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A Level · AS · multiple choice

AS Level foundations · Question 2

AS Level foundations · Original GioPhysics question with a detailed, mark-by-mark answer guide.

Demand
demanding
Marks
1
Topics
1
Answer
Complete
A stone thrown horizontally from the top of a 45 m cliff45 m12 m s⁻¹distance from the base of the cliffnot to scale
Fig. 2.1A cliff of height 45 m rises vertically from level ground. A stone leaves the very edge of the cliff top moving horizontally, its initial velocity shown by an arrow labelled 12 m s⁻¹ pointing away from the cliff, and a dashed curve traces its path down to the ground. The height of the cliff is marked 45 m; the horizontal distance from the base of the cliff to the point where the stone lands is marked by a dimension line but is given no value. The figure is not to scale.
multiple choice1 mark

A stone is thrown horizontally at 12 m s⁻¹ from the top of a cliff 45 m high. Air resistance is negligible. How far from the base of the cliff does it land?

  1. A

    27 m

  2. B

    36 m

  3. C

    45 m

  4. D

    110 m

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Answer overviewCorrect answer: B — 36 m
01

Answer and reasoning

1 mark
How to approach it

Predict from the governing principle before looking for a matching option. Then reject alternatives by checking direction, units, limiting behaviour or the physical meaning of each statement.

  1. 1

    The correct choice is B: 36 m

  2. 2

    D takes t = 2h/g without the square root — the single commonest projectile slip. C is the height of the cliff itself, offered to candidates who lose track of which quantity they are finding. The horizontal velocity never changes, so the only work in the question is finding the time of the fall: t = √(2 × 45 / 9.81) = 3.03 s.

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