Forces topic Revision

Q1. The diagram shows a shuttlecock that is used for playing badminton.

The shuttlecock weighs very little.

When you drop it from a height of a few metres, it accelerates at first but soon reaches a
steady speed.

Explain, as fully as you can:

(a) why the shuttlecock accelerates at first,

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) why the shuttlecock reaches a steady speed.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

Q2. The graph shows the speed of a runner during an indoor 60 metres race.

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 (a) Calculate the acceleration of the runner during the first four seconds.
(Show your working.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) How far does the runner travel during the first four seconds?
(Show your working.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(c) At the finish, a thick wall of rubber foam slows the runner down at a rate of 25 m/s 2.
The runner has a mass of 75kg.
Calculate the average force of the rubber foam on the runner.
(Show your working.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer _____________ newtons (N)

(2)
Total 8 marks)

Q3. A spanner makes it a lot easier to loosen a bolt.

You cannot usually loosen It is easier

a bolt with your fingers. with a spanner.

Choose words from this list to complete the sentences below.

lever piston pivot pulley turning effect

The spanner is a simple ______________________________

You use it to produce a bigger ______________________________ on the bolt.

A longer spanner works better.

This is because there is a bigger distance between your force and the _______________

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 (Total 3 marks)

Q5. When a gun is fired, a very large force acts on the bullet for a very short time.

The change in momentum of the bullet is given by the following relationship:

force (N) × time(s) = change in momentum (kg m/s)

(a) An average force of 4000 newton acts for 0.01 seconds on a bullet of mass 50g.

Calculate the speed of the bullet. (Show your working.)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Answer ________________________ m/s

(4)

(b) The bullet is fired horizontally. In the short time it takes for the bullet to reach its
target, its horizontal speed has fallen to 80% of its initial speed.

(i) Explain why the speed of the bullet decreases so quickly.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) Calculate the percentage of its original kinetic energy the bullet still has when it
reaches its target.

(Show your working.)

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(4)
(Total 10 marks)

Q6. A car travels along a level road at 20 metres per second.

(a) Calculate the distance travelled by the car in 4 seconds.

(Show your working.)

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 ___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(b) When the brake pedal of the car is pushed, brake pads press against very hard
steel discs.

The force of friction between the brake pads and the steel discs gradually stops the
car.

What two effects does using the brakes have on the brake pads and wheel discs?

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

Q7. (a) The diagrams below show pairs of forces acting on different objects. In each case
describe what happens when the forces are increased. Then describe what happens when the
forces are removed.

(i)

When the forces are increased

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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 When the forces are removed

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(ii)

When the forces are increased

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

When the forces are removed

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

(iii)

When the forces are increased

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

When the forces are removed

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(6)

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(b) The graph shows the increase in length of a spring against load (force).

The length of the spring with no load was 15 cm.

Use the graph to find:

(i) The load needed to produce an increase in length of 2 cm.

______________________________________________________________

(ii) The increase in length produced by a load of 2.3 N.

______________________________________________________________

(iii) The length of the spring when the load was 2.3 N.

______________________________________________________________
(3)
(Total 9 marks)

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Q8. A student investigated how the extension of a spring depends on the force applied to the
spring.

The diagram shows the spring before and after a force had been applied.

(a) (i) Complete the following sentence using letters, A, B, C or D, from the diagram.

The extension of the spring is the distance between the positions labelled

___________and ___________ on the metre rule.

(1)

(ii) What form of energy is stored in the stretched spring?

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) The results from the investigation are plotted on the following graph.

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 (i) The graph shows that the student has made an error throughout the
investigation.

What error has the student made?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Give the reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(ii) The student has loaded the spring beyond its limit of proportionality.

Mark on the graph line the limit of proportionality of the spring. Label the point
P.

Give the reason for choosing your point P.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(c) The student uses a different spring as a spring balance. When the student hangs a
stone from this spring, its extension is 72 mm.

The spring does not go past the limit of proportionality.

Calculate the force exerted by the stone on the spring.

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 spring constant = 25 N/m

Show clearly how you work out your answer.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Force = _________________________ N
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) reference to

• weight / force of gravity / acting downwards

• unbalanced (by any upwards force)

for 1 mark each
2

(b) ideas that forces balance(d)

gains 1 mark

but
weight / force of gravity / downwards force balanced by friction / air
resistance / drag / upwards force
gains 2 marks

latter increases with speed

(accept arrows or relevant length and direction if clearly labelled,

as answers to parts (a) and (b))
for 1 further mark
3
[5]

Q2.

(a) acceleration =

or
gains 1 mark
do not penalise if both of these present
but ‘change in’ omitted from formula

but
2.5
gains 2 marks

unit m/s2 or metres per second squared

or metres per second per second

or ms–*
for 1 mark
3

(b) evidence of using area under graph or distance average speed × time
or

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 10 × 4 ×
gains 1 mark

but
20
gains 2 marks

units metres / m–2*

for 1 mark
3

(c) force = mass × acceleration or 75 × 25

gains 1 mark

but
1875
gains 2 marks

*NB Correct unit to be credited even if numerical answer wrong or absent.

2
[8]

Q3.
lever

turning effect

pivot
for 1 mark each
[3]

Q5.
(a) any evidence of: momentum = mass × velocity (words, symbols or numbers)
appropriate re-arrangement mass as 0.05kg
each gains 1 mark

but 800
gains 4 marks
4

(b) (i) any reference to friction with air/air resistance

gains 1 mark

but idea that friction with air/air resistance is high (at high speed)
gains 2 marks
2

(ii) any evidence of: k.e. v2 or k.e. = ½ mv2

final k.e.
initial k.e.
either initial or final k.e. correctly calculated (i.e. 16000; 10240)
each gains 1 mark

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 but (0.8)2
gains 3 marks

but 64%(credit 0.64)

gains 4 marks (also credit e.c.f)
4
[10]

Q6.
(a) evidence of distance = speed × time or 4 × 20
gains 1 mark

but
80
gains 2 marks

units m
for 1 mark
3

(b) idea that (both) become warm/hot

for 1 mark

idea of wearing (away/down)/becoming scratched

gains 1 mark

but
(brake) pads wear more (than wheel discs)
gains 2 marks
3
[6]

Q7.
(a) (i) plasticine stretches/snaps
stays stretched/snapped
for 1 mark each
2

(ii) spring compresses OWTTE

returns to original length/shape or gets longer
for 1 mark each
2

(iii) ruler bends/breaks

returns to original shape or stays broken
for 1 mark each
2

(b) (i) 1.5N

for 1 mark
1

(ii) 4 cm

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 for 1 mark
1

(iii) 19 cm
for 1 mark
1
[9]

Q8.
(a) (i) BC
either order
1

(ii) elastic potential (energy)

accept strain for elastic
1

(b) (i) mark both parts together

1

measured / recorded the length of the spring (and not extension)

accept measured A–C (and not B–C)
accept did not work out/measure the extension

extension does not equal zero when force = 0

accept line should pass through the origin
1

(ii) point marked at 5.5 (N)

accept any point between 5.0 and 5.6 inclusive
1

up to that point force and extension are (directly) proportional

accept it’s at the end of the straight part (of the graph line)
accept past that point force and extension are no longer
(directly) proportional
accept the line starts to curve
1

(c) 1.8
allow 1 mark for correct substitution, ie 25 x 0.072 provided
no subsequent step shown
an answer 1800 gains 1 mark
an incorrect conversion from mm to m with a subsequent
correct calculation gains 1 mark
2
[8]

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