MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Forces
Cambridge Assessment International Education bears no responsibility for the example answers to
questions taken from its past question papers which are contained in this publication. In examinations,
the way marks are awarded may be different.

Exercise 4A
1.

(a) extension
(b) friction; resistive
(c) pivot
(d) lamina
(e) moment
(f) stable; unstable; neutral

2. (a) load
(b) elastic
(c) load; extension; extension; proportional
(d) spring constant
(e) straight; origin

3. (a) x-axis label = Extension

y-axis label = Load
(b)

(c) !
k=
"
(d) ! #.%
k= = = 4.0 N/cm
" &.%

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MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

Exercise 4B
1. d r a g
e r
s e
i f s
s s r u
p t i l
e a c t
e n t a
d i r e c t i o n
e o t
n

1. Drag
2. Resistance
3. Resultant
4. Friction
5. Speed
6. Air
7. Direction

2. There is a There is no
State of motion of an object resultant force resultant force
on the object on the object
It accelerates in a straight line. ü
It changes direction, but its speed is constant. ü
It changes speed and direction. ü
It moves in a straight line at a constant speed. ü
It remains at rest. ü
It slows down. ü
Its velocity changes. ü

3. (a) 25 – 12 = 13 N
(b) 5 – (3 + 3) = −1 N (take moving to the left as positive)

4. (a) surfaces; motion; heating

(b) zero
(c) direction; speed/velocity
(d) circular path

5. F = ma

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MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

6. (a) F 170 000

a=
= = 0.6996 m/s2 = 0.70 m/s2 (2 d.p.)
m 243 000
(b) F -292 000
a= = = -1.2016 m/s2 = -1.20 m/s2 (2 d.p.)
m 243 000
(c) F 4000 - 500
a= = = 1.9444 m/s2 = 1.94 m/s2 (2 d.p.)
m 1400 + 400

7. A
F 16 - 2 - 3
a= = = 0.15 m/s2
m 60 + 12

8. mass, radius and speed

Exercise 4C
1. (a) Moment = 90 × 0.28 = 25 N m (2 s.f.)
Direction = Clockwise
P

(b) Moment = 140 × 0.45 = 63 N m

Direction = Clockwise

(c) Moment = 30 × 0.18 = 5.4 N m

Direction = Anticlockwise

(d) Moment = 12 × 0.06 = 0.72 N m

Direction = Clockwise

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MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

(e) Moment = 90 × 0.36 = 32 N m (2 s.f.)

Direction = Clockwise

P
(f) Moment = 200 × 1.2 = 240 N m
Direction = Anticlockwise

2. (a) &#% × &.)

d= = 1.4 m
&)%
(b) Anticlockwise

3. Total anticlockwise moments = 25 × 1.0 + 30 × 0.5 + 8.0 × 1.0 = 48 N m

Clockwise moment = 60 × d N m
48
d = = 0.8 m
60

Exercise 4D
1. (a)

(b)

(c)

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MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

2. (a)

(b) &%%
Distance = − 30 = 20 cm
*
(c)

1.5 N
(d) 20 × W = 20 × 1.5
W = 1.5 N

3. Anticlockwise moment = 3 × 80 + 3 × (80 + 40) = 240 + 360 = 600 N cm

Clockwise moment = 5 × 20 + 5 × (50 + 20) + 5 × d = 100 + 350 + 5d = (450 + 5d) N cm
In equilibrium, 600 = 450 + 5d
d = 30 cm

Exercise 4E
1. (a) 11 cm [1]
(b) Extension = (20 − 15) = 5 cm [1]
Weight = 13 N [1]
(c) ! +*
k = [1]= [1]= 2.6 N/cm [1]
" *%

2. (a) Resultant force = 20 − (12 + 5) [1]= 3 N [1]

Direction = Upwards [1]
(b) ! %.-+
a = [1]= [1]= 0.3 m/s2 [1]
, *.+

3. C

4. (a)

[1]
(b) The force on car A is greater [1], because the radius of its circular track is smaller while the mass
and velocity of both cars are the same [1].

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MCE Cambridge IGCSETM Physics Full Solutions to Questions in Theory Workbook Chapter 4

5. Position A [1]
The block in position A has a lower centre of gravity [1] and larger base area [1], so more displacement
is needed to move the centre of gravity outside the base for it to topple [1].

6. (a) 140X N cm [1]

(b)(i) Moment = 360 × 70 = 25 200 N cm (3 s.f.) [1]
(ii)Moment = 150 × (70 + 40) = 16 500 N cm (3 s.f.) [1]
(iii) 140X = 25 200 + 16 500 [1]
X = 297.86 N = 298 N (3 s.f.) [1]
(iv) X + Y = L + W [1]
Y = 150 + 360 − 300 = 210 N (3 s.f.) [1]

7. (a) 12.5 mm [1]

(b) Spring B [1]
For the same extension, spring B requires a smaller force. [1]
(c)(i) 43.9 − 19.7 = 24.2 cm [1]
(ii) Suspend different loads/weights from the spring. For each load/weight, record the position of
the pointer and calculate the extension. [1]
Make sure the pointer is read at eye level. / Repeat readings for each load and calculate the
average. [1]

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