WJEC GCSE Physics
WJEC GCSE Physics 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration Exam Questions
Free WJEC GCSE Physics revision for 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration: what you need to know, common mistakes and exam-style questions with answers. Covers speed, velocity, acceleration, distance-time graphs, velocity-time graphs, stopping distances and road safety.
Practise 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration with past papers
Once you have learnt this topic, find the 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration questions in real WJEC GCSE Physics past papers and mark them with the mark scheme. Doing lots of real questions is the quickest way to learn how examiners ask about each idea.
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About WJEC GCSE Physics 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration
This topic opens Unit 2 of WJEC GCSE Physics and describes motion in numbers and graphs. You need to distinguish speed from velocity, calculate speed and acceleration, and interpret distance-time and velocity-time graphs, including using the gradient for acceleration and the area under the line for distance travelled. You must explain stopping distance as thinking distance plus braking distance and the factors that affect each, and how measures such as speed limits and seat belts improve road safety. Examiners frequently give a velocity-time graph and ask for acceleration and distance, so practise reading values carefully from graph scales.
What you need to know
- Speed and velocity Speed = distance / time. Velocity is speed in a stated direction, so it is a vector. Units are m/s.
- Acceleration Acceleration = change in velocity / time, in m/s2. A negative acceleration is a deceleration.
- Distance-time graphs The gradient gives the speed. A horizontal line means stationary; a straight sloping line means constant speed; a curve means changing speed.
- Velocity-time graphs The gradient gives the acceleration. The area under the line gives the distance travelled. A horizontal line means constant velocity.
- Stopping distance Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance. Thinking distance depends on speed and reaction time (increased by tiredness, alcohol, drugs, distractions). Braking distance depends on speed, road conditions, tyres, brakes and vehicle mass.
- Road safety Speed limits reduce stopping distances and the energy in a collision. Seat belts and other measures reduce injuries. Use data from stopping distance charts to support explanations.
Common mistakes in 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration
- Reading the gradient of a velocity-time graph as speed. The gradient of a velocity-time graph is acceleration; the gradient of a distance-time graph is speed.
- Saying alcohol increases braking distance. Alcohol increases reaction time, so it increases thinking distance.
- Calculating area under a velocity-time graph incorrectly for triangles. The area of a triangle is half x base x height.
- Assuming stopping distance doubles when speed doubles. Thinking distance doubles, but braking distance increases about four times.
Try three 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration exam-style questions
1. A car accelerates from 5 m/s to 20 m/s in 5 s. Calculate its acceleration. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
a = (20 - 5) / 5; = 3 m/s2.
2. A cyclist accelerates uniformly from rest to 8 m/s in 4 s. Use the velocity-time graph idea to calculate the distance travelled. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Area of triangle = 0.5 x 4 x 8; = 16 m.
3. Explain why a driver who is tired has a longer stopping distance. (2 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Reaction time is longer; so thinking distance increases (braking distance unchanged), so stopping distance increases.
2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration FAQs
What does WJEC GCSE Physics 2.1 Distance, Speed and Acceleration cover?
It covers speed, velocity and acceleration, distance-time and velocity-time graphs, gradients and areas, stopping distances and the factors affecting them, and road safety measures.
Which unit is Distance, Speed and Acceleration examined in?
It is examined in Unit 2: Forces, Space and Radioactivity, a 1 hour 45 minute written paper worth 45% of the GCSE, sat at foundation or higher tier. The Unit 3 practical assessment draws on the same practical skills.
What graph skills do I need for motion?
You need to find gradients of distance-time and velocity-time graphs, find areas under velocity-time graphs (splitting into rectangles and triangles) and describe motion from the shape of a graph.
