Forces, density and pressure: 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 13Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A uniform rod of weight $28\text{ N}$ is supported at one end by force $F$. The rod is in equilibrium and attached to a frictionless hinge at end X. What is the magnitude of $F$?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the SI base units for the moment of a force?

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• Question 14Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two forces, each of magnitude $F$, act in opposite directions on a rod. Each force acts on the rod at a distance $d$ from the pivot P. What is the torque of this couple about P?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The density of the material of a rectangular block is determined by measuring the mass and linear dimensions of the block. The list shows the results obtained, together with their uncertainties.

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• Question 13May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two forces, each of magnitude $F$, act on a beam of length $x$ as shown. The perpendicular distance between the forces is $y$ and the two forces form a couple. What is the torque of the couple?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  A man of weight $600\text{ N}$ stands with both feet flat on the ground. What is a reasonable estimate of the pressure exerted on the ground by the weight of the man?

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• Question 14May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is submerged in a liquid. Which statement about the upthrust acting on the object is correct?

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• Question 16Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The formula for the upthrust on a block of wood partially submerged in water is shown. $$F=\rho gV$$ What do the symbols $\rho$ and $V$ represent?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A solid sphere, which is less dense than water, is held completely immersed in water a few metres below the surface. The density of the water is uniform. The sphere is released.

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• Question 14Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object of weight $W$ is suspended from a newton meter. When the object is completely immersed in water, the newton meter reads $P$. When the object is completely immersed in oil, the newton meter reads $Q$.

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows a couple?

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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 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a unit for density?

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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 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 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 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 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The mass and volume of an object are varied. Which two changes, when made together, must increase the density of the object?

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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 16Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  On Earth, a solid object that is fully submerged in a liquid experiences an upthrust $U_{\text{E}}$. On Mars, the same object, fully submerged in the same liquid, experiences an upthrust $U_{\text{M}}$. The acceleration of free fall on Mars is $3.7{\text{ m s}}^{-2}$.

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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 14May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Torque is the result of a pair of forces acting to cause a turning effect. Torque is calculated as the product of force and distance. Which row gives the correct description of the force and the distance used to calculate the torque of a couple?

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four forces act about a point P, as shown. The forces act in the same plane and produce no resultant moment about point P. What is the length XY?

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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 15May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The density of paper is $800{\text{ kg m}}^{-3}$.

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• Question 14Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Two solid cylindrical objects X and Y are held fully submerged in a liquid, as shown. The objects have the same volume. The density of the material of Y is twice the density of the material of X. Both objects are stationary.

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

  Which statement about equilibrium is correct?

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• Question 5Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four cuboids with identical lengths, breadths and heights are immersed in water. The cuboids are held at the same depth and in identical orientations by vertical rods, as shown. Water has density $\rho$.

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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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