# A sprinter starts a 100 m race from rest and reaches a top speed before crossing the finish line. Describe the motion of the sprinter during the race, using the terms distance, speed, velocity and acceleration in your answer.

> Eduqas A-Level Physics — 1.1 Basic physics quantities and motion · Describe · 5 marks

> A sprinter competes in a 100 m race on a straight track. At the starting gun, the sprinter is stationary. The sprinter accelerates hard before maintaining a near-constant top speed for the remainder of the race.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Distance is the total length of path travelled (accept: distance is a scalar quantity / distance does not depend on direction)
2. Speed is the distance travelled per unit time (accept: rate of change of distance / how fast the sprinter is moving regardless of direction)
3. Velocity is the speed in a given direction (accept: velocity is a vector quantity that has both magnitude and direction)
4. At the start of the race the sprinter accelerates, meaning their velocity increases over time (accept: the sprinter's speed increases from zero / the rate of change of velocity is positive at the start)
5. When the sprinter reaches top speed, acceleration is zero and velocity is constant (accept: at top speed the sprinter no longer accelerates / speed stays the same so acceleration = 0)

## Key terms

- [distance](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/distance)
- [speed](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/speed)
- [velocity](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/velocity)
- [acceleration](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/acceleration)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-sprinter-starts-a-100-m-6768e0da) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.