IGCSE Cambridge (CIE) Physics 2 hours 15 questions
Theory Questions
Effects of Forces
Resultant Forces / Newton's First Law / Newton's Second Law / Investigating Force
& Extension / Hooke's Law / Circular Motion / Friction
Easy (5 questions) /28 Scan here to return to the course
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Medium (5 questions) /29
Hard (5 questions) /38
Total Marks /95
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Easy Questions
1 (a) State Newton's first law of motion.
An object will stay at rest or in motion at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force
(1 mark)
(b) Extended tier only
Newton's second law describes the change in motion caused by a resultant force.
State the equation which links acceleration, resultant force and mass.
Force = mass x acceleration
(1 mark)
(c) State what happens to the motion of a moving object when a resultant force is applied to
it in the opposite direction to the motion.
Object will slow down or stop.
(1 mark)
(d) Extended tier only
State what happens to the motion of a moving object when a resultant force is applied to
it in a perpendicular direction to the motion.
Object will change direction
(1 mark)
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2 (a) Fig.3.1 shows the load-extension graphs for two springs, A and B.
Determine the extension of spring A for a load of 10N.
12.5
extension = .................................................. mm
(1 mark)
(b) Extended tier only
State which spring is easier to stretch and give a reason for your answer.
Spring B. The spring has a larger extension that spring A for the same load.
(2 marks)
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(c) A different spring is suspended from the edge of a bench, as shown in Fig.3.2.
With no load on the spring, the pin points to 19.7 cm on the metre rule, as shown in Fig.
3.2.
When a load of 6.0N is attached to the spring, the pin points to 43.9 cm, as shown in Fig.
3.3.
(i) Calculate the extension of this spring for a load of 6.0 N.
43.9 - 19.7 = 24.2 cm [1]
extension = ....................................................
(ii) Describe how a student could use the equipment in Fig. 3.2 to obtain accurate
readings for a load-extension graph for this spring.
[2]
The student could obtain the length of a load of a different mass (for eg, 4 N) and determine the extension.
After this, the student can plot the two extensions for the two loads respectively on a load extension graph and draw a straight line.
However, the student will have to find out the point of disproportionality to determine where the straight line ends.
(3 marks)
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3 (a) A model aircraft is flying through air. Fig. 3.1 shows the forces acting on the model
aircraft. The weight of the model aircraft is 15.0 N.
(i) Determine the size and direction of the resultant horizontal force acting on the model
aircraft.
8 N
size of resultant horizontal force = ......................................................
Left
direction of resultant horizontal force = ..........................................................
[1]
(ii) Describe the change in the motion of the model aircraft.
[2]
The aircraft has a resultant force of 8N towards the left, therefore is constantly accelerating.
(3 marks)
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(b) The horizontal forces acting on the model aircraft become balanced.
Suggest how the horizontal forces acting on the model aircraft have changed.
The forces pulling the aircraft to the left and to the right are the same.
(1 mark)
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4 (a) A truck of mass 8.0 kg is rolling down a slight incline as shown in Fig. 1.1.
Fig. 1.1
The truck travels at a constant speed.
Explain why the truck does not accelerate, even though it is on an incline.
The forces acting on it are balanced. The friction opposing the force is equal to the
downhill force.
(2 marks)
(b) The slope of the incline is increased. As a result of this, the truck now accelerates.
Explain why the truck now accelerates.
The downhill force is now greater than the friction, meaning there is a net force.
(2 marks)
(c) Extended tier only
The truck’s acceleration is 2.0 m/s2.
Calculate the resultant force on the truck.
F = ma
F=8x2
F = 16 N
16 N
resultant force = ....................................
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(2 marks)
(d) The acceleration of the truck can be increased by reducing the force of friction.
Suggest a way of reducing the friction in this investigation.
Lubricating the road
(1 mark)
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5 (a) Fig. 1.1 shows a man pulling a child on a sledge.
The mass of the child and the sledge is 42 kg.
The unbalanced force acting on the sledge is 46 N.
State the magnitude of the force that needs to be exerted by the man to make the sledge
move.
46 N
(1 mark)
(b) Name the force that is opposing the motion of the sledge.
Friction
(1 mark)
(c) Extended tier only
The sledge is then placed at the top of a hill and accelerates down the hill at 0.75 m/s2 .
Calculate the resultant force acting on the sledge.
F = 42 x 0.75
F = 31.5 N
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(3 marks)
(d) Assuming that the force opposing the motion of the sledge is the same, calculate the
total force acting down the hill.
You may draw a diagram in your answer.
(2 marks)
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Medium Questions
1 (a) A student stretches a spring by adding different loads to it. She measures the length of
the spring for each load. She plots a graph of the results.
Fig. 2.1 shows the graph of her results.
Use the graph to determine:
(i) the length of the spring without a load
length = .................................................. cm [1]
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(ii) the length of the spring with a load of 4.0 N
length = .................................................. cm [1]
(iii) the extension due to a 4.0 N load.
extension = .................................................. cm [1]
(3 marks)
(b) Complete the sentence about effects of forces. Choose words from the box.
colour friction pressure shape size speed
Stretching a spring with a load is an example of how a force can change the
.................................... and the .................................... of an object.
(2 marks)
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2 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows the vertical forces on a rocket.
Calculate the resultant force on the rocket.
resultant force = ........................................................... N
direction = ...........................................................
(3 marks)
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(b) Fig. 3.2 shows the speed and direction of motion of an object at a point in time.
The resultant force on the object is zero for 10 seconds.
Deduce the speed and direction of motion after 5 seconds. Indicate the speed and
direction of the object by drawing a labelled arrow next to the object in Fig. 3.3.
(1 mark)
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3 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows a spring with no load attached. Fig. 3.2 shows the same spring with a load
attached.
