V.

SriPratheepan Mechanics

Mechanics
1. The diagram shows a trolley moving down a gentle slope.
a) Add forces to a copy of the diagram below to produce a
free-body force diagram for the trolley. [3]

b) The trolley is photographed by a multi flash

technique. The result is shown opposite. What
evidence is there that the trolley is moving with constant velocity? [1]
c) State the acceleration of the trolley down the slope. [1]
d) What does the value of the acceleration indicate about the forces acting on the trolley? [1]

2. The diagram opposite shows a trolley running

down a slope.
a) Copy out and complete the diagram to show
an experimental arrangement you could use
to determine how the trolley's position varies
with time. [2]
b) The data is used to produce a velocity-time graph
for the trolley. Opposite is the graph for the motion
from point A to point B. Time is taken to be zero as
the trolley passes A, and the trolley passes B 0.70 s
later. The motion shown on the graph can be
described by the equation v = u + at. Use
information from the graph to determine values for
u and a. [3]
c) Determine the distance AB. [3]
d) Sketch a graph to show how the displacement x of
the trolley from point A varies with time t. Add a
scale to each axis. [3]

3. When the jet engines on an aircraft are started, fuel is

burned and the exhaust gases emerge from the back of
the engines at high speed. With reference to Newton's
second and third laws of motion, explain why the
aircraft accelerates forward. You may be awarded a
mark for the clarity of your answer. [4]

4. A granite block is suspended at rest just below the surface of water in a tank (Figure i).The block is now released
and falls 0.80m to the bottom (Figure ii).The volume of the block
is 3.0 x 10-3 m3, and the density of granite is 2700 kgm-3.
a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy lost by the block
as it falls. [3]
b) Although the water level has not changed, the water has
gained gravitational potential energy. Explain why. [1]
c) The gravitational potential energy gained by the water is less
than that lost by the granite block. Explain this. [2]

1
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

5. A ball is dropped from a high window onto a concrete floor. The

velocity-time graph for part of its motion is shown.
a) Calculate the gradient from the origin to A. Comment on the
significance of your answer. (3)
b) What happened to the ball at point A? (1)
c) Calculate the height of the window above the ground. (3)

6.

The diagrams above show two situations in which forces act.

a) Complete labelled free-body force diagrams for the pendulum
bob in situation 1 and for the Earth in situation 2. (3)
b) In a copy of the table opposite, write in the left-hand Column
each of the forces you have shown. Then complete the right-hand
column. (3)

7. A "grandfather" clock is a type of clock where the energy needed to

provide the movement of the hands comes from a falling mass. To wind
up the clock, the mass has to be raised a distance h. In one such clock,
the mass is a steel cylinder of diameter 0.060mand height 0.17 m.
a) Show that its mass is approximately 4 kg. (The density of steel is
7.8 x 103 kg m -3.) (3)
b) The distance fallen by the mass is 1.l m. Calculate the change in its
gravitational potential energy. (2)
c) The clock has to be wound up once per week. Calculate the average
power output of the falling mass. (3)

8.
a) State Newton's second law of motion. (2)
b) Describe how you could demonstrate experimentally that the acceleration of a trolley is proportional to the
resultant force which acts on it. (5)
c) Behind the windscreen of some cars there is a shelf, which is horizontal, but recessed to stop objects from
falling off.

A pencil has been left on the shelf. Whenever the car accelerates forwards, the pencil is against the rear edge of the
shelf. Whenever the car is braking the pencil is against the front edge.
Explain these observations. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer. (5)

2
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

9. A block is projected from a point P across a rough,

horizontal surface. The block slows down under the
influence of a constant frictional force F and eventually
comes to rest. On the right is a free-body force diagram for
the block whilst it is moving.
a) State, with a reason, the amount of work done by each
of the forces W and N as the block moves across the
surface. (2)
b) The sliding block does work against friction. The graph
shows how the total work varies with the distance d
which the block has travelled from the projection point
P. Use the graph to determine the force F. (2)
c) The block comes to rest 1.80 m from P. Add a line to a
copy of this graph above to show how the kinetic energy
of the block varied during the motion. (2)
d) The mass of the block was 0.820 kg. Calculate the speed
with which it was projected from P. (2)
e) Suppose that, instead of a constant friction force, the block had been brought to rest by a drag force (air
resistance) which depends on speed. Sketch a graph to show qualitatively how you would expect the total
work done against air resistance to vary with the distance d. (1) explain the shape of your graph. (1)

