Name: ________________________

Mechanics Practice
Questions Class: ________________________

Date: ________________________

Time: 160 minutes

Marks: 112 marks

Comments:

Page 1 of 30
Q1.
A ball is kicked from point P on level ground. The ball initially travels at 45° to the
horizontal.
The ball reaches its maximum height after a time of 2.0 s.
Air resistance can be ignored.

What is the displacement of the ball from P when at its maximum height?

A 20 m

B 40 m

C 45 m

D 60 m

(Total 1 mark)

Q2.
Which line, A to D, in the table shows correctly whether the moment of a force, and
momentum, are scalar or vector quantities?

moment of force momentum

A scalar scalar

B scalar vector

C vector scalar

D vector vector
(Total 1 mark)

Page 2 of 30
Q3.
A car wheel nut can be loosened by applying a force of 200 N on the end of a bar of
length 0.8 m as in X. A car mechanic is capable of applying forces of 500 N
simultaneously in opposite directions on the ends of a wheel wrench as in Y.

X Y

What is the minimum length l of the wrench which would be needed for him to loosen the
nut?

A 0.16 m

B 0.32 m

C 0.48 m

D 0.64 m
(Total 1 mark)

Q4.
P and Q are two balls of the same diameter. P has a greater mass than Q.

Both balls are projected at the same time from the top of a tall building that stands on
horizontal ground.
Both balls are projected with the same horizontal velocity.
P reaches the ground after time tP and at a horizontal distance dP from the building.
Q reaches the ground after time tQ and at a horizontal distance dQ from the building.

The air is still and air resistance is not negligible.

Which row is correct?

Horizontal
Time
distance

A tP = tQ dP = dQ
B tP = tQ dP > dQ
C tP < tQ dP = dQ
D tP < tQ dP > dQ
(Total 1 mark)

Page 3 of 30
Q5.
A sphere of mass m falls with speed v.
The resistive force on the sphere is kv, where k is a constant.

What is the terminal speed of the sphere?

C kmg

(Total 1 mark)

Q6.
(a) Figure 1 shows a skier descending the ramp of a ski jump. Figure 2 shows a graph
of the distance travelled along the ramp against time, from the time the descent
starts until the skier leaves the end of the ramp.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Page 4 of 30
The skier of mass 80 kg (including equipment) skis down the ramp and leaves it
horizontally. The skier gains 55% of the available gravitational potential energy as
kinetic energy when descending the ramp.

acceleration of free fall, g = 9.8 m s–2

(i) One energy transformation which occurs as the skier skis down the ramp is
from gravitational potential energy to kinetic energy of the skier. State two
other energy transformations that occur as the skier skis down the ramp.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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(2)

(ii) Use Figure 2 to show that the speed at which the skier leaves the ramp is
about 23 m s–1. Show your reasoning clearly.

______________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________
(2)

(iii) Determine the height of the ramp.

______________________________________________________________

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(3)

Page 5 of 30
(b) Figure 1 shows the path taken by the skier after leaving the ramp.
Assuming that there was no lift or drag due to the air during this jump, calculate:

(i) the time for which the skier was in flight;

(2)

(ii) the horizontal distance jumped by the skier before landing.

(2)

(c) On landing the skier has considerable vertical momemtum that has to be reduced to
zero. The surface on which the skier lands is hard-packed snow. To reduce the
force experienced by the skier, the landing surface is angled at 40° to the horizontal.

Explain briefly how angling the landing surface reduces the vertical component of
the force, experienced by the skier.

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(3)
(Total 14 marks)

Page 6 of 30
Q7.
Horses were once used to power machinery in factories, mines and mills. The figure
below shows two horses attached to a beam which turns a wheel. This wheel drives
machinery.

(a) Each horse exerts a force of 810 N and the length of the beam is 7.3 m.

