Forces & MotionEdexcel IGCSE Physics: Topic test

20 questions, 54 marks

Edexcel IGCSE Physics

Forces & Motion topic test

Total 54 marks

Name

Class

Date

1
A courier robot travels in a straight line along a flat pavement, covering a distance of 240 m in 60 s at a constant speed. It then stops for 30 s at the delivery point to recharge before returning to base.
(a)
Which equation should be used to calculate the courier robot's average speed for its outbound journey?
[1 mark]
Aaverage speed = distance moved ÷ time taken
Baverage speed = time taken ÷ distance moved
Caverage speed = distance moved × time taken
Daverage speed = distance moved + time taken
(b)
During the robot's 30 s stop to recharge, which of the following correctly describes its distance-time graph?
[1 mark]
AThe line has a constant positive gradient
BThe line is horizontal, because distance does not change while it is stationary
CThe line has a negative gradient, because the robot is moving backwards
DThe line is curved, because the robot is decelerating
(c)
Calculate the courier robot's average speed during its 240 m outbound journey, which took 60 s.
[2 marks]
Total for question 1: 4 marks
2
A tow truck applies a horizontal driving force of 3000 N to pull a car of mass 1000 kg along a level road. A resistive force of 800 N, due to friction and air resistance, acts on the car as it moves.
(a)
Calculate the resultant force acting on the car.
[1 mark]
A3800 N forward
B2200 N backward
C2200 N forward
D3800 N backward
(b)
Which of the following best classifies the resistive force acting on the car?
[1 mark]
AAn electrostatic force that acts without contact
BA gravitational force that acts at a distance
CA force that always speeds up the car
DA contact force that opposes relative motion
(c)
Calculate the acceleration of the car produced by this resultant force.
[2 marks]
Total for question 2: 4 marks
3
Two ice skaters, A (mass 60 kg) and B (mass 40 kg), stand together at rest on frictionless ice. They push apart from each other, so that skater B moves away with a velocity of 3 m/s.
(a)
Calculate the momentum of skater B immediately after they push apart, and use conservation of momentum to determine the speed at which skater A moves away.
[3 marks]
(b)
The push lasts 0.2 s. Calculate the force that skater A exerts on skater B during the push, and state the force that skater B exerts on skater A, giving a reason.
[4 marks]
Total for question 3: 7 marks
4
A footbridge plank of length 5 m has a weight of 180 N acting at its midpoint. The plank rests horizontally on two supports: support X, positioned under one end of the plank, and support Y, positioned 4 m from support X (1 m from the plank's far end). A crate weighing 130 N is placed on the plank, 1 m from support X.
(a)
Use the principle of moments, taking moments about support X, to calculate the upward force provided by support Y. Then use the equilibrium of vertical forces to calculate the upward force provided by support X.
[6 marks]
(b)
The crate is moved further along the plank, to 3 m from support X. Explain the effect this has on the forces provided by supports X and Y, and calculate the new values of both forces.
[6 marks]
Total for question 4: 12 marks
5
A lift in a shopping mall accelerates upward from rest to a speed of 2 m/s in 4 s, then travels at this constant speed for 10 s, before decelerating uniformly to rest over the final 2 s of its journey.
(a)
Calculate the lift's acceleration during the first 4 s of its journey.
[1 mark]
A2 m/s²
B0.5 m/s²
C8 m/s²
D0.25 m/s²
(b)
During which phase of the lift's journey is its acceleration zero?
[1 mark]
AThe middle phase, while travelling at constant speed for 10 s
BThe first phase, while speeding up
CThe final phase, while slowing down
DNone of the phases have zero acceleration
(c)
Calculate the lift's deceleration during the final 2 s of its journey, as it comes to rest.
[2 marks]
Total for question 5: 4 marks
6
A delivery van of mass 1500 kg is driven along a level road with a driving force of 4500 N from its engine. A resistive force of 1200 N, due to air resistance and rolling resistance, acts on the van as it moves.
(a)
Calculate the resultant force acting on the van.
[1 mark]
A5700 N forward
B3300 N backward
C5700 N backward
D3300 N forward
(b)
Which of the following best classifies the resistive force acting on the van?
[1 mark]
AA field force that acts without contact
BA force that always accelerates the van
CA contact force that opposes relative motion
DAn electrostatic force
(c)
Calculate the acceleration of the van produced by this resultant force.
[2 marks]
Total for question 6: 4 marks
7
Bumper car A, of total mass 250 kg (including the driver), is moving at 4 m/s when it collides with a stationary bumper car B of total mass 200 kg. The two cars lock together and move off as one after the collision.
(a)
Calculate the total momentum of the two bumper cars before the collision.
[3 marks]
(b)
Use conservation of momentum to calculate the common velocity of the two bumper cars immediately after the collision.
[4 marks]
Total for question 7: 7 marks
8
A gardener uses a wheelbarrow to move sacks of compost. The wheelbarrow's wheel acts as the pivot. A 250 N sack is placed in the barrow with its centre of gravity 0.4 m from the pivot, and the gardener lifts the handles, which are 1.2 m from the pivot, to raise the load clear of the ground.
(a)
Use the principle of moments to calculate the minimum force the gardener must apply at the handles to just lift the sack clear of the ground, and explain why placing the sack closer to the wheel would make it easier to lift.
[6 marks]
(b)
The gardener adds a second sack, weighing 150 N, also in the barrow, with its centre of gravity 0.6 m from the pivot (both sacks on the same side of the pivot as before). Calculate the new minimum force required at the handles, and state one change the gardener could make to reduce the force needed without removing either sack.
[6 marks]
Total for question 8: 12 marks

End of questions