CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL PHYSICS: COURSEBOOK

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Coursebook answers
Chapter 2
Self-assessment questions d During last 15 s, acceleration a = ∆∆vt
= ((30 – 15)) =
0 – 30 −30 = −2.0 m s−2
1 change in velocity ∆v = (18 − 0) = 18 m s−1 15

time taken ∆t = 6.0 s e From area under graph: 525 m

so, acceleration a = ∆∆vt = 18 = 3.0 m s−2 6

6.0
2 change in velocity ∆v = (11 − 23) = −12 m s−1 Dots evenly spaced, then getting steadily
closer together
time taken ∆t = 20 s
7 If l1 = length of first section of interrupt card,
so, acceleration a = ∆∆vt = −12 = −0.60 m s−2
20 t1 = time when first section enters light gate,
The magnitude of the deceleration is 0.60 m s−2 t2 = time when first section exits light gate,
l2 = length of second section of interrupt card,
3 Rearranging the equation a = v –t u gives
a 
t3 = time when second section enters light gate,
v = u + at
t4 = time when second section exits light gate,
so, after 1 s, v = 0.0 + (9.81 × 1) = 9.81 ≈ then:
9.8 m s−1 l1
initial velocity u = = 0.05 = 0.25 m s−1
t2 − t1 0.20 − 0.0
b After 3 s, v = 0.0 + (9.81 × 3) = 29.4 m s ≈ −1
l2
29 m s−1 final velocity v = = 0.05
t4 − t3 0.35 − 0.30
= 1.0 m s−1
4 v Δt = t3 − t1 = 0.30 − 0.0 = 0.30 s
so, acceleration a = ∆∆vt = 1.00−.300.25 = 2.5 m s−2
8  or first ticker-tape section, length l1 = 10 cm,
F
time taken t1 = 5 × 0.02 = 0.10 s
l1 0.10
t
so, initial velocity u = =
t1 0.10
= 1.0 m s−1
 or second ticker-tape section, length
F
5 a v /ms–1
30 l2 = 16 cm, time taken t2 = 5 × 0.02 = 0.10 s
l2 0.16
so, final velocity v = =
t2 0.10
= 1.6 m s−1
20
 ections of tape are adjacent, so time between
S
start of first section and start of final section,
10 Δt = time taken by first section = 5 × 0.02 =
0.10 s
0 so, acceleration a = ∆∆vt = 1.60.−101.0 = 6.0 m s−2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 t / s
9 a We know u, a and t and we want to know
b, c During first 10 s, acceleration a = ∆∆vt = 30 v, so we use the equation
10
= 3.0 m s−2 velocity v = u + at = 0.0 + (2.0 × 10)
= 20 m s−1

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

b We know u, a and t and we want to know b initial velocity v1 = 20 m s−1; final velocity
s, so we use the equation v2 = 8 m s−1
distance s = ut + 1
2
at2 = 0.0 + c acceleration a = ∆∆vt = 8 − 20
30 − 0
= −0.40 m s−2
1
2
× 2.0 × 10 × 10 = 100 m d  isplacement of car = area under graph
d
c We know u, v and a and we want to know = (area of rectangle with side 8 m s−1 and
t, so we rearrange the equation v = u + at length 30 s) + (area of triangle with side
so that 12 m s−1 and base 30 s)

time t = v − u = 24 − 0 = 12 s = (8 × 30) + ( 12 × 12 × 30) = 420 m

a 2.0
1
e displacement of car, s = ut + 2
at2
10 a We know u, v and t and we want to know
a, so we use the equation = (20 × 30) + ( 12 × (−0.40) × 30 × 30)
acceleration, a = v − u = 20 − 4.0 = 0.16 m s−2
t 100
= 600 − 180 = 420 m

b average velocity, vavg = v + u = 20 + 4.0 16 a 

Calculate distance fallen for each time
2 2
= 12 m s−1 using s = ut + 1
2
at2, with u = 0
1
c We could use s = ut + 2
at but given that
2

Time / s 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

we have worked out the average speed,
it is simpler to use distance, s = vavg × t Displacement / m 0 4.9 19.6 44.1 78.5
= 12 × 100 = 1200 m
b Graph is a parabola through the origin.
11 We know u, a and s and we want to know v, so
we use the equation 80
v = u + 2as
2 2
70
so, final velocity, v = u 2 + 2as
60
(8.0 )
2
= − 2 × 1.0 × 18 = 100 = 10 m s−1
Displacement / m

12 We know u, v and a and we want to know s, so 50

we rearrange the equation v2 = u2 + 2as, so that
40
v 2 − u 2 = ( 0 )2 − (30 )2 = 900
distance, s = 2 × ( −7 )
2a 14 30
= 64.3 m ≈ 64 m
13 We know v, a and s and we want to know u, 20
so we rearrange the equation v2 = u2 + 2as
10
into u2 = v2 − 2as, so initial speed, u =
v 2 − 2as = ( 0.0 )2 − 2 × ( −6.5 ) × 50 = 650 0
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
= 25.5 m s−1
Time/ s
 his is just over the speed limit.
T c I n 2.5 s, stone falls 30.6 m ≈ 31 m. Check
14 a  t = 7.5 s; v = 220 m s−1 using
1
b  raw a tangent to the curve at point
D s = ut + 2
at2 = 0 + ( 12 × 9.81 × 2.5 × 2.5)
P. Read off two sets of values from the ≈ 31 m
tangent to find the gradient. For example: d time taken = 2.86 s ≈ 2.9 s
at time t1 = 0 s, v1 ≈ 60 m s −1
Check by rearranging, remembering that
at time t2 = 12 s, v2 ≈ 300 m s−1 u = 0, so that time t = 2.86 s ≈ 2.9 s
so, approximately, acceleration We know s and a, and that u = 0, and we
17 a 
need to find t.
a = ∆∆vt = 300 − 60
12 − 0
= 20 m s−2
Rearrange s = ut + 12 at2, remembering that
15 a 
The car is slowing down with constant u = 0,
(uniform) deceleration. so that time t = 2sa = 29×.81
0.8
≈ 0.40 s

