Topic2- P1 [92 marks]

1. A block moving with initial speed v is brought to rest, after travelling a [1 mark]
distance d, by a frictional force f . A second identical block moving with
f
initial speed u is brought to rest in the same distance d by a frictional force 2 .
What is u?
A. v
v
B.
√2
C. v2
v
D. 4

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
With a lower difficulty index for SL candidates than for HL candidates, this
question asked students to recognize the relationship between variables in a
kinematics equation. For both groups, option C (incorrect) was most frequently
selected, as candidates struggled to show the relationship between U and the
change in frictional force. This question would be a useful teaching tool, as
results here suggest candidates should spend more time working with
equations without numerical substitutions.

−1
2. A stone is kicked horizontally at a speed of 1.5 m s−1 from the edge of a [1 mark]
cliff on one of Jupiter’s moons. It hits the ground 2.0 s later. The height of
the cliff is 4.0 m. Air resistance is negligible.
What is the magnitude of the displacement of the stone?

A. 7.0 m
B. 5.0 m
C. 4.0 m
D. 3.0 m

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
This question was generally well answered by both HL and SL candidates and
had a mid-range difficulty index (indicating an easier question). Option D was
an effective distractor for candidates calculating the horizontal range rather
than the displacement. Candidates are encouraged to read the questions
carefully to ensure it is clear what each question is asking for.

3. Which of the formulae represents Newton’s second law? [1 mark]

mass
A. volume

B. work
displacement
change of momentum
C. time
D. pressure × area

Markscheme
C
 Examiners report
This question was very well answered by SL candidates, as demonstrated by
the high difficulty index.

4. Two masses m 1 and m 2 are connected by a string over a frictionless [1 mark]

pulley of negligible mass. The masses are released from rest. Air resistance is
negligible.

Mass m2 accelerates downwards at g2 . What is m1

m2
?
A. 13

B. 12
C. 2
D. 3

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
With a low difficulty index for both, this question was challenging for both HL
and SL candidates. Option B was the most common (incorrect) answer, and
only a small number of candidates correctly selected option A. This question
would be a useful teaching tool for students, as they consider the relationship
between variables without numeric substitution.
5. A cart travels from rest along a horizontal surface with a constant [1 mark]
acceleration. What is the variation of the kinetic energy Ek of the cart with
its distance s travelled? Air resistance is negligible.

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
Option A was the most common (incorrect) response among both HL and SL
candidates, suggesting that candidates were looking for a curve representing
speed rather than kinetic energy against distance. A low discrimination index
suggests that both high and low achieving students were caught by this
effective distractor.

6. Two trolleys of equal mass travel in opposite directions as shown. [1 mark]

The trolleys collide head-on and stick together.

What is their velocity after the collision?
A. 1 m s−1
B. 2 m s−1
C. 5 m s−1
D. 10 m s−1
 Markscheme
A

Examiners report
The majority of SL candidates selected option B, finding the difference in
velocity but neglecting to recognize that mass will have doubled. This question
had a relatively high discrimination index suggesting more able candidates
had greater success demonstrating this recognition.

7. The road from city X to city Y is 1000 km long. The displacement is 800 [1 mark]
km from X to Y.

What is the distance travelled from Y to X and the displacement from Y to X?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
8. A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a velocity v during time t1 . It then[1 mark]
continues at constant velocity v from t1 to time t2 .
What is the total distance covered by the car in t2 ?
A. v t2
B. 12 v(t2 − t1 )+v t1

C. 12 v(t2 + t1 )

D. 12 v t1 + v(t2 − t1 )

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

9. An object is sliding from rest down a frictionless inclined plane. The object [1 mark]
slides 1.0 m during the first second.