(i) Define the moment of a couple.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Calculate the moment of the couple exerted by the horses, stating an
appropriate unit.

answer = ______________________
(2)

Page 7 of 30
(b) The horses move at a constant speed of 0.91ms–1. Calculate the combined power
output of the two horses. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant
figures.

answer = ______________________ W
(3)

(c) During the Industrial Revolution in the 19th Century, James Watt became well
known for developing and improving steam engines to replace horses. He defined
the unit of power called ‘horsepower’ by studying a system similar to the one shown
in the figure above.

Suggest why Watt decided to use horsepower as a unit of power.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 8 of 30
Q8.
Figure 1 shows a robotic helicopter that is used on Mars. The helicopter is powered by a
battery. Before each flight, the battery is charged by a solar panel.

Figure 1

Figure 2 shows the helicopter hovering at a constant height above the surface of Mars.
The rotor blades move a column of atmospheric gas vertically downwards at a velocity of
17.2 m s−1. The diameter of this column is 1.2 m.

Figure 2

Page 9 of 30
(a) The gas moved by the rotor blades has a density of 0.020 kg m−3.

Show that the helicopter moves approximately 0.4 kg of gas every second.

(3)

The movement of the gas creates an upward force on the helicopter. This upward force
enables the helicopter to hover at a constant height.

The gravitational field strength on Mars is 3.72 N kg−1.

(b) Calculate the mass of the helicopter.

mass = ____________________ kg
(3)

Page 10 of 30
(c) The battery stores 0.035 kW h of energy before a flight.
The flight lasts for 39 s.
The battery has a power output of 340 W during the flight.

Determine the percentage of the initial energy stored in the battery that is
transferred during the flight.

percentage = ____________________ %
(2)

(d) The helicopter has a maximum flight time of a few minutes due to the limited amount
of energy stored in the battery. The battery accounts for about 15% of the
helicopter’s mass.

A student suggests that adding another identical battery that doubles the energy
available to the helicopter would double its flight time.

Deduce without calculation whether the student’s suggestion is correct.

___________________________________________________________________

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(3)

Page 11 of 30
Figure 3 shows a simplified side view of the helicopter moving vertically upwards with a
speed of 0.55 m s−1.
At the instant shown, the helicopter is at a height h and the blades stop rotating.

Figure 3

The gravitational field strength on Mars is 3.72 N kg−1.

The weight of the helicopter is the only force acting on it when the blades stop rotating.
Drag forces on the helicopter are negligible as it rises to a maximum height and then falls
back to the surface.

(e) Calculate the time taken for the helicopter to reach its maximum height from the
instant the blades stop rotating.

time = ____________________ s
(2)

(f) When the helicopter makes contact with the surface it has a velocity of 2.2 m s−1.

Calculate h.

h = ____________________ m
(2)

Page 12 of 30
 (g) A student suggests that the acceleration of the helicopter is constant from the instant
the blades stop rotating until the helicopter makes contact with the surface.

Discuss this suggestion with reference to an appropriate Newton’s law of motion.

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 17 marks)

Q9.
(a) Figure 1 shows a ship leaving a harbour at a constant velocity.

The ship moves at the same velocity as a person walking on the harbour wall
alongside the ship.

Figure 1

The momentum of the ship is approximately 1 × 107 N s.

Estimate the mass of the ship.

mass of ship = _______________ kg

(2)

Page 13 of 30
(b) Figure 2 shows the direction of the thrust exerted by the ship’s propeller as the
propeller rotates. The ship’s engine makes the propeller rotate. When more water is
accelerated, more work is done by the engine.

Figure 2

Explain, using Newton’s laws of motion, how the thrust of the propeller on the water
enables the ship to maintain a constant momentum.

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(4)

Page 14 of 30
(c) Figure 3 shows the bottom of the hull with a drag reduction system in operation.
Air bubbles are introduced into the water below the hull. This reduces the work done
per second against the drag on the hull at any given speed.

