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Leaving Cert Physics: Linear motion

How often Linear motion comes up on the Physics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2027 is the first exam on the new Physics course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

Linear motion, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Linear motion.

(a)Define velocity.
  1. Rate of change of speed
  2. Rate of change of displacement
  3. The total distance travelled
(b)An object is dropped from rest. Its speed after 3.0 s (g = 9.8 m s⁻²)?
  1. 9.8 m s⁻¹
  2. 44.1 m s⁻¹
  3. 29.4 m s⁻¹
(c)A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 20 m s⁻¹ in 8.0 s. Its acceleration?
  1. 2.5 m s⁻²
  2. 0.40 m s⁻²
  3. 160 m s⁻²
Show the answers

(a) Rate of change of displacement

(b) 29.4 m s⁻¹

(c) 2.5 m s⁻²

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Linear motion.

Higher Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q7, Q14(a)
2025Q6(c)
2024Q7
2023Q6(a), Q7
2022Q14(a)
2021Q6(a), Q6(b)
2019Not asked
2018Q6
2017Q6
2016Q5(b)

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Linear motion questions

Linear motion, 3 marks

A car at 15 m s⁻¹ brakes with a deceleration of 5.0 m s⁻². What is its braking distance?

  1. 45 m
  2. 3.0 m
  3. 22.5 m
Show the answer

22.5 m

v² = u² + 2as: 0 = 15² − 2 × 5.0 × s, so s = 225 ÷ 10 = 22.5 m. 3.0 is the braking time in seconds; 45 m forgets the 2.

Linear motion, 2 marks

A velocity–time graph is a horizontal line above the time axis. What does it show?

  1. The object is standing still at one point
  2. Constant velocity and zero acceleration
  3. Constant acceleration, starting from rest
Show the answer

Constant velocity and zero acceleration

A flat line means the velocity is not changing, so the slope (acceleration) is zero. An object at rest would lie along the time axis itself.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 9 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q6(a)
2025Q7
2024Q6(b), Q7, Q14(a)
2023Q6(b), Q7, Q14(a)
2022Q1, Q7
2021Q6(b)
2019Q6
2018Q12(a)
2017Q5(a), Q12(a)
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Linear motion questions

Linear motion, 2 marks

Define speed.

  1. Change in velocity per unit time
  2. Displacement in a given direction per unit time
  3. Distance travelled per unit time
Show the answer

Distance travelled per unit time

Speed = distance ÷ time, unit m s⁻¹. It has size only, so it is a scalar. Adding a direction turns it into velocity.

Linear motion, 3 marks

Distance covered in 4 s by a car moving at a steady 25 m s⁻¹?

  1. 29 m
  2. 100 m
  3. 6.25 m
Show the answer

100 m

Distance = speed × time = 25 × 4 = 100 m. 6.25 comes from dividing 25 by 4.

Linear motion, 2 marks

Define acceleration.

  1. Rate of change of velocity
  2. Rate of change of distance
  3. Velocity multiplied by time
Show the answer

Rate of change of velocity

Acceleration = (v − u) ÷ t, unit m s⁻². A body speeding up, slowing down or changing direction is accelerating.

Other Physics topics

All of Leaving Cert Physics