PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

TOPIC-2 Kinematics

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1- The graph shows the speed of a runner during a

race. What is the distance travelled by the runner
during the race?

A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]

2- What must change when a body is accelerating?

A the force acting on the body B the mass of the body
C the speed of the body D the velocity of the body [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2005]

3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]

4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]

5- Which of the following defines acceleration? [Nov-2003]

change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken

6- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

What was the distance travelled by the car during the time when
it was moving at a steady speed?
A 10m B 100m C 200m D 400m

7- Which quantity X is calculated using this equation?

change in velocity
𝑋=
time taken
A acceleration B average velocity C distance travelled D speed [May-2004]

8- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]

9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]

10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B

[May-2005]

11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.

What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]

12- The graph illustrates the motion of an object.Which

feature of the graph represents the distance travelled by
the object whilst moving at a constant speed?

A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A

[May-2006]

14- A student drops a table-tennis ball in air.

What happens to the velocity and to the acceleration of the ball during the first few seconds after release?
velocity acceleration
A decreases decreases
B decreases increases
C increases decreases
D increases increases
[May-2007]

15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2

[May-2007]

16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D

[Nov-2007]

17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2008]

18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B

[May-2009]

19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.

What is the average speed of the car during the first 3 s?

A 4 m /s B 6 m /s C 18 m /s D 36 m /s [Nov-2009]

20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2009]

21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]

22- The speed-time graph shows the movement of a car.

What does the shaded area of the graph represent?

A the average acceleration of the car B the average speed of the car
C the total distance travelled by the car D the total travelling time of the car [May-2010]

23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.

Which piece of tape does the student obtain? B

[Nov-2010]

24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2010]

25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.

(a) During the motion shown, describe what happens to

(i) the speed of the lorry,
(ii) the acceleration of the lorry.
(b) Determine the maximum speed of the lorry in m/s and in km/h.
speed = .................................. m/s
speed = ................................ km/h

2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.

distance = .......................

(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) Describe the motion of the train.

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(b) Calculate the distance travelled by the train between the two stations.

distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]

4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.

(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2005]

5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.

(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.

(c) Calculate the average speed of the cyclist during the

first 12 s.

average speed = .................

[May-2006]

6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) (i) Determine the speed of the car in the town.

speed = .............................
(ii) Determine the time taken by the car to pass through the town.
time taken = ............................
(iii) Calculate the distance travelled by the car in the town.
distance = ............................
(b) The car accelerates after passing through the town.Calculate the acceleration. Give the unit of your
answer.
acceleration = .............

[Nov-2006]

7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.

(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................

(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................

[May-2007]

8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.

(a) State what happens at t = 20 s and t = 55 s.

at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................

at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Describe the motion of the parachutist between t = 0 and t = 20 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Calculate the distance travelled by the parachutist between t = 25 s and t = 55 s.

distance = ................ [2]

[Nov-2007]

9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.

(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.

The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.

(i) Calculate the average deceleration of the ball. [3]

(ii) Calculate the average force exerted on the ball. [2]

(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.

(b)about pressure!!!

[Nov-2007]

10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.

(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]

(b) Fig. 9.1 shows the speed-time graph of a car.

The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

Determine

(i) the thinking distance, [1]

(ii) the braking distance, [2]

(iii) the deceleration of the car during braking, [2]

(iv) the force provided by the brakes. [2]

(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by

(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]

(ii) the car skidding on a wet road, [2]

(iii) the car carrying a heavy load of passengers. [2]

[May-2008]

11-

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1- The graph shows the speed of a runner during a

race. What is the distance travelled by the runner
during the race?

A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]

2- What must change when a body is accelerating?

A the force acting on the body B the mass of the body
C the speed of the body D the velocity of the body [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2005]

3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]

4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]

5- Which of the following defines acceleration? [Nov-2003]

change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken

6- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

What was the distance travelled by the car during the time when
it was moving at a steady speed?
A 10m B 100m C 200m D 400m

7- Which quantity X is calculated using this equation?

change in velocity
𝑋=
time taken
A acceleration B average velocity C distance travelled D speed [May-2004]

8- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]

9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]

10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B

[May-2005]

11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.

What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]

12- The graph illustrates the motion of an object.Which

feature of the graph represents the distance travelled by
the object whilst moving at a constant speed?

A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A

[May-2006]

14- A student drops a table-tennis ball in air.

What happens to the velocity and to the acceleration of the ball during the first few seconds after release?
Velocity acceleration
A Decreases decreases
B Decreases increases
C İncreases decreases
D İncreases increases
[May-2007]

15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2

[May-2007]

16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D

[Nov-2007]

17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2008]

18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B

[May-2009]

19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.

What is the average speed of the car during the first 3 s?

A 4 m /s B 6 m /s C 18 m /s D 36 m /s [Nov-2009]

20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2009]

21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]

22- The speed-time graph shows the movement of a car.

What does the shaded area of the graph represent?

A the average acceleration of the car B the average speed of the car
C the total distance travelled by the car D the total travelling time of the car [May-2010]

23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.

Which piece of tape does the student obtain? B

[Nov-2010]

24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2010]

25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.

