Motion: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions

Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on P2.1 Motion, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 87 questions on Motion, as a list

June 2025, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): What is the best apparatus to measure the length of a school corridor? A 30 cm ruler B Metre ruler C Protractor D Tape measure Your answer [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): A runner increases their velocity from 0 m / s to 8 m / s in 2 s. What is their acceleration? Use the equation: acceleration = change in velocity time 0.25 m /
June 2025, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): Quantities such as distance, speed and velocity can be a scalar quantity or a vector quantity. Which row of this table is correct? Distance Speed Velocity A sca
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): A car travels 9000 m in 90 seconds. What is the car’s speed? Use the equation: average speed = distance travelled time taken A 0.01 m / s B 0.1 m / s C 10 m / s
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): A student uses a stopwatch to measure the time it takes for a marble to travel down a ramp between two markers. Marker 1 Marker 2 Marble Support Ramp Floor Whic
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q13 (6 marks): 13* Two students run for 10 seconds. The graph shows their motion. 8 7 Student A 6 Student B 5 Velocity 4 (m / s) 3 2 1 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Time (s) Compare the m
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(e) (1 mark): Mass is an example of a quantity which has a magnitude, but no direction. What scientific term is used for this type of quantity? [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the mean time it takes the trolley to travel from A to B. Mean time = s [2]
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the average speed from A to B. Use the Equation Sheet. Average speed = m / s [3]
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(a)(iii) (2 marks): The range of results for the time it takes the trolley to travel from A to B is 0.5 s. This range is large compared to the mean time it takes. It is due to erro
June 2025, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q12(a)(iv) (1 mark): Suggest one way the student can improve the experiment to reduce the effect of the error in (a)(iii). [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): A car changes velocity by 14 m / s in 3.5 s. What is the acceleration of the car? change in velocity Use the equation: acceleration = time 0.25 m / s2 A 4.0 m /
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): Which row describes the difference between a vector quantity and a scalar quantity? Has magnitude Has direction A scalar only vector only B vector and scalar ve
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14 (6 marks): 14* A crane lifts a block straight upwards. Fig. 14.1 shows the forces acting on the block. The size of these forces may change during its journey. Fig. 14.1 Pu
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15 (4 marks): The distance-time graph shows the journey of a car. 400 350 300 250 Distance (m) 200 150 100 50 0 0 5 10 15 Time (s) Calculate the average speed of the car. Use
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): Which row describes the difference between a vector quantity and a scalar quantity? Has magnitude Has direction A scalar only vector only B vector and scalar ve
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12 (6 marks): 12* A cable is used to lift a block vertically upwards. Fig. 12.1 shows the forces acting on the block. Fig. 12.1 Pull of cable on block upwards Pull of gravity
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): Velocity is a vector. Which row is correct for velocity? Has size? Has direction? A no no B no yes C yes no D yes yes [1] Your answer
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(a) (1 mark): How long does the boy stop for during the walk? Time stopped = s [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(b) (1 mark): The boy and girl are at the same distance from the house when they are at the shop. At what other time are the boy and girl at the same distance from the house?
