Linear motion — KCSE Physics

KCSE Physics · 117 practice questions · 8 syllabus objectives

39 easy38 medium40 hard

What You'll Learn

Key learning outcomes for this topic, aligned to the KNEC KCSE syllabus.

Define distance, displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration

Describe experiments to determine velocity and acceleration

Determine acceleration due to gravity using free fall and simple pendulum

Plot and explain displacement-time and velocity-time graphs

Apply the equations of uniformly accelerated motion v=u+at, s=ut+½at², v²=u²+2as

Solve numerical problems on uniformly accelerated motion including vertical projection and horizontal projection

Determine velocity and acceleration using ticker-timer experiments

Use calculus (differentiation and integration) to determine velocity, acceleration and displacement from given functions of time

Sample Questions

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1
easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

A ball is dropped from a height of 20 m. (Take g = 10 m/s²) (a) Define the term 'free fall'. (1 mark) (b) Calculate the time taken for the ball to reach the ground. (3 marks)

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Part (a) — 1 mark
Free fall is the motion of a body under the influence of gravity only, with no air resistance. (1 mk)
Part (b) — 3 marks
Using the formula s = ut + ½gt², where u = 0, s = 20 m, and g = 10 m/s² (1 mk)
Substituting values gives 20 = 0 × t + ½ × 10 × t² (1 mk)
Solving the equation gives t = 2 s (with correct units) (1 mk)
2
easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

A vehicle accelerates uniformly from a speed of 15 m/s to a speed of 25 m/s over a time period of 5 seconds. (a) Calculate the acceleration of the vehicle. (2 marks) (b) Determine the distance covered during this time. (2 marks)

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Part (a) — 2 marks
a = (v - u) / t = (25 - 15) / 5 (1 mk)
Correct value with units m/s² (2 m/s²) (1 mk)
Part (b) — 2 marks
s = ut + ½at² = (15 * 5) + ½ * 2 * (5²) (1 mk)
Correct value with units m (75 m) (1 mk)
3
easySHORT ANSWER2 marks

State what the slope of a velocity-time graph represents. (2 marks)

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Part (a) — 2 marks
The slope represents acceleration (1 mk)
A positive slope indicates increasing velocity (1 mk)
4

Define the following terms related to linear motion: (a) distance (1 mark) (b) displacement (1 mark) (c) speed (1 mark) (d) velocity (1 mark) (e) acceleration (1 mark)

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