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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Kinematics

Quick Check (page 23)

distance travelled
Speed =
time taken
200 m
=
25 s
1
=8ms
displacement (linear distance)
Velocity =
time taken
50 m
=
25 s
1
=2ms
(Note: The displacement of the athlete is the linear distance between her start point and finishing point.)

Quick Check (page 24)

1. Yes, the stone undergoes acceleration when whirled in circles. This is because its direction (and
hence, velocity) is changing constantly. The acceleration is towards the middle of the circular
path.

2. (a) No. The velocity of a space shuttle increases during blasting off acceleration takes place.
(b) Yes
(c) Yes
(d) No. An MRT train picks up speed when it is leaving a station.
(e) Yes

Quick Check (page 25)

No. The velocity of an object undergoing uniform acceleration increases at a constant rate, while an
object undergoing uniform motion moves with uniform velocity.

Test Yourself 2.1 & 2.2 (page 26)

1. (a) Distance travelled = (4 + 2 + 4 + 2) m = 12 m

(b) Displacement = 0 m from the initial point A

4m
A N

2m 2m

4m

2. Velocity has direction, but speed does not.

3. True. An object moving at a constant velocity has to move in a straight line, otherwise its direction
will change and its velocity will not be a constant.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

4. (a) Total distance travelled = 50 924 km 50 780 km = 144 km

1 144 km 1
Average speed in km h = = 72 km h
2h
(b) 1 144 000 m 1
Average speed in m s = = 20 m s
(2 60 60) s

5. Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity.

6. vu
a=
t

Quick Check (page 27)

Displacement

car at
higher
velocity
car in
Figure 2.8

0 Time

Quick Check (page 30)

The velocity of an object undergoing deceleration decreases with time, while the velocity of an object
experiencing decreasing acceleration still increases with time, but does so at a decreasing rate.

Quick Check (page 31)

No. Since CF is curved and not straight, the car is not moving at a uniform velocity.
D and E lie on a curve with a negative gradient. This means that the car is travelling towards O. The
gradient at D is greater than the gradient at E. The velocity of the car at D is higher than that at E.
From E to F, the gradient is zero. The velocity is neither increasing nor decreasing as the car is at
rest.

Quick Check (page 37)

The upward direction is assigned as the positive direction. Therefore, when the volleyball falls
downwards, its displacement is taken to be negative.

Velocity

Time

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Test Yourself 2.3 (page 38)

1. Time Type of
interval motion Average velocity
010 Non-uniform total displacement 50 m 0 m 1
velocity Average velocity = = =5ms
total time taken 10 s
1030 Uniform 260 m 50 m 1
velocity Average velocity = = 10.5 m s
20 s
3035 Non-uniform 280 m 260 m 1
velocity Average velocity = =4ms
5s
3540 At rest 280 m 280 m 1
Average velocity = =0ms
5s

2. We can tell if an object is stationary by checking if its displacementtime graph is horizontal

(i.e. its displacement is constant with time).

3. The velocity of an object is given by the gradient of its displacementtime graph. For an object
moving at non-uniform velocity, its velocity (i.e. instantaneous velocity) is given by the gradient of
the tangent of the displacementtime graph at that particular instant of time.

4. Displacementtime graph (Figure 2.20)

(a) From O to A, the car moves with increasing velocity (i.e. acceleration).
(b) From A to B, the car moves with decreasing velocity (i.e. deceleration).
(c) From B to C, the car is at rest.
(d) From C to D, the car moves with constant velocity.

Velocitytime graph (Figure 2.21)

(a) From O to A, the car moves with increasing acceleration.
(b) From A to B, the car moves with decreasing acceleration.
(c) From B to C, the car moves with constant velocity.
(d) From C to D, the car moves with constant acceleration.

Test Yourself 2.4 (page 44)

1. (a) Velocity/m s
1

Time/s
5

(b) Gradient of vt graph = acceleration of free fall g

1
v0ms
=
5s
Velocity v of object just before it hits the ground = 5 s g
2
= 5 s 10 m s
1
= 50 m s
(c) Height = area under vt graph
1
= vt
2
1 1
= (50 m s )(5 s)
2
= 125 m

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

2. A feather is less dense than a hammer. Therefore, a falling feather experiences significantly
higher air resistance than a falling hammer over the same period of time. The feather thus
reaches terminal velocity faster than the hammer.

IT Learning Room (page 45)

Part 1

4. Position slider
Moving the Position slider from 1.20 m to 1.20 m changes the position of the man. At positive
values, the man stands to the right of the origin (i.e. 0 m). At negative values, the man stands to
the left of the origin. The man remains stationary as time passes.

Velocity slider
1 1
Moving the Velocity slider from 1.20 m s to 1.20 m s changes the velocity of the man.
1 1
Decreasing the numerical value from 1.20 m s to 0 m s reduces the speed of the man.
Increasing the numerical value increases his speed. The positive or negative sign denotes the
direction in which the man travels a positive sign indicates that his movement is to the right of
the origin and a negative sign indicates that his movement is to the left.

