AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), November 2021: Question 7
10 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Questions covering vectors, velocity-time graph interpretation to determine acceleration, Newton's second law calculation of mass, and evaluating real-time tracking data in sports.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
07 Professional rugby players wear a tracking device that measures their velocity
and acceleration.
Figure 9 shows a player wearing a tracking device.
The player is tackling another player who is running with the ball.
Figure 9
07.1 Velocity and acceleration are both vector quantities.
What is a vector quantity?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
A quantity with both magnitude and direction
A quantity with direction only
A quantity with magnitude only 25
07.2 Which of the following is a vector quantity?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Displacement
Distance
Time
Work done 26
Figure 10 shows a velocity–time graph for the player running with the ball.
Figure 10
07.3 Determine the acceleration of the player between 0 and 1.6 s.
[2 marks]
Acceleration = m/s2
07.4 Describe the motion of the player between 3.4 s and 3.6 s.
[1 mark]
The force exerted on the player when she is tackled causes her to accelerate.
*0267.*5 Write down the equation which links acceleration (a), mass (m) and
resultant force (F).
[1 mark]
07.6 The player accelerates at 25 m/s2 when a resultant force of 1800 N acts on her.
Calculate the mass of the player.
[3 marks]
Mass = kg
07.7 The tracking device sends data to a computer during the game.
Suggest one advantage of the data being sent during the game.
[1 mark]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
07.1 a quantity with both magnitude 1 AO1
and direction 6.5.1.1
07.2 displacement 1 AO1
6.5.4.1.1
07.3 (4 – 0) 1 AO2
gradient =
(1.6 - 0) 6.5.4.1.5
acceleration = 2.5 m/s2 1
allow use of a = Δv / t
07.4 constant deceleration allow large deceleration 1 AO2
allow decelerates to a stop 6.5.4.1.5
07.5 resultant force = mass × allow force = mass × 1 AO1
acceleration acceleration 6.5.4.2.2
or
F = ma
07.6 1800 = m × 25 1 AO2
6.5.4.2.2
1800
m = 1
m = 72 (kg) 1
07.7 performance can be monitored allow do not have to wait until 1 AO3
during the game the end of the game to 6.6.2.4
download data
Total 10
How to answer it
Forces and Motion: Rugby Tracking Device Analysis
This 10-mark question evaluates core physics knowledge from Forces and Motion:
- Defining and distinguishing scalar and vector quantities.
- Extracting data from and interpreting velocity-time graphs (gradient = acceleration, steep negative gradient = rapid deceleration).
- Recalling and rearranging Newton's Second Law: F = m × a .
- Real-world evaluation of digital tracking technologies in sports analytics.
Definition of a Vector Quantity
Identifying key properties of vectors
✅ Correct Answer
A quantity with both magnitude and direction (Tick box 1)
💡 Key Knowledge
- Magnitude: Size, numerical value, or amount (e.g. 5 m).
- Direction: Where it points (e.g. North, forward, -y direction).
- A scalar has magnitude only.
❌ Common Errors
Confusing "magnitude only" (which is a scalar) with "magnitude and direction". No physical quantity has "direction only".
Identifying Vector Quantities
Selecting the vector from a given list
✅ Correct Answer
Displacement (Tick box 1)
💡 Scalar vs Vector Pairs
- Displacement = Vector (distance with a direction)
- Distance = Scalar
- Time = Scalar
- Work done / Energy = Scalar
🧠 Exam Tip
Pair vectors and scalars in your revision: Distance / Displacement, Speed / Velocity, Mass / Weight.
Acceleration from a Velocity-Time Graph
Calculating gradient between 0 s and 1.6 s
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- Identify points from graph:
At t = 0 s, v = 0 m/s
At t = 1.6 s, v = 4.0 m/s - Use acceleration formula / gradient:
a = Δv / t = (4.0 - 0) / (1.6 - 0) - Calculate value:
a = 4.0 / 1.6 = 2.5 m/s²
1 mark: Correct answer: 2.5 (m/s²)
🧠 Exam Technique
- Check the grid axis scale carefully: on the time axis, 5 small squares = 0.5 s, so each small square = 0.1 s.
- The peak occurs exactly 1 small square past 1.5, which is 1.6 s.
- Gradient of a velocity-time graph always equals acceleration.
❌ Common Errors
Misreading the peak time as 1.5 s or miscounting grid divisions, which leads to 4 / 1.5 = 2.67 m/s² .
Describing Motion (3.4 s to 3.6 s)
Interpreting a steep negative slope
✅ Acceptable Answers
- Constant deceleration
- Large / rapid deceleration
- Decelerating to a stop / rest
- Note: "Constant negative acceleration" is also accepted.
❌ Common Errors
- Stating "stationary" — the player only becomes stationary at 3.6 s, but during 3.4–3.6 s they are slowing down.
- Saying "accelerating backwards" without clarifying direction or deceleration.
Equation: Force, Mass, and Acceleration
Recalling Newton's Second Law
✅ Correct Answer
resultant force = mass × acceleration
or in symbols: F = m × a (or F = ma)
💡 Key Knowledge
This is one of the equations you must recall from memory for AQA GCSE Physics. It is not given on the standard physics equation sheet.
Calculating Mass
Applying Newton's Second Law with rearrangement
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- Substitute values into equation:
1800 = m × 25 - Rearrange to make mass (m) the subject:
m = 1800 / 25 - Calculate final answer:
m = 72 kg
Mark 2: Correct rearrangement: m = 1800 / 25
Mark 3: Correct answer: 72 (kg)
🧠 Exam Technique: Sanity Check
Always check whether your answer is physically reasonable! A rugby player weighing 72 kg makes sense. If your calculation gives 45 000 kg or 0.014 kg, you multiplied instead of dividing!
❌ Common Trap
Multiplying the numbers together: 1800 × 25 = 45 000 . Always write out the formula first to ensure correct rearrangement.
Advantage of Live Data Transmission
Real-time sports monitoring
✅ Acceptable Answers
- Performance can be monitored during the game / in real time.
- Do not have to wait until the end of the game to download data.
- Coaches can make immediate tactical or substitution decisions based on fatigue/impacts.
❌ Common Errors
Vague answers like "it's faster" or "it saves time" without linking to in-game monitoring or not having to wait until full-time.
Topics
Physics · P5: Forces
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy examination, Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), November 2021. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.