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O-LevelPhysicsKinematics5054/21 · May/June 2020 · Q15 Marks

Fig. 1.1 shows the thinking distance and the braking distance for a car being driven along a dry road and along a wet road at the same speed. [Figure 1.1 (table with thinking distance and braking distance for dry road and wet road)] thinking distance braking distance dry road 18 m 43 m wet road 18 m 60 m

  1. (a)Calculate the total stopping distance for the car on the wet road. distance = ..................................................... [1][1]
  2. (b)Complete the sentence. The thinking distance is the distance travelled between seeing a hazard and ............................................................................................................................................................................. [1][1]
  3. (c)(i)Suggest why the thinking distance is the same on both roads. ............................................................................................................................................................................. [1][1]
  4. (c)(ii)Explain why the braking distance is larger when the road is wet. ............................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................. [2][2]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] 78 m
  2. [1] (starting to) apply the brakes
  3. [1] time taken to think / react is the same (and speed is the same)
  4. [1] friction is lower or less backwards / resistant force or car slides or skids / tyres do not grip road / car aquaplanes
  5. [1] takes longer time to stop or acceleration is less

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About this question

Topic
Kinematics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Structured question, 5 marks.
Source
O-Level Physics, May/June 2020 Paper 2 Variant 1, question 1.

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