Lesson T2.1.2

T2.1.2 Distance-time graphs Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.1.2, Distance-time graphs: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Motion and forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. On a distance-time graph, what does the gradient (slope) of a straight line represent?

    • Mass
    • Speed
    • Force
    • Acceleration

  2. What does a horizontal line on a distance-time graph show?

    • The object is accelerating
    • The object is stationary
    • The object is moving at constant speed
    • The object is moving backwards

  3. A steeper gradient on a distance-time graph means:

    • The object is stationary
    • A lower speed
    • A greater speed
    • The object travels a shorter distance

  4. Which axis shows distance on a distance-time graph?

    • The vertical (y) axis
    • Neither axis
    • The horizontal (x) axis
    • Both axes

  5. A line on a distance-time graph slopes downward. What does this show?

    • The object is returning towards its starting point
    • The object is moving at constant speed away from the start
    • The object has stopped
    • The object is speeding up

  6. A journey covers 60 km in a straight line on a distance-time graph taking 2 hours. What is the speed?

    • 2 km/h
    • 60 km/h
    • 120 km/h
    • 30 km/h

  7. A car travels 40 km in 1 hour, stops for 30 minutes, then travels 40 km in 1 hour. What is its average speed over the 2.5 hours?

    • 80 km/h
    • 27 km/h
    • 40 km/h
    • 32 km/h

  8. A horizontal section on a journey graph lasts 20 minutes. What happened?

    • The object moved at 20 km/h
    • The object accelerated for 20 minutes
    • The object stopped for 20 minutes
    • The object moved backwards for 20 minutes

  9. Two lines start at zero on the same distance-time graph. One is steeper. Which is correct?

    • Steepness shows the distance travelled
    • The flatter line is the faster object
    • Both objects are moving at the same speed
    • The steeper line is the faster object

  10. A distance-time graph line curves upward. What does this tell you?

    • The speed is increasing
    • The object is stationary
    • The speed is constant
    • The object is moving backwards

  11. On a distance-time graph, the distance is 0 m at t = 0 s and 12 m at t = 4 s on a straight line. What is the speed?

    • 0.33 m/s
    • 8 m/s
    • 48 m/s
    • 3 m/s

  12. Two cars' lines cross on a distance-time graph. What does the crossing point show?

    • Both cars have the same mass, so they are at the same place at that time
    • Both cars are at the same position at that moment
    • Both cars have stopped, which is why their lines cross at the same point
    • Both cars have crashed into each other at the point where the lines meet

  13. What does the horizontal axis show on a distance-time graph?

    • Distance
    • Time
    • Speed
    • Acceleration

  14. The distance-time graph of an object reaches 300 m at 10 s. What is its speed?

    • 310 m/s
    • 0.03 m/s
    • 30 m/s
    • 3000 m/s

  15. A walk starts at 0 m and reaches 500 m after 400 s. What is the speed?

    • 1.25 m/s
    • 200 m/s
    • 400 m/s
    • 0.8 m/s

  16. A journey has three parts: 0 to 2 min covering 120 m, 2 to 4 min stopped, and 4 to 6 min covering 240 m. What is the average speed over the 6 minutes?

    • 3 m/s
    • 1 m/s
    • 0.5 m/s
    • 2 m/s

  17. A distance-time curve gets less steep over time. What is happening?

    • The object is slowing down
    • The object is accelerating in reverse
    • The object is speeding up
    • The object is stationary

  18. Between t = 10 s and t = 20 s, the gradient of a distance-time line is 3 m/s. How far does the object move in that interval?

    • 30 m
    • 3 m
    • 300 m
    • 0.3 m

  19. Two runners race. One reaches 100 m at 20 s and the other at 25 s. Which has the higher average speed?

    • The runner who reached 100 m at 20 s
    • They have the same average speed
    • It cannot be found from these times
    • The runner who reached 100 m at 25 s

  20. A distance-time graph is a flat horizontal line from 5 s to 15 s. What is the speed in this interval?

    • Zero
    • 10 m/s
    • 15 m/s
    • 5 m/s

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