PHYSICS CONNECTION
One projectile, two motion graphs
A projectile has horizontal and vertical motion at the same time. Separate graphs make the constant horizontal velocity and changing vertical velocity visible.
vx = constant vy = uy − gt
Follow the reasoning
- Resolve the launch velocity into horizontal and vertical components.
- Use the vertical motion to find the flight time.
- Use that same time for the horizontal displacement.
OFFICIAL OCR QUESTIONS
Try it in a past paper 3
Open the question, then use its mark scheme to check your work.
Question 24
Calculate the force on a rebounding ball and check its horizontal range.
Question 3(a)–(d)
Resolve projectile velocity and connect its motion with energy and momentum.
Question 4
Connect free fall and projectile motion with energy and velocity components.
A curated collection checked against the question papers and mark schemes; not a complete past-paper catalogue. Links open official OCR PDFs in a new tab.
ORIGINAL PHYSICSUK QUESTIONS
Put the ideas to work
More practice is on its way
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Specification outcomes (4)
- 3.1.1(b) Interpret graphical representations of displacement, speed, velocity and acceleration.
- 3.1.1(d) Use velocity–time graphs to determine acceleration as the gradient and displacement as the area under the graph, including estimation for non-linear graphs.
- 3.1.3(a) Understand independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile.
- 3.1.3(b) Analyse two-dimensional motion of a projectile with constant velocity in one direction and constant acceleration in a perpendicular direction.