Turning effects of forces: past paper questions

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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 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 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 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which diagram shows a couple?

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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 16May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about equilibrium is correct?

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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 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 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 13Oct/Nov 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement correctly describes a couple?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 22Structured12 marksHas a diagram

  The variation of stress with strain for a metal P is shown in Fig. 3.1. Point E is the elastic limit of the metal. Use Fig. 3.1 to determine the Young modulus for P. Young modulus = ....................................................

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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 13May/June 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row describes a pair of forces that forms a couple?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 23Structured9 marksHas a diagram

  State the principle of moments.

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

  The driver of a car applies two parallel forces to a steering wheel, as shown. Each force has a magnitude of $15\text{ N}$ and acts in the direction shown. The steering wheel has a diameter of $0.40\text{ m}$.

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• Question 11May/June 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Two forces act on an object. Which diagram represents a couple?

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• Question 17May/June 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  The diagram shows a couple. How is the torque of the couple calculated?

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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 10May/June 2024, paper 13Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows the view from above of a sprinkler system used to water a garden. The sprinkler consists of a tube of length $0.15\text{ m}$. The tube is pivoted in the middle and spins in a horizontal plane as it lets out jets of water from each end.

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• Question 11May/June 2023, paper 13Multiple choice1 mark

  What is not a requirement for two forces to act as a couple?

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• Question 4May/June 2024, paper 22Structured11 marksHas a diagram

  A pinball machine uses a spring to launch a small metal ball of mass $4.5\times {10}^{-2}\text{ kg}$ up a ramp. The spring is compressed by $8.0\times {10}^{-2}\text{ m}$ and held in equilibrium, as shown in Fig. 4.1. The ramp is at an angle of ${15}^{\circ }$ to the horizontal.

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

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

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