CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter 1
Self-assessment questions
10000
1 average speed = 1625.17
= 6.15 m s−1 10 S
 loping sections: bus moving; horizontal
2 a 
mm s −1 sections: bus stationary (e.g., at bus stops)
11 O
 A: constant speed; AB: stationary; BC:
b km h-1 reduced constant speed; CD: running back
c km s−1 to gate
s
d m s−1
C
3 distance = 12 cm = 120 mm
so, average speed = 120 = 2.0 mm s−1` A B
60
0.05 m
4 average speed = 0.40 s = 0.0125 m s−1 ≈
0.013 m s−1
5 a Constant speed
D
0
b Increasing speed (accelerating) 0 t
6 F
 or example, attach a card to a weight and 12 a 
85 m s −1

drop it through a light gate. Alternatively,

attach ticker-tape to the falling mass.
7 a 
Displacement
b Speed
c Velocity
d Distance
8 distance s = v × t = 1500 × 0.2 = 300 m
(Remember: the 0.4 s total time is that taken
for the sound waves to travel out and be
reflected back from the surface of the water.)
9 t ime taken for orbit is one year = 1 × 365.25 ×
24 × 60 × 60 = 31 557 600 s.
distance travelled = circumference of orbit =
2 × π × 1.5 × 1011 = 9.425 × 1011 m
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
displacement is zero, so its average velocity is
zero.
b Graph
 is a straight line through the
origin, with gradient = 85 m s−1
13 a Graph is a straight line for the first 3 h;
then less steep for the last hour
b car’s speed in first three hours = 23 km h−1
84
c car’s average speed in first four hours = 4
= 21 km h−1
14 a total distance travelled = 3.0 + 4.0 =
7.0 km
b, c The two parts of the journey are at 90° to
each other, so the resultant displacement
is given by Pythagoras’ theorem.
displacement2 = 3.02 + 4.02 = 25.0, so
displacement = 5.0 km
angle = tan−1 ( 34..00 ) = 53° E of N or 37° N
of E

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
1 © Cambridge University Press 2020
 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

15 a, b 8.5 km; 48° W of S or a bearing of 228° 17 a 

44°
A
resultant
vertical 25 ms–1
48° 45° 18 ms–1
8.5 km 8.0 km

horizontal
17 ms–1
W SE
12.0 km
b 17.3 m s−1 ≈ 17 m s−1
16 S
 wimmer aims directly across river; river flows
at right angles to where she aims. So, resultant c 43.9° ≈ 44° to the vertical
velocity is given by geometry: 18 a 
10 m s−1 North
magnitude2 = 2.02 + 0.82 = 4.64 so magnitude = b 0 m s−1
4.64 = 2.154 ≈ 2.2 m s−1
c 7.1 m s−1 045° or N45°E
( )
direction = tan−1 02.8 ≈ 22° to the direct route
(68° to the river bank) d 7.1 m s−1 315° or N45°W

Cambridge International AS & A Level Physics – Sang, Jones, Chadha & Woodside
2 © Cambridge University Press 2020