Surname

Name

American Academy Larnaca

Year 5 Physics
Semester 1

Test 1

Unit P2

Physics for your future

Topic P2.3

Motion and forces

Topic P2.4

Momentum, energy, work and power

Time: 40 minutes
The total marks for the paper is 40.
The marks for each question are shown in square brackets.
Use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
Questions labelled with an asterisk (*) are ones where the quality of your written
communication will be assessed.
You should take particular care with your spelling and grammar, as well as the
clarity of expression, on these questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided.
There may be more space than you need.

FORMULAE
You may find theses formulae useful
charge = current time

Q=It

potential difference = current resistance

V=IR

electrical power = current potential difference

P=IV

energy transferred = current potential difference time

E=IVt

distance
time

speed =

acceleration =

change in velocity
time taken

v=

s
t

a=

v-u
t

force = mass acceleration

F=ma

weight = mass gravitational field strength

W=mg

momentum = mass velocity

p=mv

force =

change in momentum
time

F=

work done = force distance moved in the direction of the force

power =

work done
time taken

kinetic energy =

E=Fd
P=

gravitational potential energy = mass gravitational field strength vertical height

1
mass (velocity)2
2

(mv - mu)
t

E
t

GPE = m g h
KE =

Do not forget to include units in all your answers.

1
m v2
2

1. The Apollo 15 mission landed on the Moon in 1971.

The astronaut David Scott dropped a hammer and a feather.
They were released from rest at the same time and from the same height.
The hammer and the feather landed at the same time.

(a) The graph shows how the velocity of the hammer changed with time.

(i) Use the graph to calculate the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon.

(3)

Acceleration = ........................................................... Unit ...........................................................

(ii) Use the graph to calculate the height the hammer was dropped from.

(2)

Height = ........................................................... m
(b) The gravitational field strength is smaller on the Moon than on the Earth.
Suggest why.

(1)

..
..
(c) If the same experiment is carried out on Earth, air resistance affects both objects.
The feather reaches the ground after the hammer, even though the force of air resistance is smaller
on the feather than on the hammer.
Explain why the feather reaches the ground after the hammer.
(4)
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
(Total for question = 10 marks)

2. A student investigates the motion of different falling masses by measuring the time taken for empty
cupcake cases to fall from a window.

The student notices that the cases accelerate and then fall at constant speed.
(a) The arrows in the diagrams show the size and direction of the forces acting on a case at different
points in its fall.
Label the forces on the middle diagram.
(2)

(b) Explain why the case accelerates and then falls at constant speed.

(3)

..
..
..
..
..
..
(Total for question = 5 marks)

3. A train travels 9 km from station A to station B.

It takes 15 minutes.
(a) (i) Calculate the average speed of the train and give its unit.

(3)

Average speed = ........................................................... unit .........................................................

(ii) The maximum speed of the train must be higher than the value you have calculated.
Explain why.

(2)

..
..
..
..
(b) The train continues along a straight track from station B to station C.
The graph shows how the velocity of the train changes with time during this part of
the journey.

(i) Use the graph to calculate the acceleration of the train, in m/s2, during the first 100 seconds
after it leaves station B.
(3)

Acceleration = ........................................................... m/s2

(ii) Use the graph to calculate the distance, in m, between station B and station C.

(3)

Distance = ........................................................... m
(Total for question = 11 marks)

4. The diagram shows a roller-coaster ride.

The car is pulled slowly from the start to point B and then released.

(a) Choose letters from the diagram to complete this sentence.

(2)

The car has the most gravitational potential energy at point .......................................
and it goes fastest at point ....................................... .
(b) The mass of the car is 900 kg.
The maximum speed of the car is 15 m/s.
(i)

Calculate the maximum momentum of the car.

(3)

maximum momentum = ........................... unit ...........................

(ii) Calculate the maximum KE of the car.

(2)

maximum KE = .................................... J
(Total for question = 7 marks)

5. Some quantities are vectors, others are scalars.

(a) Complete the table ticking the boxes to show which quantities are vectors and which are scalars.
One has been done for you.
(2)

(b) In a crash test, a car runs into a wall and stops.

The momentum of the car before the crash is 22500 kg m/s.

The car stops in 0.14 s.
(i) Calculate the average force on the car during the crash.

(2)

average force = ........................................................... N

(ii) Use ideas about momentum to explain how seat belts can reduce injuries to passengers during
a crash.
(3)
..
..
..
..
..
..
(Total for question = 7 marks)
(Total for test = 40 marks)

10

Mark Scheme
Q1.

11

Q2.

(a)

(b)

12

Q3.

(ii)

13

Q4.

ii
i

14

Q5.

15

(b)

16