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Question 1
A cyclist travels along a straight, level road at constant velocity while experiencing air resistance and rolling resistance. Which statement describes the horizontal forces acting on the cyclist and bicycle?
A.
The forward driving force is greater than the total resistance.
B.
The forward driving force is smaller than the total resistance.
C.
The forward driving force and the total resistance are both zero.
D.
The forward driving force is equal to the total resistance.
Question 2
A coach uses the principle of summing joint forces to improve a player's two-handed overhead throw. Which recommendations apply this principle?
I. Coordinate contributions from the legs, trunk and arms.
II. Keep the trunk and legs still so that only the arms contribute.
III. Time the joint actions so that later movements build on earlier movements.
A.
I and II only
B.
I and III only
C.
II and III only
D.
I, II and III
Question 3
During a badminton conditioning drill, a player runs 10.0 m along a straight line and then returns to the starting point. The complete run takes 5.00 s.
What are the player's average speed and magnitude of average velocity, respectively, for the complete run? Use section 15(a) in the data booklet.
A.
/
B.
/
C.
/
D.
/
Question 4
A wrestler practises four stationary stances before receiving a sideways push. The figure shows the wrestler's centre of mass, line of gravity and support base in each stance.
Which stance provides the greatest stability against the push?
A.
Stance A
B.
Stance B
C.
Stance C
D.
Stance D
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Question 5
A wheelchair racer compares two forward pushes. In push X, the average resultant forward force is 300 N for 0.200 s. In push Y, it is 200 N for 0.400 s.
Which conclusion follows from these measurements? Use section 15(a) in the data booklet.
A.
Push X produces a greater forward momentum change because its average force is greater.
B.
Push Y produces a greater forward momentum change because its impulse is greater.
C.
The pushes produce equal forward momentum changes because force and duration compensate exactly.
D.
The momentum changes cannot be compared because the racer's initial velocity is unknown.
Question 6
During the airborne phase of a freestyle skiing jump, a skier brings the arms and legs closer to the rotation axis. No additional external eccentric force acts on the skier. Which statement describes the resulting motion?
A.
Angular momentum increases and angular velocity increases.
B.
Angular momentum decreases and angular velocity increases.
C.
Angular momentum remains constant and angular velocity decreases.
D.
Angular momentum remains constant and angular velocity increases.
Question 7
In a ball-control drill, a 0.150 kg ball approaches a stationary striking board horizontally at and rebounds at . Motion towards the board is positive.
What is the impulse applied to the ball during the collision? Use section 15(a) in the data booklet.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Question 8
A sports scientist investigated whether a wider support base improves the stability of field hockey defenders. Thirty-two players were randomly allocated to narrow-stance or wide-stance groups of equal size. Their body masses were similar.
A horizontal pull was applied at waist height towards the side of each player. The force increased at a constant rate until the player first moved a foot. A force sensor recorded this threshold force. Each player completed three trials, and their mean threshold was used in the group analysis. Knee position and centre-of-mass height were not standardized.
Table 1 summarizes the results.
Table 1. Group results for the horizontal-pull stability test.
| Stance group | Support-base width / m | Mean centre-of-mass height / m | Mean threshold force / N | Threshold force SD / N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow stance | 16 | 0.38 | 0.94 | 180 | 24 |
| Wide stance | 16 | 0.62 | 0.86 | 245 | 28 |
Interpret the results in Table 1 in relation to stability.
[3]
Explain how the uncontrolled difference in centre-of-mass height affects the interpretation of the results.
[2]
Evaluate using threshold force at the first foot movement as a measure of stability.
[2]
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Question 9
A wheelchair racer uses a feedback display during straight-line sprint training on a horizontal track. The combined mass of the racer and wheelchair is . During one interval, forward velocity increases uniformly from to in . Figure 1 shows the training arrangement and the information recorded by the display.
Explain why the recorded change in velocity requires a forward resultant force. Include calculations of acceleration and resultant force. Use section 15(a) in the data booklet.
[3]
Outline two changes to the racer’s pushing action that could increase the forward impulse during each push.
[2]
A coach proposes lowering the seat to improve stability. Discuss this proposal in relation to the racer’s stability and ability to apply force to the push rims.
[3]
In another drill, the racer completes one lap and finishes at the starting position. Distinguish between average speed and average velocity for the complete lap.
[2]
Question 10
An athlete pulls horizontally on a stationary resistance sled with a force of 180 N. The normal force on the sled is 600 N, the coefficient of static friction is 0.400 and the coefficient of dynamic friction is 0.250. No other horizontal force acts apart from friction.
What is the magnitude of the frictional force on the sled? Use section 15(a) in the data booklet.
A.
180 N
B.
240 N
C.
150 N
D.
0 N
Question 11
A paddler tests two settings on a resistance machine. With setting X, the paddler applies an average force of 240 N through 3.00 m in 2.00 s. With setting Y, the paddler applies an average force of 200 N through 3.00 m in 1.50 s. In both trials, the force acts in the direction of movement.
