Science · Forces & Motion
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Secondary 1 · Science · Topic Drill

Forces, Speed &
Pressure

Speed · Distance-time · Balanced & unbalanced forces · Pressure
17 questions · self-marked · 25 marks

📺 Watch & Learn first

Stuck? Watch a short video, then come back and try the questions.

🚗 Speed & Time ⬅ Forces & Motion 🦵 Pressure ⭐ Challenge
🚗
Section A

Speed, Distance & Time

Speed tells you how far something travels each second. speed = distance ÷ time  Rearrange it: distance = speed × time and time = distance ÷ speed. Speed is usually measured in metres per second (m/s).
Try it — set a speed and watch the distance-time graph build
5 m/s
Time
0.0 s
Distance
0 m
Speed
5 m/s
A steeper line on a distance-time graph means a faster speed. A flat line means stopped.
Q1
A cyclist covers 120 m in 15 s. Which calculation gives their speed?
1 mark
120 ÷ 15
120 × 15
15 ÷ 120
120 + 15
Q2
A runner covers 100 m in 20 s. What is her speed?
2 marks
m/s
Q3
A cyclist rides at 6 m/s for 30 s. How far does she travel?
2 marks
m
Q4
A car travels 240 m at a steady 8 m/s. How long does the journey take?
2 marks
s
Q5
On a distance-time graph, what does a steeper line mean?
1 mark
The object is moving more slowly
The object is going backwards
The object has stopped
The object is moving faster (greater speed)
Q6
A horizontal (flat) section on a distance-time graph tells you the object is…
1 mark
Speeding up
Moving at a steady, high speed
Changing direction
Stationary (not moving)
SPEED, DISTANCE & TIME — SECTION SCORE
0/9
Section B

Forces & Motion

A force is a push or a pull, measured in newtons (N). When the forces on an object are balanced (equal and opposite) it stays still or keeps moving at a steady speed. When forces are unbalanced, the object speeds up, slows down or changes direction in the direction of the resultant force.
Try it — change the two forces and watch what the box does
Left 6 N
Right 6 N
Balanced — resultant 0 N. The box stays still.
Q7
What is the unit used to measure force?
1 mark
Metre (m)
Watt (W)
Newton (N)
Joule (J)
Q8
Which of these is not an example of a force?
1 mark
Temperature
Gravity (weight)
Friction
Air resistance
Q9
A box is pushed with 10 N to the right and friction pushes 4 N to the left. What is the resultant force?
2 marks
N (to the right)
Q10
The forces on a moving car are balanced. What happens to the car?
1 mark
It keeps moving at a steady (constant) speed
It speeds up
It immediately stops
It turns around
Q11
An unbalanced force acts on a stationary trolley. What will the trolley do?
1 mark
Stay perfectly still
Start to move (accelerate) in the direction of the resultant force
Get heavier
Change colour
Q12
In which direction does friction act on a box being pushed across the floor?
1 mark
In the same direction as the push (it helps movement)
In the opposite direction to the movement (it opposes movement)
Straight down towards the floor
Straight up away from the floor
FORCES & MOTION — SECTION SCORE
0/7
🦵
Section C

Pressure

Pressure is how much force is pressing on each unit of area. pressure = force ÷ area  The same force on a smaller area gives a higher pressure (a sharp knife), and on a larger area gives a lower pressure (snowshoes, camel feet). Pressure is measured in N/m² (also called pascals, Pa).
Q13
Which is the correct formula for pressure?
1 mark
pressure = force × area
pressure = area ÷ force
pressure = force ÷ area
pressure = force + area
Q14
A force of 200 N presses on an area of 4 m². What is the pressure?
2 marks
N/m²
Q15
Why does a sharp knife cut more easily than a blunt one, even with the same pushing force?
1 mark
A sharp blade has a larger area, so it produces a higher pressure
A sharp blade has a smaller area, so it produces a higher pressure
A sharp blade uses a bigger force
A sharp blade is always heavier
PRESSURE — SECTION SCORE
0/4
Section D

Challenge Questions

Q16 ⭐
Challenge: A train travels 1500 m in 1 minute. What is its average speed in m/s?
3 marks
m/s
Q17 ⭐
Challenge: An elephant weighs 40 000 N and stands on 4 feet. Each foot has an area of 0.1 m². What is the pressure under each foot?
2 marks
N/m²
CHALLENGE — SECTION SCORE
0/5