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AS Daily A Level Physics question

2025-11-13 OCR A Kinematics (M3) 3.1.2(b)(i)

A student throws a ball straight up and later catches it at the same height. Air resistance is negligible and take g = 9.81 m s−2 downward. Which statement must be true about the ball’s acceleration while it is in the air?

  1. A It is zero at the highest point because the velocity there is zero.
  2. B It is 9.81 m s−2 downward throughout the flight (air resistance neglected). (correct)
  3. C It becomes smaller near the top, then increases as the ball falls back down.
  4. D It depends on the ball’s mass; a heavier ball has a greater downward acceleration.

Answer

The correct answer is B.

Correct: B — It is 9.81 m s−2 downward throughout the flight (air resistance neglected). Gravity provides a constant downward acceleration close to Earth’s surface, independent of the ball’s motion. A is wrong because velocity being zero at the top does not make acceleration zero; gravity still acts downward. B is the only correct statement because g is constant in this model. C is wrong because the acceleration due to gravity does not weaken near the top in this context; it remains g downward. D is wrong because, neglecting air resistance, all masses share the same gravitational acceleration g.

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