10. The graph opposite shows the variation of velocity with time for a body
moving in a straight line. Calculate:
a) The total distance traveled[2]
b) The average speed over the 20 seconds.[2]

11. A lorry is travelling at 25 m s-1 down a mountain road when the driver
discovers that the brakes have failed. She notices that an escape lane
covered with sand is ahead and stops her lorry by steering it on to the
sand. The lorry is brought to a halt in 40 m.
a) Calculate the average deceleration of the lorry. [3]
b) Suggest how the depth of the sand affects the stopping distance. Justify
your answer. [1]

12.
a) Determine the resultant force on the object below. [1]

b) What can be deduced about the motion of an object?

i. When the resultant force on it is zero,[1]
ii. When the resultant force on it is vertically upwards,[1]
iii. When the resultant force on it is in the opposite direction to its motion? [1]
c) Newton's third law of motion is sometimes stated in the form: "To every action there is an equal and
opposite reaction". A student argues that, in that case, the resultant force on an object must always be zero
and so it can never be moved. Explain what is wrong with the student's argument. [2]

13. The diagram opposite shows a small vehicle, which is free to move
in a vertical plane along a curved track. The vehicle of mass m is
released from rest from point A. It runs down to point B, a distance
h vertically below A. Its speed at point B is v. Write down
expressions for:
(i) The gravitational potential energy lost by the vehicle as it
runs from A to B,

3
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

(ii) (ii) the kinetic energy of the vehicle at B. [1]

(iii) Hence derive an expression for the speed v. [2]
(iv) State one assumption you have made in your derivation. [1]
(v) Would you expect the vehicle to pass point C? Explain your answer. [2]

14. An athlete runs a 100m race. The idealised graph opposite

shows how the athlete's velocity v changes with time t for a 100
m sprint.
a) By considering the area under the graph, calculate the
maximum velocity vmax of the athlete. [3]
b) Using a copy of the axes below the first graph, sketch a
graph showing how the acceleration of this athlete changes
with time during this race. Mark any significant values on
the axes. [4]

15. A trolley is released from rest at the top of an inclined

plane. A student claims that the acceleration of the trolley
should be uniform.
a) Describe how you could test this claim
experimentally.
Your answer should include:
(i) Any additional apparatus required (add this to a copy of the diagram above),
(ii) How the apparatus is used,
(iii) How the results are analysed. [6]

b) With reference to the forces involved, explain why the student expected the acceleration to be constant. [2]
c) Explain whether you would expect the acceleration to remain constant if the slope were much longer so that
the trolley reached a high speed. [1]

16. A book is resting on a table. A student draws a correct free-body force diagram for the book
as shown opposite.
a) The student makes the incorrect statement that "The forces labelled above make a
Newton third law pair; therefore the book is in equilibrium". Criticise this statement. [3]
b) Each of the forces shown in the diagram has a 'pair' force related to it by Newton's third
law. Complete a copy of the table below. [4]

17. A car is travelling along a horizontal road. The driver applies the brakes and the car comes to rest.
a) Describe the principal energy transformation which occurs as the car comes to rest. [1]
b) On another occasion, the same car is travelling with the same speed, but down a hill. The driver applies the
brakes, which produce the same average braking force as before. With reference to the energy
transformations which occur, explain why the braking distance will be greater on the hill than on the
horizontal road. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer. [4]

18. A child is crouching at rest on the ground. Opposite are the free-body force
diagrams for the child and the Earth.
a) Copy out and complete the table describing forces A, B and C. [4]

4
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

b) All the forces A, B, C and D are of equal magnitude.

(i) Why are forces A and B equal in magnitude?[1]
(ii) Why must forces B and D be equal in magnitude? [2]
(iii) The child now jumps vertically upwards. With reference to the forces shown, explain what he must
do to jump, and why he moves upwards. [3]

19. Two campers have to carry a heavy container of water between them. One
way to make this easier is to pass a pole through the handle as shown. The
container weighs 400 N and the weight of the pole may be neglected.
a. What force must each person apply? [1]
b. An alternative method is for each person to hold a rope tied to the
handle as shown in the second diagram. Draw a free-body diagram for
the container when held by the ropes. [2]
c. The weight of the container is 400 N and the two ropes are at 40o to the
horizontal. Show that the force each rope applies to the container is
about 300 N. [3]
d. Suggest two reasons why the first method of carrying the container is
easier. [2]
e. Two campers using the rope method find that the container keeps
bumping on the ground. A bystander suggests that they move further
apart so that the ropes are more nearly horizontal. Explain why this would not be a sensible solution to the
problem. [1]

