Speed, acceleration and motion graphs: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics 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 86 questions on Speed, acceleration and motion graphs, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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 10, calculat
June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): The athletes start the race on a straight section of track. Figure 12 shows a distance / time graph for one of the athletes. 30 25 20 distance in m 15 10 5 0 0
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how the motion of the car is different in RQ compared with QP. (1)
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the acceleration of the car in Figure 5 in the first 5 s. Use the equation acceleration = change in velocity time taken (2) acceleration = m / s2
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the distance travelled by the car in Figure 5 from 5 s to 15 s. (2) distance = m
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): State the distance that L has run when M overtakes. (1) distance = m
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the velocity of L when running the 100 m race. (2) velocity = m/s
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): The motor cycle 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, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the sentence using data from Figure 11. (1) The car is travelling at constant velocity from s to s.
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (3 marks): Use data from the graph in Figure 11 to show that the car travels a total distance of about 710 m in 70 s. (3)
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a)(iii) (1 mark): Calculate the average speed of the car for the total distance travelled. (1) average speed = m/s
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): Give the quantities that x and y represent in the equation. (1) x represents y represents
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the value of m from the graph in Figure 12. (2) m = m/s2
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(iii) (1 mark): State the value of c from the graph in Figure 12. (1) value of c =
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): State the distance that L has run when M overtakes. (1) distance = m
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the velocity of L when running the 100 m race. (2) velocity = m/s
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c) (6 marks): A student has a trolley and a ramp, as shown in Figure 21. The height, H, of one end of the ramp can be adjusted. trolley X ramp H Y Figure 21 The student inves
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A acceleration B distance C force D weight
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the maximum velocity of the lift during the first 16 s. (1) maximum velocity = m / s
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(c) (3 marks): Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the acceleration of the lift during the first 1.4 s. (3) acceleration = m / s2
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(d) (3 marks): Use the graph in Figure 8 to determine the distance that the lift travelled during the first 6.0 s. (3) distance = m
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(e) (1 mark): At 18 s, the lift starts to move downwards. Sketch a line on the graph in Figure 8 to show the lift moving downwards after 18 s. (1)
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q3(a)(iv) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the car travels in part QR shown on the velocity / time graph in Figure 5. (3) distance = m
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A acceleration B distance C force D weight
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Use the graph in Figure 9 to find the time the trolley takes to roll down the ramp when the angle α = 45°. (1) time = s
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph in Figure 9 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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b) (6 marks): Figure 16 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 16 Using informatio
November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the train travels in the 34 s. (3) distance m
November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a) (2 marks): Figure 10 shows a small steel ball held at a height, h, above the ground. ball h ground Figure 10 The ball is released and allowed to fall to the ground. The he
November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest a reason why the students’ value for t is different from the calculated value. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(d) (4 marks): Figure 12 shows a ball held in a clamp at R, above the ground. ball R clamp 3.8 m ground S Figure 12 The ball is released from the clamp and falls. S is 3.8 m b
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q5(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector quantity? (1) A mass B force C energy D distance
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector? (1) A energy B force C mass D work
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): State the equation that relates acceleration to change in velocity and time taken. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the distance the cyclist travels in the 15 s. (3) distance = m
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(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 3. (2)
November 2020, 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, 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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a vector? (1) A energy B force C mass D work
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): State the equation that relates acceleration to change in velocity and time taken. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(c) (3 marks): Figure 17 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 17 Calculate the distance t
June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(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, 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, 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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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 X • B 2m/s • C 20 m/s • D 200m/s
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Which row of the table is correct for both force and velocity? (1) force velocity A scalar scalar B scalar vector C vector scalar D vector vector
June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(c) (2 marks): Explain one way the students could improve their procedure to obtain a more accurate value for g. (2)
June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(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, 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, 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, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(c) (3 marks): Describe how her speed at the bottom of the slope could be determined. (3)
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q10(a) (1 mark): Which row of the table is correct for both force and velocity? (1) force velocity A scalar scalar B scalar vector C vector scalar D vector vector
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is a scalar quantity? (1) A velocity B momentum C energy D acceleration

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