Turning effect of forces: past paper questions
Real questions on turning effect of forces
The newest 16 of 16 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 0625/43 · May/June 2026 · Q2a[1]
Show that the moment of the 14 N force about the pivot is approximately 270 N cm.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · May/June 2026 · Q2b[2]
The brake pedal is stationary. The piston exerts a force of 72 N on the brake pedal. Calculate the distance d. d = cm
See it on the paper → - 0625/41 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[4]
Describe how a uniform metre ruler, a pivot and a selection of masses can be used to demonstrate that there is no resultant moment on an object in equilibrium. You may include a labelled diagram in your answer.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[1]
Define the ‘moment’ of a force in words.
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2025 · Q3c[3]
A horizontal force of 15 N tilts the solid cone, as shown in Fig. 3.2. 15 N 18 cm pivot Fig. 3.2 Calculate the moment of the 15 N force about the pivot. moment = N cm
See it on the paper → - 0625/12 · October/November 2024 · Q6[1]
Which pair of changes causes the greatest increase in the moment of the force F about the point P?
See it on the paper → - 0625/12 · October/November 2024 · Q33[1]
Which suggestions will increase the turning effect?
See it on the paper → - 0625/33 · May/June 2024 · Q2a[3]
A strong wind blows and the sign begins to fall over. A man catches the sign before it falls completely. Fig. 2.2 shows the force applied to the sign by the man. 5.6 N 82 cm pivot Fig. 2.2 Calculate the moment of the 5.6 N force about the pivot. Use the information in Fig. 2.2. moment = N cm
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2024 · Q3b[3]
A student uses a force of 12 N to tilt the computer as shown in Fig. 3.2. 12 N 32 cm pivot Fig. 3.2 Calculate the moment of the 12 N force about the pivot. moment = N cm
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2023 · Q2b(i)[2]
On Fig. 2.2, mark with an arrow the direction of the resultant force acting on the car as it travels around corner A.
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2023 · Q2b(ii)[1]
Corner B has a smaller radius than corner A. The car travels at the same speed around corner B as around corner A. State how the resultant force changes due to the car travelling around a corner of smaller radius.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2021 · Q2a(i)[1]
State what is meant by the moment of a force about a point.
See it on the paper → - 0625/42 · February/March 2021 · Q2a(ii)[2]
Fig. 2.1 shows a large crane on a construction site lifting a block of mass 14 000 kg. operator’s cabin 20 m A B counterweight block Fig. 2.1 Calculate the moment about A due to the 14 000 kg block suspended from B. moment =
See it on the paper → - 0625/43 · October/November 2020 · Q3b(iii)[1]
The speed of the car increases and at point P on Fig. 3.2 the car does not stay on the track. P Fig. 3.2 1. Suggest, in terms of the force acting on the car, why the car does not stay on the track at point P. 2. On Fig. 3.2, draw and label an arrow with the letter S to show the direction of motion of the car as it leav...
See it on the paper → - 0625/12 · May/June 2019 · Q9[1]
In which diagram is the turning effect greatest?
See it on the paper → - 0625/32 · February/March 2019 · Q4c[3]
The truck has a pivot near the front wheel. Fig. 4.2 represents the pivot and the vertical forces acting on the truck. 1.5 m 30 000 N 1.0 m pivot load Fig. 4.2 The truck is in equilibrium. Calculate the load. load = N
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Many candidates illustrated the principle of equilibrium using well-drawn, labelled diagrams. Stronger candidates described the experimental technique, e.g. “position the masses either side of the pivot and move them until the ruler is balanced”. Some candidates were able to gain credit for identifying that (the sum of) the clockwise moments = (the sum of) the anticlockwise moments. Candidates sho...
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/41 Q2(b) (Cambridge)
Only stronger candidates correctly defined the moment of a force. There was some confusion between the command words ‘define’ and ‘describe’, with weaker candidates often stating that the moment of a force was its turning effect. Another common misconception was that the moment of a force was force × distance, i.e. omitting the word ‘perpendicular’.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0625/42 Q2(a) (Cambridge)
The majority of candidates were able to correctly determine the moment of the force as 270 N cm. The most common error was to divide the force by the distance to give 0.83.
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 0625/32 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
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