Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
FORCE, MASS AND ACCELERATION
18 practice questions
Practice questions
1–9 of 9 · Normal
Question 1
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student pulls a cart of mass 8.0 kg along a smooth surface. The cart accelerates at 2.5 m/s^2.
(a)[1 mark]State the equation linking force, mass, and acceleration.
(b)[2 marks]Calculate the unbalanced force applied to the cart.
(c)[1 mark]Explain what would happen to the acceleration if the mass of the cart was halved, assuming the same force is applied.
Question 2
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A skateboarder of mass 60 kg pushes off the ground and accelerates at 0.80 m/s^2. Calculate the resultant force acting on the skateboarder. Show your working.
Question 3
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A car and a bicycle are both acted on by the same unbalanced force. The car’s mass is much greater than the bicycle’s mass. Use the relationship F = m x a to explain, in terms of acceleration, what happens to each vehicle.
Question 4
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A laboratory experiment investigates the effect of force and mass on acceleration using a trolley, a ramp, and hanging masses.
(a)[2 marks]Describe how you could set up an experiment to test how the force on the trolley affects its acceleration, keeping the mass constant.
(b)[2 marks]Explain how your results might be used to show the proportionality between force and acceleration.
Question 5
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A car of mass 1,000 kg experiences a forward driving force of 4,000 N and a frictional force of 1,200 N in the opposite direction. Calculate the acceleration of the car. Show all your working.
Question 6
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A boat of mass 600 kg is acted on by an unbalanced force of 1,800 N as it speeds up to leave a dock.
Calculate the acceleration of the boat. Give your answer in m/s to 2 significant figures.
Question 7
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A train of mass 2,000 kg leaves a station and accelerates along a straight track.
(a)[1 mark]State the equation that links force, mass, and acceleration. Use scientific symbols.
(b)[2 marks]If the resultant force on the train is 5,000 N, calculate the acceleration of the train.
(c)[1 mark]Explain what would happen to the acceleration if the mass of the train were doubled but the resultant force remained the same.
Question 8
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student investigates the effect of unbalanced force on the acceleration of a trolley, using the apparatus shown.
Trolley on a sloping ramp, pulled by a hanging mass over a pulley. (a)[2 marks]Describe how the student could measure the acceleration of the trolley in this experiment.
(b)[2 marks]The mass of the trolley and the hanging weights is 1.8 kg. If the total unbalanced force is 5.4 N, calculate the acceleration of the trolley.
Question 9
3 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A sports car and a large van each experience the same unbalanced force when accelerating from rest. The mass of the van is four times larger than the mass of the car.
Use the relationship F = m × a to explain, in detail, which vehicle will have greater acceleration and why.