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AS FORCES
1 A submarine descends vertically at constant velocity. The three forces acting on the
submarine are viscous drag, upthrust and weight. Which relationship between their
magnitudes is correct?

A weight < drag B weight = drag

C weight < upthrust D weight > upthrust

2 A ruler of length 0.30m is pivoted at its centre. Equal and opposite forces of magnitude 2.0N
are applied to the ends of the ruler, creating a couple as shown.

What is the magnitude of the torque of the couple on the ruler when it is in the position shown?

A 0.23 Nm B 0.39 Nm C 0.46 Nm D 0.60 Nm

3 A cylindrical block of wood has a cross-sectional area A and weight W. It is totally immersed in
water with its axis vertical. The block experiences pressures pt and pb at its top and bottom
surfaces respectively. Which of the following expressions is equal to the upthrust on the block?

A (pb - pt)A + W B (pb - pt) C (pb - pt)A D (pb - pt)A - W

4 The diagram shows four forces applied to a circular object.

Which of the following describes the resultant

force and resultant torque on the object?

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5 A balloon is acted upon by three forces, weight, upthrust and sideways force due to the wind,
as shown in the diagram.

What is the vertical component of the

resultant force on the balloon?

A 500 N B 1000 N

C 10 000 N D 10 500N

6 A ball falls from rest through air and eventually reaches a constant velocity. For this fall, forces
X and Y vary with time as shown.

What are forces X and Y ?

7 An object, immersed in a liquid in a tank, experiences an upthrust. What is the physical reason
for this upthrust?

A The density of the body differs from that of the liquid.

B The density of the liquid increases with depth.

C The pressure in the liquid increases with depth.

D The value of g in the liquid increases with depth.

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8 A uniform beam of weight 50 N is 3.0 m long and is supported on a pivot situated 1.0 m from
one end. When a load of weight W is hung from that end, the beam is in equilibrium, as shown
in the diagram.

What is the value of W?

A 25 N B 50 N C 75 N D 100 N

9 What is the centre of gravity of an object?

A the geometrical centre of the object

B the point about which the total torque is zero
C the point at which the weight of the object may be considered to act
D the point through which gravity acts

10 An L-shaped rigid lever arm is pivoted at point P.

Three forces act on the lever arm, as shown in the diagram. What is the magnitude of the
resultant moment of these forces about point P?

A 30 N m B 35 N m C 50 N m D 90 N m

11 A rigid uniform bar of length 2.4 m is pivoted horizontally at its mid-point.

Weights are hung from two points of the bar as shown in the diagram. To maintain horizontal
equilibrium, a couple is applied to the bar. What is the torque and direction of this couple?

A 40 N m clockwise B 40 N m anticlockwise

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C 80 N m clockwise D 80 N m anticlockwise
12 A force F is applied to a beam at a distance d from a pivot. The force acts at an angle θ to a
line perpendicular to the beam.

Which combination will cause the largest turning effect about the pivot?

13 Two 8.0 N forces act at each end of a beam of length 0.60 m. The forces are parallel and act
in opposite directions. The angle between the forces and the beam is 60°.

What is the torque of the couple exerted on the beam?

A 2.4 N m B 4.2 N m C 4.8 N m D 9.6 N m

14 A ball is falling at terminal speed in still air. The forces acting on the ball are upthrust, viscous
drag and weight. What is the order of increasing magnitude of these three forces?

A upthrust → viscous drag → weight B viscous drag → upthrust → weight

C viscous drag → weight → upthrust D weight → upthrust → viscous drag

15 An object, made from two equal masses joined by a light rod, falls with uniform speed through
air. The rod remains horizontal.

Which statement about the equilibrium of the system is correct?

A It is not in equilibrium because it is falling steadily.

B It is not in equilibrium because it is in motion.
C It is not in equilibrium because there is a resultant torque.
D It is in equilibrium because there is no resultant force and no resultant torque.

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16 A uniform ladder rests against a vertical wall where there is negligible friction. The bottom of
the ladder rests on rough ground where there is friction. The top of the ladder is at a height h
above the ground and the foot of the ladder is at a distance 2a from the wall.
The diagram shows the forces which act on the ladder.

Which equation is formed by

taking moments?

A W a + F h = 2W a

B Fa+Wa=Fh

C W a + 2W a = F h

D W a – 2W a = 2F h

17 A submarine is in equilibrium in a fully submerged position.

What causes the upthrust on the submarine?

A The air in the submarine is less dense than sea water.

B The sea water exerts a greater upward force on the submarine than the weight of the steel.
C The submarine displaces its own volume of sea water.
D There is a difference in water pressure acting on the top and bottom of the submarine.