What distance will the object slide during the next second?
A. 1.0 m
B. 2.0 m
C. 3.0 m
D. 4.9 m

Markscheme
C
 Examiners report
The correct response, option C was the most popular chosen at HL but at SL
significantly more candidates chose options A or B. The difficulty index of 21
and discrimination index of 0.27 at SL indicates that students found the
question to be hard with lower discrimination between stronger and weaker
candidates. It is felt that those who chose option A did not realise the block
was accelerating down the slope, whereas those choosing B did but were
unable to calculate the acceleration correctly.

10. An object of mass 2.0 kg rests on a rough surface. A person pushes the [1 mark]
object in a straight line with a force of 10 N through a distance d.

The resultant force acting on the object throughout d is 6.0 N.

What is the value of the sliding coefficient of friction μ between the surface and
the object and what is the acceleration a of the object?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
There is no evidence that candidates were disadvantaged by the use of sliding
friction rather than dynamic friction with the correct option being the most
popular.
11. A rocket has just been launched vertically from Earth. The image shows [1 mark]
the free-body diagram of the rocket. F1 represents a larger force than F2.

Which force pairs with F1 and which force pairs with F2, according to Newton’s
third law?

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

12. An object is pushed from rest by a constant net force of 100 N. When the [1 mark]
object has travelled 2.0 m the object has reached a velocity of 10 m s−1.
What is the mass of the object?
A. 2 kg
B. 4 kg
C. 40 kg
D. 200 kg

Markscheme
B
 Examiners report
[N/A]

13. Two blocks of different masses are released from identical springs of [1 mark]
elastic constant k = 100 Nm−1, initially compressed a distance Δx = 0.1
m. Block X has a mass of 1 kg and block Y has a mass of 0.25 kg.
What are the velocities of the blocks when they leave the springs?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
Most candidates chose the correct answer confirming this was not
problematic.

14. A book is at rest on a table. One of the forces acting on the book is its [1 mark]
weight.
What is the other force that completes the force pair according to Newton’s third
law of motion?
A. The pull of the book on Earth
B. The pull of Earth on the book
C. The push of the table on the book
D. The push of the book on the table

Markscheme
A
 Examiners report
The majority of candidates incorrectly selected option C for this question,
resulting in a low difficulty index overall. This question highlights a typical
misconception relating to Newton's 3rd law, and emphasises the importance of
conceptual physics teaching.

15. Two bodies each of equal mass travelling in opposite directions collide [1 mark]
head-on.

What is a possible outcome of the collision?

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
This question was well answered by HL candidates. Some students may have
answered incorrectly due to consideration of speed rather than velocity.
16. An astronaut is orbiting Earth in a spaceship. Why does the astronaut [1 mark]
experience weightlessness?
A. The astronaut is outside the gravitational field of Earth.
B. The acceleration of the astronaut is the same as the acceleration of the
spaceship.
C. The spaceship is travelling at a high speed tangentially to the orbit.
D. The gravitational field is zero at that point.

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

17. A ball is thrown upwards at time t = 0. The graph shows the variation with [1 mark]
time of the height of the ball. The ball returns to the initial height at time
T.

What is the height h at time t ?

A. 12 gt2

B. 12 gT 2

C. 12 gT (T − t)

D. 12 gt(T − t)
Markscheme
D

Examiners report
This question proved challenging, many more candidates chose answer A
instead of correct D. Candidates need to be aware that there are useful
strategies for answering questions, especially ones they may find difficult.
Eliminate choices that are clearly wrong - here A (and therefore B as well) are
incorrect as they reflect an equation producing a height that always increases.
It is also sometimes helpful to invent numbers to test the equations, e.g.
assuming that the height is a known value, testing the possible answers given.
Five metres would work here, as the height covered in free-fall from rest
during one second. Thrown upwards at 5 m/s, it would take 1 second to go up
and another to come back, therefore T = 2s. Only D would give the correct
answer of 0 m after 1 s. The question also produced many comments on the
G2 due to its difficulty. It must be remembered that questions appear in guide
topic order so it is unlikely that harder questions will only appear towards the
middle of the paper.
18. A solid metal ball is dropped from a tower. The variation with time of the [1 mark]
velocity of the ball is plotted.

