BROOKHOUSE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Force and Motion Practice Questions

1. (a) (i) State the difference between scalar and vector quantities [1]
(ii) Give two examples of a vector quantity. [2]
(b) Bill travels 10km North-east and then 12km due East
(i) Draw a vector diagram showing Bills route. [2]
(ii) Calculate, without the use of a scale diagram, Bills resultant displacement in components East and
North. All working should be shown clearly. [3]
2. (a) (i) Complete the vector diagram below showing the resultant force.
[1]
(ii) label the resultant with its magnitude [1]
(b) The boat shown in the diagram below leaves the Isle of Sheppy and arrives at the coast at point A 25
seconds later. It travels in a straight line.
Calculate
(i) the distance travelled by the boat. [2]
(ii) the average velocity towards point A. [1]
(iii) the component of the velocity in direction X-B [3]
3. A ship is pulled at a constant speed, v, of 2.5ms
-1
by two tugs, A and B. Each tug is connected to the ship by a
cable so that the angle each of the cables makes with the direction of travel is 41
o
. The ship experiences a drag
force given by 8000v
2
newtons.
(a) Calculate the tension in each cable while travelling at this constant speed. [3]
30N
Sheppy
A
B
400
m
300
m
X
20N
Scale 1cm: 5N
120
o
Ship
Tug A
Tug B
v = 2.5ms
-1
41
o
41
o
(b) As the tugs attempt to increase the speed of the ship from 2.5 ms
-1
, tug A breaks down, with its
cable to the ship becoming slack.
(i) Calculate the speed to which the ship initially decelerates, assuming the tension in the other cable remains
constant. [2]
(ii) The ship also veers off-course. Explain why this happens. [2]
(c) The harbour authorities want to move the ship to clear the harbour walls sooner. This requires that the tugs
increase the tensions in the cables to the ship. The maximum safe tension in the cables is 50kN and the tugs
need to maintain a minimum angle of 60
o
between the cables connecting them to the ship. Calculate the
maximum speed at which the tugs can pull the ship. [4]
4. A child throws a ball vertically upwards, then catches it again.
(a) Taking the initial velocity to be 10.0 ms
-1
, g to be 9.8ms
-2
and ignoring effects of air resistance, calculate:
(i) the total time of flight of the ball [3]
(ii) the maximum height it reaches [2]
(b) Sketch the following graphs for its complete flight, taking the upwards direction as positive:
(i) velocity - time graph [3]
(ii) acceleration time graph [2]
5. A dart player throws a dart horizontally. By the time it reaches the dartboard, 3.0m away, it has
fallen a height of 0.20m. Taking g as 9.8ms
-2
, find:
(a) The time of flight [2]
(b) The initial velocity [2]
(c) The magnitude and direction of the velocity as it is just about to hit the dartboard. [6]
6. A tennis ball is dropped from a height h and bounces so that the speed immediately after each bounce is half the
speed just before the bounce.
Sketch the following graphs from the time of release until the ball hits the ground for the third time. In each
case, take the upward direction as positive.
(a) The velocity time graph [3]
(b) The displacement time graph [3]
7. A rocket accelerates from rest for 20s with a constant upward acceleration of 10ms
-2
. At the end of 20s the fuel
is used up and it completes its flight under gravity alone. Assuming that air resistance can be neglected and
taking g = 9 8ms
-2
, calculate the:
3.0m
0.20m
(a) speed reached after 20s. [2]
(b) height after 20s. [2]
(c) maximum height reached. [3]
(d) speed just before the rocket hits the ground. [2]
(e) total time taken for the flight. [4]
8. Water flows from a fire hydrant at the rate of 1.2m
3
min
-1
. The water rises vertically from the supply and flows
round the bend and into a hose, of internal diameter 7.0cm
(a) The density of water is 1000kg m
-3
. Calculate the:
(i) mass flow rate of water in kg s
-1
. [2]
(ii) speed of the water as it leaves the nozzle in ms
-1
[3]
(b) (i) State the change in horizontal velocity of the water as it goes round the bend in the pipe. [1]
(ii) Calculate the change in horizontal momentum per second. [2]
(iii) State the force a fireman must exert on the hose to keep it still when the water is flowing out
horizontally. [1]
(c) The mass of the fireman is 75kg. If the water is suddenly turned on when he is holding the hose
horizontally, with what acceleration will he start to move backwards if he does not brace himself to oppose the
force? (Assume that his hands do not slip on the hose and that no friction acts between his feet and the ground.) [2]
9. (a) Identify three properties of pairs of forces that are linked by Newtons third law. [3]
(b) A person stands on bathroom scales on the ground.
Draw a free-body force diagram for the person. Identify all forces clearly. [2]
(c) For the situation in (b), state the other force forming a Newtons third law pair with the reaction force of the
scales acting on the persons feet. [1]
(d) A slimming club is situated at the top of a tall building; to motivate its clientele, the club has installed its
own lift which contains a weighing machine. The lift accelerates uniformly at 1.0ms
-2
for 90% of its journey, both
going up and coming down.
Calculate:
(i) The resultant force required to accelerate a person whose mass is 80kg at 1.0ms
-2
. [1]
(ii) The reading (in kg) on the weighing machine when the 80kg person stands on it as the lift accelerates
upwards. [3]
(iii) The reading (in kg) of the machine when the same person stands on it as it accelerates downwards. [2]
7.0cm
hose, held horizontally Fixed pipe
Water
flow
Bathroom scales
Ground

