The Physics Question Bank

Course: Combined Science + Separate Physics  |  Tier: Foundation + Higher  |  Equation sheet: given in the exam

The equation

distance travelled = speed × time    s = v t

Quantity	Symbol	Unit
distance	s	metres (m)
speed	v	metres per second (m/s)
time	t	seconds (s)

Rearranged: v = s ÷ t   |   t = s ÷ v

Use FIFA for every answer

• F – Formula: write the equation as it appears on the sheet.
• I – Insert: put in the numbers (convert to standard units first).
• F – Fix: rearrange to make the unknown the subject.
• A – Answer: calculate and always give the unit.

Foundation: aim for Q1–8.   Higher: aim for Q4–10. Most questions need rearranging.

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Questions

Q1 (F) A delivery drone flies at a steady 12 m/s for 50 s. How far does it fly?

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F: s = v t
I: s = 12 × 50
F: s is already the subject – no rearranging needed
A: 600 m

Q2 (F) A cyclist travels 1200 m along a straight road in 240 s. Calculate her average speed.

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F: s = v t
I: 1200 = v × 240
F: v = 1200 ÷ 240
A: 5 m/s

Q3 (F) A school bus travels 3000 m at an average speed of 15 m/s. How long does the journey take?

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F: s = v t
I: 3000 = 15 × t
F: t = 3000 ÷ 15
A: 200 s

Q4 (F) A car on a town road travels 2.4 km in 2 minutes. Calculate its average speed in m/s.

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Convert first: 2.4 km = 2400 m; 2 minutes = 120 s
F: s = v t
I: 2400 = v × 120
F: v = 2400 ÷ 120
A: 20 m/s

Q5 (F) A student walks 1.8 km to school at 1.5 m/s. How many minutes does the walk take?

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Convert first: 1.8 km = 1800 m
F: s = v t
I: 1800 = 1.5 × t
F: t = 1800 ÷ 1.5 = 1200 s
A: 1200 ÷ 60 = 20 minutes

Q6 (F/H) A high-speed train travels at 50 m/s. How long does it take to travel 15 km?

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Convert first: 15 km = 15 000 m
F: s = v t
I: 15 000 = 50 × t
F: t = 15 000 ÷ 50
A: 300 s

Q7 (F/H) A passenger plane cruises at 250 m/s. How many minutes does it take to fly 900 km?

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Convert first: 900 km = 900 000 m
F: s = v t
I: 900 000 = 250 × t
F: t = 900 000 ÷ 250 = 3600 s
A: 3600 ÷ 60 = 60 minutes

Q8 (F/H) The Sun is 1.5 × 10¹¹ m from Earth. Light travels at 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s. How long does light from the Sun take to reach Earth?

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F: s = v t
I: 1.5 × 10¹¹ = 3.0 × 10⁸ × t
F: t = 1.5 × 10¹¹ ÷ 3.0 × 10⁸
A: 500 s (about 8 minutes 20 seconds)

Q9 (H) On a car journey, a family drives 30 km at 25 m/s on the motorway, then 12 km at 15 m/s through villages. Calculate the average speed for the whole journey.

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Step 1 – time for each part
F: s = v t
I: 30 000 = 25 × t₁ and 12 000 = 15 × t₂
F: t₁ = 30 000 ÷ 25 = 1200 s; t₂ = 12 000 ÷ 15 = 800 s
Step 2 – whole journey
Total distance = 42 000 m; total time = 2000 s
F: s = v t
I: 42 000 = v × 2000
F: v = 42 000 ÷ 2000
A: 21 m/s
Watch out: you cannot just average 25 and 15.

Q10 (H) A marathon is 42.2 km long. A runner finishes in 3 hours 25 minutes. Calculate the runner’s average speed in m/s. Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

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Convert first: 42.2 km = 42 200 m; 3 h 25 min = (3 × 3600) + (25 × 60) = 12 300 s
F: s = v t
I: 42 200 = v × 12 300
F: v = 42 200 ÷ 12 300
A: 3.43… = 3.4 m/s (2 s.f.)