any two coordinates points
on the line and find the gradient; the points are picked from the dotted triangle. Take
note that failure to show dotted triangle on the graph will result in loss of marks.
Again we don’t draw solid lines on the graph, this means introducing another graph
on the graph.

Gradient is calculated as follows:

𝑦2−𝑦1
m= 𝑥2−𝑥1
2−8
=3−0
−6
=3
= -2m/s2 [The negative sign is showing deceleration, therefore the acceleration
due to gravity on this planet is 2m/s2]
(ii) To calculate the total distance travelled, we find the area of the whole shape, the
shape made is triangle and the area of the triangle is 1/2bh + 1/2bh

A = (½ x 4 x 8) + (½ x 1 x 2). We ignore a negative sign since distance is Scaler

quantity
A= 16 + 1 = 17m

(d)First we find mass. W =mg. Therefore, m=W/g =34/10 = 3.4kg

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 Since mass is the same from continent to continent, we will use it to find the weight of
that object on the planet we have found its g using the graph

W= mg

= 3.4 x 2

= 6.8N

13. The graph below shows how the speed of the motorcycle varied with time.

(a) What is the motor cycle doing between points D and E on the graph?
(b) Between which points is it accelerating?
(c) Between which points is it steady speedy?
(d) What is this steady speed?
(e) What is the distance travelled between point A and E?
(f) What is the average speed between point A and B?

Solution

(a) The motor cycle has stopped moving. Take note that a horizontal line in a distance- time
graph denotes no motion or stopped moving or no change in position or standing still or
being stationary.
(b) Between A and B. In this region, there gradient is increasing so the speed of the motor
cycle is increasing hence it is accelerating . The line curves upwards.
(c) Between B and C. The speed is steady because the gradient of the slop is the same for
all points. Therefore the motor cycle is moving at a steady speed
(d) Gradient = slope of the line
= (5, 10 ) ( 15,50) 0r (10,30) (15,50)

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 𝑦2−𝑦1 𝑦2−𝑦1
m = m =
𝑥2−𝑥1 𝑥2−𝑥1
50−10 50−30
= =
15−5 15−10
40 20
= =
10 5
= 4m/s =4m/s
So we confirm that it was moving at a steady speedy
(e) 60m [ Distance is the length of the journey between two points]
𝑑 60
(f) v= = =3m/s
𝑡 20

14. The speed –time graph below for a motor cycle travelling along the road.

(a) What is the motor cycle’s maximum speed?

(b) What is the acceleration during the first 10s?
(c) What is the deceleration during the last 5s?
(d) What is the distance travelled during the first 10s?
(e) What is the total distance travelled?
(f) What is the time taken for the whole journey?
(g) What is the average speed for the whole journey?

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 Solution

.
(d)Note: Distance for a body whose motion is represented in a graph as shown in the
question is the area under the given figure.

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 15. An astronaut standing on the Moon’s surface throws a rock vertically upwards. The
figure shows the speed-time graph of the rock where at t = 0 s, the rock just leaves the
astronaut’s hand. Air resistance on the Moon can be neglected.

(a) (i) What is the time taken for the rock to reach its maximum height?
……………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]
(ii) What is the total distance travelled by the rock when it returns to its Initial
position?
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………….…………..……….[2]
(iii) Find the acceleration of the rock
……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………..…………………………[2]
(b) The rock is then brought back to the Earth’s surface and the astronaut repeats
the same action as on the Moon. Determine whether the speed-time graph of
the rock, when it is thrown on Earth, will be different. Explain your answer.
(c) ……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………[2]

Solution

(a) Time at maximum height is the time when the final velocity is zero. This is a
point where the decelerating line touches the x-axis. From the graph, 1 division
is equal to 1/5 =0.2s. We are going to count the number of division from mark 3
to reach the point of intersection. This mark is 3.8s. But again the line is cutting
between intervals of 0.2 hence we are going to divide 0.2 with 2 to get the

