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O-LevelPhysicsKinematics5054/21 · May/June 2022 · Q715 Marks

Fig. 7.1 shows a toy helicopter. It can hover and travel through the air. A student flies the toy helicopter on a journey from A to B to C to D at a constant height. Fig. 7.2 is a scale drawing of the path of the helicopter, viewed from above.[Figure 7.1][Figure 7.2 (to scale)]

  1. (a)(i)Determine the total distance travelled by the toy helicopter.[1]
  2. (a)(ii)The toy helicopter makes the journey in 40 s. Calculate its average speed during the journey.[2]
  3. (b)(i)State the difference between distance and displacement.[1]
  4. (b)(ii)Determine the scale used to construct Fig. 7.2 and complete the sentence. 1 cm on the diagram represents ........................................ on the path.[1]
  5. (b)(iii)Using Fig. 7.2, determine the size of the displacement of point D from point A. Show your working.[2]
  6. (b)(iv)Determine the angle between North and the direction of the displacement of point D from point A.[1]
  7. (b)(v)State what is meant by velocity.[1]
  8. (b)(vi)Another toy helicopter flies directly from point A to point D in 40 s. Explain why the magnitude of the velocity of this toy helicopter is smaller than the answer in (a)(ii).[1]
  9. (c)When the toy helicopter hovers at D, its motor fails and it falls. It reaches terminal velocity as it falls. Explain, in terms of the forces and acceleration, what happens as the helicopter falls and reaches terminal velocity.[5]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2022). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] (a)(i) 85 m
  2. [1] (a)(ii) (speed =) d / t in any form algebraic or numerical
  3. [1] (a)(ii) 2.1 m/s
  4. [1] (b)(i) displacement involves direction or is a vector
  5. [1] (b)(ii) 5 m shown on dotted line
  6. [1] (b)(iii) length of diagonal 9.2 (cm)
  7. [1] (b)(iii) 46 m
  8. [1] (b)(iv) 39-42° or 318-320°
  9. [1] (b)(v) (average) velocity = (change in) displacement / time or (average) velocity is displacement per unit time or rate of change of displacement
  10. [1] (b)(vi) (size of) displacement < distance in (a)(ii) or distance covered is less (than 85 m / in (a)(ii))
  11. [1] (c) air resistance and weight / gravitational force mentioned
  12. [1] (c) as speed increases air resistance increases
  13. [1] (c) resultant/net force decreases or acceleration decreases
  14. [1] (c) (eventually) air resistance = weight (at terminal velocity) / resultant force is zero
  15. [1] (c) (at terminal velocity / eventually) zero acceleration / constant speed

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About this question

Topic
Kinematics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Structured question, 15 marks.
Source
O-Level Physics, May/June 2022 Paper 2 Variant 1, question 7.

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