Acceleration slider
2 2
Moving the Acceleration slider from 1.20 m s to 1.20 m s changes the acceleration of the
2 2
man. Decreasing the numerical value from 1.20 m s to 0 m s reduces the acceleration of the
man. Increasing the numerical value increases the acceleration of the man. The positive or
negative sign denotes the direction in which the man travels a positive sign indicates that his
movement is to the right of the origin and a negative sign indicates that his movement is to the
left.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Part 2

4. Graph generated based on scenario 1

Simulation images PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado

(http://phet.colorado.edu)

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Graph generated based on scenario 2

Simulation images PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado

(http://phet.colorado.edu)

Part 3

2. Find the gradient of the displacementtime graph and use it to plot the velocitytime graph.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Get It Right (page 46)

(a) False
Velocity is a vector, and hence has magnitude and direction.
(b) False
An object travelling at a uniform velocity has a displacementtime graph that has a constant
gradient. The gradient can be negative or positive.
(c) False
When the speed of an object changes at a uniform rate and the object moves in a constant
direction, its acceleration remains constant. When the speed of an object changes at a non-
uniform rate and/or its direction changes, its acceleration changes.
(d) False
The area under a velocitytime graph of an object gives its displacement.
(e) False
The velocitytime graph of a free-falling object has a positive, constant gradient.
(f) True

Lets Review (pages 4748)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. B
total distance travelled
Average speed =
total time taken
Total distance travelled = average speed total time taken
1 45
Total distance travelled = 35 km h h = 26.25 km
60

2. D
vu
a=
t
1 1
13 m s 5 m s
=
4.0 s
2
= 2.00 m s

3. A
vu
a=
t
1 1
2 0ms 1.2 m s
10 m s =
t
t = 0.12 s

4. D
A velocitytime graph with a negative gradient shows that an object is decelerating.
A changing gradient shows that the object is undergoing a non-uniform deceleration.

5. C
2
In vacuum, an object falls with a constant acceleration of 10 m s towards the ground. In the
presence of air resistance, the falling object will accelerate at a slower rate and will eventually
reach a constant velocity known as terminal velocity.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) Average speed is the total distance travelled for a journey divided by the total time taken to
complete the journey.
total distance travelled
Average speed =
total time taken
(b) (i) total distance travelled
Average speed from A to B =
total time taken
10 km
=
(9 6) h
1
= 3.33 km h
(ii) 8 km
Average speed from B to C =
(12 9) h
1
= 2.67 km h
(iii) (10 + 8 + 7 + 12) km
Average speed for whole journey =
12 h
1
= 3.08 km h

2. (a) The train is decelerating from t = 12 s to t = 16 s.

(b) vu
a=
t
1 1
40 m s 0 m s
=
2s
2
= 20 m s
(c) (i) Displacement between two stations = area under vt graph
= area of trapezium
1 1
= [(12 2) + 16] s 40 m s
2
= 520 m
(ii) Since the train travels along a straight track, the magnitude of its displacement is
equal to the distance travelled.
total distance travelled
Average speed of train =
total time taken
520 m
=
16 s
1
= 32.5 m s

3. (a) vu
a=
t
1 1
45 m s 10 m s
=
10 s
2
= 3.5 m s

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

(b) (i),
(ii)

1
From the graph, when t = 37.5 s, the velocity of the body is 22 m s .
(c) Displacement between t = 30 s and t = 45 s
= area under vt graph
1 1
= (45 30) s 45 m s
2
= 337.5 m
1 1
4. (a) From t = 0 s to t = 5 s, the velocity of the car increases uniformly from 0 m s to 15 m s .
2
This means that the car undergoes uniform acceleration a of 3 m s .
1
(15 0) m s 2
a= =3ms
5s
1 1
From t = 5 s to t = 10 s, its velocity increases non-uniformly from 15 m s to 20 m s . This
means that the car undergoes non-uniform acceleration.
(b) From t = 10 s to t = 15 s, the car reaches maximum velocity for the journey. It is travelling
at a uniform velocity, and hence its acceleration is zero.
1
(c) From t = 15 s to t = 20 s, the velocity of the car decreases uniformly from 20 m s to
1 2
10 m s . This means that the car undergoes uniform acceleration of 2 m s (or
2
uniform deceleration of 2 m s ).
1
(20 10) m s 2
a= =2ms
5s
1
(d) From t = 20 s to t = 30 s, the velocity of the car is uniform at 10 m s and hence its
acceleration is zero.
1
(e) From t = 30 s to t = 35 s, the velocity of the car decreases non-uniformly from 10 m s to
1
0 m s . This means that the car undergoes non-uniform deceleration.

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a)

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 2

(b) Since the ball bearing travelled in a straight line, the magnitude of its displacement from B
is equal to the distance travelled.
total distance travelled
Average speed between 3.0 m and 4.0 m marks =
total time taken
(4.0 3.0) m
=
(8.5 6.0) s
1
= 0.4 m s
(c) Since the ball bearing travelled in a straight line, the magnitude of its displacement from B
is equal to the distance travelled. From the graph drawn in (a), we can deduce that the
velocity of the ball bearing was constant. Hence, the magnitude of its velocity is the same
as its average speed calculated in (b).

Let s1 be the distance travelled by the ball bearing from B before the timing started on the
stopwatch.

Let s2 be the distance travelled by the ball bearing from B when the timing started on the
stopwatch (between t = 0 s and t = 3.5 s).

Distance from B = s1 + s2
= s1 + (average speed time)
1
2.0 m = s1 + (0.4 m s )(3.5 s)
s1 = 0.6 m

The displacement of the ball bearing from B just before the timing started on the stopwatch
was 0.6 m to the right of B.
(d) The displacementtime graph of the ball bearing is a straight line with a constant gradient.
This means that the ball bearing was moving at a constant velocity along BC. Hence, its
acceleration was zero.
(e) vu
a=
t
1 1
0 m s 0.4 m s
=
13 s 11 s
2
= 0.2 m s
2
The deceleration of the ball bearing as it rolled up slope CD was 0.2 m s .
2
2. (a) A feather falls with a constant acceleration of 10 m s in vacuum. In air, it falls with
2
decreasing acceleration from 10 m s until it achieves a final constant velocity known as
terminal velocity.
(b)
Velocity Velocity

terminal
velocity

Time Time

Falling in vacuum Falling in air

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