Science Unit 4 — Waves & Motion ⏱ ~25 min Checkpoint 3

Checkpoint 3

Review the key ideas from Lessons 11-15, then test yourself with 10 multiple-choice questions and 3 short-answer questions.

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Quick Review

11

Distance, Displacement, Speed and Velocity

Focus: Distance is a scalar quantity; displacement is a vector quantity with direction. Scalar quantities have magnitude only; vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.

Key terms: Distance, Displacement, Speed

12

Speed Calculations and Units

Focus: Speed = distance / time. Speed calculations require consistent units, and unit conversions are often necessary.

Key terms: Speed, Average speed, Instantaneous speed

13

Distance-Time Graphs

Focus: A distance-time graph shows how distance changes over time. A steeper gradient means faster speed; a horizontal line means the object is stationary.

Key terms: Distance-time graph, Gradient, Stationary

14

Speed-Time Graphs and Acceleration

Focus: Acceleration is the rate of change of speed. Positive gradient means speeding up, negative gradient means slowing down, and zero gradient means constant speed.

Key terms: Speed-time graph, Acceleration, Deceleration

15

Checkpoint 3 — Motion Graphs Review

Focus: Review and consolidate your understanding of distance-time graphs, speed-time graphs, speed calculations, and acceleration.

Multiple Choice (10 questions)

1. Which of these is a vector quantity?

ADistance

BSpeed

CDisplacement

DTime

2. A person walks 3 m east and 4 m north. What is their displacement from the starting point?

A3 m

B4 m

C5 m

D7 m

3. What is the formula for speed?

As = d × t

Bs = d / t

Cs = t / d

Ds = d + t

4. A car travels 150 km in 3 hours. What is its average speed?

A30 km/h

B50 km/h

C450 km/h

D153 km/h

5. On a distance-time graph, what does a horizontal line represent?

AConstant speed

BIncreasing speed

CStationary object

DDecreasing speed

6. How is speed calculated from a distance-time graph?

AHeight of the line

BGradient of the line

CArea under the line

DLength of the line

7. On a speed-time graph, what does the gradient represent?

ADistance

BSpeed

CAcceleration

DTime

8. What does the area under a speed-time graph represent?

AAcceleration

BDistance travelled

CFinal speed

DAverage speed

9. What does the gradient of a distance-time graph represent?

AAcceleration

BDistance

CSpeed

DTime

10. On a speed-time graph, a horizontal line means:

AThe object is stationary

BConstant speed

CThe object is accelerating

DThe object is decelerating

Short Answer (3 questions)

SA1

A student walks 400 m east, then 300 m north. Calculate the student's total distance travelled and their displacement from the starting point. Show your working. (3 marks)

Hint: Use Pythagoras' theorem for displacement.

Write your answer in your book.

SA2

A train travels 450 km in 5 hours. Calculate its average speed in km/h, then convert this speed to m/s. Show all working. (3 marks)

Hint: Use s = d / t, then divide by 3.6 to convert to m/s.

Write your answer in your book.

SA3

Describe the motion of an object whose distance-time graph shows a steep straight line for 3 seconds, then a horizontal line for 2 seconds, then a shallow straight line for 4 seconds. (3 marks)

Hint: Consider what each section of the graph tells you about speed and movement.

Write your answer in your book.

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