2.

2 FORCE IB worksheet [203 marks]

A uniform ladder resting in equilibrium on rough ground leans against a smooth wall. Which diagram correctly shows the forces
1. [1 mark]
acting on the ladder?

A box is accelerated to the right across rough ground by a horizontal force F a. The force of friction is F f. The weight of the box is F g [1 mark]
2.
and the normal reaction is F n. Which is the free-body diagram for this situation?

A weight W is tied to a trolley of mass M by a light string passing over a frictionless pulley. The trolley has an acceleration a on a
3. [1 mark]
frictionless table. The acceleration due to gravity is g.

What is W ?
M ag
A.
(g−a)
M ag
B.
(g+a)
Ma
C.
(g−a)

Ma
D.
(g+a)

–1
 A parachutist of total mass 70 kg is falling vertically through the air at a constant speed of 8 m s –1.
4. [1 mark]
What is the total upward force acting on the parachutist?

A. 0N

B. 70 N

C. 560 N

D. 700 N

An elastic climbing rope is tested by fixing one end of the rope to the top of a crane. The other end of the rope is connected to a block
which is initially at position A. The block is released from rest. The mass of the rope is negligible.

The unextended length of the rope is 60.0 m. From position A to position B, the block falls freely.

5a. At position B the rope starts to extend. Calculate the speed of the block at position B. [2 marks]

At position C the speed of the block reaches zero. The time taken for the block to fall between B and C is 0.759 s. The mass of the
block is 80.0 kg.

5b. Determine the magnitude of the average resultant force acting on the block between B and C. [2 marks]
5c. Sketch on the diagram the average resultant force acting on the block between B and C. The arrow on the diagram represents the [2 marks]
weight of the block.

Calculate the magnitude of the average force exerted by the rope on the block between B and C.
5d. [2 marks]

For the rope and block, describe the energy changes that take place

5e. between A and B. [1 mark]

5f. between B and C. [1 mark]

 The length reached by the rope at C is 77.4 m. Suggest how energy considerations could be used to determine the elastic constant
5g. [2 marks]
of the rope.

A small ball of mass m is moving in a horizontal circle on the inside surface of a frictionless hemispherical bowl.

The normal reaction force N makes an angle θ to the horizontal.

6a. State the direction of the resultant force on the ball. [1 mark]

6b. On the diagram, construct an arrow of the correct length to represent the weight of the ball. [2 marks]
 Show that the magnitude of the net force F on the ball is given by the following equation.
6c. [3 marks]

mg
F=
tan θ

The radius of the bowl is 8.0 m and θ = 22°. Determine the speed of the ball.
6d. [4 marks]

Outline whether this ball can move on a horizontal circular path of radius equal to the radius of the bowl.
6e. [2 marks]
6f. A second identical ball is placed at the bottom of the bowl and the first ball is displaced so that its height from the horizontal is [3 marks]
equal to 8.0 m.

The first ball is released and eventually strikes the second ball. The two balls remain in contact. Determine, in m, the maximum height
reached by the two balls.
 A wheel of mass 0.25 kg consists of a cylinder mounted on a central shaft. The shaft has a radius of 1.2 cm and the cylinder has a
radius of 4.0 cm. The shaft rests on two rails with the cylinder able to spin freely between the rails.

The stationary wheel is released from rest and rolls down a slope with the shaft rolling on the rails without slipping from point A to point
B.

The moment of inertia of the wheel is 1.3 × 10 –4 kg m 2. Outline what is meant by the moment of inertia.
7a. [1 mark]

7b. In moving from point A to point B, the centre of mass of the wheel falls through a vertical distance of 0.36 m. Show that the [3 marks]
translational speed of the wheel is about 1 m s–1 after its displacement.
7c. Determine the angular velocity of the wheel at B. [1 mark]

The wheel leaves the rails at point B and travels along the flat track to point C. For a short time the wheel slips and a frictional force F
exists on the edge of the wheel as shown.

7d. Describe the effect of F on the linear speed of the wheel. [2 marks]

7e. Describe the effect of F on the angular speed of the wheel. [2 marks]
 The diagram shows the forces acting on a block resting on an inclined plane. The angle θ is adjusted until the block is just at the
8. [1 mark]
point of sliding. R is the normal reaction, W the weight of the block and F the maximum frictional force.

What is the maximum coefficient of static friction between the block and the plane?

A. sin θ

B. cos θ

C. tan θ
1
D. tanθ

9. A sunbather is supported in water by a floating sun bed. Which diagram represents the magnitudes of the forces acting on the sun [1 mark]
bed?
 A girl on a sledge is moving down a snow slope at a uniform speed.

