Cambridge International AS Level Physics Answers to self-assessment questions

Answers to SAQs
Chapter 1 11 OA: constant speed.
AB: stationary.
10 000 = 6.34 m s–1
1 average speed = 1577.53 BC: reduced constant speed.
CD: running back to gate.
2 a mm s–1 s
b mph C

c km s–1 A B
d m s–1
e km h–1

3 distance = 12 cm = 120 mm, so D

average speed = 120 
60 = 2.0 mm s
–1 0
0 t

4 average speed = 0.050 m –1

0.40 s =–10.125 m s   12
a 85 m s–1

≈  0.13 m s
b Graph is a straight line through the origin,
5 a Constant speed with gradient  =  85 m s–1.
b Increasing speed (accelerating)
13

a Graph is a straight line for the first 3 h; then
6 For example, attach a card to a weight and less steep for the last hour.
drop it through a light gate. Alternatively, b Car’s speed in first three hours = 23 km h–1
attach ticker-tape to the falling mass. c Car’s average speed in first four hours
= 84 
4 = 21 km h
–1

7 a Displacement
b Speed 14

a Total distance travelled = 3.0 + 4.0 = 7.0 km
c Velocity b, c The two parts of the journey are at 90° to
d Distance each other, so the resultant displacement is
given by Pythagoras’ theorem.
8 Distance d = v × t = 1500 × 0.2 = 300 m. displacement2 = 3.02 + 4.02 = 25.0, so
(Remember the 0.4 s total time is that taken displacement = 5.0 km
for the sound waves to travel out and be angle = tan–1(4.0
3.0) = 53° E of N (or 37° N of E)
reflected back from the surface of the water.)
15
a, b
8.5 km; 48° W of S
9 Time taken for orbit is one year
= 1 × 365.25 × 24 × 60 × 60 = 31 557 600 s. A

Distance travelled = circumference of orbit

= 2 × π × 1.5 × 1011 = 9.425 × 1011 m. 48° 45°
8.5 km 8.0 km
So the Earth’s speed = 29.9 km s–1  ≈  30 km s–1.
As the Earth orbits the Sun, its direction of
motion keeps changing. Hence its velocity
keeps changing. In the course of one year, its
W SE
displacement is zero, so its average velocity 12.0 km
is zero.

10 Sloping sections: bus moving. Horizontal

sections: bus stationary (e.g. at bus stops).

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics © Cambridge University Press 2014

 Cambridge International AS Level Physics Answers to self-assessment questions

16 Swimmer aims directly across river; river

flows at right angles to where she aims. So
resultant velocity is given by geometry:
magnitude2 = 2.02 + 0.82 = 4.64 so
magnitude = 4.64 = 2.154 ≈ 2.2 m s–1
direction = tan–1(0.8
2 ) ≈ 22° to the direct route
(68° to the river bank)

17

a
44°

resultant
vertical 25 ms–1
18 ms–1

horizontal
17 ms–1

b 17.3 m s–1  ≈  17 m s–1
c 43.9° ≈ 44° to the vertical

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics © Cambridge University Press 2014