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(c) (4 marks): Calculate the boy’s average speed for the whole journey. Use the Equation Sheet. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. Average speed = m / s [4]
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(d)(i) (1 mark): Which distance–time graph describes her motion for this part of her journey? Tick (3) one box. Distance Time Distance Time Distance Time Distance Time [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(d)(ii) (2 marks): The girl’s change in velocity is 1.2 m / s. The time taken is 3 seconds. Calculate the girl’s acceleration. Use the equation: acceleration = change in velocity
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q16(a) (1 mark): Put the steps in the correct order to describe a method for the experiment. Write numbers 1–4 in the boxes below. Step 5 has been filled in for you. Write down
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q16(b) (2 marks): Draw lines to match each source of error in the experiment to the correct way to remove the error. Source of error Way to remove the error Hold the ball in a cl
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q16(c)(i) (1 mark): What information does the student have to enter into the computer? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q16(c)(ii) (3 marks): The computer displays a final velocity of 7.2 m / s when the student drops the ball from 2.7 m. Calculate a value for the acceleration due to gravity. Use the e
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(a)(i) (1 mark): Describe the motion of the car in part B of Fig. 12.1. [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): A car travels around a roundabout at 20 mph. Why is the car accelerating? A The direction of the car is changing. B The forces on the car are balanced. C The ma
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): A child walks 300 m north along a path. The path turns through a 90° angle. They then walk another 400 m east. 400 m Path N W E 300 m 500 m S Which statement is
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(a) (1 mark): Put the steps in the correct order to describe a method for the experiment. Write numbers 1–4 in the boxes below. Step 5 has been filled in for you. Write down
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(b) (2 marks): Draw lines to match each source of error in the experiment to the correct way to remove the error. Source of error Way to remove the error Hold the ball in a cl
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(c)(i) (1 mark): What information does the student have to enter into the computer? [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(c)(ii) (3 marks): The computer displays a final velocity of 7.2 m / s when the student drops the ball from 2.7 m. Calculate a value for the acceleration due to gravity. Use the e
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15 (6 marks): 15* Fig. 15.1 shows the distance–time graph for a skydiver after jumping out of a plane. The graph describes the distance the skydiver falls through until the p
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q3 (1 mark): A student records the time it takes to run three distances. The table shows their results. Distance (m) 25.2 25.0 25.1 Time taken (s) 40.0 41.6 42.4 How many si
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): Which force is a contact force? A Electrostatic B Friction C Gravity D Magnetic Your answer [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): A child is riding a bicycle. They accelerate from 0 m / s to 4 m / s in 20 seconds. Calculate the acceleration of the child. change in velocity Use the equation
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14(a)(i) (1 mark): What distance does the athlete run? Distance = m [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14(a)(ii) (1 mark): In which two parts of the graph is the athlete moving at the same speed? Tick (✓) two boxes. A B C D E [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14(a)(iii) (1 mark): In each part of the graph the athlete moves at a constant speed. How does the graph show this? [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14(a)(iv) (1 mark): How long does it take the athlete to run part D? Answer = s [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14(b) (3 marks): Calculate the speed of the athlete in part A. Use the equation: distance travelled = speed × time Speed = m / s [3]
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): A toy train moves around a circle of track. The speed of the toy train is 2 cm / s. Why is the velocity of the toy train changing? A Air resistance is acting on
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(a) (2 marks): Describe the athlete’s motion in part A and part C. A C [2]
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(b) (4 marks): After the first 4 seconds, the athlete’s speed is 11.5 m / s. They travelled a distance of 32 m. Calculate their acceleration during the first 4 seconds. Use th
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): This is a distance-time graph for a car. Distance 0 Time Which is the correct description of the motion of the car? A Accelerating B Decelerating C Moving at co
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(a) (2 marks): Student A says: ‘The displacement from Room 1 to Room 4 is the same as the distance travelled from Room 1 to Room 4.’ Use calculations to explain why student A
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(b) (2 marks): Draw two lines from each word to the correct descriptions. Word Descriptions Displacement / Time Speed Distance / Time Velocity Scalar Vector [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the acceleration of student B during the first 2 seconds. Use the equation: acceleration = change in velocity / time Acceleration = m / s2 [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(c)(ii) (1 mark): Describe the motion of the student between 2 and 10 seconds. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(c)(iii) (1 mark): Student C starts running along the corridor from Room 1 to Room 2 at the same time as student B. Their acceleration is less than student B’s acceleration. Add a
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): This is a velocity-time graph for an object. Velocity 0 Time Which statement describes the motion of the object? A The object has a constant acceleration. B The
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q13 (6 marks): 13* This is the plan view of a corridor in a school building. Room 2 Y 18 m Hall Corridor X Room 1 36 m The arrow XY shows the path student A takes to walk arou
