O Level Combined Science 5129 · Topic 23

Motion, forces and energy: past paper questions

287 real questionsasked in 10 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Calculate, State, Describe, Explain, Use

Real questions on motion, forces and energy

The newest 20 of 175 written questions, plus 112 multiple-choice. Open one to see it on the real paper.

5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6a(i)[1]
State the name of this force.
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5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6a(ii)[1]
1-mark question — its maths and diagrams are best seen on the paper.
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5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[2]
The height h is increased until the block begins to slide down the ramp. Explain why the block begins to slide.
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5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6c(i)[1]
State the name of the energy store that decreases.
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5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6c(ii)[1]
State the name of an energy store that increases.
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5129/21 · October/November 2025 · Q12a[2]
Explain why the smoke moves in the directions shown in Fig. 12.1.
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5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q9a[3]
Describe how useful energy may be obtained from geothermal sources.
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5129/22 · October/November 2025 · Q9b[1]
Describe one advantage of using geothermal sources to produce useful energy.
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5129/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
State the name of the apparatus that the student uses to measure the volume of the solutions. (a) (i)
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5129/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(ii)[2]
State two variables that the student should keep constant to ensure that the investigation is a fair test. variable variable
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5129/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(i)[2]
Complete Table 1.1 by writing appropriate units in the header and entering the student’s results shown in Fig. 1.1. Table 1.1 temperature of the time taken for milk to water-bath / reach pH 5.0 /
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5129/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[1]
temperature = °C Use the information in Table 1.1 to predict the temperature at which lipase digests fat most quickly.
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[3]
Define speed. (ii) In 1998, an athlete ran 1500 m in 3 minutes and 26 seconds. Calculate the average speed of the athlete. Give your answer to 2 significant figures and state the unit. average speed = unit
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q6b[2]
The resultant force causes the block to accelerate. Calculate the acceleration of the block. acceleration = m / s 2 (ii) The rubber block is elastic. The mass of the block is 0.9 kg. Describe two other possible effects on the rubber block of the forces shown in Fig. 6.1.
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9a[2]
Explain why this method makes it easier for the builder to lift the concrete block. Use ideas about moments in your answer.
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5129/21 · May/June 2025 · Q9b[2]
The builder applies a force of 40 N at the top end of the rod in the direction of the arrow. Calculate the work done moving the top end of the rod a distance of 2.0 × 10 –2 m. work done = J
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[1]
State which swimmer swims the fastest. swimmer number
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Calculate the total distance the team swims. total distance = m
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(ii)[3]
Use your answer from (b)(i) to determine the average speed of the swimming team. average speed = m / s Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
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5129/22 · May/June 2025 · Q4b[1]
Fig. 4.1 shows information about the effect of continued smoking of cigarettes on the risk of dying from lung cancer. 20 continued smoking 15 percentage risk of dying from 10 lung cancer stopped aged 50 5 stopped aged 30 never smoked 0 45 55 65 75 age / years percentage risk = Determine the percentage risk of a 75-year...
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What examiners said

Most candidates correctly identified regions of non-zero acceleration on this speed–time graph.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q1(a)(i) (Cambridge)

Most candidates identified a region of changing acceleration on the graph.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q1(a)(ii) (Cambridge)

Most candidates recalled and rearranged the equation for speed = distance × time. However, many candidates misread the graph. On this scale a small square is 0.4 m / s.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5129/21 Q1(b) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

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In the syllabus

23.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Describe how and be able to measure a variety of lengths with appropriate precision using tapes and rulers
Describe how and be able to use a measuring cylinder to measure the volume of a liquid and to determine the volume of a solid by displacement
Describe how and be able to measure a variety of time intervals using clocks and digital timers

23.2 Motion

Define speed as distance travelled per unit time
Recall and use the equation distance speed = time s v= t
Recall and use the equation total distance travelled average speed = total time taken
Define acceleration as change in speed per unit time; recall and use the equation change in speed acceleration = time taken ∆v a= ∆t
State what is meant by and describe examples of uniform acceleration and non-uniform acceleration
Sketch, plot and interpret distance–time and speed–time graphs
Determine from the shape of a distance–time graph when an object is: (a) at rest (b) moving with constant speed (c) accelerating (d) decelerating
Determine from the shape of a speed–time graph when an object is: (a) at rest (b) moving with constant speed (c) moving with constant acceleration (d) moving with changing acceleration

23.3 Mass and weight

Describe how and be able to determine mass using an electronic balance
Describe how and be able to measure weight using a force meter
Define gravitational field strength as force per unit mass; recall and use the equation weight gravitational field strength = mass W g= m and know that this is equivalent to the acceleration of free fall

23.4 Density

Define density as mass per unit volume; recall and use the equation mass density = volume m ρ= V
Describe how and be able to determine the density of a liquid, of a regularly shaped solid and of an irregularly shaped solid which sinks in a liquid (volume by displacement), including appropriate calculations

23.5 Forces

Identify and use different types of force, including weight (gravitational force), friction, drag, air resistance, tension (elastic force), electrostatic force, magnetic force, thrust (driving force) and contact force
State that a force may change the motion of an object by changing its direction or speed
Determine the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same straight line
Recall and use the equation resultant force = mass × acceleration F = ma Describe friction as a force that may impede motion and produce heating Know that forces may produce a change in size and shape of an object Define the spring constant as force per unit extension; recall and use the equation force spring constant= extension F k= x Sketch, plot and interpret load-extension graphs for an elastic solid and describe the associated experimental procedures

23.5 Forces continued

Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give everyday examples
Define the moment of a force as moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot; recall and use this equation
Describe and be able to do an experiment to verify the principle of moments

23.6 Energy, work and power

State that energy may be stored as: kinetic, gravitational potential, chemical, elastic (strain), nuclear, electrostatic and internal (thermal)
Describe how energy is transferred between stores during events and processes, including examples of transfer by forces (mechanical work done), electrical currents (electrical work done), heating and by electromagnetic, sound and other waves
Know the principle of the conservation of energy and apply this principle to the transfer of energy between stores during events and processes Recall and use the equation work done = force × distance moved in the direction of the force W = Fd

23.6 Energy, work and power continued

List renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Describe how useful energy may be obtained, or electrical power generated, from: (a) chemical energy stored in fossil fuels (b) chemical energy stored in biofuels (c) hydroelectric resources (d) solar radiation (e) nuclear fuel (f) geothermal resources (g) wind (h) tides (i) waves in the sea including references to a boiler, turbine and generator where they are used
Give advantages and disadvantages of each method limited to whether it is renewable, when and whether it is available, and its impact on the environment

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