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Projectile motion: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions

Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 3.1.3 Projectile motion, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,877 questions

  1. Q17(a)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 17(a)(i): A condition for projectile motion is constant vertical acceleration. State the other condition. [1]

  2. Q17(a)(ii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 17(a)(ii): Show that t, the time taken to reach the new altitude of 7500 m, is about 23 s. [2]

  3. Q17(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1, question 17(a)(iii): Determine the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the aircraft at time t. velocity = m s–1 angle to the vertical ° [4]

  4. Q17(b)(i)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(b)(i): Calculate t, the time taken for the sandbag to reach the ground. t = s [2]

  5. Q17(b)(ii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(b)(ii): Using your answer to (a)(iv), determine the horizontal displacement s travelled by the sandbag before hitting the ground. s = m [3]

  6. Q17(b)(iii)

    June 2023 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1, question 17(b)(iii): Determine, with reasons, the effect on the horizontal displacement travelled if the object released from the ride was a shoe from a rider. [3]

  7. Q24(b)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 24(b): The ball lands on the ground a time of 0.58 s after hitting the wall. Show that the child wins the game. Air resistance can be assumed to be negligible. [3]

  8. Q3(a)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 3(a): Show that the vertical component uv of the velocity of the ball as it leaves the student’s hand is about 2.33 m s–1. [1]

  9. Q3(b)

    June 2023 · AS Paper 2

    2 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 AS Paper 2, question 3(b): Show that the vertical component vv of the velocity of the ball as it hits the ground is about 7.25 m s–1. [2]

  10. Q16(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 16(b)(iii): Calculate the horizontal distance R travelled by the ball before it strikes the horizontal ground. Ignore the effects of air resistance in your calculation. R =

  11. Q16(b)(iv)

    June 2022 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1, question 16(b)(iv): Explain how the value of R calculated in (iii) compares with the actual value. [2]

  12. Q23(d)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 23(d): Air resistance has negligible effect on the motion of the objects. Calculate the time taken for the combined objects to reach the ground after the collision. ti

  13. Q4(b)(i)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 4(b)(i): The ball from (a) is now fired horizontally with a speed of 12 m s–1 from a bank. The height of the bank is 2.5 m. The time for the ball to travel from the edge

  14. Q4(b)(iii)

    June 2022 · AS Paper 2

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 AS Paper 2, question 4(b)(iii): the angle θ between the ground and the direction of the ball as it reaches the ground. θ = ° [1]

  15. Q21(b)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1

    4 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1, question 21(b)(ii): At a specific speed, the car leaves point A horizontally and lands on the track at point B. The horizontal distance between A and B is D. A path of car track B

  16. Q18

    November 2021 · AS Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 AS Paper 1, question 18: A bullet is fired at an angle of 30° to the horizontal ground at a velocity of 200 m s−1. The bullet is in flight for a time t. Air resistance has negligible ef

  17. Q18(b)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    2 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 18(b): Show that the time taken for the arrow to reach its maximum height is about 1.3 s. [2]

  18. Q18(c)

    November 2020 · Paper 1

    3 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1, question 18(c): The arrow misses the target. Calculate the horizontal distance, measured along the base line, by which the arrow misses the target. horizontal distance = m [3]

  19. Q4

    November 2020 · AS Paper 2

    6 marks3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 4: 4* A metal ball leaves a horizontal surface with velocity v. A student investigates the horizontal distance R that the ball travels before it hits the ground. b

