CAIE A-Level Physics 3.2 Non-Uniform Motion
Practise explaining how drag, weight and upthrust change resultant force and acceleration, and how motion reaches terminal speed when forces balance.
- Syllabus
- 2028–2030
- Course
- Physics 9702
- Level
- AS
Exam points
- Explain how friction and speed-dependent drag change resultant force and acceleration in gravitational motion.
- Describe the transition from changing acceleration to terminal velocity as resistive force balances the driving force.
- Interpret qualitative force, speed and acceleration behaviour without introducing unsupported quantitative drag coefficients.
Covered syllabus points
3.2 Non-uniform motion question 1
Question (a)
(a)
The cylinder in (b) is released from the string at time . The cylinder falls, from rest, vertically downwards through the water. Assume that the upthrust acting on the cylinder remains constant as it falls.
[ 3 ]
Question (i)
(i)
State the name of the force that acts on the cylinder when it is moving and does not act on the cylinder when it is stationary.
[ 1 ]
Question (ii)
(ii)
State and explain the variation, if any, of the acceleration of the cylinder as it falls downwards through the water.
[ 2 ]
3.2 Non-uniform motion question 2
The ball in (b) leaves the toy at point A and moves vertically upwards through the air. Point B is the position of the ball when it is at maximum height h above point A , as illustrated in Fig. 3.2.
Fig. 3.2 (not to scale)
The gravitational potential energy of the ball increases by 0.60 J as it moves from A to B .
When there is air resistance, the ball takes time T to move from A to B .
State and explain whether the time taken for the ball to move from A to its maximum height will be more than, less than or equal to time T if there is no air resistance.
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