Speed, acceleration and motion graphs: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on Speed, acceleration and motion graphs (specification points 2.1–2.13), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 85 questions on Speed, acceleration and motion graphs, as a list

June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): The skier starts from rest at the top of the slope. The velocity of the skier at the bottom of the slope is 27 m / s. Using information from Figure 7, calculate
June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): The athletes start the race on a straight section of track. Figure 9 shows a distance / time graph for one of the athletes. 30 25 20 distance in m 15 10 5 0 0 1
June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (3 marks): Use this graph to describe the velocity of the car in stages TS, SR and RQ. (3) TS SR RQ
June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how the motion of the car is different in RQ compared with QP. (1)
June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the acceleration of the car in Figure 4 in the first 5 s. Use the equation acceleration = change in velocity time taken (2) acceleration = m / s2
June 2025, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the distance travelled by the car in Figure 4 from 5 s to 15 s. (2) distance = m
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): State the distance that L has run when M overtakes. (1) distance = m
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the velocity of L when running the 100 m race. (2) velocity = m/s
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the time taken for this acceleration. Use the equation time taken = change in velocity acceleration (2) time taken = s
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): The motorcycle now decelerates (slows down) from 10 m/s to a stop. The deceleration is at a constant rate of 4.4 m/s2. Calculate the distance the motorcycle tra
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the sentence using data from Figure 5. (1) The car is travelling at constant velocity from s to s.
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use data from the graph in Figure 5 to show that the car travels a total distance of about 710 m in 70 s. (3)
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Calculate the average speed of the car for the total distance travelled. (1) average speed = m/s
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the quantities that x and y represent in the equation. (1) x represents y represents
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the value of m from the graph in Figure 6. (2) m = m/s2
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): State the value of c from the graph in Figure 6. (1) value of c =
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the distance travelled between when the driver applies the brakes and when the car comes to rest in Figure 3. Use the equation distance = area under t
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): State the distance that L has run when M overtakes. (1) distance = m
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the velocity of L when running the 100 m race. (2) velocity = m/s
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the time taken for this acceleration. Use the equation time taken = change in velocity acceleration (2) time taken = s
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): The motorcycle now decelerates (slows down) from 10 m/s to a stop. The deceleration is at a constant rate of 4.4 m/s2 . Calculate the distance the motorcycle tr
June 2024, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c) (6 marks): A student has a trolley and a ramp, as shown in Figure 12. The height, H, of one end of the ramp can be adjusted. trolley X ramp H Y Figure 12 The student inves
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A acceleration B distance C force D weight
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b)(i) (4 marks): The student also has a stop clock and a metre rule. Describe an investigation to show how the speed of the falling stack of cupcake cases depends on the number
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b) (2 marks): A stone is held at rest above the ground. The stone is released and falls until its velocity is 17 m / s. Calculate the distance the stone has fallen when its v
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): For what length of time is the lift at rest during the first 16 s? (1) A 1.4 s B 3.0 s C 3.6 s D 4.0 s
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 5 to determine the maximum velocity of the lift during the first 16 s. (1) maximum velocity = m / s
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c) (3 marks): Use the graph in Figure 5 to determine the acceleration of the lift during the first 1.4 s. (3) acceleration = m / s2
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(d) (3 marks): Use the graph in Figure 5 to determine the distance that the lift travelled during the first 6.0 s. (3) distance = m
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(e) (1 mark): At 18 s, the lift starts to move downwards. Sketch a line on the graph in Figure 5 to show the lift moving downwards after 18 s. (1)
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which part of the graph shows when the car has constant velocity? (1) A PQ B QR C RS D ST
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which part of the graph shows when the car has the greatest acceleration? (1) A PQ B QR C RS D ST
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the acceleration of the car in the first 10 s shown on the graph. (2) Use the equation acceleration = change in velocity time acceleration = m / s2
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(a)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the car travels in part QR shown on the velocity / time graph in Figure 3. (3) distance = m
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A acceleration B distance C force D weight
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (4 marks): The student also has a stop clock and a metre rule. Describe an investigation to show how the speed of the falling stack of cupcake cases depends on the number
June 2023, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(c) (2 marks): A car travels along a straight road. The car accelerates at 3 m / s2 for a time of 7 s. Calculate the change in velocity of the car. Use the equation change in
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): An aircraft starts from rest and accelerates along the runway for 36 s to reach take‑off velocity. Take‑off velocity for this aircraft is 82 m/s. Show that the
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the aircraft travels along the runway before take‑off. Use the equation v2 – u2 = 2ax (3) distance = m
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why the length of the runway used is always much longer than the calculated distance that the aircraft travels along the runway before take-o
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 6 to find the time the trolley takes to roll down the ramp when the angle α = 45°. (1) time = s
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph in Figure 6 to estimate the time the trolley takes to roll down the ramp when the angle α = 80°. Show your working on the graph. (2) time = s
June 2022, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b) (6 marks): Figure 13 is a velocity/time graph for a toy train on a straight track for 7 seconds. velocity of toy train 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 time in s Figure 13 Using informatio
