AS Daily A Level Physics question
In a lab, a trolley is released from rest and rolls down the same shallow ramp with the same constant acceleration. In one trial it travels 0.80 m in 0.80 s from release. In a second trial it is allowed to roll for 1.6 s from release. Approximately how far does it travel?
Answer
The correct answer is A.
Correct: A — 3.2 m. A — From rest with the same constant acceleration, distance scales with t^2; doubling time multiplies distance by 4, so 0.80 m × 4 = 3.2 m. B — Treats distance as proportional to time (constant speed), but with acceleration distance ∝ t^2, not t. C — Ignores the longer time; with constant acceleration from rest, distance cannot stay the same when time doubles. D — Overestimates by a factor of 8, mixing relationships; the correct factor is 4, not 8.