Forces & Elasticity (Edexcel GCSE Physics)

Exam Questions

2 hours11 questions
1a3 marks

Which of the following statements is correct about inelastic distortion?

 

Tick (✓) three boxes.

   

Object returns to its original length square
Object returns to its original shape  square
Object does not return to its original length square
Object does not return to its original shape  square
Requires one or more forces square
1b1 mark

What is the correct unit for the force applied to a spring which makes it elastically distort?

Tick (✓) one box.

   

square
N m  square
N / m  square
N square
1c1 mark

Which of the following options is the correct equation linking force (F), spring constant (k) and extension (x)?

Tick (✓) one box.

   

F space equals space k x squared square
F space equals 1 half k x square
F space equals space k x square
F space equals space 2 k x square

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2a1 mark

Figure 1 shows a force-extension graph for a spring.

5-3-e-2a-force-extension-graph

Figure 1

Which marker on the force-extension graph shows the limit of proportionality?

Tick (✓) one box.

 

square B  square C  square D square

2b1 mark
Which marker on Figure 1 shows the spring obeying Hooke's law?

Tick (✓) one box.

 

square B  square C  square D square

2c1 mark

State the quantity given by the gradient of a force-extension graph.

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3a1 mark

Write the equation linking elastic potential energy open parentheses E subscript e close parentheses, spring constant open parentheses k close parentheses and extension open parentheses x close parentheses.

3b1 mark

A spring has a spring constant k. The force exerted on the spring is increased so that the extension doubles.

How does this affect the work done on the spring?

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Work done doubles  begin mathsize 36px style square end style
Work done halves square
Work done increases by a factor of 4 square
Work done decreases by a factor of 4 square
3c3 marks

State the three types of force that can be applied to an object to change its shape. 

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1a
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6 marks

Figure 14 shows a spring standing on a table.

fig-14a-b-c-paper2h-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 14a  Figure 14b               Figure 14c

  

Weights are added to the spring as shown in Figures 14b and 14c.

(i)
Estimate the original length of the spring as shown in Figure 14a.

[1]

original length = .............................................................. mm

(ii)
Describe how the reduction in the length of the spring when weights are added can be determined.

[2]

(iii)
State two ways that the experimental procedure could be improved.

[2]

(iv)
Give one reason why the reduction in length eventually reaches a limit as more weights are added.

[1]

1b
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3 marks
A different spring is extended.

A force of 0.50 N gives an extension of 13 mm.

Calculate the spring constant k in N/m.






spring constant k = .................................... N/m

1c
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3 marks

Another spring is extended.

The work done to extend the spring is 0.14 J.

The spring constant of the spring is 175 N/m.

Calculate the extension of the spring.

Use an equation selected from the list of equations at the end of this paper.

extension of spring = .................................. m

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2a
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3 marks

Figure 10 shows a toy used to launch a ball.

fig-10-paper2f-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 10

One end of the spring is fixed to the handle.
The other end of the spring is fixed to the support.

A child pulls the handle, stretching the spring.

Figure 11 shows the toy with the spring stretched.

fig-11-paper2f-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 11

(i)
Which of these shows the forces acting on the handle when the child keeps the spring stretched?
Ignore the force due to gravity.

[1]

q4ai-paper2f-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

(ii)
In Figure 11, the extension of the spring is 0.070 m.
The spring constant (k) is 20 N/m.
Calculate the force used to extend the spring.
Use the equation

force = k × extension

[2]

force = .............................................................. N

2b
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6 marks
The child pulls the handle until the pad is against the support as shown in Figure 12.

fig-12-paper2f-june2020-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 12

(i)
The extension of the spring is 0.09 m.
The spring constant (k) is 20 N/m.
Calculate the work done in extending the spring by 0.09 m.
Use the equation

work done = 1⁄2 × k ×(extension)2

[2]

work done = .............................................................. J

(ii)
The child lets go of the handle.
The ball starts to move.
The spring returns to its original length.
Describe the energy transfer that takes place when the ball starts to move.

[2]

(iii)
The child can only stretch the spring until the pad is pressing against the support.
Explain how the design of the toy prevents the spring from becoming damaged.

[2]

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3a2 marks
Figure 9 shows a 10 N weight hanging from a spring.


fig-9-paper2f-june2019-edexcel-gcse-physics

Figure 9


One of the forces acting to stretch the spring is shown in Figure 9.

Complete Figure 9 by adding an arrow to show the other force acting to stretch the spring.

3b5 marks
A weight of 4.0 N is used to extend a spring.

                    

The extension of the spring is 0.06 m.

                           
(i)
Calculate the spring constant, k, of the spring.