However, when the air bubbles reach the propeller they decrease the mass of water
being accelerated by the propeller every second. This decreases the thrust
produced by the propeller at a given speed of rotation.

Figure 3

The system enables the ship to save fuel while maintaining the same momentum.

Explain why the system delivers this fuel saving.

In your answer, consider the effects of the introduction of the system on
• the thrust
• the drag on the hull.

___________________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 15 of 30
Q10.
Figure 1 shows a conveyor used to raise concrete blocks on a building site. The blocks
do not slip on the belt at any time.

Figure 1

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of one block on the belt. The belt is inclined at 23° to
the horizontal. The mass of the block is 19 kg.

Figure 2

The belt exerts a frictional force F on the block when the block is at rest.

(a) Draw an arrow on Figure 2 to show the line of action of F.

(1)

(b) Show that the magnitude of F is approximately 70 N.

(1)

Page 16 of 30
(c) The belt is driven by an electric motor. When the motor is switched on, the belt and
the block accelerate uniformly from rest to a speed of 0.32 m s−1 in a time of 0.50 s.

Calculate the magnitude of the frictional force of the belt on the block during this
acceleration.

frictional force = _______________ N

(3)

(d) The motor is connected to a 110 V dc supply that has negligible internal resistance.
The maximum operating current in the motor is 5.0 A.

The efficiency of the motor and drive system of the conveyor is 28%. The belt
travels at 0.32 m s−1 and is 8.0 m long.

Deduce the maximum number of blocks that can be moved on the belt at one time.

maximum number of blocks = _______________

(4)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 17 of 30
Q11.
Figure 1 shows a spoon used to measure the mass of food.

The empty spoon balances when a pivot is placed under a point P halfway along the
spoon.

Figure 1

The spoon tilts when food of mass M is placed in the bowl. The spoon is rebalanced by
moving the pivot a distance x to the right of P. The new position of the pivot is under
point Q in Figure 2.

Figure 2

The total length of the spoon is 32.0 cm. The weight of the food acts through a line at a
distance of 4.0 cm from the right-hand edge of the spoon.

(a) Explain why the spoon in Figure 2 is balanced when the pivot is at Q.

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(2)

Page 18 of 30
(b) The empty spoon has mass m .

Show that, for the arrangement in Figure 2,

(2)

(c) Figure 3 shows how x varies with M .

Figure 3

Determine, using Figure 3, the weight of the empty spoon.

weight = ____________________ N
(3)

Page 19 of 30
 (d) A scale, in grams, is marked on the spoon between P and the bowl. Figure 3 is
used to calibrate this scale in intervals of 25 g.

M can be measured by balancing the spoon. The value is read from the point of the
scale directly above the pivot.

State and explain how the uncertainty in the value read from the scale changes as
M increases.
___________________________________________________________________

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)

Q12.
A student investigates moments by suspending a 100 cm ruler from two force meters, A
and B. A and B are attached to the ruler 12.0 cm from each end. Their supports are
adjusted to make A and B vertical and the ruler horizontal.

Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of the experiment.

Figure 1

Page 20 of 30
(a) The ruler is uniform and weighs 1.12 N.

Determine the reading on A.

reading = ____________________ N
(1)

(b) The student suggests that the forces exerted on the ruler by A and B act as a
couple.

Discuss whether his suggestion is correct.

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) The student hangs a mass of weight W on the ruler between A and B, as shown in
Figure 2.
He adjusts the supports so that A and B are again vertical and the ruler is
horizontal. The mass hangs at a distance d from A.

Figure 2

Page 21 of 30
 The reading on A is 0.82 N and the reading on B is 0.62 N.

Determine
• W
• d.

W = ____________________ N

d = ____________________ m
(4)

(d) A second student sets up the same apparatus as shown in Figure 2.

She suspends the mass in the same position on the ruler as in question (c).
She moves the supports to make A and B vertical but does not make the ruler
horizontal.