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(c)(i) (2 marks): Student A kicks the ball. Their boot is in contact with the ball for 0.05 s. The velocity of the ball increases by 25 m / s. Calculate the acceleration of the b
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): Vectors and scalars are different. 5 Which statement is correct? A Speed has a direction. It is a vector. B Speed only has size. It is a scalar. C Velocity is a
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): This is a velocity-time graph for a car. 25 20- Velocity 15- (m/s) 10 5 0 2 1 3 0 4 5 Time (s) Calculate the acceleration of the car. Use the equation: accelera
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(a) (3 marks): To be able to calculate their mean speed the students must use two pieces of apparatus and measure two quantities. Draw lines to join the pictures to the correc
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(i) (1 mark): Look at the first row of the table. What mistake has the student made? • [1]
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(ii) (1 mark): Look at the second row of the table. How many decimal places should the student have for Time 1? [1]
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(iii) (1 mark): Calculate the mean of the data in the table. Mean = ..s [1]
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(iv): Suggest what the student could do to improve their experiment. ... "]
November 2020, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(c) (3 marks): This is part of the results table for student Q who runs 200 m. Mean (s) 40 Calculate the mean speed of student Q running 200 m. Use the equation: distance trav
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(b) (3 marks): Look at the velocity-time graph for a car during 20 seconds. Velocity 4 10 15 20 Time (s) Overall, the car travels 390m. Use the graph to calculate the final ve
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(a) (4 marks): Fig. 16.2 is part of the tape. Direction of motion Section X Section Y • • • • • Fig. 16.2 Describe and explain the motion of the trolley in each section. Secti
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Use the tape in Fig. 16.3 to calculate the speed of the trolley at point Q. Use the equation: distance travelled = speed x time. Speed at Q =.... .. m/s [3]
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(b)(ii) (3 marks): In a repeat experiment: the speed at Q is 1.3m/s • the speed at R is 1.0m/s. • Use these values and the tape in Fig. 16.3 to calculate the deceleration of the t
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(c) (1 mark): Fig. 16.4 is tape from another trolley on a different ramp. Direction of motion Fig. 16.4 The speed of the trolley for this experiment means that the dots on th
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): A car changes velocity from 5 m / s to 15 m / s in 10 s. What is the acceleration of the car? Use the equation: acceleration = change in velocity ÷ time 0.5 m /
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): Look at the graph of distance against time for an object. 4.0 3.0 Distance (m) 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 Time (s) What is the speed of the object? A 0.5 m
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): Some quantities are vectors and some are scalars. Which row of the table is correct? Vector Scalar A Speed Displacement B Speed Distance C Velocity Displacement
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(c)(i) (3 marks): The tall parts of the card on the trolley (U and V) pass through the light gate, as shown in Fig. 15.2. The velocity of U is 0.5 m / s. The velocity of V is 1.0
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): Some quantities are vectors and some are scalars. Which row of the table is correct? Vector Scalar A Speed Displacement B Speed Distance C Velocity Displacement
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(a) (2 marks): In the first 20 seconds, the car travels 750 m. Show that the total distance travelled in 40 seconds is approximately 2000 m. Use the graph to help you. [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(b) (3 marks): Calculate the average speed for the total journey shown in the graph. Average speed = m / s [3]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(b) (2 marks): The tall parts of the card on the trolley labelled X and Y pass through the light gate, as shown in Fig. 15.2. The light gate can measure: • the time it takes f
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): Which of the following is a scalar quantity? A Displacement B Distance C Force D Velocity Your answer [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): What is the acceleration between points A and B on the graph? Velocity (m/s) 6 B C 4 2 A 0 10 20 30 40 Time (s) 0.1 m/s2 A 0.2 m/s2 B 0.3 m/s2 C 0.4 m/s2 D Your
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(a)(i) (2 marks): Write down the instruments the student could use to measure distance and time. Distance Time [2]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how he can calculate the average speed using these measurements. [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the average speed for the 20° angle. Write your answer to 2 significant figures. Answer = [3]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b)(ii) (1 mark): Do these results support the student’s idea? Explain your answer. [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(c) (3 marks): Another student thinks that this experiment could be improved. Suggest one problem with this experiment and explain how the experiment could be improved. Proble
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following is the same speed as 7.2 km / h? A 2.0 m / s B 20.0 m / s C 25.9 m / s D 120.0 m / s Your answer [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): Look at the graph below. 20 15 Velocity (m / s) 10 5 0 2 4 6 Time (s) Which of the following is the distance travelled between 0 and 6 seconds? A 22.5 m B 45.0
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(c) (1 mark): An object travelling in a circle at a constant speed has a changing velocity. State why. [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): Look at the velocity-time graph for a car. v t 0 Which graph shows the correct distance-time graph for this car? d d t t 0 0 A B d d t t 0 0 C D Your answer [1]

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