Use the equation

F = k × x

[3]

spring constant = ............................................... N/m

             

(ii)
State what measurements should be made to determine the extension of the spring produced by the 4.0 N weight.

[2]

3c3 marks
Another spring has a spring constant of 250 N/m.



Calculate the work done in stretching the spring by 0.30 m.


State the unit.


Use the equation

E equals bevelled 1 half space cross times space k space cross times space x squared


work done in stretching the spring = .......................... unit ..................

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4a3 marks
Figure 1 shows how the extension of a spring varies when different loads are hung from it.

15-1-m-4a-hookes-law

Figure 1

Force, extension and temperature are variables for this investigation.

Identify which variable is:

(i)
Dependent variable
[1]

(ii)
Independent variable
[1]

(iii)
A control variable
[1]
4b5 marks

Write a plan for an investigation into how the extension varies with load.

The plan should include details of how to make accurate measurements.

You may add to the diagram to help your answer.

4c3 marks
The spring obeys Hooke’s law.
 

Label the axes, and draw a graph on the axes to show Hooke’s law relationship.

1-2-1p-4-q1b

4d2 marks

Explain what is meant by the term elastic behaviour.

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5a3 marks

A student wishes to investigates the extension of a spring when masses are added.

List three items of equipment that would be required.

5b3 marks

Describe how the student can determine the extension of the spring.

5c3 marks
The student plots a graph of load against extension, as shown in Figure 1.

15-1-m-5c-graph-of-hookes-extension

Figure 1

(i)
Determine the extension produced by a load of 7.5 N.

[1]

 

extension = ................................ cm

 

(ii)
Determine the load that would produce an extension of 10.0 cm. 

[2]

 

load = ..................................... N

5d3 marks
(i)
State which feature of the graph gives the spring constant.

[1]

(ii)
Determine the spring constant, k, of the spring.

[2]

 

spring constant = .................................... N / kg

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1a
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3 marks

The diagrams show springs hanging on a nail.

  • In Diagram 1 there is no weight on the spring.
  • Diagram 2 shows the spring after a weight is added.
  • Diagram 3 shows the spring after the weight has been pulled down slightly, where it is currently held.

15-1-h-1a-springs-extension

Figure 1

Describe the energy change that takes place until the spring is stationary again.

1b
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4 marks

igher Only

Shock absorbers with springs are used on motorbikes. They reduce the bounce of an uneven road. It consists of magnets which slide inside a coil when the car goes over a bump, as shown in Figure 2.

15-1-h-1b-shock-absorber

Figure 2

The system is connected to an external circuit.

Figure 3 shows the bumps on the surface of two roads, L and M. 

15-1-h-1b-bump-in-roads

Figure 3

Assuming the car travels at the same speed on each road, compare and contrast the effect on both roads on the external circuit.

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2a
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3 marks

A digital calliper is an apparatus used to measure the length of objects within 0.01 mm. It can be used to measure the length of a spring as shown in Figure 1.

15-1-h-2a-digital-calliper

Figure 1

A student takes 6 readings of the unstretched length of the spring.

Length (mm) 23.45 23.30 23.41 23.41 23.44 23.42

i)
Calculate the average length of the unstretched spring.
[2]
 
ii)
Explain why this value will not be very accurate.
[1]
2b
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3 marks

The student investigates the stretching of a spring with the equipment shown in Figure 2.

15-1-h-2b-spring-and-weights-empty-graph

Figure 2

The student investigates the extension of the spring using seven different weights.

The results are shown in Figure 3.

weight (N) extension (mm)
0.05 2.0
0.10 4.0
0.15 6.0
0.20 8.0
0.25 10.0
0.30 12.0

Figure 3

Draw a graph for the readings, using the grid shown.

15-1-h-2b-empty-graph

2c
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3 marks

The student extends the investigation by finding information about the stretching of wires.

The student finds the graph shown in Figure 4 for the stretching of a wire.

15-1-h-2c--force-extension-graph

Figure 4

Describe the stretching of the wire after an extension of 5 mm.

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3a
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2 marks

A student used the spring, a set of weights and a ruler to investigate how the extension of the spring depended on the weight hanging from the spring. Figure 1 shows that the ruler is in a tilted position and not upright as it should be.

15-1-h-3a-spring-and-ruler

Figure 1

Explain how leaving the ruler tilted affects the weight and extension data recorded by the student.

3b
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4 marks

The metre ruler is corrected to be upright again. Figure 2 shows the spring before and after some weight is added.

15-1-h-3b-spring-extension

Figure 2

The energy transferred in stretching the spring is 0.15 J.

Calculate the weight added to the spring to produce this extension.

3c
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3 marks

The student completes the experiment by adding all the masses provided and measuring the extension of the spring.

Explain how the student could test if the spring has gone through inelastic distortion.

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