Speed and acceleration

  • Paradoxes
    article

    Paradoxes

    A paradox is a statement that seems to be both untrue and true at the same time. This article looks at a few examples and challenges you to investigate them for yourself.
  • In Constantly Passing
    problem

    In constantly passing

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    A car is travelling along a dual carriageway at constant speed. Every 3 minutes a bus passes going in the opposite direction, while every 6 minutes a bus passes the car travelling in the same direction. Buses leave the depot at regular intervals; they travel along the dual carriageway and back to the depot at a constant speed. At what interval do the buses leave the depot?
  • Tummy Ache
    problem

    Tummy ache

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Timmy, Tammy and Tommy all go to the doctors. In what order do they arrive at the surgery?
  • Circuit training
    problem

    Circuit training

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Mike and Monisha meet at the race track, which is 400m round. Just to make a point, Mike runs anticlockwise whilst Monisha runs clockwise. Where will they meet on their way around and will they ever meet at the start again? If so, after how many circuits?
  • Motion Sensor
    problem

    Motion sensor

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    Looking at the graph - when was the person moving fastest? Slowest?
  • Thunder and Lightning
    problem

    Thunder and lightning

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    How far away was the lightning if the flash and the thunderclap were 6 seconds apart?
  • Escalator
    problem

    Escalator

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    At Holborn underground station there is a very long escalator. Two people are in a hurry and so climb the escalator as it is moving upwards, thus adding their speed to that of the moving steps. ... How many steps are there on the escalator?
  • One and three
    problem

    One and three

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Two motorboats travelling up and down a lake at constant speeds leave opposite ends A and B at the same instant, passing each other, for the first time 600 metres from A, and on their return, 400 metres from B. How long is the lake?
  • Don't Be Late
    problem

    Don't be late

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Mary is driving to Birmingham Airport. Using her average speed for the entire journey, find how long her journey took.