Newton's Laws (OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway))

A student investigates the acceleration of a trolley.

The trolley is released from a fixed position and accelerates.

The accelerating force is provided by the weights attached to the trolley with string.

Acceleration is measured using a light gate and data logging equipment.

Look at the results from the experiment.

The student has made two mistakes in their results table. Identify the two mistakes and suggest corrections to them.

Mistake 1: ..........................................................................................

Correction 1: ....................................................................................

Mistake 2: .........................................................................................

Correction 2: ....................................................................................

The student plots the results on a graph.

i)One point has not been plotted on the graph. Plot the missing point on the graph.

[1]

ii)Describe the relationship between the two variables on the graph.

[2]

iii) Calculate the gradient of the graph and use this to determine the mass of the trolley.

Mass = .................................................... kg [2]

 iv) The actual mass of the trolley is lower than that found in the experiment. Suggest two reasons why.

Use ideas about forces and energy in your answer.

1 ..................................................................................

2 ..................................................................................

[2]

v)Suggest two ways the experiment could be improved.

1 .........................................................................................

2 .........................................................................................

[2]

i) Describe the energy transfer as the trolley accelerates on the desk.

[1]

ii) The trolley moves a distance of 86 cm along the desk.

Calculate the work done when a force of 3.0 N is applied.

Use the equation: work done = force × distance

Give your answer to 2 significant figures.

Work done = ...................................................... J [4]

Higher Tier Only

A student investigates collisions of trolleys on a horizontal air track.

Write down the two quantities involved with motion which are conserved during an elastic collision.

Higher Tier Only

Trolley A has a mass of 2 kg. Trolley B has a mass of 2.5 kg.

i) Calculate the momentum of each trolley.

Trolley A = ......................... kgm/s

Trolley B = ......................... kgm/s

ii) The two trolleys collide and stick together after the collision. Use your answers to (b)(i) to calculate the speed of the combined trolleys after the collision.

Record your answer to 2 significant figures.

Answer = ......................... m/s

This question is about force, mass and acceleration.

A car starts from rest and accelerates at 3 m/s².

Use the equation: Acceleration = Change in velocity ÷ Time taken

Calculate the velocity of the car after 4 s.

Answer = ......................... m/s

A roller coaster car moves down a slope with an acceleration of 5 m/s².

The force on the roller coaster car is 4000 N.

Calculate the mass of the roller coaster car.

Answer = ......................... kg

A student investigates the motion of a glider on a frictionless air track using the apparatus shown below.

i) Explain how the student can use this apparatus to demonstrate Newton’s Second Law.

Include details of any additional equipment required.

[3]

ii) A 0.25 kg glider is pulled by a 1.0 N force. Calculate the acceleration of the glider using the formula:

   force = mass × acceleration

Answer = ......................... m/s²

iii) Suggest reasons why the recorded value was less than your calculated value.

[2]

The student repeats the experiment for 4 more forces.

The results are shown in the table.

There is an anomaly in the results.

Identify the anomaly and explain how the student could have dealt with it.

Explain what is meant by a reproducible experiment.

Higher Tier Only

Two ice skaters A and B, at rest, start together on the ice.

The ice skaters push apart and they move off in opposite directions.

State the law of conservation of momentum.

Higher Tier Only

Calculate the velocity of skater A after pushing.

Use the information and your knowledge of momentum to help.