A motorboat accelerates from rest in a straight line across a calm lake. The boat's engine exerts a constant horizontal driving force. The resistive force (drag) from the water is proportional to the speed of the boat.
Why does the boat eventually reach a constant maximum speed?
The resistive forces decrease to make the acceleration of the boat negative.
The resistive forces decrease to make the acceleration of the boat zero.
The resistive forces increase to make the acceleration of the boat negative.
The resistive forces increase to make the acceleration of the boat zero.
245 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 1.5 Forces, covering 1.5.1a Forces, resultant force and motion, 1.5.1b Load–extension graphs and the spring constant, 1.5.1c Friction and drag, 1.5.1d Force, mass and acceleration, 1.5.1e Motion in a circular path, 1.5.2a Moment of a force, 1.5.2b Principle of moments and equilibrium, and 1.5.3 Centre of gravity and stability. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.