18 An object, immersed in a liquid in a tank, experiences an upthrust. What is the physical reason
for this upthrust?

A The density of the body differs from that of the liquid.

B The density of the liquid increases with depth.
C The pressure in the liquid increases with depth.
D The value of g in the liquid increases with depth.

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19 The diagram represents a sphere under water. P, Q, R, and S are forces acting on the sphere,
due to the pressure of the water.

Each force acts perpendicularly to the sphere’s surface. P and R act in opposite directions
vertically. Q and S act in opposite directions horizontally.

Which information about the magnitudes of the forces is correct?

A P<R;S=Q B P>R;S=Q

C P=R;S=Q D P=R=S=Q

20 A spindle is attached at one end to the centre of a lever 1.20 m long and at its other end to the
centre of a disc of radius 0.20 m. A cord is wrapped round the disc, passes over a pulley and
is attached to a 900 N weight.

What is the minimum force F, applied to each end of the lever, that could lift the weight?
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A 75 N B 150 N C 300 N D 950 N

21 Which of the following pairs of forces, acting on a circular object, constitutes a couple?

22 A uniform metre rule of mass 100 g is supported by a knife-edge at

the 40 cm mark and a string at the 100 cm mark. The string passes round a
frictionless pulley and carries a mass of 20 g as shown in the diagram.

At which mark on the rule must a 50 g mass be suspended so that the rule
balances?

A 4cm B 36 cm C 44 cm D 96 cm

23 A spanner is used to tighten a nut as shown.

A force F is applied at right-angles to the spanner at a distance of 0.25 m from the centre of
the nut. When the nut is fully tightened, the applied force is 200 N. What is the resistive torque,
in an anticlockwise direction, preventing further tightening?

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A 8 Nm B 25 Nm C 50 Nm D 800 Nm
24 Two parallel forces, each of magnitude F, act on a body as shown.

What is the magnitude of the torque on the body produced by these forces?

A Fd B Fs C 2F d D 2F s

25 A hinged door is held closed in the horizontal position by a cable. Three forces act on the door:
the weight W of the door, the tension T in the cable, and the force H at the hinge.

Which list gives the three forces in increasing order of magnitude?

A H,T,W B T,H,W C W,H,T D W,T,H

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26 A long uniform beam is pivoted at one end. A force of 300 N is applied to hold the beam
horizontally.

What is the weight of the beam?

A 300 N B 480 N C 600 N D 960 N

27 A uniform beam of weight 100 N is pivoted at P as shown. Weights of 10 N and 20 N are

attached to its ends. The length of the beam is marked off at 0.1 m intervals. At which point
should a further weight of 20 N be attached to achieve equilibrium?

28 Which force is caused by a pressure difference?

A friction B upthrust C viscous force D weight

29 A rigid circular disc of radius r has its centre at X. A number of forces of equal magnitude F act
at the edge of the disc. All the forces are in the plane of the disc.

Which arrangement of forces provides a moment of magnitude 2Fr about X?

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30 The diagram shows a plan view of a door which requires a moment of 12 N m to open it.

What is the minimum force that must be applied at the door’s midpoint to ensure it opens?

A 4.8 N B 9.6 N C 15 N D 30 N

31 A wooden block rests on a rough board. The end of the board is then raised until the block
slides down the plane of the board at constant velocity v.

Which row describes the forces acting on the block when sliding with constant velocity?

32 A particle is in a uniform field. The particle experiences a force in the opposite direction to the
field. Which field is the particle in, and on which property of the particle is the field acting?

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33 The diagram shows two pulley wheels connected by a belt.

Wheel Q is driven by a motor and rotates clockwise at a constant rate. Wheel Q puts tension
in the top portion of the belt, which in turn drives the wheel P. The lower portion of the belt is
slack and has no tension. The weight of the belt and frictional forces are negligible.

The diameter of P is 150 mm. The diameter of Q is 100 mm. The torque applied to Q is
3.0 N m. What is the tension in the belt and the torque on wheel P?

34 The diagrams show a metal cube suspended from a spring balance before and during
immersion in water.

A reduction in the balance reading occurs

as a consequence of the immersion.

Which statement is correct?

A The balance reading will be further reduced

if the cube is lowered further into the water.

B The balance reading during immersion

corresponds to the upthrust of the water
on the cube.

C The forces acting on the vertical sides of

the cube contribute to the change in the
balance reading.

D The gravitational pull on the cube is

unchanged by the immersion.

