Types of Forces (Edexcel GCSE Physics): Exam Questions

1 hour9 questions
1a
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3 marks

Complete the following sentences using words from the box below.

electrostatic

friction

gravitational

magnetic

i) The force that keeps the Earth in orbit around the sun is ......................................................................... attraction.

[1]

ii) The force that opposes motion between two surfaces is ............................................................................. 

[1]

iii) The force that can move small pieces of paper towards a plastic comb is .............................................................attraction.

[1]

1b
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1 mark

Which of these statements is true for a vector quantity?

  • It has size only

  • It has direction only

  • It has direction and size

  • It does not have direction or size

1c
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3 marks

Figure 3 shows a force of 200 N acting at the end of a plank of wood.

The force acts at right angles to the plank and at 3.0 m away from a pivot.

fig-3-paper2f-oct2021-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 3

Calculate the moment of the 200 N force about the pivot.

State the unit of the moment of the force.

Use the equation

moment of a force = force × distance at right angles to the direction of the force

moment of the force about the pivot = ................. unit ........

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2a
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2 marks

State the difference between scalar and vector quantities.

2b
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3 marks

The table below contains a number of scalar and vector quantities 

Place one tick () in each row to show whether each quantity is a scalar or a vector.

Quantity

Scalar

Vector

Distance

 

 

Speed

 

 

Acceleration

 

 

Energy

 

 

Force

 

 

2c
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2 marks

Higher Tier Only

Figure 1 shows a football travelling through the air, to the right.

football

Figure 1

Two forces are acting on the ball: weight and air resistance.

Add two arrows to the diagram, showing the direction of the forces acting on the ball.

2d
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1 mark

Which row shows the correct contact and non-contact force?

  

contact force

non-contact force

  A

friction

compression

  B

tension

magnetic

  C

electrostatic

normal reaction

 D

gravitational

air resistance

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    3a
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    2 marks

    A student is sitting still on a chair in her physics lesson.

    Name the forces acting on the student.

    3b
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    3 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    Figure 1 presents the student and the chair.

    rOOVSiBR_9-1-e-3b-free-body-diagram

    Figure 1

    Sketch the free-body diagram representing the student and chair in Figure 1.

    3c
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    2 marks

    For your answer to part a), state whether these forces are contact or non-contact forces.

    3d
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    2 marks

    Higher Tier Only 

    The student now pushes the chair to the right with a force shown by the vector in Figure 2.

    9-1-e-3d-scale-drawing

    Figure 2

    Determine the magnitude of this force.

    The scale is 1 cm = 2 N

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    1a1 mark

    Which of the following units are the correct units for force?

    •  Newtons (N)

    • Joules (J)

    •  Watts (W)

    • Metres per second (m/s)

    1b3 marks

    Tick all the forces in the table that are contact forces.

    Force

    Contact force

    Weight

     

    Compression

     

    Reaction

     

    Air resistance

     

    Electrostatic

     

    1c2 marks

    Explain why air resistance is a contact force.

    1d1 mark

    When a force acts on an object, it can affect the object in several ways.

    Which of the following is not an example of the effect of a force on an object?

    •  Change in speed

    • Change in shape

    • Change in direction

    • Change in mass

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    2a1 mark

    Which of the following descriptions applies to Newton's Third law?

    •  Forces are of equal size and act in the same direction

    • Forces are of equal size and act in opposing directions

    • Forces are unequal in size and act in the same direction

    • Forces are unequal in size and act in opposing directions

    2b2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    In a physics class, the students are asked to give an example of a force pair in accordance with Newton's third law of motion.

    One student gives the following example

    'The weight of Sam is opposed by the normal contact force of Sam's chair.'

    State whether you agree that this is force pair. Explain your answer.

    2c2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    While Sam is sitting still on their chair, Sam is in equilibrium.

    Explain what is meant by the term 'equilibrium'.

    Use ideas about resultant forces in your answer.

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    3a2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    A toy cart with a mass of 35 g rolls down an incline as shown in Figure 1.

    9-1-m-3a-1-4-4a-e-balanced-forces-incline

    Figure 1

    The cart travels at a constant speed.

    Explain why the cart does not accelerate.

    3b2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    The angle of the incline is increased. The cart now accelerates.

    Explain why the cart now accelerates.

    3c3 marks

    The resultant force on the cart is 0.65 N.

    Calculate the acceleration of the cart. 

    acceleration =  .................................... m/s2

    3d1 mark

    The acceleration of the cart can be increased by reducing the frictional force.

    Suggest a way to reduce the force of friction acting on the cart.

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    4a1 mark

    Higher Tier Only

    Figure 1 shows a man pulling a child on a sledge. 

    1-4-5a-e-force-child-on-sledge

    Figure 1

    The mass of the child and the sledge is 42 kg. 

    The unbalanced force acting on the sledge is 46 N.

    State the magnitude of the force that needs to be exerted by the man to make the sledge move.

    4b1 mark

    What type of force opposes the motion of the sledge?

    • Non-contact, friction

    • Contact, friction

    • Non-contact, normal reaction

    • Contact, normal reaction

    4c3 marks

    The sledge is then placed at the top of a hill and accelerates down the hill at 0.75 m/s2 

    Calculate the resultant force acting on the sledge.

    Give the unit. 

    resultant force =  .................................... unit =  ...................

    4d2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    Assuming that the force opposing the motion of the sledge is the same, calculate the total force acting down the hill.

    You may include a diagram in your answer.

     total force acting down the hill =  .................................... N

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    5a2 marks

    Higher Tier Only

    A student throws a tennis ball vertically upwards and catches it as it returns to her.

    Figure 1 shows the motion of the ball whilst it is in the air. 

    Figure 1

    screenshot-2023-05-23-at-19-47-42

    Draw a free-body force diagram of the ball at position C.

    5b1 mark

    State the force or forces acting on the ball at position A.

    5c4 marks

    Explain the motion of the ball as it moves from position A to position B.

    You should include ideas about Newton's second law of motion in your answer.

    5d2 marks

    State the force pairs interacting in this situation.

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    6a1 mark

    Higher Tier Only 

    The magnitude and direction of a force can be represented by a vector.

    Figure 22 shows the forces acting on four identical trolleys. The arrows show the magnitude and direction of the forces.

    Which diagram shows a pair of forces that will produce zero acceleration?

    fig-22-paper2h-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

    Figure 22

      6b4 marks

      Higher Tier Only 

      Figure 23 shows two small boats pulling a much larger ship.

      fig-23-paper2h-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

      Figure 23

      The ship is connected to the boats with ropes. The tension, T, in each of the ropes has a magnitude of 20 kN.

      The ropes are at right angles to each other.

      Draw a vector diagram and use it to determine the resultant force that the boats exert on the ship.

      magnitude of resultant force on the ship = ..................... kN

      6c6 marks

      Higher Tier Only

      Figure 24 shows a wooden block connected to a weight by a string.

      The string goes over a pulley.

      The surfaces of the table and the wooden block are both rough.

      fig-24-paper2h-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

      Figure 24

      The wooden block moves across the table at a constant horizontal velocity.

      Several vertical and horizontal forces act on the wooden block as it moves.

      Explain how the forces keep the wooden block moving across the table at a constant horizontal velocity.

      Your answer should refer to all forces acting on the wooden block.

      You may add to the diagram to help with your answer.

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