Lesson Q5

Q5 Motion under gravity and projectiles Quiz: AQA Maths, Unit 12

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Q5, Motion under gravity and projectiles: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Maths (7357), Unit 12: Mechanics, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. For a projectile with no air resistance, how does the horizontal component of velocity behave?

    • It is zero at all times
    • It increases steadily
    • It stays constant
    • It decreases to zero at the highest point

  2. What is the vertical velocity of a projectile at its highest point?

    • Equal to the launch speed
    • Maximum
    • Zero
    • Equal to g

  3. Neglecting air resistance, what is the acceleration of a projectile in flight?

    • Zero
    • g along the direction of the velocity
    • g horizontally in the direction of motion
    • g vertically downwards only

  4. A ball is thrown vertically upwards at 20 m s^-1 with g = 10 m s^-2. How long does it take to reach the highest point?

    • 20 s
    • 4 s
    • 0.5 s
    • 2 s

  5. The same ball is thrown vertically upwards at 20 m s^-1 with g = 10 m s^-2. What is its maximum height?

    • 200 m
    • 10 m
    • 20 m
    • 40 m

  6. A stone is projected horizontally at 15 m s^-1 from a cliff 20 m high, with g = 10 m s^-2. How long does it take to hit the ground?

    • 2 s
    • 3 s
    • 1.5 s
    • 4 s

  7. The stone in the previous situation is projected horizontally at 15 m s^-1 from a cliff. What is its horizontal distance from the cliff when it lands?

    • 30 m
    • 300 m
    • 20 m
    • 15 m

  8. A projectile is launched at 20 m s^-1 at 30 degrees above the horizontal. What is its horizontal velocity component?

    • 17.3 m s^-1
    • 10 m s^-1
    • 20 m s^-1
    • 34.6 m s^-1

  9. The projectile in the previous question is launched at 20 m s^-1 at 30 degrees above the horizontal. What is its initial vertical velocity component?

    • 17.3 m s^-1
    • 10 m s^-1
    • 20 m s^-1
    • 5 m s^-1

  10. A projectile is launched at 20 m s^-1 at 30 degrees above level ground, with g = 10 m s^-2. What is its time of flight?

    • 2 s
    • 1 s
    • 1.7 s
    • 4 s

  11. The projectile launched at 20 m s^-1 at 30 degrees on level ground, with g = 10 m s^-2, has what range?

    • 17.3 m
    • 34.6 m
    • 40 m
    • 20 m

  12. A particle has position r = (12t)i + (16t - 5t^2)j metres, with g = 10 m s^-2. At what time is it at its highest point?

    • 1.6 s
    • 2.4 s
    • 3.2 s
    • 0.8 s

  13. For the particle with r = (12t)i + (16t - 5t^2)j, what is the maximum height?

    • 16 m
    • 12.8 m
    • 25.6 m
    • 6.4 m

  14. For the particle with r = (12t)i + (16t - 5t^2)j, what is the horizontal range on return to y = 0?

    • 76.8 m
    • 38.4 m
    • 12.8 m
    • 19.2 m

  15. For the particle with r = (12t)i + (16t - 5t^2)j, what is its velocity at time t?

    • 12i + (16 - 10t)j
    • (12t)i + (16 - 10t)j
    • 12i + (16 - 5t)j
    • 12i + (16t - 5t^2)j

  16. On returning to its launch level with no air resistance, a projectile has speed:

    • Less than its launch speed because of gravity
    • Zero
    • Twice its launch speed
    • Equal to its launch speed

  17. A ball is projected horizontally at 10 m s^-1 from a height of 45 m, with g = 10 m s^-2. What is its speed when it hits the ground, to 1 decimal place?

    • 10.0 m s^-1
    • 30.0 m s^-1
    • 31.6 m s^-1
    • 40.0 m s^-1

  18. Which pair of launch angles gives the same range on level ground for the same launch speed?

    • 20 and 40 degrees
    • 30 and 60 degrees
    • 45 and 90 degrees
    • 30 and 45 degrees

  19. A projectile is launched at 20 m s^-1 at 45 degrees from level ground, with g = 10 m s^-2. What is its maximum range?

    • 20 m
    • 40 m
    • 20 sqrt(2) m
    • 400 m

  20. Which assumption makes the path of a projectile a parabola?

    • g varies with height
    • The projectile is launched vertically
    • Air resistance is negligible and g is constant
    • Air resistance is proportional to speed

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