A hollow metal ball with the same size and shape is dropped from the same tower.
What graph will represent the variation with time of the velocity for the hollow
metal ball?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
19. A book of mass m lies on top of a table of mass M that rolls freely along [1 mark]
the ground. The coefficient of friction between the book and the table is μ. A
person is pushing the rolling table.
What is the maximum acceleration of the table so that the book does not slide
backwards relative to the table?

g
A. μ

B. μg
mg
C.
Mμ
D. m μg
M

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
Over half the candidates incorrectly chose option D. The book is only able to
accelerate because of the friction force between the table and the book which
depends on μ and the normal reaction force (mg) so independent of M,
immediately eliminating options C and D.

20. An electric motor of efficiency 0.75 is connected to a power supply with [1 mark]
an emf of 20 V and negligible internal resistance. The power output of the
motor is 120 W. What is the average current drawn from the power supply?

A. 3.1 A
B. 4.5 A
C. 6.0 A
D. 8.0 A
 Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

21. The graph shows the variation with time t of the velocity of an object. [1 mark]

What is the variation with time t of the acceleration of the object?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

−1
22. A ball is thrown vertically downwards with an initial speed of 4.0 m s−1. [1 mark]
−1
The ball hits the ground with a speed of 16 m s . Air resistance is
negligible. What is the time of fall and what is the distance travelled by the ball?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

23. An elevator (lift) and its load accelerate vertically upwards. [1 mark]

Which statement is correct in this situation?

A. The net force on the load is zero.

B. The tension in the cable is equal but opposite to the combined weight of the
elevator and its load.
C. The normal reaction force on the load is equal but opposite to the force on the
elevator from the load.
D. The elevator and its load are in translational equilibrium.
 Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

24. X and Y are two objects on a frictionless table connected by a string. The [1 mark]
mass of X is 2 kg and the mass of Y is 4 kg. The mass of the string is
negligible. A constant horizontal force of 12 N acts on Y.

What are the acceleration of Y and the magnitude of the tension in the string?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]
25. An object of mass 1.0 kg hangs at rest from a spring. The spring has a [1 mark]
negligible mass and the spring constant k is 20 N m −1

What is the elastic potential energy stored in the spring?

A. 1.0 J
B. 2.5 J
C. 5.0 J
D. 10 J

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
26. A net force F acts on an object of mass m that is initially at rest. The [1 mark]
object moves in a straight line. The variation of F with the distance s is
shown.

What is the speed of the object at the distance s1 ?

A. √ F21ms1

B. √ Fm
1s 1

C. √ 2Fm1s1

D. √ 4Fm1s1

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
27. A ball rolls on the floor towards a wall and rebounds with the same speed [1 mark]
and at the same angle to the wall.

What is the direction of the impulse applied to the ball by the wall?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

28. A cyclist rides up a hill of vertical height 100 m in 500 s at a constant [1 mark]
speed. The combined mass of the cyclist and the bicycle is 80 kg. The
power developed by the cyclist is 200 W. What is the efficiency of the energy
transfer in this system?

A. 8 %
B. 20 %
C. 60 %
D. 80 %

Markscheme
D
 Examiners report
[N/A]

29. A block rests on a frictionless horizontal surface. An air rifle pellet is fired [1 mark]
horizontally into the block and remains embedded in the block.

What happens to the total kinetic energy and to the total momentum of the block
and pellet system as a result of the collision?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

30. A large stone is dropped from a tall building. What is correct about the [1 mark]
speed of the stone after 1 s?
A. It is decreasing at increasing rate.
B. It is decreasing at decreasing rate.
C. It is increasing at increasing rate.
D. It is increasing at decreasing rate.
 Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