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35 (a) Explain what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object. [2]

(b) A non-uniform plank of wood XY is 2.50 m long and weighs 950 N. Force-meters (spring
balances) A and B are attached to the plank at a distance of 0.40 m from each end, as
illustrated in Fig. 35.1.

Fig. 35.1

When the plank is horizontal, force-meter A records 570 N.

(i) Calculate the reading on force-meter B.

(ii) On Fig. 35.1, mark a likely position for the centre of gravity of the plank.
(iii) Determine the distance of the centre of gravity from the end X of the plank. [6]

36 A rod AB is hinged to a wall at A. The rod is held horizontally by means of a cord BD, attached
to the rod at end B and to the wall at D, as shown in Fig. 36.1.

Fig. 36.1

The rod has weight W and the centre of gravity of the rod is at C. The rod is held in equilibrium
by a force T in the cord and a force F produced at the hinge.

(a) Explain what is meant by

(i) the centre of gravity of a body, [2] (ii) the equilibrium of a body. [2]
(b) The line of action of the weight W of the rod passes through the cord at point P.

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Explain why, for the rod to be in equilibrium, the force F produced at the hinge must also pass
through point P. [2]

(c) The forces F and T make angles α and β respectively with the rod and
as shown in Fig. 36.1.
Write down equations, in terms of F, W, T, α and β, to represent
(i) the resolution of forces horizontally, [1]
(ii) the resolution of forces vertically, [1]
(iii) the taking of moments about A. [1]

37 (a) Define the torque of a couple. [2]

(b) A torque wrench is a type of spanner for tightening a nut and bolt to a particular torque,
as illustrated in Fig. 37.1. The wrench is put on the nut and a force is applied to the handle. A
scale indicates the torque applied.

Fig. 37.1

The wheel nuts on a particular car must be tightened to a torque of 130 N m. This is
achieved by applying a force F to the wrench at a distance of 45 cm from its centre
of rotation C. This force F may be applied at any angle θ to the axis of the handle, as
shown in Fig. 37.1.
For the minimum value of F to achieve this torque,

(i) state the magnitude of the angle θ that should be used, [1]
(ii) calculate the magnitude of F. [2]

38 (a) Explain what is meant by centre of gravity. [2]

(b) Define moment of a force. [1]

(c) A student is being weighed. The student, of weight W, stands 0.30 m from end A of a
uniform plank AB, as shown in Fig. 38.1.

Fig. 38.1

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The plank has weight 80 N and length 2.0 m. A pivot P supports the plank and is 0.50 m from
end A.

A weight of 70 N is moved to balance the weight of the student. The plank is in equilibrium
when the weight is 0.20 m from end B.

(i) State the two conditions necessary for the plank to be in equilibrium. [2]

(ii) Determine the weight W of the student. [3]

(iii) If only the 70 N weight is moved, there is a maximum weight of student that can be
determined using the arrangement shown in Fig. 38.1. State and explain one change that can
be made to increase this maximum weight. [2]

Answers (Forces):

1 D 8 A 15 D 22 C 29 B

2 C 9 C 16 A 23 C 30 D

3 C 10 A 17 D 24 B 31 D

4 D 11 A 18 C 25 C 32 A

5 B 12 B 19 A 26 B 33 D

6 A 13 B 20 B 27 D 34 D

7 C 14 A 21 A 28 B

35 (a) Point at which (whole) weight of body may be considered to act. (or any other suitable
definition) (b) (i) 380N (ii) position nearer A than B (iii) clear indication about which point moments
are taken. Distance from x = 1.08 m

36 (a) (i) point at which whole weight of body may be considered to act. (ii) sum of forces in any
direction is zero and sum of moments about any point is zero.
(b) either:T and W have zero moment about P so F must have zero moment, i.e. pass through P
or: if all pass through P, distance from P is zero for all forces so sum of moments about P is zero
(c) (i) Fcosα = Tcosβ (ii) W = Fsinα + Tsinβ (iii) 2W = 3Tsinβ

37 (a) product of (magnitude of one) force and distance between forces, reference to either
perpendicular distance between forces or line of action of forces and perpendicular distance.
(b) (i) 90° (ii) F = 290 N

38 (a) point where the weight of an object / gravitational force may be considered to act
(b) product of the force and the perpendicular distance (to the pivot) (c) (i) 1. sum / net / resultant
force is zero 2. net / resultant moment is zero or sum of clockwise moments = sum of anticlockwise
moments (ii) W = 655 N (iii) move pivot to left, gives greater clockwise moment / smaller
anticlockwise moment or move W to right gives smaller anticlockwise moment

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