10 AQA GCSE Physics questions on distance, speed and time (s = vt) that get harder as you go, from Foundation to Higher, each with a full worked solution.
Course: Combined Science + Separate Physics | Tier: Foundation + Higher | Equation sheet: given in the exam
📌 KEY DEFINITIONS – learn them word for word
Speed is a scalar: how fast something is moving (size only). Velocity is a vector: speed in a given direction.
Scalar quantities have magnitude only. Vector quantities have magnitude and direction.
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
🏃 Typical speeds – learn these for the exam
AQA expects you to recall typical speeds and use them to estimate answers. The bold values are the ones given in the specification.
| Moving thing | Typical speed |
|---|---|
| 🚶 Walking | about 1.5 m/s |
| 🏃 Running | about 3 m/s |
| 🚴 Cycling | about 6 m/s |
| 🚗 Car in town | about 13 m/s (30 mph) |
| 🚙 Car on a motorway | about 30 m/s (70 mph) |
| 🚆 Train | about 30–50 m/s |
| ✈️ Passenger plane | about 250 m/s |
| 🔊 Sound in air | about 330 m/s |
| 💡 Light (and all EM waves) | 300 000 000 m/s (3 × 108 m/s) |
💡 Why “typical”? A person’s speed depends on their age, fitness, the distance travelled and the ground (e.g. uphill or on sand). Wind speed and the speed of sound also vary – they change with the weather and the temperature.
🔄 Converting: m/s × 3.6 = km/h · km/h ÷ 3.6 = m/s (e.g. 6 m/s × 3.6 = 21.6 km/h)
✅ Sense check: if your answer says a person walks at 15 m/s, or a car drives at 0.3 m/s, you’ve probably made a unit mistake. Compare it with the table!
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.
Questions
Q1 (F) A delivery drone flies at a steady 12 m/s for 50 s. How far does it fly?
Show solution
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.
Show solution
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?
Show solution
F: s = v t
I: 3000 = 15 × t
F: t = 3000 ÷ 15
A: 200 s
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Q4 (F) A car on a town road travels 2.4 km in 2 minutes. Calculate its average speed in m/s.
Show solution
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?
Show solution
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?
Show solution
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?
Show solution
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?
Show solution
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.
Show solution
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.
Show solution
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.)
🧮 Practise every equation, on paper or on screen
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Every Equation PowerPoint (£8): every equation with worked examples, 102 questions and 15 multi-step problems. Good for revising on screen or teaching from the board.