Question 1Warm-upFoundation
A car speeds up from rest to 20 m/s in 8 s. Calculate its acceleration.
Change in velocity ÷ time.
Worked solution
- m/s
Answer:
GCSE & IGCSE physics practice
Acceleration questions and answers
Acceleration is how quickly velocity changes: , in metres per second squared (m/s²). A negative answer means the object is slowing down (decelerating). The questions start with straight substitution, then rearranging, unit conversions, and the equation-sheet equation .
8 questions · Foundation tier · Every answer is checked as you type it, with a full worked solution. Updated .
Where acceleration comes up
| GCSE (AQA) | Physics and Combined Science, Foundation and Higher. Recall a = Δv ÷ t (on AQA's list of equations to learn). v² − u² = 2as is given on the equation sheet. |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE (0625) | Supplement (Extended): define acceleration and recall and use a = Δv ÷ Δt. Core: describe motion from speed–time graphs. |
The method
- Write down what you know: initial velocity u, final velocity v, time t.
- Change in velocity Δv = v − u (final minus initial).
- a = Δv ÷ t. Rearranged: t = Δv ÷ a, and v = u + at.
- Convert km/h to m/s by dividing by 3.6 before you start.
- If there's a distance and no time, use v² − u² = 2as.
Acceleration questions
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Warm-up
Question 2Warm-upFoundation
A cyclist speeds up from 4 m/s to 10 m/s in 3 s. Calculate the acceleration.
Δv = 10 − 4.
Worked solution
- m/s
Answer:
Exam-style
Question 3Exam-styleFoundation
A train slows from 30 m/s to 12 m/s in 6 s. Calculate its acceleration.
The change in velocity is negative because it's slowing down.
Worked solution
- m/s
Answer: (a deceleration of )
Question 4Exam-styleFoundation
A ball is dropped from rest and accelerates at 9.8 m/s² for 2.5 s. What is its speed after 2.5 s?
Rearrange: Δv = a × t.
Worked solution
- m/s
- It started at rest, so m/s
Answer: m/s
Question 5Exam-styleFoundation
A runner accelerates at 1.5 m/s² from 2 m/s to 8 m/s. How long does this take?
t = Δv ÷ a.
Worked solution
- m/s
- s
Answer: s
Question 6Exam-styleFoundation
A car goes from rest to 72 km/h in 10 s. Calculate its acceleration in m/s².
72 km/h ÷ 3.6 = 20 m/s.
Worked solution
- m/s
Answer:
Challenge
Question 7ChallengeFoundation
A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 20 m/s over a distance of 50 m. Use to find its acceleration.
u = 0, v = 20, s = 50: rearrange for a.
Worked solution
Answer:
Question 8ChallengeFoundation
A cyclist speeds up uniformly from 5 m/s to 15 m/s in 4 s. Find (a) the acceleration and (b) the distance travelled while speeding up (the area under the speed–time graph).
Distance = average speed × time when the acceleration is uniform.
Worked solution
- Average speed m/s
- Distance m (the area of the trapezium under the graph)
Answer: (a) (b) m
Common mistakes
- Using the final speed instead of the change in speed.
- Losing the minus sign when something slows down.
- Mixing km/h and m/s in the same calculation.
Stuck on one of these?
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Sources
The questions are our own. The “where it comes up” notes are from each board's published specification, checked on 27 October 2026:
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