Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion: past paper questions
Real questions on momentum and newton’s laws of motion
The newest 20 of 142 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9702/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2c(i)[2]
State the principle of conservation of momentum.
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2c(ii)[2]
Show that the mass of the payload is 230 kg. (ii)
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2c(iii)[3]
Calculate the magnitude of the change in velocity of the carrier. change in velocity = m s –1
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[2]
On Fig. 3.2, draw labelled arrows to show the directions of the forces acting on the pulley.
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Determine T. T = N
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[1]
Define acceleration.
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(i)[1]
Determine the acceleration of the rocket. acceleration = m s –2
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[2]
Show that the height of the rocket above the surface of the Earth at a time of 20 s after launch is 3.2 km.
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1c(i)[2]
calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy ΔE P ΔE P = J
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1c(ii)[2]
calculate the gain in kinetic energy ΔE K ΔE K = J
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · October/November 2025 · Q1c(iii)[2]
determine the average power output of the rocket engines. Assume that resistive forces are negligible. power = W
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4a[1]
State and explain whether the collision is elastic or inelastic.
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4b(i)[2]
Calculate the change in momentum of the ball during the collision with the ground. change in momentum = kg m s –1
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4b(ii)[2]
Determine the average force on the ball during the collision with the ground. force = N
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4c[3]
Calculate the ratio h 2 . h 1 ratio =
See it on the paper → - 9702/23 · May/June 2025 · Q4b(i)[2]
velocity v v = m s −1
See it on the paper → - 9702/51 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[1]
A graph is plotted of 1 1 on the y-axis against on the x-axis. I n Determine expressions for the gradient and y-intercept. gradient =
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · February/March 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Define force.
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · February/March 2025 · Q3b(ii)[1]
Show that the average resultant force F acting on truck R between time t = 0 and t = 15 s is –1.2 × 10 4 N.
See it on the paper → - 9702/22 · February/March 2025 · Q3b(iii)[3]
An identical truck S has the same initial momentum as truck R. Truck S experiences a constant force equal to the force F in (b)(ii). State and explain whether truck S will take more, less or the same amount of time to come to rest as truck R.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
The majority of candidates gave the correct definition of force, often using the exact wording from the syllabus ‘rate of change of momentum’. A significant number gave ‘mass times acceleration’ which is a valid way to calculate the resultant force acting on an object, but is not the definition of force. Candidates should be able to recall the definitions of the key quantities within the syllabus.
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9702/22 Q3(b)(i) (Cambridge)
There were a significant number of errors made in this ‘show that’ question. Candidates should ensure they begin with an explicit statement of the equation being used, including the subject. Candidates frequently omitted the powers of ten (104) in the first step of their working, or incorrectly gave their powers as 10-4 instead of 104. It was also common for candidates to substitute the values of...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9702/22 Q3(b)(ii) (Cambridge)
Only a few candidates were able to provide a fully correct explanation. A large number of candidates incorrectly stated that as the force and momentum was the same for both trucks, the time to come to rest for both trucks would also be the same. Very few candidates explained that truck S and truck R would have the same change in momentum to come to rest. Many candidates focussed on explaining th...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9702/22 Q3(b)(iii) (Cambridge)
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