Discuss whether the readings on A and B taken by this student are different to those
in question (c).

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(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 22 of 30
Q13.
(a) State what is meant by the centre of mass of an object.

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(1)

(b) A uniform plank of wood of mass 32 kg and length 4.0 m is used by a boy to help
him cross a ditch. In the ditch is a rock, which is used to support the plank
horizontally 0.80 m from one end, as shown in the diagram. The other end of the
plank is supported by the bank.

Calculate the vertical supporting force from the rock when the plank is placed in
position as shown in the diagram.

supporting force = ____________________ N

(2)

Page 23 of 30
 (c) The boy has a mass of 46 kg.

Determine whether the boy can walk to the far end of the plank without it tipping.
Support your answer with a calculation.

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___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q14.
The diagram below shows a vase placed on a uniform shelf that is supported by a steel
wire.

The mass of the vase is 0.65 kg and the mass of the shelf is 2.0 kg. The shelf is hinged at
A. The steel wire is attached to the shelf 0.30 m from A and is at an angle of 30° to the
shelf. The other end of the steel wire is attached to the wall.

(a) State the principle of moments.

___________________________________________________________________

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(2)

Page 24 of 30
 (b) Show, by taking moments about A, that the tension in the steel wire is about 50 N.

(4)

(c) The cross-sectional area of the steel wire is 7.8 × 10−7 m2. The steel has a Young
modulus of 180 GPa.

Calculate the tensile strain of the steel wire when it is holding up the shelf and the
vase.

tensile strain =____________________

(2)
(Total 8 marks)

Q15.
The diagram shows two of the forces acting on a uniform ladder resting against a vertical
wall. The ladder is at an angle of 60° to the ground.

Page 25 of 30
(a) Explain how the diagram shows that the friction between the ladder and the wall is
negligible.

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___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The forces acting on the ladder are in equilibrium.

Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the direction of the resultant force from the
ground acting on the ladder. Label your arrow G.
(2)

(c) The ladder is 8.0 m long and weighs 390 N.

Calculate the magnitude of the resultant force from the wall on the ladder.

resultant force = ____________________ N

(2)

(d) Suggest the changes to the forces acting on the ladder that occur when someone
climbs the ladder.

___________________________________________________________________

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___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 8 marks)

Page 26 of 30
Q16.
Figure 1 shows a worker of weight 750 N on a uniform platform. The weight of the worker
is acting at a horizontal distance d from end A.

Throughout this question, assume that the platform is horizontal and that all cables obey
Hooke’s law.

Figure 1

The platform weighs 1800 N and is suspended by vertical cables P and Q.

Each cable has an unstretched length of 3.0 m.
The horizontal distance between P and Q is 3.6 m.

(a) The worker moves to a position where the tension in the left-hand cable P is 1150
N.

Calculate d for this position.

d = _______________ m
(3)

Page 27 of 30
Figure 2 shows how the extension of P varies with d as the worker walks slowly along the
platform from A to B.

Figure 2

The worker moves to a position X where the strain in P is 6.0 × 10−5.

(b) Determine d for position X.

d = _______________ m
(2)

(c) The cable material has a Young modulus of 1.9 × 1011 N m−2.

Calculate the tensile stress in P when the worker is at X.

tensile stress = _______________ N m−2

(1)

Page 28 of 30
(d) The original cables P and Q are replaced.

The table below shows how the properties of the original cables compare with the
replacement cables.

Young modulus
Unstretched
Radius of cable
length
material

Original cables L r E
Replacement
cables
L 2E

After the cables have been replaced, the worker walks slowly from A to B.

Draw on Figure 3 a line to show the variation of the extension of the replacement
left-hand cable with d.
The original line from Figure 2 is shown on Figure 3 as a dashed line to help you.

Figure 3

(3)
(Total 9 marks)

Page 29 of 30
 [9]

Page 30 of 30