Questions

Q1.

A toy train is placed on the middle of a bridge on a model railway. force

The weight of the train acts through its centre of gravity.

Ignore the weight of the bridge.

(a) Which row of the table shows the correct values for forces X and Y?
(1)

(b) Describe how force X changes if the train moves from P to Q.

(2)
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(Total for question = 3 marks)

Q2.
(a) A man stands on a wooden board to paint a wall, as shown in diagram 1.
The diagram shows some of the forces acting.

(i) State the principle of moments.

(1)
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(ii) Calculate force X.
[ignore the weight of the wooden board]
(4)

force X ............................................................. N

(b) The man walks to the other end of the wooden board, as shown in diagram 2.

Explain the change in force X as the man walks along the wooden board.
(3)
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(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q3.

(a) The diagram shows how a mechanic applies a force on a spanner to try to undo a bolt.

(i) State the equation linking moment, force and perpendicular distance from the pivot. (1)

(ii) Calculate the force required to produce a moment of 4.8 N m.

(4)

force = ........................................................... N

(b) The mechanic is not able to undo the bolt because a moment of 9.6 N m is needed.
Explain how the mechanic could produce a moment of 9.6 N m.
(2)
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 (Total for question = 7 marks)
Q4.

The diagram shows the apparatus used to investigate moments.

The 2 N weight is placed 60 cm from the pivot.

The newtonmeter is placed 10 cm from the pivot.

(a) (i) State the equation linking moment, force and perpendicular distance from the pivot. (1)

(ii) Calculate the reading on the newtonmeter.

Ignore the weight of the ruler.
(3)

reading = ............................................... N

(b) The metre rule is replaced by an iron bar.

The iron bar is 1 m long and has a weight of 10 N.
The newtonmeter and the 2 N weight stay in their original position.
Explain how this change affects the reading on the newtonmeter.
(3)
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(Total for question = 7 marks)

Q5.

Photograph C shows how a student can use a claw hammer to pull a nail from a piece of

wood.
(a) The mass of the hammer is 0.454 kg.
(i) Calculate the weight of the hammer.
(2)

Weight = ........................................................... N

(ii) From what point does this weight act?

(1)
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. (b) Photograph D shows the directions of two other forces on the hammer.
 (i) Draw an arrow on photograph D to show the force on the nail from the hammer. (2)

(ii) Suggest two ways that the student could increase the moment on the hammer. (2)
1
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.............................................................................................................................................. (Total for

question = 7 marks)

Q6.

The diagram shows the side view of a laptop computer.

A student opens the computer with an upward force of 4.2 N.

The force is applied 0.25 m from the pivot.

(a) (i) State the equation linking moment, force and distance.
(1)

(ii) Calculate the moment of the force that opens the computer.
(2)

Moment = ........................................................... N m

(b) The student finds that 4.2 N is the minimum upward force needed to open
the computer.
Then the student applies a downward force, F, to close the computer.

Explain why the minimum force needed to close the computer is likely to be
less than 4.2 N.
(2)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q7.
The diagram shows a gate with a lever-operated catch.

A loop on the bolt fits around the lever-arm at A.

(a) (i) Describe how the lever-arm is used to move the bolt.
(1)
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(ii) Suggest why the spring is needed.
(1)
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(b) The lever-arm operates using the principle of moments.

(i) State the principle of moments.
(1)
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(ii) The force applied at point B is 22 N.
The pivot is 110 cm from point B and 38 cm from point A.
Calculate the force exerted on the lever-arm at point A by the spring.
(3)
force at point A = ........................................................... N
(iii) Explain how the force applied at point B would need to change if the distance from the pivot to
point A is increased.
(2)
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(Total for question = 8 marks)

Q8.

(a) State the principle of moments.

(2)
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............................................................................................................................................. (b) A

student uses the principle of moments to find the weight of a rock. This is the student's method.

• he balances a metre rule at its mid-point on a pivot

• he hangs a beaker from the 40 cm mark on the rule
• he places the rock in the beaker
• he then hangs a 0.2 N plastic strip from the rule on the other side of the pivot •
he adjusts the position of the plastic strip until the rule balances

(i) Describe how the student could use an electronic balance to check that the plastic strip weighs 0.2
N.
(2)
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(ii) Suggest how the student could improve the precision of one of his measurements. (1)
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(iii) State the equation linking moment, force and perpendicular distance from the pivot. (1)

(iv) Use the principle of moments to calculate the force acting on the metre rule at the 40 cm mark. (3)

force = ........................................................... N
(v) Suggest a reason why the weight of the rock will be different from your calculated force. (1)
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(Total for question = 10 marks)

Mark Scheme

Q1.
Q2.

Total 3 marks
Q3.

Q4.
 Total 7 marks

Q5.

Q6.
Q7.

Q8.