Draw the free-body diagram for the sledge at the position shown on the snow slope.
10a. [2 marks]

After leaving the snow slope, the girl on the sledge moves over a horizontal region of snow. Explain, with reference to the physical
10b. [3 marks]
origin of the forces, why the vertical forces on the girl must be in equilibrium as she moves over the horizontal region.
10c. When the sledge is moving on the horizontal region of the snow, the girl jumps off the sledge. The girl has no horizontal velocity [2 marks]
after the jump. The velocity of the sledge immediately after the girl jumps off is 4.2 m s –1. The mass of the girl is 55 kg and the
mass of the sledge is 5.5 kg. Calculate the speed of the sledge immediately before the girl jumps from it.

The girl chooses to jump so that she lands on loosely-packed snow rather than frozen ice. Outline why she chooses to land on the
10d. [3 marks]
snow.

The sledge, without the girl on it, now travels up a snow slope that makes an angle of 6.5˚ to the horizontal. At the start of the slope, the
speed of the sledge is 4.2 m s–1. The coefficient of dynamic friction of the sledge on the snow is 0.11.

Show that the acceleration of the sledge is about –2 m s –2.

10e. [3 marks]
10f. Calculate the distance along the slope at which the sledge stops moving. Assume that the coefficient of dynamic friction is constant.[2 marks]

The coefficient of static friction between the sledge and the snow is 0.14. Outline, with a calculation, the subsequent motion of the
10g. [2 marks]
sledge.
 A non-uniform electric field, with field lines as shown, exists in a region where there is no gravitational field. X is a point in the electric
field. The field lines and X lie in the plane of the paper.

Outline what is meant by electric field strength.

11a. [2 marks]

An electron is placed at X and released from rest. Draw, on the diagram, the direction of the force acting on the electron due to the
11b. [1 mark]
field.

The electron is replaced by a proton which is also released from rest at X. Compare, without calculation, the motion of the electron
11c. [4 marks]
with the motion of the proton after release. You may assume that no frictional forces act on the electron or the proton.
 Two pulses are travelling towards each other.
12. [1 mark]

What is a possible pulse shape when the pulses overlap?

Two boxes in contact are pushed along a floor with a force F. The boxes move at a constant speed. Box X has a mass m and box Y
13. [1 mark]
has a mass 2m.

What is the resultant force acting on Y?

A. 0
F
B.
2
C. F
D. 2F

An elevator (lift) and its load have a total mass of 750 kg and accelerate vertically downwards at 2.0 m s–2.
14. [1 mark]

What is the tension in the elevator cable?

A. 1.5 kN
B. 6.0 kN
C. 7.5 kN
D. 9.0 kN
 A block of weight W is suspended by two strings of equal length. The strings are almost horizontal.
15. [1 mark]

What is correct about the tension T in one string?

W
A. T <
2
W
B. T =
2

C.
W
2
<T⩽W

D. T > W

16. A block of mass 1.0 kg rests on a trolley of mass 4.0 kg. The coefficient of dynamic friction between the block and the trolley is 0.30. [1 mark]

A horizontal force F = 5.0 N acts on the block. The block slides over the trolley. What is the acceleration of the trolley?

A. 5.0 m s–2

B. 1.0 m s–2

C. 0.75 m s –2

D. 0.60 m s –2

The diagram below shows part of a downhill ski course which starts at point A, 50 m above level ground. Point B is 20 m above level
ground.

A skier of mass 65 kg starts from rest at point A and during the ski course some of the gravitational potential energy transferred to
kinetic energy.

From A to B, 24 % of the gravitational potential energy transferred to kinetic energy. Show that the velocity at B is 12 m s –1.
17a. [2 marks]
17b. Some of the gravitational potential energy transferred into internal energy of the skis, slightly increasing their temperature. [2 marks]
Distinguish between internal energy and temperature.

The dot on the following diagram represents the skier as she passes point B.
17c. [2 marks]
Draw and label the vertical forces acting on the skier.

The hill at point B has a circular shape with a radius of 20 m. Determine whether the skier will lose contact with the ground at point
17d. [3 marks]
B.

–1
 The skier reaches point C with a speed of 8.2 m s –1. She stops after a distance of 24 m at point D.
17e. [3 marks]
Determine the coefficient of dynamic friction between the base of the skis and the snow. Assume that the frictional force is
constant and that air resistance can be neglected.

At the side of the course flexible safety nets are used. Another skier of mass 76 kg falls normally into the safety net with speed 9.6 m s –
1.