(a) During the motion shown, describe what happens to

(i) the speed of the lorry,
(ii) the acceleration of the lorry.
(b) Determine the maximum speed of the lorry in m/s and in km/h.
speed = .................................. m/s
speed = ................................ km/h

2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.

distance = .......................

(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) Describe the motion of the train.

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(b) Calculate the distance travelled by the train between the two stations.

distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]

4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.

(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2005]

5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.

(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.

(c) Calculate the average speed of the cyclist during the

first 12 s.

average speed = .................

[May-2006]

6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) (i) Determine the speed of the car in the town.

speed = .............................
(ii) Determine the time taken by the car to pass through the town.
time taken = ............................
(iii) Calculate the distance travelled by the car in the town.
distance = ............................
(b) The car accelerates after passing through the town.Calculate the acceleration. Give the unit of your
answer.
acceleration = .............

[Nov-2006]

7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.

(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................

(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................

[May-2007]

8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.

(a) State what happens at t = 20 s and t = 55 s.

at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................

at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Describe the motion of the parachutist between t = 0 and t = 20 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Calculate the distance travelled by the parachutist between t = 25 s and t = 55 s.

distance = ................ [2]

[Nov-2007]

9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.

(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.

The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.

(i) Calculate the average deceleration of the ball. [3]

(ii) Calculate the average force exerted on the ball. [2]

(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.

(b)about pressure!!!

[Nov-2007]

10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.

(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]

(b) Fig. 9.1 shows the speed-time graph of a car.

The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

Determine

(i) the thinking distance, [1]

(ii) the braking distance, [2]

(iii) the deceleration of the car during braking, [2]

(iv) the force provided by the brakes. [2]

(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by

(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]

(ii) the car skidding on a wet road, [2]

(iii) the car carrying a heavy load of passengers. [2]

[May-2008]

11-

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1- The graph shows the speed of a runner during a

race. What is the distance travelled by the runner
during the race?

A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]

2- What must change when a body is accelerating?

A the force acting on the body B the mass of the body
C the speed of the body D the velocity of the body [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2005]

3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]

4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]

5- Which of the following defines acceleration? [Nov-2003]

change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken

6- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

What was the distance travelled by the car during the time when
it was moving at a steady speed?
A 10m B 100m C 200m D 400m

7- Which quantity X is calculated using this equation?

change in velocity
𝑋=
time taken
A acceleration B average velocity C distance travelled D speed [May-2004]

8- The graph shows the movement of a car over a period of 50 s.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]

9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]

10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B

[May-2005]

11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.

What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]

12- The graph illustrates the motion of an object.Which

feature of the graph represents the distance travelled by
the object whilst moving at a constant speed?

A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A

[May-2006]

14- A student drops a table-tennis ball in air.

What happens to the velocity and to the acceleration of the ball during the first few seconds after release?
velocity acceleration
A decreases decreases
B decreases increases
C increases decreases
D increases increases
[May-2007]

15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2

[May-2007]

16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D

[Nov-2007]

17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2008]

18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B

[May-2009]

19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.

What is the average speed of the car during the first 3 s?

A 4 m /s B 6 m /s C 18 m /s D 36 m /s [Nov-2009]

20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2009]

21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]

22- The speed-time graph shows the movement of a car.

What does the shaded area of the graph represent?

A the average acceleration of the car B the average speed of the car
C the total distance travelled by the car D the total travelling time of the car [May-2010]

23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.

Which piece of tape does the student obtain? B

[Nov-2010]

24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[Nov-2010]

25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.

(a) During the motion shown, describe what happens to

(i) the speed of the lorry,
(ii) the acceleration of the lorry.
(b) Determine the maximum speed of the lorry in m/s and in km/h.
speed = .................................. m/s
speed = ................................ km/h

2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.

(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.

distance = .......................

(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................

3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) Describe the motion of the train.

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(b) Calculate the distance travelled by the train between the two stations.

distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]

4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.

(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

[May-2005]

5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.

(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.

(c) Calculate the average speed of the cyclist during the

first 12 s.

average speed = .................

[May-2006]

6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

(a) (i) Determine the speed of the car in the town.

speed = .............................
(ii) Determine the time taken by the car to pass through the town.
time taken = ............................
(iii) Calculate the distance travelled by the car in the town.
distance = ............................
(b) The car accelerates after passing through the town.Calculate the acceleration. Give the unit of your
answer.
acceleration = .............

[Nov-2006]

7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.

(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................

(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................

[May-2007]

8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.

(a) State what happens at t = 20 s and t = 55 s.

at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................

at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]

(b) Describe the motion of the parachutist between t = 0 and t = 20 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

.................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Calculate the distance travelled by the parachutist between t = 25 s and t = 55 s.

distance = ................ [2]

[Nov-2007]

9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.

(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.

The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.

(i) Calculate the average deceleration of the ball. [3]

(ii) Calculate the average force exerted on the ball. [2]

(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.

(b)about pressure!!!

[Nov-2007]

10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.

(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]

(b) Fig. 9.1 shows the speed-time graph of a car.

The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics

Determine

(i) the thinking distance, [1]

(ii) the braking distance, [2]

(iii) the deceleration of the car during braking, [2]

(iv) the force provided by the brakes. [2]

(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by

(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]

(ii) the car skidding on a wet road, [2]

(iii) the car carrying a heavy load of passengers. [2]

[May-2008]

11-

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical