PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1- A man weighs 600 N. He runs up stairs of total height 4 metres in 3 seconds.

How much power is exerted by the man?
A 450W B 800W C 2400W D 7200W [Nov-2002]

2- Which energy changes take place when a pedalling cyclist uses a generator (dynamo) to light his
bicycle lamp?
A chemical → kinetic → electrical → light B electrical → chemical → kinetic → light
C kinetic → chemical → light → electrical D light → electrical → kinetic → chemical [May-2003]

3- A boy, who weighs 50 N, runs up a flight of stairs 6.5m high in 7 seconds.

How much power does he develop?
𝟔.𝟓 𝟕 𝒙 𝟔.𝟓 𝟓𝟎 𝟓𝟎 𝒙 𝟔.𝟓
A W B W C W D W [May-2003]
𝟓𝟎 𝒙 𝟕 𝟓𝟎 𝟔.𝟓 𝒙 𝟕 𝟕

4- A student who weighs 500 N climbs up a flight of stairs 10 metres high in 5 seconds.
What power does she develop?
500 𝑥 10 500 𝑥 5 5
A 500 x 10 x 5 W B W C W D W [Nov-2003]
5 10 500 𝑥 10

5- A rock of mass 20 kg is travelling in space at a speed of 6m/ s.

What is its kinetic energy?
A 60 J B 120 J C 360 J D 720 J [Nov-2003]

6- The diagram shows the energy transfer through a machine.

The machine is 50 % efficient.Which is correct?

A input energy = useful output energy
B useful output energy = input energy + wasted energy
C wasted energy = input energy + useful output energy
D wasted energy = useful output energy [Nov-2004]

7-When a 300 N force is applied to a box weighing 600 N, the box moves 3.0 m horizontally in 20 s.

What is the average power?

A 45 W B 90 W C 900 W D 1800 W [Nov-2004]

8- The diagram shows a curved curtain rail that has a steel ball rolling on it. The ball is released at
point A.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

At which point does the ball have maximum kinetic energy? C

[May-2005]

9- The speed of light is 3 × 108 m/s.What is the energy equivalent of 2 kg of matter?

1
A 2 × 3 × 108J B 2000 × 3 × 108 J C × 2 × (3 × 108)2J D 2 × (3 × 108)2J [May-2005]
2

10- A mass hangs on a string fixed at point P. It starts from

position 1 and swings to the furthest
position on the opposite side, position 2. It then oscillates
several times with decreasing
amplitude before ending at position 3.
Where does the ball have the most kinetic energy?

A at position 1
B at position 2
C the first time at position 3
D the last time at position 3 [Nov-2005]

11- A girl of weight 500 N runs up a flight of

stairs in 10 seconds. The vertical height of the
stairs is 5 m.
What is the average power developed by the
girl?

A 50 W B 100 W C 250 W D 1000 W

[Nov-2005]

12- In a hydroelectric power station, water from a reservoir falls down a long pipe before entering the
turbines. The turbines then turn the generator.
What is the overall energy conversion?
A electrical energy into kinetic energy B electrical energy into potential energy
C kinetic energy into chemical energy D potential energy into electrical energy [May-2006]

13- The input power to a motor is 300 W. In 20 s it lifts a load of 400 N through a height of 6.0 m.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

What is the efficiency of the motor?

A 12 % B 25 % C 40 % D 75 % [May-2006]

14- A young child holds a ball over the edge of a balcony. The ball has
gravitational potential energy.
The ball is then released. It falls onto a concrete path below, and bounces
back up.
Which sequence represents, in the correct order, the transformations of the
gravitational potential
energy after the ball is released?
A → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy → chemical potential energy
B → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy → gravitational potential
energy
C → kinetic energy → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy
D → kinetic energy → gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy

[Nov-2006]

15- The diagram shows a battery-operated motor lifting a block of wood at constant speed.

What is the overall energy change taking place?

A chemical → gravitational potential
B gravitational potential → electrical
C gravitational potential → kinetic
D kinetic → gravitational potential

[May-2007]

16- Four students exercise in a gym.Which student does the most work?

exercise time / s power developed / W

A 50 250
B 100 150
C 200 200
D 250 30
[May-2007]

17- Which formula gives the efficiency of an energy conversion?

