A Formula 1 racing car uses its fuel up during the race, causing its lap times to decrease - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 24 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 24
A Formula 1 racing car uses its fuel up during the race, causing its lap times to decrease.
The lap times decrease because
A the acceleration of the car increases.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A Formula 1 racing car uses its fuel up during the race, causing its lap times to decrease - AQA - A-Level Physics - Question 24 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
A the acceleration of the car increases.
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Answer
This option suggests that as the car accelerates, it would naturally complete laps in less time. However, while acceleration can improve performance, it doesn't explain the reason behind decreasing lap times due to fuel consumption.
Step 2
B the drag forces on the car decrease.
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Answer
This option indicates that as fuel is consumed, the weight of the car decreases, leading to reduced drag forces. This, in turn, allows for faster lap times, making it a plausible explanation.
Step 3
C the maximum speed of the car increases.
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This option implies that decreasing weight from fuel consumption allows for a higher maximum speed. While a lighter car could achieve greater speeds, it doesn’t directly address the dynamics influencing lap times.
Step 4
D the tyres become worn, reducing the friction with the road.
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This choice suggests that worn tyres lead to reduced friction, which would typically increase lap times, not decrease them. Hence, this option is not valid.