20. The diagram shows part of a roller coaster ride. In

practice, friction and air resistance will have a
significant effect on the motion of the vehicle, but
you should ignore them throughout this question.
The vehicle starts from rest at A and is hauled up to B
by a motor. It takes 15. 0 s to reach B, at which point
its speed is negligible.
a. In terms of the conservation of energy, what
happens to the useful work done by the motor?
[1]
b. The mass of the vehicle and passengers is 3400 kg. Calculate (i) the useful work done by the motor, (ii) the
power output of the motor. [4]
c. At point B the motor is switched off and the vehicle moves under gravity for the rest of the ride. Describe the
overall energy conversion which occurs as it travels from B to C. [1]
d. Calculate the speed of the vehicle at point C. [3]
e. On another occasion there are fewer passengers in the vehicle; hence its total mass is less than before. Its
speed again is negligible at B. State with a reason how, if at all, you would expect the speed at C to differ
from your previous answer. [2]
21. Two cars, A and B, are travelling along the outside lane of a
motorway at a speed of 30.0 ms-1. They are a distance d apart.

The driver of car A sees a slower vehicle move out in front of him,
and brakes hard until his speed has fallen to 22.0 ms-1. The driver of
car B sees car A brake and, after a reaction time of 0.900 s, brakes
with the same constant deceleration as A. The diagram opposite
shows velocity-time graphs for car A (solid line) and car B (broken
line).
a. Find the deceleration of the cars whilst they are braking. (3)
b. What does the area under a velocity-time graph represent? (1)

5
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

c. Determine the shaded area. (2)

d. State the minimum value of the initial separation d if the cars are not to collide. Explain how you arrived at
your answer. (2)
e. Suppose that, instead of only slowing down to 22.0 ms-1, the cars had to stop. Add lines to a copy of the grid
to show the velocity-time graphs in this case. (Assume that the cars come to rest with the same constant
deceleration as before.) (1)
f. Explain why a collision is now more likely. (2)

22. A door which cannot be opened by pushing steadily on it can often be kicked open. By considering what happens
to the foot as it hits the door, explain why the kick is more effective. You should refer to Newton's second and
third laws of motion in your answer. You may be awarded a mark for the clarity of your answer. (4)

23. A magnet X is clamped to a frictionless table. A second magnet Y is brought close to X and then released.

c) Add labelled forces to a copy of the free-body diagram on the right for magnet Y to show the forces acting
on it just after it is released. (3)
d) According to Newton's third law, each of the forces in your diagram is paired with another force. Write
down one of these other forces, stating its direction and the body it acts upon. (2)

24. The diagram shows two forces acting on a body.

a) On a piece of graph paper draw a scale diagram to determine the resultant force
acting on the body. Use a scale of 1 cm to 1 N.
b) State the magnitude of the resultant force. (4)
c) What name is given to physical quantities which add by the same rule as forces?
d) Name two other examples of such physical quantities. (2)

25.
a) The acceleration of free fall g can be measured by timing an object falling from rest through a known
distance. Explain one advantage and one disadvantage of making the distance as large as possible. (2)
b) In a typical laboratory measurement of g, a steel sphere is dropped through a distance of the order of one
metre. With the help of a labelled diagram, describe and explain an experimental method of measuring the
time it takes the sphere to fall. (4)
c) At any given place, the weight of a body is proportional to its mass. Explain how measurements of g
support this statement. (2)

26. A student performs an experiment to study the motion of a trolley

on a horizontal bench. The trolley is pulled by a horizontal string
which runs over a pulley to suspended mass.

Initially the trolley is held at rest at position A. It is then released.

