SCIENCE
FACULTY
Course:
Stage 1 Physics 2025
SAT 1:
Practice Test – Linear Motion
Teacher:
Mrs. Fitzgerald
NAME: __________________________________
Instructions
 All working should be shown- show all steps.
 Blue or black pen is preferable to pencil.
 Calculators allowed.
𝑣=
𝑣⃗ =
𝑎⃗ =
𝑠
𝑡
𝑠⃗
𝑡
⃗⃗ − 𝑣
⃗⃗𝑜
𝑣
𝑡
𝑣⃗ = 𝑣
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗0 + 𝑎⃗𝑡
𝑣⃗ + 𝑣⃗𝑜
𝑠⃗ =
𝑡
2
When problems involve free falling objects, the acceleration due to gravity is:
𝑎⃗ = 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 towards the centre of the Earth.
1
1. Describe what a scalar is, with reference to linear motion.
Give an example.
2 Marks (KA1,4)
[C level]
2. Describe what a vector is, with reference to linear motion.
Give an example.
2 Marks (KA1,4)
[C level]
3. In this topic we have described the distance travelled by objects. We have also
described the displacement of objects.
Give an example of when the distance travelled, will be the same as the
displacement for a moving object.
2 Marks (KA1,4)
[C level]
2
4. Starting from rest, a toy car moves 3.5 m right and stops. It then moves 10 m left
and stops, then 8 m right again.
(a) What was the total distance travelled by the toy car?
2 Marks (KA2)
[C level]
(b) What is the total displacement of the toy car?
2 Marks (KA2)
[B level]
5. Lucy walks 12 m North.
She then turns and walks 6 m West.
She then turns and walks 18 m South.
Draw a diagram of Lucy’s journey.
Clearly indicating the resultant displacement and label it →
𝑠.
You do NOT need to calculate the displacement.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
3
6. Lina is jumping up and down on a trampoline.
She leaps into the air and falls back down again, always landing in the same place.
(a) Is her velocity zero at any point? If so, where? If not, why not?
2 Marks (KA1,4)
[C level]
7. (a) Jamie can skate 75 metres in 21 seconds. What is Jamie’s average speed?
Answer to two sig. figs.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
(b) If Jamie skates with an average speed of 4 m/s, how far can he go in 2.5 minutes?
Answer to one sig. fig.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
(c) If Jamie skates for 120 m at 3 m/s how long did his skate take?
Answer to one sig. fig.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
4
8. The women’s 100.0 m freestyle world record (two laps of a 50.0 m pool) is held by
Sarah Sjoestroem
Sarah took 24.83 s to swim the first 50.0m of this race, and 26.88 s to swim the
second 50.0m.
(a) What was her average velocity during the first 50 m of the race?
Answer to three sig. figs.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
(b)
What was her average velocity for the 100 m race? Explain your answer.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
9. A car travelling along a freeway changes speed from 60.0 km/h to 110.0 km/h over
4.5 seconds. What is the average acceleration of the car?
Answer to two sig. figs.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
5
10. A baseball pitcher takes 0.25 s to throw a baseball. The ball, initially at rest in
their hand, then leaves her hand with a speed of 30.0 m/s.
What was the ball’s acceleration during this time?
Answer to two sig. figs.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
11. A car is accelerating at a constant rate of 2.0 m/s2. How long will it take for the
velocity of the car to change from 10.0 m/s to 30.0 m/s?
Answer to two sig. figs.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
12. Starting from rest, a small propeller airplane requires a time of 20 seconds and
distance of 400 m on a runway to become airborne.
(a) What is its average speed during this time?
Answer to one sig. fig.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
6
(b)
Using your answer from part (a), what is its speed when it leaves the runway in
km/h? Answer to one sig. fig.
If you cannot solve part (a), use a value of 50 m/s for the final speed in this question
instead.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[C level]
13.
Refer to the Velocity-Time graph below for each of the following questions.
(a)
What is the initial velocity (𝑣
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗)
0 of the moving object?
1 Mark (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
7
(b)
What is the velocity (𝑣⃗) of the object after 10 seconds?
1 Mark (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
(c) Calculate the average acceleration (𝑎⃗) of the object over the first 10 seconds?
Answer to one sig. fig.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
(d)
Describe the motion of the object from t=10s until t=30s.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
(e) Calculate the average acceleration (𝑎⃗) of the object between t=30 s and t=70 s.
Answer to one sig. fig.
2 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[B level]
8
(f) Determine the total displacement of the car.
