Physics (AS & A Level) · May / June 2026 · Paper 14 · Question 5

An athlete runs at a constant speed in a straight line to a point X. At X, the athlete changes direction and runs back in a straight line to the starting point at the same constant speed. Assume that the athlete changes direction instantaneously. Which velocity–time graph represents the motion of the athlete?

1. Avelocity-time graph: straight line with negative gradient starting from positive velocity, crossing time axis
2. Bvelocity-time graph: triangular shape, velocity increases from zero then decreases back to zero
3. Cvelocity-time graph: horizontal line at constant positive velocity
4. Dvelocity-time graph: horizontal line at constant positive velocity then instantaneously drops to constant negative velocity

As printed in the paper