Which comparison of setting Y with setting X is correct? Use section 15(b) in the data booklet.
A.
More work is done and average power is greater.
B.
Less work is done and average power is greater.
C.
More work is done and average power is smaller.
D.
Less work is done and average power is smaller.
Question 12
A sports equipment laboratory investigated whether padding on a rebound-training wall reduces the force exerted on a ball during impact. A launcher projected balls horizontally, perpendicular to a fixed wall. Condition R used a rigid wall and one training ball; condition P used the padded wall and a different training ball. The balls had different masses.
Incoming and rebound velocities were measured immediately before and after contact. A wall-mounted force sensor recorded force throughout each collision. Table 1 shows the mean results from 12 impacts in each condition. Positive velocity is towards the wall. Average contact force is reported as a magnitude.
Mean results from 12 ball impacts in each wall condition.
| Condition | Ball mass / kg | Mean incoming velocity / | Mean rebound velocity / | Mean contact duration / s | Mean average contact force / N | Force SD / N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R (rigid wall) | 0.400 | 0.0200 | 360 | 15 | ||
| P (padded wall) | 0.500 | 0.0300 | 300 | 12 |
Interpret the results in Table 1 in relation to the claim that wall padding reduces average contact force.
[3]
Explain how the greater ball mass in condition P affects the comparison of average contact forces.
[2]
The force sensor was calibrated before testing and sampled many times during each impact. Evaluate the reliability of using this sensor to compare average contact forces.
[2]
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Question 13
A handball player uses a cable-resistance machine to practise a standing two-handed pushing movement. The player pushes a handle horizontally forwards while the cable provides resistance. Figure 1 shows the equipment and its feedback screen, which reports force, handle displacement and push duration.
Outline how each of Newton’s three laws applies during the pushing movement.
[3]
Outline two ways the player can adjust their stance to increase stability against the backward pull of the cable.
[2]
In trial A, the player applies a constant forward force of through in . In trial B, the same force acts through the same distance in . Calculate the average mechanical power delivered to the handle in each trial and deduce which trial has the greater work intensity. Use section 15(b) in the data booklet.
[3]
The player initially pushes using only elbow extension. Explain how applying the principle of summing joint forces could improve the pushing movement.
[3]
Describe three principles the player should apply to produce a greater forward change in the handle’s linear momentum.
[3]
The player’s shoes begin to slide backwards during a push. Outline two changes to the shoe–floor contact that could prevent sliding.
[2]
At the end of a repetition, the player holds the handle stationary against the cable’s pull. Explain why the mechanical power delivered to the handle is zero during this hold, despite the player applying a force.
[2]
Question 14
Sports scientists investigated whether coordinating contributions from the legs, trunk and arms improves a two-handed overhead throw.
Table 1 shows the results of an initial trial with one handball player.
Release speeds for successive overhead throws by one handball player.
| Trial order | Technique | Release speed / |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arms-only | 7.8 |
| 2 | Arms-only | 8.0 |
| 3 | Arms-only | 8.2 |
| Mean (trials 1–3) | Arms-only | 8.00 |
| 4 | Coordinated legs–trunk–arms | 9.8 |
| 5 | Coordinated legs–trunk–arms | 10.0 |
| 6 | Coordinated legs–trunk–arms | 10.2 |
| Mean (trials 4–6) | Coordinated legs–trunk–arms | 10.0 |
Figure 1 shows the annual best distances in an academy's overhead-throw assessment. A straight line of best fit is shown. Coordinated throwing practice was introduced at the academy during the period covered by the records.
Figure 2 shows the results of a second study comparing restricted and coordinated throwing techniques in a larger sample. The diagonal represents equal release speeds with the two techniques.
I.
The player completed three arms-only throws followed by three coordinated throws, using the same ball and a three-minute rest between throws. The mean release speeds were 8.00 and 10.0 , respectively. Calculate the percentage increase in mean release speed.
[1]
II.
Explain two reasons why ball mass was controlled in the initial trial.
[2]
III.
Suggest two weaknesses of the initial trial and their effects on the conclusions.
[2]
I.
The academy hypothesized that introducing coordinated throwing practice caused its annual best throwing distance to improve. Discuss whether Figure 1 supports this hypothesis.
[3]
II.
Evaluate the suitability of the straight line of best fit in Figure 1.
[2]
I.
In the second study, 30 academy players each performed both techniques in randomized order. Release speed was obtained from calibrated high-speed video. One analyst measured each recording twice, using the same release frame and tracking procedure. Evaluate the reliability of this measurement method.
[2]
II.
Analyse Figure 2 in relation to the claim that the coordinated technique improves release speed.
[3]
III.
Before testing, players were told that coordinated throwing was expected to produce faster throws. Suggest how this could have affected their results.
[1]
IV.
Outline two changes that could reduce bias in the second study.
[2]
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