Answer to one sig. fig.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
14. Imagine a droplet of water, initially at rest in your mouth, which travels 5.0 cm to
be sneezed out at 150.0 km/h in a horizontal direction.
(a)
Assuming this droplet travels horizontally only, what is the average acceleration of
the droplet of water over the 5.0 cm? Answer to two sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
9
(b)
(c)
When you sneeze, you involuntarily close your eyes. If your eyes are closed for
0.02 seconds after the droplet leaves your mouth, how far has the water droplet
traveled when you open your eyes again? (Assuming we ignore air resistance).
Answer to two sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
If the droplet travels 5.0m from it’s origin before coming to a stop, what is its
average acceleration over this distance? Answer to two sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
10
15. A jet plane lands on one end of a runway of length 1000m. Its maximum
deceleration is 4m/s2 and it takes 20s before coming to rest.
Does the plane stop before the end of the runway?
16.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
A stone, initially at rest, is dropped down a well, taking 4.5 s to reach the bottom.
(a) How deep is the well? Answer to two sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
11
(b) How fast was the stone moving just before it hit the bottom of the well?
Answer to two sig. figs.
17.
(a)
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
A ball is thrown vertically into the air with an initial speed of 25.0 𝑚𝑠 −1 .
Calculate the time taken for the ball to reach maximum height.
Answer to three sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
12
(b)
Calculate the time taken for the ball to return to the person’s hand. Justify your
answer. Answer to three sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
(c)
Calculate the maximum vertical height reached by the ball. Answer to three sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
13
(d)
Determine the balls velocity after 1.55 𝑠. Answer to three sig. figs.
3 Marks (KA1,2,4)
[A level]
14
Performance Standards for Stage 1 Physics
-
Investigation, Analysis and Evaluation
Knowledge and Application
A
Critically deconstructs a problem and designs a
logical and coherent physics investigation with
detailed justification.
Demonstrates deep and broad knowledge and
understanding of a range of physics concepts.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
appropriate conventions and formats accurately
and highly effectively.
Systematically analyses and interprets data and
evidence to formulate logical conclusions with
detailed justification.
Critically and logically evaluates procedures and
their effect on data.
B
Critically explores and understands in depth the
interaction between science and society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
physics coherently, with highly effective use of
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Logically deconstructs a problem and designs a
well-considered and clear physics investigation
with reasonable justification.
Demonstrates some depth and breadth of
knowledge and understanding of a range of
physics concepts.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
appropriate conventions and formats mostly
accurately and effectively.
Applies physics concepts mostly effectively in new
and familiar contexts.
Logically analyses and interprets data and
evidence to formulate suitable conclusions with
reasonable justification.
Logically evaluates procedures and their effect on
data.
C
Applies physics concepts highly effectively in new
and familiar contexts.
Deconstructs a problem and designs a considered
and generally clear physics investigation with
some justification.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
generally appropriate conventions and formats,
with some errors but generally accurately and
effectively.
Undertakes some analysis and interpretation of
data and evidence to formulate generally
appropriate conclusions with some justification.
Logically explores and understands in some depth
the interaction between science and society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
physics mostly coherently, with effective use of
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of a
general range of physics concepts.
Applies physics concepts generally effectively in
new or familiar contexts.
Explores and understands aspects of the
interaction between science and society.
Communicates knowledge and understanding of
physics generally effectively, using some
appropriate terms, conventions, and
representations.
Evaluates procedures and some of their effect on
data.
D
Prepares a basic deconstruction of a problem and
an outline of a physics investigation.
Demonstrates some basic knowledge and partial
understanding of physics concepts.
Obtains, records, and represents data, using
conventions and formats inconsistently, with
occasional accuracy and effectiveness.
Applies some physics concepts in familiar
contexts.
Describes data and undertakes some basic
interpretation to formulate a basic conclusion.
E
Partially explores and recognises aspects of the
interaction between science and society.
Attempts to evaluate procedures or suggest an
effect on data.
Communicates basic physics information, using
some appropriate terms, conventions, and/or
representations.
Attempts a simple deconstruction of a problem
and a procedure for a physics investigation.
Demonstrates limited recognition and awareness
of physics concepts.
Attempts to record and represent some data, with
limited accuracy or effectiveness.
Attempts to apply physics concepts in familiar
contexts.
Attempts to describe results and/or interpret data
to formulate a basic conclusion.
Attempts to explore and identify an aspect of the
interaction between science and society.
Acknowledges that procedures affect data.
Attempts to communicate information about
physics.
15