31. The graph shows how the position of an object varies with time in the [1 mark]
interval from 0 to 3 s.

At which point does the instantaneous speed of the object equal its average speed
over the interval from 0 to 3 s?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
32. A car takes 20 minutes to climb a hill at constant speed. The mass of the [1 mark]
car is 1200 kg and the car gains gravitational potential energy at a rate of
6.0 kW. Take the acceleration of gravity to be 10 m s−2. What is the height of the
hill?
A. 0.6 m
B. 10 m
C. 600 m
D. 6000 m

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

33. A ball undergoes an elastic collision with a vertical wall. Which of the [1 mark]
following is equal to zero?
A. The change of the magnitude of linear momentum of the ball
B. The magnitude of the change of linear momentum of the ball
C. The rate of change of linear momentum of the ball
D. The impulse of the force on the ball

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]
34. Two forces act on an object in different directions. The magnitudes of the [1 mark]
forces are 18 N and 27 N. The mass of the object is 9.0 kg. What is a
possible value for the acceleration of the object?
A. 0 m s−2
B. 0.5 m s−2
C. 2.0 m s−2
D. 6.0 m s−2

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

35. Two identical boxes are stored in a warehouse as shown in the diagram. [1 mark]
Two forces acting on the top box and two forces acting on the bottom box
are shown.

Which is a force pair according to Newton’s third law?

A. 1 and 2
B. 3 and 4
C. 2 and 3
D. 2 and 4
 Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

36. An electron has a linear momentum of 4.0 × 10−25 kg m s−1. What is the [1 mark]
order of magnitude of the kinetic energy of the electron?
A. 10−50 J
B. 10−34 J
C. 10−19 J
D. 106 J

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
37. The minute hand of a clock hanging on a vertical wall has length [1 mark]
L = 30 cm.

The minute hand is observed pointing at 12 and then again 30 minutes later when
the minute hand is pointing at 6.
What is the average velocity and average speed of point P on the minute hand
during this time interval?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

38. A person is standing at rest on the ground and experiences a downward [1 mark]
gravitational force W and an upward normal force from the ground N.
Which, according to Newton’s third law, is the force that together with W forms a
force pair?
A. The gravitational force W acting upwards on the ground.
B. The gravitational force W acting upwards on the person.
C. The normal force N acting upwards on the person.
D. The normal force N acting downwards on the ground.
 Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

39. A person with a weight of 600 N stands on a scale in an elevator. [1 mark]

What is the acceleration of the elevator when the scale reads 900 N?
A. 5. 0 m s−2 downwards
B. 1. 5 m s−2 downwards
C. 1. 5 m s−2 upwards
D. 5. 0 m s−2 upwards

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
40. Two identical boxes containing different masses are sliding with the same [1 mark]
initial speed on the same horizontal surface. They both come to rest
under the influence of the frictional force of the surface. How do the frictional
force and acceleration of the boxes compare?

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

41. Two identical blocks, each of mass m and speed v, travel towards each [1 mark]
other on a frictionless surface.

The blocks undergo a head-on collision. What is definitely true immediately after
the collision?
A. The momentum of each block is zero.
B. The total momentum is zero.
C. The momentum of each block is 2mv.
D. The total momentum is 2mv.

Markscheme
B
 Examiners report
[N/A]

42. A projectile is launched upwards at an angle θ to the horizontal with an [1 mark]

initial momentum p0 and an initial energy E0. Air resistance is negligible.
What are the momentum and total energy of the projectile at the highest point of
the motion?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]
43. The graph shows the variation with distance of a horizontal force acting [1 mark]
on an object. The object, initially at rest, moves horizontally through a
distance of 50 m.

A constant frictional force of 2. 0 N opposes the motion. What is the final kinetic
energy of the object after it has moved 50 m ?
A. 100 J
B. 500 J
C. 600 J
D. 1100 J

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
44. A mass is released from the top of a smooth ramp of height h . After [1 mark]
leaving the ramp, the mass slides on a rough horizontal surface.

