A delivery drone takes off vertically from rest and accelerates upwards. After several seconds, the drone reaches a constant height and hovers in place. Describe the motion of the drone during these two stages, referring to the drone's velocity and acceleration in each stage.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
A delivery drone is used to transport small parcels. The drone takes off vertically from a rooftop launch pad, accelerates upwards, and then hovers at a fixed height before descending to deliver its parcel.
Model answer (4 marks)
During the first stage the drone starts from rest and accelerates upward. Its velocity therefore increases from zero to a positive value.
During the first stage the acceleration is positive (non‑zero) and points upward.
During the hovering stage the drone’s vertical velocity is zero (or constant at a fixed height).
During the hovering stage the acceleration is zero.
During the first stage the acceleration is positive (non‑zero) and points upward.
During the hovering stage the drone’s vertical velocity is zero (or constant at a fixed height).
During the hovering stage the acceleration is zero.
Examiner tips
- Use the word ‘accelerate’ for the first stage, ‘hover’ for the second.
- Mention the direction of acceleration (upward) to show understanding.
- State that velocity is zero during hovering to match the mark scheme.
- Keep the answer concise – 4 short sentences is enough for full marks.
Common mistakes
- Saying the velocity is ‘constant’ during the first stage – it is actually increasing.
- Confusing the direction of acceleration – writing ‘downward’ instead of ‘upward’ for the first stage.
- Forgetting to mention that acceleration is zero during hovering.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- During the first stage, the drone's velocity increases (from zero / from rest)
- During the first stage, the drone has a (positive / non-zero) acceleration
- During the hovering stage, the drone's velocity is constant / zero (accept either: constant at a fixed height means zero vertical velocity)
- During the hovering stage, the acceleration is zero
Key terms in this question
Related
- All Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0) revision notes →
- How to answer a "Describe" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
More Motion questions
- A cyclist sets off from rest and reaches a speed of 12 m/s over a period of time…
- A sprinter runs a 100 m race. During the first 4 seconds, the sprinter accelerat…
- A passenger train travels between two stations. It leaves the first station from…
- A car travels along a straight road. For the first part of the journey, the car …