Equilibrium of forces: past paper questions

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows four forces acting on a small object. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

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• Question 14Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a uniform bar of mass $M$ and length $L$ resting on a pivot at a distance $x$ from end X. An object of mass $m$ is placed on the bar at distance $y$ from the pivot so that the bar is in equilibrium. What is an expression for $y$?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 22Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  A spring is fixed at one end and attached to the frame of a pulley at the other end. A cable is passed around the wheel of the pulley. The spring is stretched to a fixed length using the cable and pulley.

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Three coplanar forces, $P$, $Q$ and $R$, act at a point. The three forces are in equilibrium. The magnitude of $P$ is increased by 10%.

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• Question 17Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams all show a pair of equal forces acting on a metre rule.

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• Question 18Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An elastic cord of unstretched total length $16.0\text{ cm}$ and cross-sectional area $2.0\times {10}^{-6}{\text{ m}}^2$ is held horizontally by two smooth pins a distance $8.0\text{ cm}$ apart. The cord obeys Hooke's law.

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• Question 16May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about equilibrium is correct?

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• Question 11Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which single condition must apply for an object to be in equilibrium?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An aeroplane is moving at a constant speed in a straight line at an angle $\theta$ to the horizontal. Four forces act on the aeroplane: thrust force $T$, weight $W$, lift force $L$ and resistive force $R$. Which two equations must be correct?

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two coplanar forces act on a small object. One force has magnitude $10\text{ N}$. The other force has magnitude $8.0\text{ N}$ and acts at an angle of ${60}^{\circ }$ to the first force.

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• Question 10May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four forces, all in the same plane, act on an object. What could describe the motion of the object?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A kite is in equilibrium at the end of a string, as shown. The kite has three forces acting on it: the weight $W$, the tension $T$ in the string, and the force $F$ from the wind. Which vector diagram represents the forces acting on the kite?

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows an experiment to determine the force exerted on a ball by a horizontal air flow.

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• Question 8May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The forces acting on an object are in equilibrium at one instant. Which quantity related to the object's motion must have zero magnitude at this instant?

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• Question 14May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A block is in equilibrium on a slope. Which vector triangle represents the three forces acting on the block?

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• Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  In which example is it not possible for the underlined object to be in equilibrium?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two parts of a sailing boat are the mast and the boom. The mast is a vertical rigid beam and the boom is a horizontal rigid beam. One end of the boom is attached to the mast by a pivot.

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• Question 12May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object is in equilibrium. Which row about the resultant force and the resultant torque acting on the object must be correct?

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• Question 2May/June 2025, paper 23Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  Define the moment of a force about a pivot.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 23Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  State the conditions for a system to be in equilibrium.

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• Question 21May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two springs X and Y are attached to a fixed surface. Blocks are attached to their free ends. The blocks hang vertically in equilibrium from the springs as shown.

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagrams show three rigid objects P, Q and R being subjected to different combinations of forces.

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two forces, each of $10\text{ N}$, act at a point P, as shown. The angle between the directions of the forces is ${120}^{\circ }$. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 22Structured8 marksHas a diagram

  State the conditions required for an object to be in equilibrium.

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• Question 14May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An isolated object of negligible weight is acted on by two coplanar forces of the same magnitude. In which diagram is the object in equilibrium?

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• Question 13May/June 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a ball of weight $W$ hanging in equilibrium from a string. The string is at an angle $\theta$ to the vertical. The tension in the string is $T$.

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• Question 16May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the dimensions of an elastic cord used to project a stone. The tension in the cord is $T$ when the cord is pulled into the shape shown. Which force does the elastic cord exert on the stone?

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• Question 4May/June 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An aircraft travels along a horizontal path. Two of the forces that act horizontally on the aircraft are the thrust force of the engines and the force due to the wind. The vector diagram for these forces is shown.

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• Question 12May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows a uniform rod, XY, that is freely hinged to a vertical wall at end Y. The rod is at an angle of ${60}^{\circ }$ to the wall.

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• Question 11May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object is held in equilibrium by three forces. The forces all act in the same plane. The diagram shows two of the forces that act on the object.

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