IB Physics SL Summative Test Topics A.(1,2,3) and D.

1 [49
marks]

Name:_____________________________________ Date:_________________

Teacher:________________________ Level:_____________

Paper score:___________

Instructions:
1. This paper includes 30 IB physics paper 1 style multiple choice questions and 2 paper
1B/paper 2 open-ended questions.
2. All questions must be attempted and must include calculations (in the case of word
problems) or written reasoning that justifies the student's choice (in the case of conceptual
questions).
3. Work solutions must be shown in a coherent, legible, and consistent manner as to what a
question asks for.
4. The paper 1 session will take 70 minutes.
5. At the end of the paper session, students will turn in their booklets to the teacher/invigilator
in charge of the test session.
6. The use of calculators is allowed.
1. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ1.2
The kinetic energy of a body is determined from measurements of its
momentum p and its mass m.

The percentage uncertainties in the measurements are:

p ±3%
m ±4%
What is the percentage uncertainty in the kinetic energy?

A. 7 %

B. 10 %

C. 13 %

D. 14 % [1]

Markscheme

B
2. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ1.4
A stone of mass m is projected vertically upwards with speed u from the
top of a cliff. The speed of the stone when it is just about to hit the
ground is v.

What is the magnitude of the change in momentum of the stone?

A.
v+u
m( )
2

B.
v−u
m( )
2

C. m(v + u)

D. m(v − u) [1]

Markscheme

C
3. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ1.8
The input power of an electric motor is 200 W. It is used to raise a mass
of 10 kg at constant speed.
If the efficiency of the motor is 40 %, through what height will the mass
be raised in 1 second?

A. 0.5 m

B. 0.8 m

C. 1.2 m

D. 2.0 m [1]

Markscheme

B
4. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ2.6
A spring of negligible mass is compressed and placed between two
stationary masses m and M. The mass of M is twice that of m. The spring is
released so that the masses move in opposite directions.

kinetic energy of m
What is kinetic energy of M
?

A. 1

B. 1

C. 2

D. 4 [1]

Markscheme

C
5. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ2.7
An object of mass M is accelerated vertically upwards by a motor at a
constant acceleration.
The object is initially at rest and reaches a vertical speed of 4.0 m s−1 in
2.0 s.

What is the average power output of the motor?

A. 8M

B. 24M

C. 32M

D. 48M [1]

Markscheme

B
6. [Maximum mark: 1] 23M.1.HL.TZ2.8
An object is released from rest at X and slides to Y. The vertical distance
between X and Y is 10 m. During the motion, 20 % of the object’s initial
gravitational potential energy is lost as friction.

What is the speed of the object at Y?

A. 16

√g

B. 2√ g

C. 4√ g

D. 8g [1]

Markscheme

C
7. [Maximum mark: 1] 22N.1.HL.TZ0.8
An engine is exerting a horizontal force F on an object that is moving
along a horizontal surface at a constant velocity v. The mass of the
object is m and the coefficient of dynamic friction between the object
and the surface is μ.

What is the power of the engine?

A. Fv

B. μF v

mgv
C. μ

D. μmgv [1]

Markscheme

D
8. [Maximum mark: 1] 21N.1.HL.TZ0.6
A block rests on a frictionless horizontal surface. An air rifle pellet is
fired horizontally into the block and remains embedded in the block.

What happens to the total kinetic energy and to the total momentum
of the block and pellet system as a result of the collision?

[1]

Markscheme

C
9. [Maximum mark: 1] 21M.1.HL.TZ1.5
A mass is released from the top of a smooth ramp of height h. After
leaving the ramp, the mass slides on a rough horizontal surface.

The mass comes to rest in a distance d. What is the coefficient of

dynamic friction between the mass and the horizontal surface?

gd
A.
h

d
B. √
2gh

d
C.
h

D.
h

d
[1]

Markscheme

D
10. [Maximum mark: 1] 21M.1.HL.TZ1.6
Masses X and Y rest on a smooth horizontal surface and are connected
by a massless spring. The mass of X is 3.0 kg and the mass of Y is 6.0 kg.
The masses are pushed toward each other until the elastic potential
energy stored in the spring is 1.0 J.

The masses are released. What is the maximum speed reached by mass
Y?

A. 0.11 m s−1

B. 0.33 m s−1

C. 0.45 m s−1

D. 0.66 m s−1 [1]

Markscheme

B
11. [Maximum mark: 1] 21M.1.HL.TZ1.7
A force acts on an object of mass 40 kg. The graph shows how the
acceleration a of the object varies with its displacement d.

What is the work done by the force on the object?

A. 50 J

B. 2000 J

C. 2400 J

D. 3200 J [1]

Markscheme

B
12. [Maximum mark: 1] 20N.1.HL.TZ0.5
A car is driven from rest along a straight horizontal road. The car engine
exerts a constant driving force. Friction and air resistance are
negligible. How does the power developed by the engine change with
the distance travelled?

A. Power does not change.

B. Power decreases linearly.

C. Power increases linearly.

D. Power increases non-linearly. [1]

Markscheme

Examiners report

Lowish discrimination with C the most popular choice. It was felt that
candidates normally analyse in terms of the time taken whereas this
question refers to the distance travelled so with a constant driving force the
velocity increases linearly with time but non linearly with distance.
13. [Maximum mark: 1] 18N.1.HL.TZ0.5
A mass m attached to a string of length R moves in a vertical circle with a
constant speed. The tension in the string at the top of the circle is T.
What is the kinetic energy of the mass at the top of the circle?

R(T +mg)
A. 2

R(T −mg)
B. 2

Rmg
C. 2

R(2T +mg)
D. 2
[1]

Markscheme

A
14. [Maximum mark: 1] 18N.1.SL.TZ0.7
The mass at the end of a pendulum is made to move in a horizontal
circle of radius r at constant speed. The magnitude of the net force on
the mass is F.

What is the direction of F and the work done by F during half a

revolution?

[1]

Markscheme

A
15. [Maximum mark: 1] 18N.1.SL.TZ0.8
A compressed spring is used to launch an object along a horizontal
frictionless surface. When the spring is compressed through a distance
x and released, the object leaves the spring at speed v. What is the

distance through which the spring must be compressed for the object
to leave the spring at 2v ?

A. x

B. x

C. x

√2

D. x√ 2 [1]

Markscheme

B
16. [Maximum mark: 1] 19M.1.SL.TZ2.6
A boat with an output engine power of 15 kW moves through water at
a speed of 10 m s-1. What is the resistive force acting on the boat?

A. 0.15 kN

B. 0.75 kN

C. 1.5 kN

D. 150 kN [1]

Markscheme

C
17. [Maximum mark: 1] 19N.1.SL.TZ0.7
A ball is thrown vertically upwards. Air resistance is negligible. What is
the variation with time t of the kinetic energy Ek of the ball?

[1]

Markscheme

D
18. [Maximum mark: 1] 19N.1.SL.TZ0.22
An object of mass m makes n revolutions per second around a circle of
radius r at a constant speed. What is the kinetic energy of the object?

A. 0

B. 1

2
2 2
π mn r
2

C. 2π2mn2r2

D. 4π2mn2r2 [1]

Markscheme

19. [Maximum mark: 1] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.3

An object of mass 2m moving at velocity 3v collides with a stationary
object of mass 4m. The objects stick together after the collision. What
is the final speed and the change in total kinetic energy immediately
after the collision?

[1]

Markscheme

B
20. [Maximum mark: 1] 22N.1.SL.TZ0.22
The centre of the Earth and the Moon are a distance D apart. There is a
point X between them where their gravitational fields cancel out. The
distance from the centre of the Earth to X is d. The mass of the Earth is
ME and the mass of the Moon is MM.

What is correct at X?

ME MM
A. d
=
D−d

ME MM
B. D−d
=
d

ME MM
C. 2
d
= 2
(D−d)

ME MM
D. d
2
= 2
D −d
2 [1]

Markscheme

C
21. [Maximum mark: 1] 22M.1.SL.TZ1.23
A ball of mass 0.3 kg is attached to a light, inextensible string. It is
rotated in a vertical circle. The length of the string is 0.6 m and the
speed of rotation of the ball is 4 m s−1.

What is the tension when the string is horizontal?

A. 5 N

B. 8 N

C. 11 N

D. 13 N [1]

Markscheme

Examiners report

This question was well answered by both HL and SL candidates with a high
difficulty index for each paper.
22. [Maximum mark: 1] 22M.1.SL.TZ2.23
A satellite is orbiting Earth in a circular path at constant speed. Three
statements about the resultant force on the satellite are:

I. It is equal to the gravitational force of attraction on the satellite.

II. It is equal to the mass of the satellite multiplied by its acceleration.
III. It is equal to the centripetal force on the satellite.

Which combination of statements is correct?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

Markscheme

Examiners report

This was a good discriminator at HL although many candidates chose

option B (D correct). Option B was just the most popular choice at SL.
Candidates appear not to realise that although this is circular motion F = ma
still applies.
23. [Maximum mark: 1] 22M.1.SL.TZ2.24
Three statements about Newton’s law of gravitation are:

I. It can be used to predict the motion of a satellite.

II. It explains why gravity exists.
III. It is used to derive the expression for gravitational potential energy.

Which combination of statements is correct?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

Markscheme

Examiners report

Comments suggested that 'gravitational potential' is more suitable for an

HL question. However, candidates should have realised that statement II is
incorrect so option B is the only possibility and this proved the most
popular answer. The wording will be altered to 'gravitational potential
energy' for publication.
24. [Maximum mark: 1] 21N.1.SL.TZ0.22
A mass at the end of a string is moving in a horizontal circle at constant
speed. The string makes an angle θ to the vertical.

What is the magnitude of the acceleration of the mass?

A. g

B. g sin θ

C. g cos θ

D. g tan θ [1]

Markscheme

D
25. [Maximum mark: 1] 20N.1.SL.TZ0.23
Planet X has a gravitational field strength of 18 N kg at its surface.
−1

Planet Y has the same density as X but three times the radius of X. What
is the gravitational field strength at the surface of Y?

A. 6ms
−2

B. 18 m s
−2

C. 54 m s
−2

D. 162 m s
−2
[1]

Markscheme

26. [Maximum mark: 1] 19M.1.SL.TZ1.25

Satellite X orbits a planet with orbital radius R. Satellite Y orbits the
same planet with orbital radius 2R. Satellites X and Y have the same
mass.

centripetal acceleration of X
What is the ratio centripetal acceleration of Y
?

1
A. 4

B. 1

C. 2

D. 4 [1]

Markscheme

D
27. [Maximum mark: 1] 19M.1.SL.TZ2.23
Which graph shows the relationship between gravitational force F
between two point masses and their separation r?

[1]

Markscheme

D
28. [Maximum mark: 1] 18N.1.SL.TZ0.23
Two isolated point particles of mass 4M and 9M are separated by a
distance 1 m. A point particle of mass M is placed a distance x from the
particle of mass 9M. The net gravitational force on M is zero.

What is x?

A. 4

13
m

B. 2

5
m

C. 3

5
m

D. 9

13
m [1]

Markscheme

C
29. [Maximum mark: 1] 18M.1.SL.TZ1.22
An object of mass m at the end of a string of length r moves in a vertical
circle at a constant angular speed ω.

What is the tension in the string when the object is at the bottom of the
circle?

A. m(ω2r + g)

B. m(ω2r – g)

C. mg(ω2r + 1)

D. mg(ω2r – 1) [1]

Markscheme

30. [Maximum mark: 1] 17N.1.SL.TZ0.22

A satellite X of mass m orbits the Earth with a period T. What will be the
orbital period of satellite Y of mass 2m occupying the same orbit as X?

A. T

B. T

C. √2T

D. 2T [1]

Markscheme

B
31. [Maximum mark: 14] 23M.2.SL.TZ1.1
A ball of mass 0.800 kg is attached to a string. The distance to the centre of the
mass of the ball from the point of support is 95.0 cm. The ball is released from rest
when the string is horizontal. When the string becomes vertical the ball collides
with a block of mass 2.40 kg that is at rest on a horizontal surface.

(a) Just before the collision of the ball with the block,

(a.i) draw a free-body diagram for the ball.

[2]

Markscheme

Tension upwards, weight downwards ✓

Tension is clearly longer than weight ✓
 Look for:

(a.ii) show that the speed of the ball is about 4.3 m s−1. [1]

Markscheme

v = √2 × 9. 81 × 0. 95 OR = 4.32 «m s−1» ✓

Must see either full substitution or answer to at least 3 s.f.

(a.iii) determine the tension in the string. [2]

Markscheme

T − mg = Fnet OR T − mg = mv

r
✓
2

T «= 0.800 × 9.81 + 0.800×4.317

0.95
» = 23.5 «N» ✓

(b) After the collision, the ball rebounds and the block moves with
speed 2.16 m s−1.
(b.i) Show that the collision is elastic. [4]

Markscheme

Use of conservation of momentum. ✓

Rebound speed = 2.16 «m s−1» ✓
Calculation of initial KE = « 12 × 0.800 × 4.3172» = 7.46 « J » ✓
Calculation of final KE = « 2 × 0.800 × 2.162 + × 2.40 × 2.162» = 7.46 «J»
1 1

✓
«hence elastic»

(b.ii) Calculate the maximum height risen by the centre of the ball. [2]

Markscheme

ALTERNATIVE 1
Rebound speed is halved so energy less by a factor of 4 ✓
95
Hence height is 4
=23.8 «cm» ✓

ALTERNATIVE 2
Use of conservation of energy / 1

2
× 0.800 × 2.162 = 0.800 × 9.8 × h
OR

Use of proper kinematics equation (e.g. 0 = 2.162 − 2 × 9.8 × h) ✓

h = 23.8 «cm» ✓

Allow ECF from b(i)

(c) The coefficient of dynamic friction between the block and the
rough surface is 0.400.

Estimate the distance travelled by the block on the rough

surface until it stops. [3]
Markscheme

ALTERNATIVE 1
Frictional force is f«= 0.400 × 2.40 × 9.81» = 9.42 «N» ✓
9.42 × d = 1

2
× 2.40 × 2.162 OR d = 5.5987

9.42
✓
d = 0.594 «m» ✓

ALTERNATIVE 2
a = « m = µg = 0.4 × 9.81 =» 3.924 «m s−2» ✓
f

Proper use of kinematics equation(s) to determine ✓

d = 0.594 «m» ✓
32. [Maximum mark: 5] 21M.2.SL.TZ1.2
A planet is in a circular orbit around a star. The speed of the planet is constant.

(a.i) Explain why a centripetal force is needed for the planet to be in

a circular orbit. [2]

Markscheme

«circular motion» involves a changing velocity ✓

«Tangential velocity» is «always» perpendicular to centripetal

force/acceleration ✓

there must be a force/acceleration towards centre/star ✓

without a centripetal force the planet will move in a straight line ✓

(a.ii) State the nature of this centripetal force. [1]

Markscheme

gravitational force/force of gravity ✓

(b) Determine the gravitational field of the planet.

The following data are given:

Mass of planet = 8. 0 × 10
24
kg
Radius of the planet = 9. 1 × 10
6
m. [2]

Markscheme

use of
GM

R
2
✓

6.4 «Nkg−1 or ms−2» ✓

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2023