When it has moved some distance, but before he suspended mass
hits the floor, a card attached to the trolley passes through a light
gate.
A clock controlled by the gate records how long the card blocks the
light beam. The card, which is 0.130 m long, takes 0.070 s to pass
through the beam.
a) Calculate the average velocity of the trolley as it passes through
the light gate. (2)
b) The light gate is 0.600 m from the start. Show that the
acceleration of the trolley is approximately 3 m s -2 (3)

6
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

c) The mass of the trolley is 0.950 kg. Calculate the tension in the string pulling it, stating any assumption
which you make.(3)
d) The tension in the string must be less than the weight of the 0.400 kg mass suspended from it. Explain
why.(2)

27. A cyclist is free-wheeling down a long slope which is at

3.0° to the horizontal. He is travelling, without pedaling,
at a constant speed of 8.4 m s-1. The combined mass of
the cyclist and bicycle is 90 kg.
a) Calculate the gravitational potential energy (g.p.e.)
lost per second. (3)
b) What happens to this lost g.p.e.? (1)
c) At the bottom of the slope the cyclist turns round
and pedals back up at the same steady speed of 8.4
m s-1. Give an estimate of the rate at which the cyclist does work as he climbs the hill. (2)

28.
a) Complete the table opposite by giving one example of
each type of force. (3)
b) The diagram below shows forces acting on the Sun and
the Earth. These forces form a Newton's third law pair.
State three properties of these forces which are
necessary for them to be a Newton's third law pair. (3)

29. A man is pushing a shopping trolley at a speed of 1.10ms-1 along a horizontal surface. There is a constant
frictional force opposing the motion. The man stops suddenly, letting go of the trolley, which rolls on for a
distance of 1.96 m before coming to rest.
a) Show that the deceleration of the trolley is approximately 0.3 m s-2. (3)
b) The total mass of the trolley and its contents is 28.0kg. Calculate the frictional force opposing its motion. (2)
c) Calculate the power needed to push the trolley at a steady speed of 1.10 m s-1. (2)
d) The man catches up with the trolley. Calculate the steady force he must now apply to it to accelerate it from
rest to 1.10m s-1 in 0.900 s. (3)

30. A Physics teacher is demonstrating conservation of

energy. She sets up a curved runway releases an
initially stationary trolley from the top. She tells the
class that, as the trolley runs down the slope, its
gravitational potential energy is converted into
kinetic energy.
a) Explain why this is only approximately true. (1)
b) Describe an experiment she could perform to find
out what percentage of the gravitational potential
energy lost is actually converted to kinetic
energy. Your answer should include:
(i) Any additional apparatus required (add this to a copy of the diagram)?
(ii) How the apparatus is used?
(iii) How the results are analysed? (6)

7
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

31. The diagram shows a velocity-time graph for a ball bouncing vertically on a hard surface.

a) At what instant does the graph show the ball to be in contact with the ground for the third time? (2)
b) The downwards-sloping lines on the graph are straight. Why are they straight? (2)
c) Calculate the height from which the ball is dropped. (3)
d) Sketch a displacement-time curve on the axes below for the first second of the motion. (3)
e) What is the displacement of the ball when it finally comes to rest? (1)

32. The graph shows how the height above the ground of the top of a soft bouncing ball varies with time.
a. Describe briefly the principal energy
changes which occur between the
times
i. tAand tB (2)
ii. tAand tC (3)
iii. tCand tD (1)

33. The diagram illustrates an elastic collision

between two spheres, A and B, of equal
mass. Sphere A is tied to the end of a long
vertical thread and pulled to one side until it has risen a
distance of 10 cm. It is then released and comes to rest
when it strikes the sphere B which is resting on a smooth flat
support. Sphere B travels a horizontal distance d before it
hits the ground after falling 10 cm.
a) Calculate the speed of A as it strikes B.(4)
b) How long does B take to fall 10cm?(3)
c) What is the speed of B just after the collision?(1)
d) Calculate the distance d (2)
e) Explain briefly why B drops a distance of 10 cm much
more quickly than A. (2)

34. The diagram shows a mass attached by a piece of string to a glider which is free to glide along an air track. A
student finds that the glider takes 1.13 s to move a distance of 90 cm starting from rest.
a) Calculate the speed of the glider after 1.13
s.(4)
b) Calculate its average acceleration during this
time.(3)
c) How would you test whether or not the
acceleration of the glider is constant?(3)

35. A mass is oscillating vertically on the end of a spring.

a) Explain what happens to the following quantities as the mass rises from the bottom of its motion to the top.
i. Kinetic energy (1)

8
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

ii. Gravitational potential energy (1)

iii. Elastic potential energy (1)
b) After a long time, the mass stops oscillating. What has happened to the energy? (2)

