Speed and acceleration

  • Overtake
    problem

    Overtake

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Tom and Tim are travelling towards Glasgow, but leave at different times. If Tim overtakes Tom, how fast is he travelling?
  • Bike Shop
    problem

    Bike shop

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    If I walk to the bike shop, but then cycle back, what is my average speed?
  • On the Road
    problem

    On the road

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Four vehicles travelled on a road. What can you deduce from the times that they met?
  • Speedy Sidney
    problem

    Speedy Sidney

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Two trains set off at the same time from each end of a single straight railway line. A very fast bee starts off in front of the first train and flies continuously back and forth between the two trains. How far does Sidney fly before he is squashed between the two trains?

  • There and back
    problem

    There and back

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Brian swims at twice the speed that a river is flowing, downstream from one moored boat to another and back again, taking 12 minutes altogether. How long would it have taken him in still water?
  • Illusion
    problem

    Illusion

    Age
    11 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    A security camera, taking pictures each half a second, films a cyclist going by. In the film, the cyclist appears to go forward while the wheels appear to go backwards. Why?
  • Hike and Hitch
    problem

    Hike and hitch

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Fifteen students had to travel 60 miles. They could use a car, which could only carry 5 students. As the car left with the first 5 (at 40 miles per hour), the remaining 10 commenced hiking along the road (at 4 miles per hour)...
  • Around and Back
    problem

    Around and back

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    A cyclist and a runner start off simultaneously around a race track each going at a constant speed. The cyclist goes all the way around and then catches up with the runner. He then instantly turns around and heads back to the starting point where he meets the runner who is just finishing his first circuit. Find the ratio of their speeds.
  • Lap Times
    problem

    Lap times

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    Can you find the lap times of the two cyclists travelling at constant speeds?
  • John's train is on time
    problem

    John's train is on time

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    A train leaves on time. After it has gone 8 miles (at 33mph) the driver looks at his watch and sees that the hour hand is exactly over the minute hand. When did the train leave the station?