IB Physics SL A.1.7 Uniform and Non-uniform Acceleration

Practise identifying constant or changing acceleration from equal-time motion data and sketching speed-time behaviour when driving or resistive forces vary with position or speed.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
—
Level
SL

Exam points

  • identify uniform acceleration from equal velocity changes in equal times, not equal displacement increments
  • explain non-uniform acceleration when thrust, radiation intensity or resistive force changes
  • sketch a speed-time curve with decreasing gradient as a speed-dependent resistance grows

A.1.7—Uniform vs non-uniform acceleration question 1

[Maximum number: 2]

This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about the motion of a ship. Part 2 is about melting ice.

The ship's engines are switched off and the ship comes to rest from a speed of 7 m s−17 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1} in a time of 650 s .

It is unlikely that the acceleration of the ship will be uniform given that the resistive force acting on the ship depends on the speed of the ship. Using the axes, sketch a graph to show how the speed v varies with time t after the ship's engines are switched off.

Figure for Question A.1.7—Uniform vs non-uniform acceleration question 1 — IB Physics SL
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