Forces: past paper questions
Real questions on forces
The newest 20 of 145 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 5054/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[3]
Use Fig. 1.1 to determine the resultant force acting on the car during the first 1.5 s of its motion.
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(i)[2]
When the momentum of the car is p, its kinetic energy is E k . Show that p 2 = E k . 2m
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[3]
At t = 6.0 s, the kinetic energy of the car is 5.4 × 10 5 J. Use Fig. 1.1 to determine the momentum p of the car at t = 6.0 s, and use the equation in (b)(i) to determine the mass m of the car. Show your working. p = kg m / s
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4c(iii)[1]
State whether the image I of the object O is a real or a virtual image, and explain your answer.
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[3]
The speed of the car affects both the thinking distance and the braking distance. State one factor that affects only the braking distance of the car. Explain how a change in this factor increases the braking distance. explanation factor
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[3]
Explain, in terms of the forces on the container, the motion of the container through the water until it reaches terminal velocity. (a) The container reaches terminal velocity before it hits the bottom of the lake.
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
The horizontal momentum of the water decreases to zero when the water hits the wall. None of the water bounces back from the wall. Explain why the momentum calculated in (a)(ii) is equal in size to the horizontal force exerted on the water by the wall.
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[2]
Explain, in terms of Newton’s third law, why there is a horizontal force exerted on the wall by the water.
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3d[1]
The pump that forces the water to flow through the hose is adjusted, and the speed of the water leaving the hose doubles. Explain why the force exerted by the water on the wall increases by a factor of 4.
See it on the paper → - 5054/42 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[1]
Fig. 3.2 shows the position of the pivot under the metre rule when the metre rule is balanced. position of pivot 41 42 43 44 45 cm view from above Fig. 3.2 Read the position of the pivot on the metre rule when the metre rule is balanced. Record the reading in centimetres to the nearest millimetre in Table 3.1 on page 1...
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1c(ii)[2]
Explain why the resultant vertical force eventually becomes zero.
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q1d[3]
At one instant, the vertical force on the skydiver is 400 N downwards. At the same instant, the wind causes an additional horizontal force of 100 N to the right to act on the skydiver. Draw a vector diagram to determine the resultant of the 400 N vertical force and the 100 N horizontal force. Place an arrow on all of t...
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[2]
State the principle of moments.
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q2c(i)[1]
State what is meant by the ‘centre of gravity’ of an object.
See it on the paper → - 5054/21 · May/June 2025 · Q2c(ii)[2]
When the slope is made very steep, the bus falls over by rotating about point P. Explain why the bus falls over.
See it on the paper → - 5054/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3c[2]
As the car moves, the temperature of the air inside the tyre increases. The increase in temperature causes an increase in the pressure of the air. Using ideas about particles, explain why the pressure increases.
See it on the paper → - 5054/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(i)[1]
On Fig. 3.2, take readings from the metre rule level with the top of the spring and level with the bottom of the spring. Do not include the loops at the top and the bottom of the spring in your measurements. Record your readings to the nearest 0.1 cm. cm top of spring 39 metre rule spring 40 41 bottom of spring (i) rea...
See it on the paper → - 5054/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3a(ii)[1]
Draw on Fig. 3.2 to show how the student uses a set‑square to take a reading from the metre rule level with the bottom of the spring. ĬÑĊ®Ġ´íÈõÏĪÅĊÞû·þ×
See it on the paper → - 5054/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(i)[1]
Calculate the length l of the coiled part of the spring. Use the equation shown. l = reading level with bottom of spring – reading level with top of spring Show your working. Record l in Table 3.1 on page 12 for a load L = 0.0 N.
See it on the paper → - 5054/42 · May/June 2025 · Q3b(ii)[1]
The student: • • places a load L = 1.0 N on the spring takes readings to determine the new length l of the spring. The top of the spring does not move but the bottom of the spring moves downwards. The student determines that the new reading on the rule level with the bottom of spring is 45.2 cm. Calculate the new lengt...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
This question was challenging for all candidates. The principle of conservation of momentum was not well understood. An answer such as that the increase of (downward) momentum of the water is equal to the increase in (upward) momentum of the water gained full credit. Even a realisation that there was a (downward) force on the water and an (upward) force on the rocket gained partial credit. Newton’...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/21 Q1(b) (Cambridge)
Many candidates were able to give at least one valid reason as to why the acceleration of the rocket changed, as water was expelled from it. Many candidates realised that the mass of the rocket would change, and also that the pressure of the air inside the rocket would change.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/21 Q1(c) (Cambridge)
Most candidates knew that a resultant force needs to act on Venus as it orbits the Sun so that it can stay in a circular orbit/stop it moving off along a tangent.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 5054/21 Q9(c)(ii) (Cambridge)
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