17f. Calculate the impulse required from the net to stop the skier and state an appropriate unit for your answer. [2 marks]

17g. Explain, with reference to change in momentum, why a flexible safety net is less likely to harm the skier than a rigid barrier. [2 marks]
 A glider is an aircraft with no engine. To be launched, a glider is uniformly accelerated from rest by a cable pulled by a motor that exerts
a horizontal force on the glider throughout the launch.

The glider reaches its launch speed of 27.0 m s –1 after accelerating for 11.0 s. Assume that the glider moves horizontally until it
18a. [2 marks]
leaves the ground. Calculate the total distance travelled by the glider before it leaves the ground.

The glider and pilot have a total mass of 492 kg. During the acceleration the glider is subject to an average resistive force of 160 N.
18b. [3 marks]
Determine the average tension in the cable as the glider accelerates.
18c. The cable is pulled by an electric motor. The motor has an overall efficiency of 23 %. Determine the average power input to the [3 marks]
motor.

The cable is wound onto a cylinder of diameter 1.2 m. Calculate the angular velocity of the cylinder at the instant when the glider
18d. [2 marks]
has a speed of 27 m s–1. Include an appropriate unit for your answer.

18e. After takeoff the cable is released and the unpowered glider moves horizontally at constant speed. The wings of the glider provide [2 marks]
a lift force. The diagram shows the lift force acting on the glider and the direction of motion of the glider.

Draw the forces acting on the glider to complete the free-body diagram. The dotted lines show the horizontal and vertical directions.
 Explain, using appropriate laws of motion, how the forces acting on the glider maintain it in level flight.
18f. [2 marks]

At a particular instant in the flight the glider is losing 1.00 m of vertical height for every 6.00 m that it goes forward horizontally. At
18g. [3 marks]
this instant, the horizontal speed of the glider is 12.5 m s–1. Calculate the velocity of the glider. Give your answer to
an appropriate number of significant figures.

Two stationary objects of mass 1kg and 2kg are connected by a thread and suspended from a spring.
19. [1 mark]

The thread is cut. Immediately after the cut, what are the magnitudes of the accelerations of the objects in terms of the acceleration due to
gravity g?
 Curling is a game played on a horizontal ice surface. A player pushes a large smooth stone across the ice for several seconds and then
releases it. The stone moves until friction brings it to rest. The graph shows the variation of speed of the stone with time.

The total distance travelled by the stone in 17.5 s is 29.8 m.

Determine the coefficient of dynamic friction between the stone and the ice during the last 14.0 s of the stone’s motion.
20a. [3 marks]

The diagram shows the stone during its motion after release.
20b. [3 marks]

Label the diagram to show the forces acting on the stone. Your answer should include the name, the direction and point of application of
each force.
 An object of mass m rests on a horizontal plane. The angle θ that the plane makes with the horizontal is slowly increased from zero.
21. [1 mark]
When θ =θ 0, the object begins to slide. What are the coefficient of static friction µs and the normal reaction force N of the plane at
θ =θ 0?

A company designs a spring system for loading ice blocks onto a truck. The ice block is placed in a holder H in front of the spring and
an electric motor compresses the spring by pushing H to the left. When the spring is released the ice block is accelerated towards a
ramp ABC. When the spring is fully decompressed, the ice block loses contact with the spring at A. The mass of the ice block is 55 kg.

Assume that the surface of the ramp is frictionless and that the masses of the spring and the holder are negligible compared to the mass
of the ice block.

(i) The block arrives at C with a speed of 0.90ms −1 . Show that the elastic energy stored in the spring is 670J.
22a. [4 marks]
(ii) Calculate the speed of the block at A.
 Describe the motion of the block
22b. [3 marks]
(i) from A to B with reference to Newton's first law.

(ii) from B to C with reference to Newton's second law.

On the axes, sketch a graph to show how the displacement of the block varies with time from A to C. (You do not have to put
22c. [2 marks]
numbers on the axes.)

The spring decompression takes 0.42s. Determine the average force that the spring exerts on the block.
22d. [2 marks]

The electric motor is connected to a source of potential difference 120V and draws a current of 6.8A. The motor takes 1.5s to
22e. [2 marks]
compress the spring.

Estimate the efficiency of the motor.

 On a particular day, the ice blocks experience a frictional force because the section of the ramp from A to B is not cleaned properly.
23. [2 marks]
The coefficient of dynamic friction between the ice blocks and the ramp AB is 0.030. The length of AB is 2.0 m.

Determine whether the ice blocks will be able to reach C.