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

b We know s and a, and that u = 0, and we c ax = −5.2 m s−2; ay = −3.0 m s−2
need to find v.
d Fx = 77.3 N ≈ 77 N; Fy = 20.7 N ≈ 21 N
Use v2 = u2 + 2as so that impact velocity, v
22 The stone’s displacement now is s = −25 m
= u 2 + 2as = ( 0 )2 + 2 × 9.81× 0.8 = 15.7
Substituting in s = ut + 1 at2 gives
≈ 4.0 m s−1 2

18 a 
Using the method in the worked example, −25 = 20t + 12 × (−9.81) × t2
calculate the average speed of the steel so, 4.9t2 − 20t − 25 = 0 or approximately 5t2 −
20t − 25 = 0, which can be simplified to
ball = s = 2.10
t 0.67
= 3.134 m s−1 t2 − 4t − 5 = (t − 5)(t + 1) = 0
Then find the values of v and u so, time taken to reach the foot of the cliff = 5 s
final speed, v = 2 × 3.134 m s−1 = 6.268 m s−1 (i.e. 1 s more). Accurate answer is 5.08 ≈ 5.1 s.
initial speed, u = 0.0 m s−1 In solving the quadratic equation, you
will have found a second solution, t = −1 s.
Substitute these values into the equation
Obviously, the stone could not take a negative
for acceleration
time to reach the foot of the cliff. However,
a = v − u = 6.268 = 9.36 m s−2 ≈ 9.4 m s−2 this solution does have a meaning: it tells us
t 0.67
that, if the stone had been thrown upwards
b Air resistance; delay in release of ball from the foot of the cliff at the correct speed, it
c  ercentage uncertainty in time = 0.02/0.67
p would have been travelling upwards at 20 m s−1
× 100 = 3% as it passed the top of the cliff at t = 0 s.
percentage uncertainty in g = 2 × 3 = 6% 23 a  Use v = u + at to calculate v, remembering
or largest value of g = 9.94 m s−2 giving an that a = −9.81 m s−2
absolute uncertainty of 0.58 m s−2 and a Velocity
percentage uncertainty of 90..36
58
× 100 = 6% 30 20.19 10.38 0.57 −9.24 −19.05
/ m s−1
19 a  Time
h/m 0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
/s
2.0
b
1.5
30
1.0 25
20
0.5
15
Velocity / m s–1

0 10
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 t2 / s2
5
0
b Because s = 12 at2 the gradient is 12 g, the 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 Time / s
–5
acceleration of free fall, g ≈ 1.6 m s−2
–10
c  his object is not falling on the Earth,
T –15
perhaps on the Moon –20
20 Drop an object towards the sensor, but
take care not to break it. A better method c 3.1 s
is to use a sloping ramp with a trolley;
24 a 
Horizontal speed remains constant after
gradually increase the angle of slope.
being thrown (ignoring air resistance), so:
Deduce the value of the acceleration when
the ramp is vertical. horizontal velocity = st = 124..00 = 3.0 m s−1
Fx = 17.3 N ≈ 17 N; Fy ≈ 10 N
21 a  b  or vertical distance, use s = ut + 12 at2,
F
remembering that u = 0
b vx = 1.7 m s−1; vy = −4.7 m s−1
s = ut + 1
2
at2 = 0 + 1
2
× (−9.81) × 4.0 × 4.0
= −78.5 m, so height of cliff is 78.5 m

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

vertical component of velocity =

25 a  26 F
 irst, calculate the time taken for the projectile
8 × sin 40° = 5.14 ≈ 5.1 m s−1 to return to the ground.
b vertical component of velocity = 0 m s−1 initial vertical velocity, uver = 40 × sin 45°
= 28.3 m s−1
c Rearrange v = u + at, so that time t = v−u
a We know the vertical distance travelled
0 − 5.14 when the projectile hits the ground = 0 m so,
= = 0.524 ≈ 0.52 s rearrange s = ut + 12 at2 to find t
−9.81
d  orizontal component of velocity
h 0 = 28.3t + 12 × 9.81t2 = 28.3t + 4.905t2
= 8 × cos 40° = 6.13 ≈ 6.1 m s−1 so, t = 0 (when the projectile is launched) or
t = 5.77 s (when it returns to the ground)
e  ssume horizontal component of velocity
A
is constant and use Assume horizontal velocity is constant,
uhor = 40 × cos 45° = 28.3 m s−1
distance s = ut + 1
2
at2 = 6.1 × 0.52 + 0 so, horizontal distance s = ut = 28.3 × 5.77
= 3.21 ≈ 3.2 m = 163 m ≈ 160 m

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