A efficiency = total energy input - useful energy output
B efficiency = useful energy output × total energy input

useful energy output total energy input

C ef�iciency = D ef�iciency =
total energy input useful energy output

[May-2007]

18- A 2 kg mass is moving at constant speed.The kinetic energy of the mass is 400 J.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

What is the speed of the mass?

A 0.4 m / s B 20 m / s C 200 m / s D 400 m / s [Nov-2007]

19- A crane moves its load diagonally, as

shown.
By what distance is the weight of the load
multiplied in order to calculate the increase
in gravitational potential energy of the
load?
B
[Nov-2007]

20- The efficiency of an electrical generator is 65 %.

Which useful output can be expected if the energy input to the generator is 12 kJ?
A 4.2 kJ B 7.8 kJ C 19 kJ D 780 kJ [Nov-2007]

21- A ball is held at rest on one side of a curved track.

The ball is released. It rolls down one side of the
track and part of the way up the other side. It then stops,
before rolling back down again. The height of the stopping
point is less than that of the starting point.
What is the sequence of energy changes between starting
and stopping for the first time?

A potential energy → kinetic energy → potential energy + heat

B potential energy → kinetic energy → heat → potential energy
C potential energy → heat → kinetic energy → potential energy
D potential energy → kinetic energy + heat → potential energy + heat [ May-2008]

22- A workman rolls a barrel of weight 2000N up a plank of length 2.00m and on to a lorry. The back of the
lorry is 0.80m above the horizontal surface of the road.

What is the work done on the barrel against

gravity?
A 1000J B 1600J C 2500J D 4000J [ May-2008]

23- Energy from petrol is used to operate an engine. The engine drives a generator, which produces
electrical energy.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

What is the overall efficiency of the process?

A 25% B 30% C 55% D 83% [ May-2008]

24- A crane lifts a load of 1000 N through a vertical height of 4.0 m in 10 s. The input power to the crane is
500J / s. What is the efficiency of the crane?
A 0.17 B 0.50 C 0.60 D 0.8 [May-2009]

25- The graph shows how the height above the ground of a bouncing ball changes with time.

Which statement explains why the height of each peak decreases with time?
A Kinetic energy is converted to potential energy at each bounce.
B Kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy at each bounce.
C The ball gains energy on impact with the floor.
D The ball is wearing out. [Nov-2008]

26- A crane lifts a weight of 1000N through a vertical height of 30m. It uses 60 000J of energy.

What is the efficiency of the crane?

A 20% B 30% C 40% D 50% [Nov-2008]

27- A rock climber of weight 600N climbs up a rock face of vertical height 300m in 3600s.

What is the average power she generates against gravity during this time?
A 0.020W B 50W C 1800W D 7200W [Nov-2008]

28- The diagram shows energy transfer through a machin

What is the efficiency of the machine?

input energy useful output energy useful output energy wasted energy
A B C D
useful output energy input energy wasted energy input energy
[Nov-2009]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

29- A man weighs 600 N. He runs up a staircase of total height 4.0 metres in 3.0 seconds.

How much useful power is needed to do this?

A 450 W B 800 W C 2400 W D 7200 W [Nov-2009]

30- A parachutist has opened his parachute and is falling to Earth at constant speed. What is the principal
energy conversion taking place as he falls?
A kinetic energy → potential energy B kinetic energy → thermal energy (heat)
C potential energy → kinetic energy D potential energy → thermal energy (heat) [May-2010]

31- A small emergency generator supplies 432 000 000J of electrical energy in twenty-four hours. What is
the average power output of the generator?
A 5000W B 300 000W C 18 000 000W D 432 000 000W [May-2010]

32- The diagram shows a curved track. A ball is released from the position shown. At which point does the
ball have the maximum gravitational potential energy? A

33- When one radium nucleus decays, its mass decreases by 8.8 × 10–30kg.How much energy is equivalent
to this loss in mass? (speed of light c = 3.0 × 108m/s)
A 6.8 × 10–42J B 2.6 × 10–21J C 4.0 × 10–13J D 7.9 × 10–13J [Nov-2010]

34- The energy output of a generator depends on its efficiency and the energy input. Which set of values is
correct?
efficiency energy input /MJ energy output /MJ
A 0.1 50 25
B 0.2 30 6
C 0.4 120 30
D 0.6 60 24
[Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1-Energy can be changed from one form into another.

(a) Solar energy is released from energy in the nuclei of atoms in the Sun. Some of this energy is
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

converted into wind energy on the Earth.