  20. Q16(a)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 1

    1 mark3.1.3 Projectile motion
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 1, question 16(a)(i): Calculate the vertical component of the initial velocity of the ball. vertical component = m s−1 [1]
All 30 questions on Projectile motion, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1, Q17(a)(i) (1 mark): A condition for projectile motion is constant vertical acceleration. State the other condition. [1]
  2. June 2025, Paper 1, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): Show that t, the time taken to reach the new altitude of 7500 m, is about 23 s. [2]
  3. June 2025, Paper 1, Q17(a)(iii) (4 marks): Determine the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the aircraft at time t. velocity = m s–1 angle to the vertical ° [4]
  4. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate t, the time taken for the sandbag to reach the ground. t = s [2]
  5. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(b)(ii) (3 marks): Using your answer to (a)(iv), determine the horizontal displacement s travelled by the sandbag before hitting the ground. s = m [3]
  6. June 2023, Paper 1, Q17(b)(iii) (3 marks): Determine, with reasons, the effect on the horizontal displacement travelled if the object released from the ride was a shoe from a rider. [3]
  7. June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q24(b) (3 marks): The ball lands on the ground a time of 0.58 s after hitting the wall. Show that the child wins the game. Air resistance can be assumed to be negligible. [3]
  8. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(a) (1 mark): Show that the vertical component uv of the velocity of the ball as it leaves the student’s hand is about 2.33 m s–1. [1]
  9. June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (2 marks): Show that the vertical component vv of the velocity of the ball as it hits the ground is about 7.25 m s–1. [2]
  10. June 2022, Paper 1, Q16(b)(iii) (3 marks): Calculate the horizontal distance R travelled by the ball before it strikes the horizontal ground. Ignore the effects of air resistance in your calculation. R =
  11. June 2022, Paper 1, Q16(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain how the value of R calculated in (iii) compares with the actual value. [2]
  12. June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q23(d) (3 marks): Air resistance has negligible effect on the motion of the objects. Calculate the time taken for the combined objects to reach the ground after the collision. ti
  13. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): The ball from (a) is now fired horizontally with a speed of 12 m s–1 from a bank. The height of the bank is 2.5 m. The time for the ball to travel from the edge
  14. June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): the angle θ between the ground and the direction of the ball as it reaches the ground. θ = ° [1]
  15. November 2021, Paper 1, Q21(b)(ii) (4 marks): At a specific speed, the car leaves point A horizontally and lands on the track at point B. The horizontal distance between A and B is D. A path of car track B
  16. November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): A bullet is fired at an angle of 30° to the horizontal ground at a velocity of 200 m s−1. The bullet is in flight for a time t. Air resistance has negligible ef
  17. November 2020, Paper 1, Q18(b) (2 marks): Show that the time taken for the arrow to reach its maximum height is about 1.3 s. [2]
  18. November 2020, Paper 1, Q18(c) (3 marks): The arrow misses the target. Calculate the horizontal distance, measured along the base line, by which the arrow misses the target. horizontal distance = m [3]
  19. November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q4 (6 marks): 4* A metal ball leaves a horizontal surface with velocity v. A student investigates the horizontal distance R that the ball travels before it hits the ground. b
  20. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the vertical component of the initial velocity of the ball. vertical component = m s−1 [1]
  21. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use your answer in (i) to show that the ball reaches a maximum height h of about 40 m. h = m [2]
  22. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(a)(iii) (1 mark): Explain why the kinetic energy of the ball is not zero at maximum height. [1]
  23. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(a)(iv) (2 marks): The mass m of the ball is 57.0 g. Calculate the kinetic energy Ek of the ball when it is at its maximum height. Ek = J [2]
  24. June 2018, Paper 1, Q16(b) (6 marks): (b)* A metal ball is rolled off the edge of a horizontal laboratory bench. The initial horizontal velocity of the ball is v. The ball travels a horizontal dista
  25. June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(c) (4 marks): Whilst rotating in the horizontal plane the ball suddenly becomes detached from the string. The bottom of the ball is 0.18 m above the bench at this instant. Th
  26. June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A projectile is fired in a horizontal direction at time t = 0. Ignore air resistance. Which graph correctly shows the horizontal component of the velocity VH of
  27. June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q18 (1 mark): A ball is thrown at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. The initial kinetic energy of the ball is K. Air resistance has negligible effect on the motion of the ba
  28. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Show that the time t taken for the ball to reach the maximum height is about 0.6 s. [1]
  29. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Use the answer to (a)(i) and Fig. 3 to show that the horizontal component of the velocity of the ball as it leaves the hockey stick is about 30 m s−1. [1]
  30. June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the initial velocity v of the ball. v = m s−1 [2]

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