The mass comes to rest in a distance d. What is the coefficient of dynamic friction
between the mass and the horizontal surface?
gd
A. h

B.√ 2gdh

C. dh
D. hd

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

45. Masses X and Y rest on a smooth horizontal surface and are connected by [1 mark]
a massless spring. The mass of X is 3.0 kg and the mass of Y is 6.0 kg. The
masses are pushed toward each other until the elastic potential energy stored in
the spring is 1.0 J.

The masses are released. What is the maximum speed reached by mass Y?
A. 0.11 m s−1
B. 0.33 m s−1
C. 0.45 m s−1
D. 0.66 m s−1
 Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

46. A force acts on an object of mass 40 kg. The graph shows how the [1 mark]
acceleration a of the object varies with its displacement d.

What is the work done by the force on the object?

A. 50 J
B. 2000 J
C. 2400 J
D. 3200 J

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
47. A block rests on a rough horizontal plane. A force P is applied to the block [1 mark]
and the block moves to the right.

There is a coefficient of friction μd giving rise to a frictional force F between the

block and the plane. The force P is doubled. Will μd and F be unchanged or
greater?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]
48. A projectile is launched at an angle above the horizontal with a horizontal [1 mark]
component of velocity Vh and a vertical component of velocity Vv . Air
resistance is negligible. Which graphs show the variation with time of Vh and of Vv
?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
49. A horizontal force F acts on a sphere. A horizontal resistive force kv2 acts [1 mark]
on the sphere where v is the speed of the sphere and k is a constant. What is the
terminal velocity of the sphere?

A. √ Fk

B. k
F
C. F
k

D. √ Fk

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

50. An electric motor raises an object of weight 500 N through a vertical [1 mark]
distance of 3. 0 m in 1. 5 s. The current in the electric motor is 10 A at a
potential difference of 200 V. What is the efficiency of the electric motor?
A. 17 %
B. 38 %
C. 50 %
D. 75 %

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

2 3
51. An object of mass 2m moving at velocity 3v collides with a stationary [1 mark]
object of mass 4m . The objects stick together after the collision. What is
the final speed and the change in total kinetic energy immediately after the
collision?

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

52a. An object of mass 1 kg is thrown downwards from a height of 20 m . The [1 mark]

initial speed of the object is 6 m s−1 .
The object hits the ground at a speed of 20 m s−1 . Assume g = 10 m s−2 . What is
the best estimate of the energy transferred from the object to the air as it falls?
A. 6J
B. 18 J
C. 182 J
D. 200 J

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

0. 80
 A spaceship is travelling at 0. 80c, away from Earth. It launches a probe away
from Earth, at 0. 50c relative to the spaceship. An observer on the probe
measures the length of the probe to be 8. 0 m .

52b. Calculate the speed of the probe in terms of c, relative to Earth. [2 marks]

Markscheme
0.5c+0.8c
u= 0.5c×0.8c ✓
1+
c2

u = 0. 93c ✓
Allow all negative signs for velocities
Award [2] marks for a bald correct answer

Examiners report
[N/A]

8. 0 kg
53. An object of mass 8. 0 kg is falling vertically through the air. The drag [1 mark]
force acting on the object is 60 N. What is the best estimate of the acceleration of
the object?
A. Zero
B. 2. 5 m s−2
C. 7. 5 m s−2
D. 10 m s−2

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

54. P and Q leave the same point, travelling in the same direction. The [1 mark]
graphs show the variation with time t of velocity v for both P and Q.

What is the distance between P and Q when t = 8. 0 s?

A. 20 m
B. 40 m
C. 60 m
D. 120 m
 Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

55. Three forces act on a block which is sliding down a slope at constant [1 mark]
speed. W is the weight, R is the reaction force at the surface of the block
and F is the friction force acting on the block.

In this situation
A. there must be an unbalanced force down the plane.
B. W = R.
C. F = W .
D. the resultant force on the block is zero.