24. Which of the following is proportional to the net external force acting on a body? [1 mark]
A. Speed

B. Velocity

C. Rate of change of speed

D. Rate of change of velocity

A small positively charged sphere is suspended from a thread and placed close to a negatively charged rod. When the thread is at
25. [1 mark]
45° to the vertical the system is in equilibrium. The weight of the sphere is W and the magnitude of the electrostatic force between
the rod and the sphere is F.

What is the magnitude of W compared with the magnitude of F ?

A. W = √2F
B. F < W < √2F
C. W =F
D. W >F
 This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about kinematics and Newton’s laws of motion.

Part 2 is about electrical circuits.

Part 1 Kinematics and Newton’s laws of motion

Cars I and B are on a straight race track. I is moving at a constant speed of 45 m s− 1 and B is initially at rest. As I passes B, B starts to
move with an acceleration of 3.2 ms− 2.

At a later time B passes I. You may assume that both cars are point particles.

Show that the time taken for B to pass I is approximately 28 s.

26a. [4 marks]

Calculate the distance travelled by B in this time.

26b. [2 marks]
26c. B slows down while I remains at a constant speed. The driver in each car wears a seat belt. Using Newton’s laws of motion, [3 marks]
explain the difference in the tension in the seat belts of the two cars.

A third car O with mass 930 kg joins the race. O collides with I from behind, moving along the same straight line as I. Before the collision
the speed of I is 45 m s− 1 and its mass is 850 kg. After the collision, I and O stick together and move in a straight line with an initial
combined speed of 52 m s− 1.

26d. Calculate the speed of O immediately before the collision. [2 marks]

The duration of the collision is 0.45 s. Determine the average force acting on O.
26e. [2 marks]
 This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about kinematics and Newton’s laws of motion.

Part 2 Electrical circuits

The circuit shown is used to investigate how the power developed by a cell varies when the load resistance R changes.

The variable resistor is adjusted and a series of current and voltage readings are taken. The graph shows the variation with R of the
power dissipated in the cell and the power dissipated in the variable resistor.

An ammeter and a voltmeter are used to investigate the characteristics of a variable resistor of resistance R. State how the
26f. [2 marks]
resistance of the ammeter and of the voltmeter compare to R so that the readings of the instruments are reliable.
 Show that the current in the circuit is approximately 0.70 A when R = 0.80 Ω .
26g. [3 marks]

The cell has an internal resistance.

Outline what is meant by the internal resistance of a cell.

26h. [2 marks]

Determine the internal resistance of the cell.

26i. [3 marks]
 Calculate the electromotive force (emf) of the cell.
26j. [2 marks]

27. Which statement applies to an object in translational equilibrium? [1 mark]

A. The object must be stationary.

B. The object must be moving with constant acceleration.

C. The resultant force acting on the object must be zero.

D. There must be no external forces acting on the object.

A constant horizontal force F is applied to a block Y. Block Y is in contact with a separate block X.
28. [1 mark]

The blocks remain in contact as they accelerate along a horizontal frictionless surface. Y has a greater mass than X. Air resistance is
negligible.

Which statement is correct?

A. The force F is equal to the product of the mass of Y and the acceleration of Y.

B. The force that Y exerts on X is less than F.

C. The force that Y exerts on X is less than the force that X exerts on Y.

D. The force that Y exerts on X is equal to F.

 A student of mass m is in an elevator which is accelerating downwards at an acceleration a.
29. [1 mark]

What is the reading on the force meter?

A. mg

B. mg − ma

C. mg + ma

D. ma − mg

Which statement applies to an object in translational equilibrium?

30. [1 mark]
A. The object must be stationary.

B. The object must be moving with constant acceleration.

C. The resultant force acting on the object must be zero.

D. There must be no external forces acting on the object.

 This question is about the motion of a bicycle.

A cyclist is moving up a slope that is at an angle of 19° to the horizontal. The mass of the cyclist and the bicycle is 85 kg.

Calculate the
31a. [3 marks]
(i) component of the weight of the cyclist and bicycle parallel to the slope.

(ii) normal reaction force on the bicycle from the slope.

At the bottom of the slope the cyclist has a speed of 5.5ms –1. The cyclist stops pedalling and applies the brakes which provide an
31b. [4 marks]
additional decelerating force of 250 N. Determine the distance taken for the cyclist to stop. Assume air resistance is negligible and
that there are no other frictional forces.

Which of the following is a condition for an object to be in translational equilibrium?

32. [1 mark]
A. The object must be moving at constant speed.