36. The diagram shows a man standing on a planet.

a) Complete and label two free-body force diagrams in the space below, one for the man and one for the
planet.(4)
b) The man is in equilibrium. Explain what can be deduced about the forces acting on the man.(1)

37.
a) State Newton’s second law of motion.(2)
b) You are asked to test the relation between force and acceleration. Draw and label a diagram of the apparatus
you would use. State clearly how you would use the apparatus and what measurements you would make. (6)
c) Explain how you would use your measurements to test the relationship between force and acceleration. (3)

38. The following graph shows the speed v of a body during a time interval of just 3 seconds.
a) Demonstrate that the following equation is
homogeneous with respect to units. The symbols have
their usual meanings. (2)
b) Use the graph to determine the magnitude of the
acceleration a?(3)
c) Find the distance travelled by the body between t= 6 s
and t=8 s?(2)

39. The diagram shows a smooth wooden board 30 cm long.

One end is raised 15 cm above the other. A 100 g mass is placed on the board. The two forces acting on the 100
g mass are shown on the free-body force diagram.
a) Explain with the aid of a sketch why the resultant force on the 100 g mass
acts parallel to the board and downwards?(2)
b) Calculate the magnitude of this resultant force?(2)
c) Calculate the kinetic energy gained by the 100 g mass as it slides down 20 cm
of the slope. (2)
d) The smooth board is replaced by a similar rough board which exerts a
frictional force of 0.19 N on the 100 g mass. Calculate the new value for the
kinetic energy gained by the 100 g mass as it slides down 20 cm of slope. (2)
e) Explain why the final kinetic energy of the 100 g mass is greater when the
board is smooth.(2)

40. The graph shows the speed of a racing car during the first 2.6 seconds of a
race as it accelerates from rest along a straight line.
a) Calculate the displacement 1.5 s after the start.(2)
b) Calculate the acceleration at 2.0 s(2)
c) Calculate the kinetic energy after 2.5 s given that the mass of the
racing car is 420 kg (2)

41. The diagram shows a free–body force diagram for an aircraft flying along a
straight path and climbing at constant speed.

9
V.SriPratheepan Mechanics

a) Name each of the four forces shown and identify in each

case what exerts the force.
i. Force A (1)
ii. Force B (1)
iii. Force C(1)
iv. Force D (1)
b) State whether or not the resultant force is zero. Explain
your answer.(2)

42. The diagrams show a man standing on the Earth and two free-
body force diagrams, one for the man and one for the Earth.
Force A can be described as ‘the Earth pulling the man down
with a gravitational force’.
a) Use a similar form of words to describe force C which
forms a Newton third law pair with force A.(2)
b) Noting that forces A and C are a Newton third law pair,
write down three similarities and two differences between
these two forces.(5)
c) Which two forces show whether or not the man is in equilibrium?(1)

43. Twin engine aircraft use less fuel than those with four engines. Recent improvements in engine reliability mean
that they are now considered safe for long commercial flights over water. An aircraft powered by two Rolls-
Royce Trent engines demonstrated its endurance by flying nonstop round the world.
During this flight it used 1.7 × 105 litres of aviation fuel & each litre of fuel releases 38 MJ when combined with
oxygen in the air.
a) Calculate the total amount of energy released during the flight.(2)
b) The flight lasted 47 hours. Calculate the average input power to the engines. (2)
c) The distance covered by the aircraft was 41000 km. Calculate the aircraft’s average speed.(2)
d) The maximum thrust of each engine is 700 kN. Multiply the total maximum thrust by the average speed and
comment on your answer.(3)

44. A careless soldier shoots a bullet vertically into the air at 450 m s–1
a) Calculate the time the bullet takes to reach the top of its flight. State any assumption you have made.(3)
b) Sketch and label fully a velocity-time graph for the bullet’s complete flight.(3)
c) Explain the shape of your graph.(2)
d) Use your graph to calculate the distance travelled by the bullet before it hits the ground. (2)

45. A toy frog has a spring which causes it to jump into the air. The force-compression graph for the spring is shown
below.
a) Calculate the work done on the spring when it is compressed by
4.0 cm.(3)
b) The frog has a mass of 24 g and rises 0.60 m vertically into the
air. Calculate the gravitational potential energy gained by the
frog.(2)
c) Compare your two answers for energy and explain how they are
consistent with the law of conservation of energy. (2)

10