Describe how a student can determine the extension of the spring. You may draw on Fig.
3.1 and Fig. 3.2 as part of your answer.
(3 marks)
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(b) The student plots a graph of load against extension, as shown in Fig. 3.3.
(i) Determine the extension produced by a load of 7.5 N.
extension = ...................................................... cm [1]
(ii) Determine the load that would produce an extension of 10.0 cm.
load = ...................................................... N [1]
(2 marks)
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(c) Calculate the mass that has a weight of 6.0 N.
mass = ...................................................... kg
(3 marks)
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4 (a) Fig. 3.1 shows the horizontal forces acting on a swimmer.
(i) Calculate the size and direction of the resultant horizontal force on the swimmer.
size of resultant horizontal force = ...................................................... N
direction of resultant horizontal force = ......................................................
[1]
(ii) State the name of the 110 N force on the swimmer.
[1]
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(iii) Fig. 3.2 shows the horizontal forces acting on the swimmer as he moves forwards a
short time later.
Describe and explain the motion of the swimmer.
[2]
The swimmer will be moving at a constant velocity. This is because the forces are
balanced .
(4 marks)
(b) Another swimmer weighs 700N. He stands on a diving board, as shown in Fig. 3.3.
Calculate the moment of the swimmer’s weight about point P.
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2450
moment = ...................................................... Nm
Moment = force x distance
Moment = 700 x 3.5
Moment = 2450 Nm
(3 marks)
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5 (a) Extended tier only
A car travels around a circular track at constant speed.
Explain why it is incorrect to describe the circular motion as having constant velocity.
Circular motion means changing direction. Constant velocity refers both to constant
speed and constant direction.
(1 mark)
(b) Extended tier only
A force is required for the car to maintain the circular motion.
Explain why a force is required.
The car is constantly changing direction, which only happens at the presense of an
external force
(2 marks)
(c) Extended tier only
State the direction in which the force acts for objects in circular motion.
Towards the center
(1 mark)
(d) Extended tier only
State the name of this force for the car on the track.
Centripital force
(1 mark)
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Hard Questions
1 (a) A student is using some 50 g masses.
Calculate the weight of one 50 g mass.
weight of 50 g mass = ...................................................... N
(3 marks)
(b) The student uses the 50g masses as loads to stretch a spring.
Fig. 2.1 shows the apparatus the student uses to obtain readings for a load-extension
graph.
Describe how the student could use the apparatus and ensure that the readings are
accurate.
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(4 marks)
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2 (a) The mass of a small steel ball is 120 g. The volume of the ball is 16.0 cm3.
(i) Calculate the density of the steel ball.
density = ............................................... g / cm3 [3]
(ii) The ball falls to the ground from rest. At a time of 0.2 s after it started to fall, its
acceleration is 10 m / s2.
State the acceleration of the ball at a time of 0.1 s after it started to fall.
[1]
(4 marks)
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(b) Fig. 3.1 shows the vertical forces that act on a large plastic ball as it is falling.
(i) State the name given to each of the forces shown in Fig. 3.1.
[1]
(ii) Calculate the size of the resultant force on the ball.
resultant force = ...................................................... N [1]
(2 marks)
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3 (a) A load is attached to a spring, as shown in Fig. 3.1. Two arrows indicate the vertical forces
acting on the load. The spring and the load are stationary.
(i) State the name of the force acting vertically downwards.
[1]
(ii) The vertical force that acts upwards is 4.0 N.
State the value of the force acting vertically downwards.
force = ..................................................... N [1]
(2 marks)
(b) The load is pulled downwards and then released. The load moves up and down.
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Fig. 3.2 represents the vertical forces acting on the load at some time after it is released.
Calculate the resultant force on the load and state its direction.
resultant force = ........................................................... N direction =
...............................................................
(2 marks)
(c) (i) State the principle of conservation of energy.
[1]
(ii) Eventually the load stops moving up and down.
Describe and explain why the load stops moving. Use your ideas about conservation of
energy.
[2]
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(3 marks)
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4 (a) Extended tier only
Fig. 1.1 shows an aeroplane accelerating uniformly on a runway.
Fig. 1.1
The aeroplane has a mass of 3.1 × 106 kg.
From rest, the aeroplane reaches a speed of 70 m/s after 32 s.
Calculate the following quantities
(i) The acceleration of the aeroplane.
acceleration = .................................... [2]
(ii) The resultant force acting on the aeroplane.
resultant force = .................................... [2]
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(4 marks)
(b) Extended tier only
When the aeroplane reaches its destination, air traffic control directs it to circle the
airfield until there is a safe time to land.
Fig. 1.2 shows a head on view of the aeroplane flying at a constant speed in a circular
horizontal path.
Fig 1.2
Draw an arrow showing the resultant force on the aeroplane.
Explain your answer.
(3 marks)
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(c) Extended tier only
The pilot wants to decrease the radius of the circular flight path whilst maintaining a
constant speed.
Suggest how the pilot could achieve this.
(1 mark)
(d) Extended tier only
As the aeroplane lands on the runway, it decelerates from its top speed. The resultant
force on the aeroplane is less than it was at take off.
Explain why this is the case.
(4 marks)
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5 (a) A resultant force acts on an object at rest.
State the direction of the acceleration.
(1 mark)
(b) Extended tier only
A resultant force acts perpendicularly on a object traveling at a constant speed.
State the effect of the force on the object.
(1 mark)
(c) Extended tier only
A man with a mass of 70 kg steps into an elevator.
(i) State the value of the force exerted on the man by the elevator.
force = .................................... [1]
(ii) Calculate the force required to accelerate the man at 1.6 m/s2.
force = .................................... [1]
(iii) Explain why these values are different.
[2]
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(4 marks)
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