Centre of gravity: past paper questions
Real questions on centre of gravity
The newest 13 of 13 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0625/31 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[2]
Explain why container A is more stable than container B.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2026 · Q2a(iv)[2]
Explain why the steel ship in Figure 2.1 floats on the sea water.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[1]
On Fig. 2.1, mark the position of the centre of gravity of the metre ruler with a point labelled X. Label the distance of X from the 0 cm end of the ruler.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q2c(i)[3]
Show that the mass of the metre ruler is 0.081 kg. (c) (i)
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2025 · Q3a[1]
Explain why the solid cone in Fig. 3.1 is more stable than the solid cuboid.
See it on the paper → - 0625/33 · May/June 2024 · Q2b[2]
The sign needs to be easy to move and stable. The base cannot be fixed to the ground. Suggest how to change the base so that the sign is more stable. Explain your answer. suggestion explanation
See it on the paper → - 0625/11 · May/June 2023 · Q9[1]
Which statement about the position of the centre of gravity of the metal plate is correct?
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2023 · Q2b[2]
The containers with the greatest mass are loaded near the bottom of the ship. State and explain the effect on the stability of the ship of loading the containers in this way.
See it on the paper → - 0625/12 · May/June 2021 · Q4[1]
Which statement gives the correct relation between m₁, m₂ and m₃?
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2019 · Q2a(i)[2]
State, in words, the equation that defines the moment of a force.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2019 · Q2a(ii)[1]
State what is meant by the moment of a force.
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2019 · Q4d(i)[1]
On Fig. 4.3, draw a cross to indicate the centre of mass of the pile of bricks.
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2019 · Q4d(ii)[1]
The truck can tilt the pile of bricks backwards, as shown in Fig. 4.4. Fig. 4.4 Explain how tilting the pile of bricks backwards makes the truck more stable.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Comprehensive responses • Responses stated clearly that the density of the ship was less than the density of sea water. • Candidates often explained this either by noting that the hull was hollow or that the ship contained a lot of air. Limited responses • Many candidates linked air with a vague lowering of density. Answers needed to compare the overall density of the ship with the density of sea...
— Examiner report, February/March 2026, 0625/42 Q2(a)(iv) (Cambridge)
The strongest candidates correctly identified that the centre of gravity was at the 50 cm point of the metre ruler. Common mistakes were to assume that the metre ruler was balanced at the pivot shown in the diagram or to omit the label showing the value of the distance from the end of the metre ruler. A significant number of candidates did not give an answer to this question.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/42 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
This question required candidates to apply the principle of moments to equate the sum of the clockwise moments with the anticlockwise moment. The clockwise moment was provided by both the moment due to the 0.12 N force and the weight of the ruler. Candidates who were able to produce a correct equation were usually able to go on to calculate the mass of the ruler by dividing its weight by g. Strong...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/42 Q2(c)(i) (Cambridge)
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