Headtosavemyexams.

comfor more awesome resources

1.4 Moments

Question Paper

Course Edexcel IGCSE Physics

Section1. Forces & Motion

Topic 1.4 Moments

Di cultyHard

Time allowed: 50

Score: /39

Percentage: /100

Page 1 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question
A toy train is placed on the middle of a bridge on a model railway.

The weight of the train acts through its centre of gravity. Ignore the weight of the bridge.

Which row of the table shows the correct values for forces X and Y?

[1 mark]

Question 1b
Describe how force X would change if the train moved from P to Q.

[2 marks]

Page 2 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 2a
A student wants to investigate the principle of moments. He connects a ruler to a stand with a pivot and hangs a 2 N
weight from the 60 cm mark on the ruler. He uses a newtonmeter to hold the ruler horizontal.

The scale on the newtonmeter reads from 0 N to 10 N.

Describe how the student could check that the ruler is horizontal.

[2 marks]

Question 2b
(i)
State the equation linking moment, force and distance from the
pivot. (1)

(ii)
Calculate the moment of the 2 N weight.

State the unit. (3)

moment = ............................................... unit = ...............................................

[4 marks]

Page 3 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 2c
The student holds the ruler horizontal with the forcemeter at the 10 cm mark. He expects the reading on the forcemeter
to be 12 N. The actual reading is 10 N.

Explain why

(i)
The correct reading should be larger than 12
N. (2)

(ii)
The actual reading is only 10 N. (1)

[3 marks]

Question 2d
A picture in the student’s textbook shows two fishermen using a pole to carry some fish.

Fisherman A and fisherman B feel di erent forces on their shoulders.

Use ideas about moments to explain why fisherman A feels the larger

force.

Page 4 of 13
Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome
[3 marks]

Page 5 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 3a
The diagram shows a gate with a lever-operated

catch. A loop on the bolt fits around the lever-arm at

A.

(i)
Describe how the lever-arm is used to move the bolt.
(1)
(ii)
Suggest why the spring is needed.
(1)

[2 marks]

Page 6 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 3b
The lever arm operates using the principle of moments.

(i)
State the principle of
moments. (1)

(ii)
The force applied at point B is 22 N. The pivot is 110 cm from point B and 38 cm from

point A. Calculate the force exerted on the lever-arm at point A by the spring. (3)

force at point A =..............................................................N

(iii)
Explain how the force applied at point B would need to change if the distance from the pivot to point A is increased.
(2)

[6 marks]

Page 7 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 4a
A man uses a uniform plank to lift a

block. He holds the plank horizontal.

The arrows on the diagram represent three forces on the plank.

Complete the table to identify the missing force.

[1 mark]

Page 8 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 4b
(i)
State the equation linking moment, force and perpendicular distance from the
pivot. (1)

(ii)
Calculate the clockwise moment of the block about the
pivot. (2)

moment = ........................................ Nm

[3 marks]

Question 4c
Calculate the force of the man pushing down on the plank.

force =...................................................N

[4 marks]

Page 9 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 5a
A student investigates the vertical forces acting on the ends of a horizontal ruler when it supports a

load. The ruler hangs from two newtonmeters with a weight suspended from it as shown.

The student moves the weight along the ruler and records forces B and C by taking readings from the

newtonmeters. In this investigation, the independent variable is

A. Distance A

B. Force B

C. Force C

D. Force D

[1 mark]

Question 5b
In this investigation, the controlled variable is

A. Distance A

B. Force B

C. Force C

D. Force D

Page 10 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome
[1 mark]

Page 10 of 13

© 2015−2023 Save MyExams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past

 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 5c
The student records the following readings

She plots this graph to show how force C changes with distance A.

Page 11 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

(i)
Complete the student's graph by labelling the vertical axis.
(1)

(ii)
Using the same grid and axes, plot a second line to show how force B varies with
distance A. (3)

(iii)
Use the lines on the graph to find distance A for which force B and force C are
equal. (1)

distance =....................... cm

[5 marks]

Page 12 of 13
 Headtosavemyexams.comfor more awesome

Question 5d
Suggest why neither force B nor force C are ever zero during the investigation.

[1 mark]

Page 13 of 13