Real-life graphs and kinematics worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.A train's distance-time graph shows it travelling 100 km at a steady speed in the first 1.5 hours, waiting at a signal for 0.25 hours, then travelling a further 47 km in 0.75 hours. Work out the average speed for the whole journey, correct to 1 decimal place.

2.The graph of W = 840 ÷ L shows how the width, W metres, of a rectangular field of area 840 m² depends on its length, L metres. Use the relationship to work out the width when the length is 35 m, and hence the perimeter of the field.

3.The graph of P = 480 ÷ V shows how the pressure, P pascals, of a gas depends on its volume, V cm³, at constant temperature. Use the relationship to work out the volume when the pressure is 32 pascals, and then work out by how much the volume increases when the pressure drops to 24 pascals.

4.The mass of a chemical sample decays by 15% every hour. It starts at 500 g. Work out the mass remaining after 3 hours, correct to 1 decimal place.

5.An exponential model has equation y = A × bˣ, where b > 1. Its graph passes through the points (1, 135) and (2, 405). Work out the value of A.

6.A speed-time graph for a car shows the speed increasing steadily from 5 m/s to 17 m/s over 6 seconds. Work out the acceleration of the car, in m/s².

7.The graph of y = 60 × (0.5)ˣ is sketched for x ≥ 0. Which statement correctly describes what happens to the curve as x increases?

8.A delivery van's distance-time graph shows the following: it travels 9 km in the first 15 minutes at a steady speed, stops for 45 minutes to unload, then travels a further 21 km in the next 30 minutes, also at a steady speed. Work out the average speed, in km/h, for the whole journey.

9.A hiker's distance-time graph shows the following: he walks 5 km in the first 1 hour at a steady speed, rests for 1 hour, then walks a further 9 km in the next 2 hours, also at a steady speed. Work out his average speed for the whole journey, in km/h.

10.A cyclist's speed-time graph is described as follows: speed increases steadily from 0 m/s to 8 m/s over the first 4 seconds, stays constant at 8 m/s for the next 6 seconds, then decreases steadily to 0 m/s over the final 2 seconds. Work out the total distance travelled.

11.Water is poured into a container at a constant rate. A graph of the depth of the water, in cm, against the time since pouring began, in minutes, is a straight line through the origin, and it passes through the point (3, 12). Use the graph to work out the depth of the water after 7 minutes.

12.The graph of y = 20/x is drawn for x > 0. As the value of x increases, what happens to the value of y?

13.A parcel delivery company's cost graph shows the following: the cost is a flat £5 for parcels weighing up to 2 kg, and then rises by £2 for each additional kg above 2 kg. Use the graph to work out the weight of a parcel that costs £17.

14.A machine bought for £2,400 loses 12% of its value every year. After how many complete years does its value first fall below £1,500?

15.A ferry's distance-time graph is a straight line from (0 minutes, 0 km) to (25 minutes, 15 km). Work out the ferry's speed in kilometres per hour.