Homework marking scheme 1.

1
Displacement and velocity
1

The four speeds are:

stage A: v =

d 25 m
=
= 3.1 m s 1
t
8s

stage B: v =

d 21 m
=
= 2.6 m s 1
t
8s

stage C: v =

d 28 m
=
= 4.7 m s 1
t
6s

stage D: v =

d 12 m
=
= 2.4 m s 1
t
5s

So stage C was the fastest.

Note that you do not need to do four calculations. Speed B must be less than speed A, as the
walker is going less far in the same time. Speed C must be greater than speed A, as the walker is
going further in the same time. You therefore only need to compare C and D, and C is clearly
greater, as the walker goes more than double the distance in only one-sixth more time.

Marking: conclusion that C is the fastest stage.

[1]

Rationale for this, considering each of A, B and D (1 mark each).

[3]

Diagram needs adding tip-to-tail correctly drawn, including a clear scale.

[1]

Resultant displacement shown, with direction indicated correctly.

[1]

The resultant vector in this diagram is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle going west 9 m
and south 3 m. (Solution may be by geometry/trigonometry or by direct measurement.)
Magnitude of resultant displacement = (3 m)2 + (9 m) 2 = 90 m 2 = 9.5 m. If the value is
obtained by direct measurement, the displacement needs to be between 9 m and 10 m.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014

[1]

From diagram, tan = (3 m/9 m), so = arctan(0.333) = 18, so the direction can be
described as W 18 S or as having a bearing of 360 90 18 = 252, as bearings are
measured anti-clockwise from north. If the value is obtained by direct measurement, the angle
needs to be between 16 and 20.
Marks for direction: 1 mark for correct angle found and 1 mark for direction correctly
specified.
b

Magnitude of velocity =
=

[2]

magnitude of displacement
time taken

9.5 m
9.5 m
=
8 s + 8 s + 6 s + 5 s 27 s

= 0.35 m s1

[1]

(Correct use of own value of displacement from 2a gets the mark, even if that value was not
correct.)

Direction = direction specified in 2a (even if wrong there).

[1]

The direction of the mean velocity is different from any of the four directions in which the
walker travelled, so the velocity must be wrong. (The fact that the magnitude of the mean
velocity is much less than any of the values of speed is also an acceptable answer here.)

[1]

Student has (correctly) calculated the mean speed.

[1]

Velocity is not

distance
displacement
, but
.
time
time

[1]

Velocity is a vector quantity, and needs also a direction.

[1]

(Any two points for the 2 marks.)

3

Distance = half the circumference of a circle = diameter/2 = 5.0 m = 16 m.

Speed =

[1]

16 m
= 2.7 m s1. (Using the unrounded value of distance, e.g. value still on calculator,
6s

gives 2.6 m s1. This is completely acceptable and is good practice round your answer only at the
end of the calculation.)
[1]
Displacement = 10 m

[1]

To the west

[1]

Velocity =

10 m
= 1.7 m s1
6.0 s

[1]

to the west / in the same direction as the displacement.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Cambridge University Press 2014

[1]