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

−1
56. A balloon rises at a steady vertical velocity of 10 m s−1 . An object is [1 mark]
dropped from the balloon at a height of 40 m above the ground. Air resistance is
negligible. What is the time taken for the object to hit the ground?
A. 10 s
B. 5 s
C. 4 s
D. 2 s

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
Even though over half the candidates are choosing the correct response it has
a low discrimination index. Many are choosing D indicating that they forgot to
take the velocity upward as negative.

57. An object of mass m strikes a vertical wall horizontally at speed U . The [1 mark]
object rebounds from the wall horizontally at speed V .
What is the magnitude of the change in the momentum of the object?
A. 0
B. m(V − U)
C. m(U − V )
D. m(U + V )

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
58. A body is held in translational equilibrium by three coplanar forces of [1 mark]
magnitude 3 N, 4 N and 5 N. Three statements about these forces are
I. all forces are perpendicular to each other
II. the forces cannot act in the same direction
III. the vector sum of the forces is equal to zero.
Which statements are true?
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

59. A car is driven from rest along a straight horizontal road. The car engine [1 mark]
exerts a constant driving force. Friction and air resistance are negligible.
How does the power developed by the engine change with the distance travelled?
A. Power does not change.
B. Power decreases linearly.
C. Power increases linearly.
D. Power increases non-linearly.

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
Lowish discrimination with C the most popular choice. It was felt that
candidates normally analyse in terms of the time taken whereas this question
refers to the distance travelled so with a constant driving force the velocity
increases linearly with time but non linearly with distance.
60. An object hangs from a light string and moves in a horizontal circle of [1 mark]
radius r.

The string makes an angle θ with the vertical. The angular speed of the object is
ω. What is tan θ?
2
A. ωg r
g
B.
ω 2r
2
C. ωr
g
g
D.
ωr2

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

61. An object of mass m makes n revolutions per second around a circle of [1 mark]
radius r at a constant speed. What is the kinetic energy of the object?
A. 0
B. 12 π 2 mn2 r2

C. 2π 2 mn2 r2
D. 4π 2 mn2 r2

Markscheme
C
 Examiners report
[N/A]

62. Two forces act along a straight line on an object that is initially at rest. [1 mark]
One force is constant; the second force is in the opposite direction and
proportional to the velocity of the object.

What is correct about the motion of the object?

A. The acceleration increases from zero to a maximum.

B. The acceleration increases from zero to a maximum and then decreases.
C. The velocity increases from zero to a maximum.
D. The velocity increases from zero to a maximum and then decreases.

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
63. The variation with time t of the acceleration a of an object is shown. [1 mark]

What is the change in velocity of the object from t = 0 to t = 6 s?

A. 6 m s–1
B. 8 m s–1
C. 10 m s–1
D. 14 m s–1

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]

64. A climber of mass m slides down a vertical rope with an average [1 mark]
acceleration a. What is the average frictional force exerted by the rope on
the climber?
A. mg
B. m (g + a)
C. m (g – a)
D. ma

Markscheme
C
 Examiners report
[N/A]

65. A cube slides down the surface of a ramp at a constant velocity. What is [1 mark]
the magnitude of the frictional force that acts on the cube due to the
surface?
A. The weight of the cube
B. The component of weight of the cube parallel to the plane
C. The component of weight of the cube perpendicular to the plane
D. The component of the normal reaction at the surface parallel to the plane

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

66. A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Air resistance is negligible. What is the[1 mark]
variation with time t of the kinetic energy Ek of the ball?
 Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

67. The tension in a horizontal spring is directly proportional to the extension [1 mark]
of the spring. The energy stored in the spring at extension x is E. What is
the work done by the spring when its extension changes from x to x4 ?
E
A. 16

B. E
4

C. 34E

D. 15
16
E

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

68. A ball falls from rest in the absence of air resistance. The position of the [1 mark]
centre of the ball is determined at one-second intervals from the instant
at which it is released. What are the distances, in metres, travelled by the centre
of the ball during each second for the first 4.0 s of the motion?
A. 5, 10, 15, 20
B. 5, 15, 25, 35
C. 5, 20, 45, 80
D. 5, 25, 70, 150
 Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]

69. An object is thrown from a cliff at an angle to the horizontal. The ground [1 mark]
below the cliff is horizontal.
Three quantities are known about this motion.
I. The horizontal component of the initial velocity of the object
II. The initial angle between the velocity of the object and the horizontal
III. The height of the cliff
What are the quantities that must be known in order to determine the horizontal
distance from the point of projection to the point at which the object hits the
ground?

