A1 Sheet [40 marks]
1. [Maximum mark: 1]
Jim runs with a constant velocity v past Sally who is at rest. At this
instant, Sally begins to chase Jim with constant acceleration a.
Which expression gives the time Sally will catch Jim?
A. v
2a
B. v
C. 2v
D. 4v
a
[1]
2. [Maximum mark: 1]
A projectile is launched with an initial kinetic energy E . The initial
horizontal and vertical components of velocity are equal. Air resistance
is negligible. What is the kinetic energy of the projectile at the highest
point of the motion?
A. zero
B. E
C. E
D. E [1]
3. [Maximum mark: 1]
An object is travelling with velocity 5 m s−1. The object then accelerates
to 15 m s−1 in the same direction.
What is the variation with time of the acceleration of the object?
[1]
4. [Maximum mark: 1]
Ball 1 is released at rest from the top of a building. At the same instant
in time, Ball 2 is projected horizontally from the same height. The effect
of air resistance is negligible.
Which statement is true?
[1]
A. The velocity on impact with the ground is the same for both balls.
B. The time taken to hit the ground is greater for Ball 2.
C. The speed on impact with the ground is the same for both balls.
D. The velocity on impact with the ground is greater for Ball 2.
5. [Maximum mark: 1]
A ball is thrown upwards at time t = 0. The graph shows the variation
with time of the height of the ball. The ball returns to the initial height
at time T.
What is the height h at time t ?
A. 1
2
gt
2
1
B. 2
gT
2
1
C. 2
gT (T − t)
[1]
D. 1
2
gt(T − t)
6. [Maximum mark: 5]
A student throws a ball towards a wall. The ball is released from a point 1.8 m
above the ground and 8.0 m from the wall. The initial velocity of the ball makes
an angle of 48° with the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible.
The diagram shows the initial path of the ball. P is a point on the path.
(a) Draw, on the diagram, an arrow to show
(a.i) the velocity of the ball at P. Label this arrow v. [1]
([Link]) the acceleration of the ball at P. Label this arrow a. [1]
The ball takes 1.3 s to reach the wall. The initial speed of the ball is 9.2 m s−1.
(b) Determine the height above the ground at which the ball hits
the wall. [3]
7. [Maximum mark: 10]
A company delivers packages to customers using a small unmanned aircraft.
Rotating horizontal blades exert a force on the surrounding air. The air above the
aircraft is initially stationary.
The air is propelled vertically downwards with speed v. The aircraft hovers
motionless above the ground. A package is suspended from the aircraft on a
string. The mass of the aircraft is 0. 95 kg and the combined mass of the
package and string is 0. 45 kg. The mass of air pushed downwards by the
blades in one second is 1. 7 kg.
(a(i)) State the value of the resultant force on the aircraft when
hovering. [1]
(a(ii)) Outline, by reference to Newton’s third law, how the upward lift
force on the aircraft is achieved. [2]
(a(iii)) Determine v. State your answer to an appropriate number of
significant figures. [3]
(a(iv)) Calculate the power transferred to the air by the aircraft. [2]
(b) The package and string are now released and fall to the ground.
The lift force on the aircraft remains unchanged. Calculate the
initial acceleration of the aircraft. [2]
8. [Maximum mark: 20]
An Alpine village uses an electric tram system to transport visitors from a lower
station up to an upper station at the village. The length of the tramline is 3.0 km
and the gradient of the tramline is a constant 10°.
The tram has a weight of 5.0 × 104 N and can carry a maximum of 75 passengers
of average weight 710 N.
The energy is supplied to each tram through a single overhead cable with a
resistance per unit length of 0.024 Ω km−1. The tram rails are used for the return
path of the current. The return path and the connections from the cable to the
electric motor in the tram have negligible resistance.
The power supply maintains a constant emf of 500 V between the rails and the
cable at the upper station.
Assume that the current through the motor is constant at 600 A and that the
motor efficiency is always 0.90 for the entire range of voltages available to the
tram.
(a) A tram is just leaving the lower railway station.
Determine, as the train leaves the lower station,
(a.i) the pd across the motor of the tram, [2]
([Link]) the mechanical power output of the motor. [2]
(b) Discuss the variation in the power output of the motor with
distance from the lower station. [2]
(c) The total friction in the system acting on the tram is equivalent
to an opposing force of 750 N.
For one particular journey, the tram is full of passengers.
Estimate the maximum speed v of the tram as it leaves the lower
station. [4]
(d) The tram travels at v throughout the journey. Two trams are
available so that one is returning to the lower station on
another line while the other is travelling to the village. The
journeys take the same time.
It takes 1.5 minutes to unload and 1.5 minutes to load each
tram. Ignore the time taken to accelerate the tram at the
beginning and end of the journey.
Estimate the maximum number of passengers that can be
carried up to the village in one hour. [4]
(e) There are eight wheels on each tram with a brake system for
each wheel. A pair of brake pads clamp firmly onto an annulus
made of steel.
The train comes to rest from speed v. Ignore the energy
transferred to the brake pads and the change in the
gravitational potential energy of the tram during the braking.
Calculate the temperature change in each steel annulus as the
tram comes to rest.
Data for this question
The inner radius of the annulus is 0.40 m and the outer radius is
0.50 m.
The thickness of the annulus is 25 mm.
The density of the steel is 7860 kg m−3
The specific heat capacity of the steel is 420 J kg−1 K−1
[4]
(f ) The speed of the tram is measured by detecting a beam of
microwaves of wavelength 2.8 cm reflected from the rear of the
tram as it moves away from the station. Predict the change in
wavelength of the microwaves at the stationary microwave
detector in the station. [2]
© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2025