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which of these graphs represents an object moving with a constant velocity of 2 m/s? (1) A B 2.5 2.5 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 displacement velocity in m in m/s 1.0 1.0 0
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the acceleration of the train in the 34 s. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures. (3) acceleration = m/s2
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the train travels in the 34 s. (3) distance m
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a) (2 marks): Figure 9 shows a small steel ball held at a height, h, above the ground. ball h ground Figure 9 The ball is released and allowed to fall to the ground. The heig
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest a reason why the students’ value for t is different from the calculated value. (1)
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one improvement the students could make to their procedure so that their value for t is closer to the calculated value. (1)
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(d) (4 marks): Figure 11 shows a ball held in a clamp at R, above the ground. ball R clamp 3.8 m ground S Figure 11 The ball is released from the clamp and falls. S is 3.8 m b
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(d) (2 marks): A car is travelling down a slope at 2.0m/s. The car accelerates for 4.0s. The speed of the car increases to 12m/s. Calculate the acceleration of the car. Use th
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector quantity? (1) A mass B force C energy D distance
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (4 marks): Devise an experiment to determine the average speed of the ball bearing as it falls through the liquid. (4) You should include: • any extra apparatus you would
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): A student thinks that the ball bearing falls through the liquid at a constant speed. Explain how you could develop this experiment to determine if the ball bear
November 2021, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c) (2 marks): The ball bearing is now dropped through air. The initial velocity of the ball bearing is zero. The acceleration of the ball bearing is 10m/s2. The ball bearing
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b) (4 marks): The student lets the toy car roll down the slope. Describe how the student could find, by experiment, the speed of the toy car at the bottom of the slope. (4)
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector? (1) A energy B force C mass D work
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State the equation that relates acceleration to change in velocity and time taken. (1)
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): A van accelerates from a velocity of 2 m / s to a velocity of 20 m / s in 12 s. Calculate the acceleration of the van. (2) acceleration = m / s2
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the cyclist travels in the 15 s. (3) distance = m
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Another cyclist starts from rest, but his acceleration decreases as time increases. Sketch the velocity / time graph for this cyclist on Figure 2. (2)
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b) (2 marks): Another cyclist travels 1200 m in a time of 80 s. Calculate the average speed of the cyclist. Use the equation average speed = distance time (2) average speed =
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): A student wants to measure the average speed of a cyclist. The student estimates that one of his own steps is 1 m. He counts 100 steps between two posts on a tr
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(b) (4 marks): The student lets the toy car roll down the slope. Describe how the student could find, by experiment, the speed of the toy car at the bottom of the slope. (4)
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector? (1) A energy B force C mass D work
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): State the equation that relates acceleration to change in velocity and time taken. (1)
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): A van accelerates from a velocity of 2 m / s to a velocity of 20 m / s in 12 s. Calculate the acceleration of the van. (2) acceleration = m / s2
November 2020, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(c) (3 marks): Figure 10 is a velocity / time graph for 15 s of a cyclist’s journey. 8 7 6 5 velocity in m / s 4 3 2 1 0 0 5 10 15 time in s Figure 10 Calculate the distance t
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c) (3 marks): Describe how the student could extend the investigation to determine the average speed of the trolley as it rolls back down the track. (3)
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the distance from P to Q. Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of this paper. (3) distance from P to Q = m
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the time taken for the skier to travel from P to Q. (3) time from P to Q = s
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(i) (2 marks): The graph in Figure 1 is divided into four parts, P, Q, Rand S. Draw a line from the letter for each part to the correct description of the motion during that p
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the distance travelled by the car in part Q. Use the equation distance travelled = average speed x time (2) distance travelled =. ..m
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these would be a typical speed for a racing cyclist travelling down a steep straight slope? (1) A 0.2m/s • B 2m/s • C 20 m/s • D 200m/s
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b) (2 marks): An aircraft waits at the start of a runway. The aircraft accelerates from a speed of 0 m/s to a speed of 80 m/s. The acceleration of the aircraft is 4 m/s?. Cal
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): One piece of apparatus is missing from the diagram. This piece of apparatus is needed to determine the average speed. State the extra piece of apparatus needed
June 2019, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(iii) (1 mark): The student wishes to develop the experiment to determine the acceleration of the trolley. State one other measurement that the student must make to determine t
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): They measure the time, t, for a small steel ball to fall through a height, h, from rest. They measure t to be 0.74 s, using a stopwatch. They measure h to be 2.
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): They record the time t for two more drops from the same height. The three values for time t are 0.74 s, 0.69 s, 0.81 s. Calculate the average value of time t to
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(c) (2 marks): Explain one way the students could improve their procedure to obtain a more accurate value for g. (2)
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Higher, Q4(d) (3 marks): A car travelling at 15 m/s comes to rest in a distance of 14 m when the brakes are applied. Calculate the deceleration of the car. Use an equation selected from
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(a) (1 mark): Which of these speeds would be normal for a person walking? (1) A 0.1 m/s B 1.0 m/s C 10 m/s D 100 m/s
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q1(d) (2 marks): Use words from the box to complete the sentences below. direction energy mass size (2) Vectors have size and . Scalars have only .
June 2018, Physics Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(c) (3 marks): Describe how her speed at the bottom of the slope could be determined. (3)
June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A velocity B momentum C energy D acceleration

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