A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

8
70. A nuclear particle has an energy of 108 eV. A grain of sand has a mass of [1 mark]
32 mg. What speed must the grain of sand have for its kinetic energy to
equal the energy of the nuclear particle?
A. 1 mm s–1
B. 3 mm s–1
C. 10 mm s–1
D. 16 mm s–1

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

71. A sky diver is falling at terminal speed when she opens her parachute. [1 mark]
What are the direction of her velocity vector and the direction of her
acceleration vector before she reaches the new terminal speed?

Markscheme
C
 Examiners report
[N/A]

72. A stone is thrown downwards from the edge of a cliff with a speed of 5.0 [1 mark]
m s–1. It hits the ground 2.0 s later. What is the height of the cliff?
A. 20 m
B. 30 m
C. 40 m
D. 50 m

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
This question was well answered by the majority of candidates and had a high
discrimination index.
73. A ball is thrown upwards at an angle to the horizontal. Air resistance is [1 mark]
negligible. Which statement about the motion of the ball is correct?
A. The acceleration of the ball changes during its flight.
B. The velocity of the ball changes during its flight.
C. The acceleration of the ball is zero at the highest point.
D. The velocity of the ball is zero at the highest point.

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
Candidate responses were divided between responses B (correct), D, and to a
lesser extent, C. Many candidates appeared to focus on vertical velocity only
or confused vertical velocity and acceleration values. This question had the
highest discrimination index, suggesting that it would be a useful question for
class discussion.
74. An object of mass m is sliding down a ramp at constant speed. During the [1 mark]
motion it travels a distance x along the ramp and falls through a vertical
distance h. The coefficient of dynamic friction between the ramp and the object is
μ. What is the total energy transferred into thermal energy when the object
travels distance x?

A. mgh
B. mgx
C. μmgh
D. μmgx

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]
75. Two blocks of masses m and 2m are travelling directly towards each [1 mark]
other. Both are moving at the same constant speed v. The blocks collide
and stick together.
What is the total momentum of the system before and after the collision?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
Response A was the most common (correct) response, however response D
was a significant distractor for candidates who took momentum to be a scalar
quantity.
76. The graph shows the variation with time of the resultant net force acting [1 mark]
on an object. The object has a mass of 1kg and is initially at rest.

What is the velocity of the object at a time of 200 ms?

A. 8 m s–1
B. 16 m s–1
C. 8 km s–1
D. 16 km s–1

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
Many candidates (incorrectly) selected response B, perhaps neglecting the
changing value of force over time.
77. A block is on the surface of a horizontal rotating disk. The block is at rest [1 mark]
relative to the disk. The disk is rotating at constant angular velocity.
What is the correct arrow to represent the direction of the frictional force acting
on the block at the instant shown?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
Candidate responses were largely divided between responses C and D,
suggesting some confusion around the direction of frictional force in a rotating
object (vs. linear motion).
78. The graph shows the variation of velocity of a body with time along a [1 mark]
straight line.

What is correct for this graph?

A. The maximum acceleration is at P.
B. The average acceleration of the body is given by the area enclosed by the
graph and time axis.
C. The maximum displacement is at Q.
D. The total displacement of the body is given by the area enclosed by the graph
and time axis.