Describe, in detail, the energy changes and processes that occur as the energy in the nuclei
of atoms in the Sun is changed to wind energy on the Earth. [5]
(b) A motor changes electrical energy into potential energy as it lifts a load.
A student measures the efficiency of this change, using the apparatus shown in Fig. 9.1. The motor lifts the load at a

steady speed. Fig. 9.2 shows the readings taken by the student.

load lifted /N distance moved/m time taken/s p.d. across motor/V current in motor/A
8.0 2.0 8.2 6.0 3.4
Fig. 9.2

(i) Calculate
1. the work done in lifting the load,
2. the electrical energy supplied to the motor,
3. the efficiency of the motor.
(ii) After the readings have been taken, the string breaks. State the major energy change
that occurs as the load falls. [Nov-2002]

2- Fig. 11.1 shows a children’s ride. A carriage containing children is pulled up the slope by a motor. The
carriage stops at A and then runs down through B, C and D without further input of energy. Between
D and E the carriage turns through a bend at constant speed, as shown in Fig. 11.2. At E, brakes are
applied and the carriage slows to a stop at F.
The height of the ride is 30 m at A and 10 m
at C.
The mass of the carriage and children is 500
kg.
Take the gravitational field strength as 10
N/kg.
(a) (i) Discuss the energy changes that occur
in the ride from A to D.
(ii) Calculate the maximum potential energy
of the carriage and children.
(iii) Assuming that there is no friction
between A and C, determine the kinetic
energy of the carriage and children at C.
Show your working.

(b)
Between D and E, the carriage goes round part of a horizontal circle at
constant speed.
During this time the velocity of the carriage changes.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

(i) Explain how the carriage can have a constant speed but a changing velocity.
(ii) State the direction of the force that acts on the carriage to make it move round the curve.

(c) Between E and F, a frictional force of 3000 N acts to slow the carriage. Calculate the deceleration of the
carriage.
[May-2004]

3- A pole-vaulter runs along a track, reaching a maximum speed of 8.4 m/s. At the end of the
track, he places a pole into the ground as shown in Fig. 3.1, and uses the pole to push
himself vertically upwards.

(a) When the pole-vaulter runs along the track, there is a constant forward force on him of
320N and a backwards resistive force that varies with his speed as shown in Fig. 3.2.

Explain why the maximum speed that he can reach is 8.4 m/s.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................
(b) The mass of the pole-vaulter is 60 kg.
(i) Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the pole-vaulter as he runs along the track.
State clearly the formula that you use.
kinetic energy = ………………….
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

(ii) The pole is used to convert all this kinetic energy into gravitational potential energy.
Calculate the height through which the pole-vaulter rises. Give your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures. The gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
height = ……………………….

[Nov-2004]

4- Fig. 4.1 shows a hydroelectric power station. Water from the lake is used to produce electricity in the
turbine house.

(a) State where the water in Fig. 4.1 has the least potential energy.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) In 30 minutes, the water loses 5.0 × 109 J of energy and 4.5 × 109 J of electrical energy is produced in the
turbine house.
(i) Calculate the efficiency of the energy conversion.
efficiency = .........................
(ii) Calculate, in watts, the electrical power output from the turbine house.
power = ........................... W

(c) Some power stations burn coal to produce the same electrical power output. State one advantage of the
hydroelectric power station.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................
(d) State one harmful effect that the hydroelectric power station may have on the environment.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................
[May-2005]

5- A student carries out an experiment to measure the power he produces. He runs up a flight of stairs, as
shown in Fig. 1.1.
The student takes readings to calculate his power.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power

(a) (i) List all of the readings he must take.

.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
(ii) State one precaution he should take to make sure one of his readings is accurate.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................
(b) Write down all of the equations he must use to calculate his power from the readings.
You may use symbols or words in your equations.
.........................................................................................................................................

[May-2006]

6- Fig. 6.1 shows a device used to generate electricity. Water entering at the top turns the wheel. A
generator connected to the wheel produces electric current.

(a) State the two main energy changes that take place in this device as water starts to flow.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
2. ...............................................................................................................................
(b) The change in the potential energy of the water every second is 2000 J. The electrical energy output is
1200 J every second.Calculate the efficiency of the process.
efficiency = .......................
(c) State two ways in which the device wastes energy.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
2. ...............................................................................................................................

[Nov-2006]

7-

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical