P8 Forces in

balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

0 1 An airline is testing the mass of some luggage cases. Table 1

shows the volume and mass of some cases.
Table 1

Volume of Mass Mass Mean mass

case in cm3 measurement 1 measurement 2 in kg

in kg in kg
24 000 1.50 1.25 1.38
40 000 6.50 7.00
84 000 14.85 15.20 15.03
125 000 22.45 21.50 21.98

0 1 . 1 Complete Table 1 by calculating the missing mean mass value for

a case with a volume of 40 000 cm3. (2 marks

0 1 . 2 Describe the relationship between the volume and mass of the

cases.

(2 marks)

0 1 . 3 Estimate the mass of a case with a volume of 60 000 cm3.

(1 mark)

0 1 . 4 Many airlines restrict the maximum mass of an individual case to

23 kg.
Suggest one reason why.

(1 mark)

0 2 . 1The steering mechanism of a lorry is connected to a gear wheel of

radius 40 cm (Figure 1). This gear wheel is used to turn a second
gear wheel of radius 15 cm with a force of 85 N.
Figure 1

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 P8 Forces in
balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

Calculate the moment of the turning force on the second gear wheel.
Give the unit.
Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

Moment: Unit: (5 marks)

0 2 . 2 Figure 2 shows a large gear wheel attached to a smaller gear wheel.

Figure 2

Describe what happens to the speed and turning force of the smaller
gear wheel if the radius of the large gear wheel is increased. The
speed of the large gear wheel stays the same.

(2 marks)

0 3 . 1 Figure 3 shows two boxes balanced on a beam.

Figure 3

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 P8 Forces in
balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

Calculate the distance, d, of box B from the centre of the beam.

Distance of Box B: cm (4 marks)

0 3 . 2 Describe what happens when box A is moved further to the right.

(1 mark)

0 4 Figure 4 shows a descending hot air balloon.

The heater blows hot air upwards into the balloon.

Figure 4

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 P8 Forces in
balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

0 4 . 1 The weight of the balloon and basket is the same magnitude as

the upthrust force.
Describe the vertical motion of the hot air balloon.

(1 mark)

0 4 . 2 Describe the horizontal motion of the balloon and basket.

(1 mark)

0 4 . 3 Identify whether forces shown in the diagram are scalars or

vectors. Give a reason for your answer.

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 P8 Forces in
balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

(2 marks)

0 5 . 1 Figure 5 shows a builder climbing a roof to replace some tiles.

Figure 5

The weight of the builder and new roof tiles is 640 N.

Draw a diagram to calculate the components of the total weight
parallel and perpendicular to the slope of the roof.
(2 marks)

0 5 . 2 Give the conditions needed in order to describe the builder as

being in equilibrium.

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 P8 Forces in
balance
Exam-style questions
Name...................................................................... Class................... Date......................

(2 marks)

0 5 . 3 Suggest one way the builder could improve his safety when
working on the roof.

(1 mark)

0 5 . 4 Figure 6 shows a large concrete block suspended by two ropes.

The concrete block is in equilibrium.
Figure 6

Use a scale diagram and a parallelogram of forces to determine

the weight of the concrete block.

(2 marks)

0 5 . 5 Describe what is meant by an object that is ‘freely suspended’.

(1 mark)

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