Cambridge International AS Level Physics

Answers to self-assessment questions

Answers to SAQs
Chapter 1

11

10000 = 6.34ms1
1 average speed = 1577.53

2 a
mms1
b mph
c kms1
d ms1
e kmh1

s
C
B

3 distance = 12cm = 120mm, so

1
average speed = 120
60 = 2.0mms
1
4 average speed = 0.050m
0.40s =10.125ms
0.13ms

5 a
Constant speed
b Increasing speed (accelerating)

7 a
Displacement
b Speed
c Velocity
d Distance
8 Distance d = vt = 15000.2 = 300m.
(Remember the 0.4s total time is that taken
for the sound waves to travel out and be
reflected back from the surface of the water.)
9 Time taken for orbit is one year
=1365.25246060 = 31557600s.
Distance travelled = circumference of orbit
=21.51011 = 9.4251011m.
So the Earths speed = 29.9kms1 30kms1.
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.

D
t

12

a 85ms1
b Graph is a straight line through the origin,
with gradient = 85ms1.

13

a Graph is a straight line for the first 3h; then
less steep for the last hour.
b Cars speed in first three hours = 23kmh1
c Cars average speed in first four hours
1
= 84
4 =21kmh

14

a Total distance travelled = 3.0+4.0 = 7.0km
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 = 5.0km
angle = tan1(4.0
3.0) = 53E ofN (or 37N of E)

15

a, b
8.5km; 48W of S

6 For example, attach a card to a weight and

drop it through a light gate. Alternatively,
attach ticker-tape to the falling mass.

10

OA: constant speed.

AB: stationary.
BC: reduced constant speed.
CD: running back to gate.

A
48 45
8.5 km

8.0 km

12.0 km

SE

Sloping sections: bus moving. Horizontal

sections: bus stationary (e.g. at bus stops).
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014

Cambridge International AS Level Physics

16

17

Answers to self-assessment questions

Swimmer aims directly across river; river

flows at right angles to where she aims. So
resultant velocity is given by geometry:
magnitude2 = 2.02+0.82 = 4.64 so
magnitude = 4.64 = 2.154 2.2ms1
direction = tan1(0.8
2 ) 22 to the direct route
(68 to the river bank)

a
44

vertical
18 ms1

resultant
25 ms1

horizontal
17 ms1

b 17.3ms1 17ms1
c 43.944 to the vertical

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014