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The graph represents the motion of a cyclist at the start of an Olympic race - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 6
The graph represents the motion of a cyclist at the start of an Olympic race. (i) Calculate the initial acceleration. (ii) Another cyclist has a smaller initial ac... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The graph represents the motion of a cyclist at the start of an Olympic race - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
Calculate the initial acceleration.
Answer
To calculate the initial acceleration, we need to determine the change in velocity and the time taken for that change.
From the graph, at time 0 seconds, the velocity is 0 m/s, and at time 2 seconds, the velocity is 16 m/s.
The change in velocity is:
The time taken for this change is:
Now, we can calculate the acceleration using the formula:
Step 2
Draw her motion on the graph above.
Answer
To represent the second cyclist's motion, we can draw her line starting similarly to the first cyclist but with a smaller initial acceleration. Let's say her initial acceleration is approximately 4 m/s².
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From time 0 to 2 seconds: The velocity will increase from 0 m/s to:
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From 2 to 4 seconds: She reaches a constant velocity of 17 m/s. Therefore, the graph will show a straight horizontal line at 17 m/s after the initial acceleration phase, starting after 2 seconds.