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
79. Two forces of magnitude 12 N and 24 N act at the same point. Which [1 mark]
force cannot be the resultant of these forces?
A. 10 N
B. 16 N
C. 19 N
D. 36 N

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

80. An object has a weight of 6.10 × 102 N. What is the change in [1 mark]
gravitational potential energy of the object when it moves through 8.0 m
vertically?
A. 5 kJ
B. 4.9 kJ
C. 4.88 kJ
D. 4.880 kJ

Markscheme
B
 Examiners report
At SL, more candidates chose C with B the second most popular response. This
question was about significant figures and candidates should be reminded that
on the multiple choice paper they are not expected to perform detailed
calculations. In this case 6.10 (to 3 sig figs) times 8.0 (to 2 sig figs) produces
an answer to 2 sig figs giving B as the correct response. All answers are
equivalent from a numerical point of view with the difference being the
number of sig figs used.

81. A boat with an output engine power of 15 kW moves through water at a [1 mark]
speed of 10 m s-1. What is the resistive force acting on the boat?
A. 0.15 kN
B. 0.75 kN
C. 1.5 kN
D. 150 kN

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
82. An astronaut is moving at a constant velocity in the absence of a [1 mark]
gravitational field when he throws a tool away from him.
What is the effect of throwing the tool on the total kinetic energy of the astronaut
and the tool and the total momentum of the astronaut and the tool?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]

-1
83. A table-tennis ball of mass 3 g is fired with a speed of 10 m s-1 from a [1 mark]
stationary toy gun of mass 0.600 kg. The gun and ball are an isolated
system.
What are the recoil speed of the toy gun and the total momentum of the system
immediately after the gun is fired?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
This question gives good discrimination at both levels with the correct
response, A, being the most popular at HL. Response B was second most
popular at HL and most popular by a small margin at SL, however a significant
number of candidates chose the other responses at both levels. Realising the
gun and ball are initially at rest and momentum must be conserved leads to a
zero momentum after firing, immediately removing options B and D.
84. A block of weight W slides down a ramp at constant velocity. A friction [1 mark]
force F acts between the bottom of the block and the surface of the ramp.
A normal reaction N acts between the ramp and the block. What is the free-body
diagram for the forces that act on the block?

Markscheme
D

Examiners report
[N/A]
85. A sports car is accelerated from 0 to 100 km per hour in 3 s. What is the [1 mark]
acceleration of the car?
A. 0.1 g
B. 0.3 g
C. 0.9 g
D. 3 g

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
Response D was the most common (but incorrect) response, with candidates
neglecting to convert km/h to m/s.

86. A girl throws an object horizontally at time t = 0. Air resistance can be [1 mark]
ignored. At t = 0.50 s the object travels horizontally a distance x in
metres while it falls vertically through a distance y in metres.
What is the initial velocity of the object and the vertical distance fallen at t = 1.0
s?
 Markscheme
D

Examiners report
The correct response (D) was the most common selection by a minority of
candidates, with incorrect responses being roughly equally distributed among
the remaining options. This question has one of the highest discrimination
indexes.

87. A waiter carrying a tray is accelerating to the right as shown in the image.[1 mark]
What is the free-body diagram of the forces acting on the tray?
 Markscheme
D

Examiners report
Response D was the most common response, with the free-body diagram in
response A providing a significant distractor for roughly a third of candidates.
Most candidates recognized that the only upward vector would be one
perpendicular to the tray.

88. A boy throws a ball horizontally at a speed of 15 m s-1 from the top of a [1 mark]
cliff that is 80 m above the surface of the sea. Air resistance is negligible.
What is the distance from the bottom of the cliff to the point where the ball lands
in the sea?
A. 45 m
B. 60 m
C. 80 m
D. 240 m

Markscheme
B

Examiners report
[N/A]
89. A book is at rest on a table. What is a pair of action–reaction forces for [1 mark]
this situation according to Newton’s third law of motion?

Markscheme
C

Examiners report
[N/A]
 90. The graph shows the variation of momentum with time for an object. [1 mark]

What net force acts on the object for the first 2.0 s and for the second 2.0 s of the
motion?

Markscheme
A

Examiners report
[N/A]

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