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Date May 2022 Marks available 1 Reference code 22M.1.HL.TZ2.4
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone 2
Command term Question number 4 Adapted from N/A

Question

A ball is thrown upwards at time t = 0. The graph shows the variation with time of the height of the ball. The ball returns to the initial height at time T.

What is the height h at time t ?

A.  12gt2

B.  12gT2

C.  12gTT-t

D.  12gtT-t

Markscheme

D

Examiners report

This question proved challenging, many more candidates chose answer A instead of correct D. Candidates need to be aware that there are useful strategies for answering questions, especially ones they may find difficult. Eliminate choices that are clearly wrong - here A (and therefore B as well) are incorrect as they reflect an equation producing a height that always increases. It is also sometimes helpful to invent numbers to test the equations, e.g. assuming that the height is a known value, testing the possible answers given. Five metres would work here, as the height covered in free-fall from rest during one second. Thrown upwards at 5 m/s, it would take 1 second to go up and another to come back, therefore T = 2s. Only D would give the correct answer of 0 m after 1 s. The question also produced many comments on the G2 due to its difficulty. It must be remembered that questions appear in guide topic order so it is unlikely that harder questions will only appear towards the middle of the paper.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 2: Mechanics » 2.1 – Motion
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