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 small segment before reaching the point of intersection. This is 0.1s. So total
time is 3.8 + 0.1 = 3.9s
(b) Total distance is the distance from the point of throw to the maximum height
and from the maximum height back to the initial position. From a speed – time
graph, distance is given by the area of the shape. Area of the triangle is A=
1/2bh

Total distance travelled = 2 × area under the graph

= 12 × (6.50 – 0.00) × (3.90 – 0.00)× 2
= 25.4 m (to 3 s.f.)
NOTE : height is 6.4 + 0.2/2 = 6.4 + 0.1 = 6.5
(c) The speed-time graph of the rock on Earth is different because the speed
of the rock decreases as it falls from a height. This is due to air resistance.
The speed of the rock is decreasing at an increasing rate. The deceleration
of the rock increases as the speed decreases. Hence, the gradient of the
Speed-time graph is steeper initially and becomes gentler after some time.
The sketch of the speed-time graph is a curve and not a straight line.

16. The graph shows the speed of the car from the time the driver saw an obstacle
on the road and applied brakes until the car came to a stop.

(a) How long did it take the driver to begin applying the brakes after seeing?
the obstacle?
(b) Calculate the distance travelled
(i) Before the brakes were applied,
(ii) While the brakes were being applied.
(c) Calculate the average speed of the car.

Solution

(a) The speed remains at 20 m/s for the first 0.5 seconds, so the driver took
0.5 seconds to begin applying the brakes after seeing the obstacle.
(b) (i) Distance travelled before braking
= 20 × 0.5
= 10 m
(ii) Distance travelled while the brakes were being applied
= 12 × 20 × (4.5 – 0.5)

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 = 40 m
(c) Average speed of car = Total distance travelled/ Total time taken
= 10 + 1/2bh
= 10+ ½ x (4.5-0.5) x 20
= 10 + 1/2 x 4 x20
= 10 + 40
= 50( As total distance covered)

Then average speed = distance/ time = 50/4.5 = 11.1m/s ( to 3 s.f.)

17. Fig 1.1 shows a free-fall parachutist falling vertically downwards. Fig. 1.2 shows
how the speed of the parachutist varies with time.

(a) (i) State the name of the downward force acting on the parachutist.
(ii) State the name of one upward force acting on the parachutist.
(b) (i) State the initial value of the acceleration of the parachutist. Give the unit of
your answer.
(ii) Explain why the acceleration decreases from A to B.
(c) Explain why the parachutist falls at a constant speed after B.

Solution

(a) (i)Weight
(ii)Air resistance
(b) (i)9.8m/s or 10m/s
(ii) Increase of air resistance as speed increases decreases acceleration
(c) Constant speed is reached when air resistance balance weight or when resultant
force is zero.
18. A sky jumper jumps from the aeroplane

i) Which section of the graph shows the skydiver travelling with an acceleration which
is not uniform? Explain your answer

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 ii) At which point does she open her parachute? Explain your answer.
iii) How long after opening her parachute does she reach the ground? Explain your
answer.
iv) When his parachute is fully opened, a parachutist falls towards the ground at a
constant speed. Under what condition is this statement correct?

Solution

i. Section B. At this stage, air resistance was increasing hence the acceleration was
decreasing so it was non –uniform
ii. At point C . At this point, there was sudden decrease of velocity of the parachutist
from 44m/s to 12m/s indicating that air resistance abruptly rose.
iii. 15s. Take note that that the parachute was opened when time was 20s and it te
parachutist reached the ground when time was 35s.The difference in time is 35-20 =
15s.
iv. The upward force on the parachute is equal to the weight of the parachutist.

19. The spongy falls from a tall upstairs building from the window and its motion is
represented in the figure below

(a)Describe the motion of the spongy between A and D.

(b) Find the displacement of the spongy between t=0 and t-=0.6?
Solution
(a) From A to B, the velocity of the sponge increases uniformly and the acceleration is
constant 10m/s2.From B to D, velocity is still increasing but a decreasing rate. The
acceleration decreases. After D, the acceleration soon becomes zero and terminal
velocity of 12m/s is reached.
(b) Displacement = area under a velocity –time graph
= 1/2x 0.6 x 6
= 1.8m

THE END!

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