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KS3
FORCES
Higher Tier Physics Assessment
H
Time allowed: 50 minutes

Materials
Question Mark
• A ruler

• A pen and pencil 1

• A calculator 2

Instructions and Information 3

• Answer all the questions using a black pen.
4
• Answer the questions in the space available and cross out any
work you do not want to be marked.
5
• In any calculations make sure you show your working out.
6
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets.
7
• The maximum mark for the paper is 50.

• You must make your work as neat as possible and use good Total
English in your answers.

• You should make sure you leave time to check your answers.

Name 

Date 
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0 1 The sentences below describe four forces.

0 1 . 1 Name the force described by each of the sentences below.

[4 marks]

The force between two surfaces that

are sliding, or trying to slide, across 
each other.

The force transmitted through a rope,

string or wire when pulled by forces 
acting from opposite ends.

The upward force that a fluid exerts 

on an object floating in it.

The force that acts between two


charges.

0 1 . 2 One of the forces in 01.1 is a non-contact force.

Name the non-contact force.

[1 mark]


0 1 . 3 Magnetic force is another non-contact force. Magnetic materials experience

this force in the field around a magnet.

Describe what happens to the strength of the force on a magnetic object as it

is moved further away from the magnet.
[1 mark]





6
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0 2 Figure 1 shows one cart on a roller coaster after it has come down the final
drop.
Figure 1
direction of travel

D B

0 2 . 1 Give the letter of the arrow that shows the direction of the reaction force.

[1 mark]

0 2 . 2 Arrow D represents the resistive forces acting on the cart.

Name two resistive forces that act on the cart.

[2 marks]

1.
2.

0 2 . 3 Describe how the resistive forces affect the speed of the cart.

[1 mark]


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0 2 . 4 The cart goes around the track again. Figure 2 shows the cart at the highest
point on the track, before the first drop. The cart is moving at a constant speed.

Draw arrows on Figure 2 to show the forces acting on the cart.

[2 marks]

Figure 2

direction of travel

6
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0 3 A student investigates how different surfaces affect the distance travelled by a

car after it leaves a ramp. Figure 3 shows how the equipment is set up.

Figure 3

0 3 . 1 State the purpose of the ruler in the investigation.

[1 mark]


0 3 . 2 Write down the independent variable in the investigation.

[1 mark]


0 3 . 3 Table 1 shows the student’s results.

[1 mark]
Table 1
Distance Travelled (m)
Surface Material
Repeat 1 Repeat 2 Repeat 3 Mean
carpet 0.41 0.41 0.40 0.41
floorboards 1.15 1.13 1.14 1.14
tiles 0.87 0.84 0.88
concrete path 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.26
artificial grass 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.23

Calculate the mean distance travelled by the car on tiles.




mean = m
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0 3 . 4 Explain which surface material slowed the car down at the fastest rate.
[4 marks]






7
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0 4 Figure 4 shows a ball on a table. The ball is stationary.

Figure 4

0 4 . 1 Describe the forces that act on the ball when it is stationary.

[3 marks]





0 4 . 2 A student pushes down on the ball. There is no change to the table.

Describe what happens to the ball when the student pushes down on it.
[1 mark]



Question 4 continues on the next page.

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0 4 . 3 The student places a second ball on the table. The second ball has a larger
mass.
Draw arrows on Figure 5 to show the forces acting on the balls.

[3 marks]
Figure 5

ball 1 ball 2

0 4 . 4 The student wants to find out the weight of the balls.

Name the piece of equipment that the student should use to measure
weight.
[1 mark]


8
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0 5 Two students wanted to investigate how the size of a parachute affects the
time take for an object to fall.

The students made the hypothesis:

‘The larger the size of the parachute, the longer it will take for the object to fall.’

Figure 6 shows some equipment the students could use to test this hypothesis.

Figure 6

string
stopwatch

bin liners wooden block

0 5 . 1 Plan an investigation to test the hypothesis.

[6 marks]













6
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0 6 Figure 7 shows a spring toy made by a toy company. Scientists at the toy
company want to investigate the maximum weight that can be added to the
spring to make sure it returns to its original length when bounced.

Figure 7

The scientists add masses to the spring to increase the force applied and
measure the extension of the spring.

Their results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2

Force (N) Extension (cm)

0 0
2 1
4 2
6 3
8 7
10 14
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0 6 . 1 Complete Figure 8 using the results from Table 2.

[3 marks]
Figure 8
15

10
Extension (cm)

0 5 10
Force (N)

0 6 . 2 Once the spring has passed its elastic limit it will no longer return to its
original size.
What is the maximum force that the toy company can apply to the spring to
ensure the spring returns to its original size?

[1 mark]

N
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0 6 . 3 Calculate the spring constant of the spring in N/cm.

[3 marks]




spring constant = N/cm

7
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0 7 In 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module became the first crewed vehicle to land
on the Moon.

The lunar module had a mass of 15 103kg.

0 7 . 1 Write down the equation that links gravitational field strength, mass and
weight.
[1 mark]


0 7 . 2 The gravitational field strength on Earth is 10N/kg.

Calculate the weight of the lunar module on Earth.

Give the unit.

[3 marks]




weight = unit =

0 7 . 3 Explain what happened to the weight of the lunar module when it landed on
the Moon.

[3 marks]




Question 7 continues on the next page.

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0 7 . 4 The astronauts collected samples of lunar rock and soil. On Earth, the weight
of the samples was 215.5N.

Calculate the mass of lunar rock and soil that the astronauts brought back to
Earth.

Give the unit.

[3 marks]




mass = unit =

10

END OF QUESTIONS