Calculating acceleration (a=(v-u)/t) | Starter Quiz | Oak National Academy

Which international standard unit is used to measure speed and velocity in physics? Give the symbol.

Answer explanation

Speed and velocity are both measured in metres per second with the symbol m/s.

Which of these is a vector quantity?

• speed

• mass

• velocity

• volume

Answer explanation

Velocity is the vector as its direction is important. All the others are scalar quantities.

A lorry is travelling along a straight road. Its speed increases from 5.6 m/s to 8.4 m/s. What is the change in velocity for the lorry?

• 1.4 m/s

• 2.8 m/s

• 5.6 m/s

• 8.4 m/s

• 14 m/s

Answer explanation

The change in velocity is the difference in the speed as the direction has not changed. Change in velocity = 8.4 m/s – 5.6 m/s = 2.8 m/s

A roller-skater covers a distance of 520 m in 40 s. Calculate their speed.

• 0.8 m/s

• 13 m/s

• 26 m/s

• 480 m/s

• 20 000 m/s

Answer explanation

speed = distance ÷ time = 520 m ÷ 40 s = 13 m/s

How far will a wind-up toy travel if it has a speed of 0.2 m/s and it moves for 1 minute? Give the correct unit.

Answer explanation

Distance = speed × time = 0.2 m/s × 60 s = 1.2 m.

How long will it take a rocket traveling at 5.0 km/s to travel a distance of 500 m?

• 0.1 s

• 0.25 s

• 1.0 s

• 10 s

• 25 s

Answer explanation

Time = distance ÷ speed = 500 m ÷ 5 000 m/s = 0.1 s