Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy: past paper questions

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• Question 18May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Object X is at a small height $h$ above the surface of the Earth and then falls from rest to the surface. The speed of object X when it reaches the surface of the Earth is $v_{\text{X}}$.

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• Question 17Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An object with a mass of $100\text{ g}$ falls a vertical distance of $10\text{ m}$. What is the change in the gravitational potential energy of the object?

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• Question 21May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The graph shows the variation of the elastic potential energy $E_{\text{p}}$ stored in a spring with the square of the extension of the spring. What is the spring constant of the spring?

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• Question 18Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A bungee jumper jumps from a platform and is decelerated by an elastic bungee cord, as shown. When the jumper makes the jump, his initial gravitational potential energy relative to the ground is converted into his kinetic energy and into elastic potential energy in the cord.

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• Question 13Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is dropped from rest on the Earth from a height of $2.0\text{m}$. The same object is dropped from rest on the Moon from twice the height. The acceleration of free fall on the Moon is approximately $16\mathrm{\%}$ of the value on the Earth.

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• Question 17May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An object of weight $3.0\text{ N}$ is moved vertically at a constant velocity $v$ by an electric motor. The electric motor has an efficiency of 25%. The object travels a vertical distance of $1.2\text{ m}$ in $3.0\text{ s}$.

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• Question 18May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  An alpha particle has $2.2\times {10}^{-13}\text{ J}$ of kinetic energy. What is the speed of the alpha particle?

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• Question 17Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  When an object of mass $m$ is raised through a vertical height $\mathrm{\Delta }h$, the gain of its gravitational potential energy is $\mathrm{\Delta }{E}_{\text{P}}$.

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 21Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Define acceleration.

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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 10Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two train carriages each of mass $5000\text{ kg}$ roll toward one another on a horizontal frictionless track. One is travelling at a speed of $2.00{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$ and the other at a speed of $1.00{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$, as shown. They collide and join together.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2023, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  A vertical rod is fixed to the horizontal surface of a table, as shown in Fig. 3.1. A spring of mass $7.5\text{ g}$ is able to slide along the full length of the rod.

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• Question 18May/June 2026, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is displaced horizontally to the right in a uniform vertical gravitational field. Which statement describes the change in the gravitational potential energy of the object?

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Two oscillating dippers are used to create progressive transverse water waves on the surface of a lake. The waves are shown from above in Figure 3.1. Wave crests are represented by a solid line.

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• Question 12May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Leonardo da Vinci proposed a flying machine that would work like a screw to lift the pilot into the air. The 'screw' is rotated by the pilot. The machine and the pilot together have a total mass of $120\text{ kg}$.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  An electric train of mass $1.5\times {10}^4\text{ kg}$ travels up a slope at a constant speed as shown in Figure 4.1. At point X, the train has gravitational potential energy $7.4\text{ MJ}$. At point Y, the train has gravitational potential energy $13.0\text{ MJ}$.

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• Question 17May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  An object is falling in a uniform gravitational field. Which two quantities are sufficient to calculate the change in gravitational potential energy?

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• Question 17May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An object of mass $0.40\text{ kg}$ is projected into the air and follows a curved path above horizontal ground. The object takes a time of $1.5\text{ s}$ to move along its path. The object lands a horizontal distance of $18\text{ m}$ from its initial position.

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• Question 19May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The momentum of a car of mass $m$ increases from $p_1$ to $p_2$. What is the increase in the kinetic energy of the car?

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• Question 2May/June 2023, paper 21Structured14 marksHas a diagram

  A rigid uniform beam of weight $W$ is connected to a fixed support by a hinge, as shown in Fig. 2.1. A compressed spring exerts a total force of $8.2\text{ N}$ vertically upwards on the horizontal beam. A block of weight $0.30\text{ N}$ rests on the beam.

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• Question 20Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  The equation for kinetic energy $E_K$ can be derived using the equations of motion. Four equations relating to motion are listed. 1 $W=Fs$ 2 $F=ma$ 3 $v^2=u^2+2as$ 4 $P=\frac{W}{t}$ Which three equations can be used to derive the equation for $E_K$?

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• Question 2May/June 2023, paper 22Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  State what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  Define linear momentum.

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• Question 3May/June 2023, paper 23Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  State the principle of conservation of momentum.

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 21Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  State what is meant by the work done by a force.

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• Question 16May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Four identical uniform blocks are spread on a table. Each block has mass $m$ and thickness $h$. The acceleration of free fall is $g$.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured10 marksHas a diagram

  Define momentum.

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• Question 18May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A ball is released from rest and falls vertically to the ground. The kinetic energy $E_{\text{K}}$ of the ball varies as the height $h$ of the ball above the ground changes. Air resistance is negligible.

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• Question 19May/June 2025, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  An object travelling with a speed of $10{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$ has kinetic energy of $1500\text{ J}$. The speed of the object is increased to $40{\text{ m s}}^{-1}$. What is the new kinetic energy of the object?

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• Question 20May/June 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A steel ball is falling at constant speed in oil. Which graph shows the variation with time of the gravitational potential energy $E_{\text{p}}$ and the kinetic energy $E_{\text{k}}$ of the ball?

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