B. The velocity of the object in any direction must be zero.

C. The forces acting horizontally on the object must equal the forces acting vertically on the object.

D. The resultant force acting on the object must be zero.

 An object rotates in a horizontal circle when acted on by a centripetal force F. What is the centripetal force acting on the object when
33. [1 mark]
the radius of the circle doubles and the kinetic energy of the object halves?
F
A.
4
F
B.
2

C. F

D. 4F

34. Which of the following is a condition for an object to be in translational equilibrium? [1 mark]
A. The object must be moving at constant speed.

B. The velocity of the object in any direction must be zero.

C. The forces acting horizontally on the object must equal the forces acting vertically on the object.

D. The resultant force acting on the object must be zero.

The resultant force acting on an object of mass 5.0kg varies with time as shown. The object is initially at rest.
35. [1 mark]

What is the speed of the object after 1.0 s?

A. 0.50ms–1

B. 1.0ms–1

C. 1.5ms–1

D. 2.0ms–1
 The graph shows the variation with distance x of the magnitude of the net force F acting on a body initially at rest.
36. [1 mark]

Which of the following describes how the kinetic energy and the acceleration of the body change
with distance?

Which of the following is always true for an object moving in a straight line at constant speed?
37. [1 mark]
A. No forces act on the object.
B. No resultant force acts on the object.
C. The momentum of the object is zero.
D. No work is being done on the object.

Which of the following is necessary for an object to be in translational equilibrium?

38. [1 mark]
A. The object must be stationary.
B. The object must move with a constant speed.
C. The resultant force acting on the object must be zero.
D. No forces must act on the object.
 Impulse and momentum

The diagram shows an arrangement used to test golf club heads.

The shaft of a club is pivoted and the centre of mass of the club head is raised by a height h before being released. On reaching the
vertical position the club head strikes the ball.

(i) Describe the energy changes that take place in the club head from the instant the club is released until the club head and the
39a. [4 marks]
ball separate.

(ii) Calculate the maximum speed of the club head achievable when h = 0.85 m.
 The diagram shows the deformation of a golf ball and club head as they collide during a test.
39b. [2 marks]

Explain how increasing the deformation of the club head may be expected to increase the speed at which the ball leaves the club.

39c. In a different experimental arrangement, the club head is in contact with the ball for a time of 220 µs. The club head has mass 0.17 [5 marks]
kg and the ball has mass 0.045 kg. At the moment of contact the ball is at rest and the club head is moving with a speed of 38 ms–
1. The ball moves off with an initial speed of 63 ms –1.

(i) Calculate the average force acting on the ball while the club head is in contact with the ball.

(ii) State the average force acting on the club head while it is in contact with the ball.

(iii) Calculate the speed of the club head at the instant that it loses contact with the ball.
 In 1997 a high-speed car of mass 1.1 × 104 kg achieved the world land speed record. The car accelerated uniformly in two stages as
shown in the table. The car started from rest.

Use the data to calculate the

average acceleration of the car in stage 1.

40a. [1 mark]

average net force required to accelerate the car in stage 2.

40b. [3 marks]

40c. total distance travelled by the car in 12 s. [2 marks]

 This question is in two parts. Part 1 is about collisions. Part 2 is about the gravitational field of Mars.

Part 1 Collisions

The experiment is repeated with the clay block placed at the edge of the table so that it is fired away from the table. The initial speed of
the clay block is 4.3 ms− 1 horizontally. The table surface is 0.85 m above the ground.

(i) Ignoring air resistance, calculate the horizontal distance travelled by the clay block before it strikes the ground.
41a. [7 marks]
(ii) The diagram in (c) shows the path of the clay block neglecting air resistance. On the diagram, draw the approximate shape
of the path that the clay block will take assuming that air resistance acts on the clay block.
 Part 2 Gravitational field of Mars

Define gravitational potential energy of a mass at a point.

41b. [1 mark]
 The graph shows the variation with distance r from the centre of Mars of the gravitational potential V . R is the radius of Mars which is
3.3 Mm. (Values of V for r < R are not shown.)

A rocket of mass 1.2 × 104 kg lifts off from the surface of Mars. Use the graph to

41c. (i) calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the rocket at a distance 4 R from the centre of Mars. [5 marks]
(ii) show that the magnitude of the gravitational field strength at a distance 4 R from the centre of Mars is 0.23 N kg− 1.

A student is sitting on a chair. One force that is acting on the student is the pull of gravity. According to Newton’s third law, there
42. [1 mark]
must be another force which is

A. the upward push of the chair on the student.

B. the downward force on the student.

C. the downward push of the chair on Earth.

D. the upward force on Earth.

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