BROOKHOUSE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Force and Motion Practice Questions - Marks
1. (a) (i) A vector has a direction, a scalar does not.
[1]
(ii) Any two examples such as force, displacement, velocity, momentum etc.
[2]
(b) (i)
[2]
(ii) Resultant vector, in terms of (E, N) components is:
R = (10 cos45, 10 sin45) + (12, 0) = (19 km E, 7.1 km N)
[3]
2. (a)
[2]
(b) (i) d
2
= 300
2
+ 400
2
d = 500m
[2]
[2]
(ii) v = d/t = 500/25 = 20ms
-1
[1]
[1]
(iii) if angle between XA and XB = u
component of v in direction XB = v cosu
cosu = 400/500
v
xb
= 20400/500 = 16ms
-1

[3]
3. (a) The ship travels at a steady speed so the forward force due to the cables must have the same
12km
10km
45

magnitude: 26.5 N
30N
20N
120
o

T
8000v
2
magnitude as the drag force.
Ropes are symmetrical so the magnitude of the tensions in them are equal;
Resolve forces in direction of travel:
8000v
2
= 2T cos41
o
;
8000 2.5
2
= 2T cos41
o
T = 33125N = 33 kN
[3]
(b) (i)
Resolving forces in direction of travel:
8000v
2
= 33,000 cos41
o
; v = 1.8 ms
-1

[2]
(ii) The ship veers off-course as Tug B exerts a force on the ship that is perpendicular to the original
direction of travel and is no longer balanced by Tug A;
This provides a turning effect (moment) on the ship.
This causes the ship to accelerate in this perpendicular direction
[2]
(c) Maximum speed is attained when the angle between the rope to each tug with the direction of travel
is the same. Otherwise some of the force of the tugs goes to turning the ship;
In this case the angle is 30
o
.
The tension in the ropes is 50kN.
Resolving in the direction of motion: 2 50,000 cos30
o
= 8000v
2
;
Maximum speed, v = 3.3 ms
-1

[4]
4. (a) (i) s = 0, u = 10.0ms
-1
, a = -9.8 ms
-2
, t = ?
s = ut +
2
1
at
2

0 = 10.0t
2
1
9.8 t
2
= t(10.0 4.9t)
t = 0 or t =
9 . 4
0 . 10
= 2.0s (2 s.f.)
[3]
(ii) v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
v = 0, u = 10 ms
-1
, a = -9.8ms
-2
0 = 10.0
2
2 9.8s
s =
8 . 9 2
0 . 10
2

= 5.1m
[2]
9(b) (i)
T
41
8000v
2
either
t/ s 2.0 1.0
0
-10
10
v/ ms
-1

[3]
(ii)
[2]
5. (a)Vertical motion: s = ut +
2
1
at
2
0.20 = 0 +
2
1
9.8t
2

t =
8 . 9
2 . 0 2
= 0.20s
[2]
(b) Horizontal motion: u
x
=
20 . 0
0 . 3
t
s
= = 15ms
-1

[2]
(c)
Vertical final velocity: v
v
= u
v
+ at = 0 + 9.8 0.20 = 1.96 ms
-1

Magnitude of total final velocity: V
2
= u
x
2
+ v
v
2
V =
2 2
96 . 1 15 +
V = 15.1 ms
-1
(15ms
-1
to 2 s.f.)
Angle: u = tan
-1
15
96 . 1
= 7.4 below horizontal
[6]
6. (a)
General shape correct
Ratios correct, 1 : :
Slopes parallel
[3]
t/ s 2.0 1.0
0
-10
10
a/ ms
-2

u
x
v
v
V
u
v
t
(b)
Parabolic curves
Reducing in size
Ratio of heights, 1 : :
1
/16
[3]
7.(a) u = 0, a = 10ms
-2
, t = 20s
v = u + at = 0 + 10 20 = 200ms
-1

[2]
(b) v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
s =
a 2
u v
2 2

=
10 2
0 200
2

= 2000m
Or: s = at
2
= 10 20
2
= 2000m
[2]
(c) Further height: s =
a 2
u v
2 2

=
8 . 9 2
200 0
2

= 2040m (3 s.f.)
Total height = 2000 + 2040 = 4040m = 4000m (2 s.f.)
[3]
(d) v
2
= u
2
+ 2as
v = 4040 8 . 9 2 0 + = 280 ms
-1
(2s.f.)
[2]
(e) Time to fall back to earth is: t =
2s
a
=
8 . 9
4040 2
= 29s (2s.f.)
Time to reach max height after fuel used up is: t =
a
u v
=
8 . 9
200 0

= 20.4s
Time for entire flight = 20 + 20.4 + 29 = 69.4s = 69s (2s.f.)
[4]
8. (a) (i) 1.2 1000 = 1200 kg min
-1

1200/60 = 20 kgs
-1

[2]
(ii) volume leaving pipe per second = cross-sectional area speed
5.20 ms
-1
= v (-1 for no unit or incorrect units)
[3]
s
t
v 035 . 0
60
2 . 1
2
t =


(b) (i) 5.20 ms
-1

[1]
(ii) 20 5.20 = 104 kg ms
-1
per second
[2]
(iii) Force time = 104 kg ms
-1
time = 1 second Force = 104 N
[1]
(c) 104 = 75 a
1.39 ms
-2
= a
[2]
9. (a) equal in magnitude
opposite direction
act on different bodies
[3]
(b)
[2]
(c) The persons weight
[1]
(d) (i) F = ma
= 80 1 = 80 N
[1]
(ii) Total force on scales = person's weight + accelerating force
= 80 9.8 + 80 = 864 N
Mass reading = force/g = 88.2 kg
[3]
(iii) Total force on scales = 80 80 9.8 80 = 704
mass reading = 71.8 kg (2 marks for final answer)
[2]

reaction of scales on person

weight