plumiHooke’s law, stress and strain: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on Hooke’s law, stress and strain (specification points 53–58), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q20(a)
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Q9(b)
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Q13(a)(i)
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Q13(a)(ii)
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Q13(a)(iii)
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Q13(b)
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Q1(a)
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Q1(b)
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Q1(c)(i)
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Q1(c)(ii)
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Q16(a)
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Q16(b)(i)
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Q16(b)(ii)
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Q17(b)
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Q12(a)
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Q12(b)(i)
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Q12(b)(ii)
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All 96 questions on Hooke’s law, stress and strain, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q20(a) (5 marks): Each tower is supported by 16 cylindrical concrete columns. Calculate the stress at the base of each cylindrical concrete column. mass of each tower = 3.0 × 10
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q9(b) (6 marks): The length of the metre rule overhanging the bench was L. The period of oscillation T is related to L, M and the Young modulus E of the wood of the metre rule b
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): When a force F is applied to a spring, the spring extends by a distance x. The spring has a spring constant k. A second identical spring is connected in paralle
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q13(a)(i) (4 marks): Calculate a value for the mean strain and its absolute uncertainty from these values. (4) Mean strain = Absolute uncertainty in value of strain =
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q13(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the elastic strain energy in the extended wire. (2) Elastic strain energy =
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q13(a)(iii) (4 marks): Describe how the student could determine the cross‑sectional area of the wire. (4)
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q13(b) (4 marks): The graph shows the stress‑strain relationship of steel and iron up to the point of fracture. steel iron Stress Strain Steel is used in the construction of buil
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): A weight of 2 N is suspended from a spring of spring constant 50 N m –1. What is the elastic strain energy stored by the spring in joules? 1 A 2 × 2 × 50 1 B 2
- June 2024, Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): A wire of length L and diameter d is fixed at one end. A force F is applied to the wire causing an extension e. A second wire, made of the same material, of len
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): The nylon fishing line was stretched by adding masses to the mass holder. The positions of the bottom of the mass holder were measured as masses were added. For
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe how the extension of the nylon fishing line could have been determined as accurately as possible. (3)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q1(c)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by yield point. (1)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q1(c)(ii) (2 marks): The original length of the nylon fishing line was 2.00 m. Determine whether the fishing line was stretched beyond its yield point. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q16(a) (2 marks): A student used the metre rule to measure the unstretched length of the spring. Describe how the student could make this measurement as accurate as possible. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q16(b)(i) (5 marks): Plot a graph of the extension Δl of the spring on the y-axis against d on the x-axis on the grid opposite. Use the additional column of the table for your proce
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q16(b)(ii) (4 marks): The student was given the following relationship Wd l C kD where C is a constant D is the distance from the pivot to the spring = 0.875 m W is the weight on the
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q17(b) (5 marks): Explain what happens to the height of the blanket from the ground as the blanket dries. Your answer should make reference to the Young modulus of the material o
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q12(a) (3 marks): Describe how the student should determine the diameter of a wire. (3)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Derive the expression E = gradient × x A (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q12(b)(ii) (4 marks): The values of the Young modulus for some metals are shown. Metal Young modulus / GPa aluminium 67 copper 117 steel 184 tin 47 Deduce which metal the student’s w
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q12(b)(iii) (4 marks): The student repeated measurements of force and extension using a thinner wire of the same metal and length. He changed the values of the force he applied to the
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): A wire Y of cross‑sectional area A and length l is joined to a second wire Z of cross‑sectional area 2A and length 2l as shown. Wire Z is fixed at one end and a
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q16(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by within the elastic limit. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Show that the stiffness of each spring is about 18 000 N m –1. (3)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Give one advantage of using a reference wire as well as a test wire. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): State why a reference load was applied to the reference wire. (1)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(b) (3 marks): Explain why the test wire should be both long and thin. (3)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q5(c) (5 marks): The student varied the load F on the test wire and recorded the corresponding change in length Δx from the vernier scale. The results are shown on the graph. Δx
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q17(a) (3 marks): Calculate the extension of each lift cable. cross‑sectional area of a cable = 3.1 × 10 –4 m 2 Young modulus of steel = 200 GPa weight of lift = 12 kN (3) Extens
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q17(c) (3 marks): When the lift is empty, a technician removes one of the cables for maintenance. Assess how removing one cable would affect the extension of the remaining cables
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): A student carries out an investigation to determine the Young modulus of a material. Which of the following gives two measuring instruments the student should u
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): A force‑extension graph for a spring is shown. 3.0 2.0 Force / N 1.0 0.0 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 Extension / m Which of the following gives the work done, in j
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the Young modulus of collagen fibres. (2) Young modulus =
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the behaviour of collagen fibres when the stress in the fibres is increased from the elastic limit until the fibres break. (3)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q14(b) (2 marks): A molecule of carbon monoxide consists of one atom of carbon bonded to one atom of oxygen. The bond between the two atoms can be modelled as a spring as shown.
- June 2022, Paper 2, Q18(b) (3 marks): The graph shows how the Young modulus E of the nylon varies with temperature. E 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Temperature / °C When the harp is played, the temperature of
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): The position of the bottom of the mass holder was recorded. The spring was stretched by adding masses to the mass holder and the new positions were determined.
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe how the student should determine the extension of the spring as accurately as possible. (3)
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q17(a) (2 marks): Describe how the student should use set squares and a second metre rule to determine d. You may add to the diagram. (2)
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q17(b)(i) (2 marks): The student measured t several times and calculated its mean value t-. t- / mm t / mm 6.25 6.27 6.29 6.24 6.26 Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the thick
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q17(b)(ii) (5 marks): The student’s results are shown in the table. l / m d / mm 0.300 6 0.400 18 0.500 39 0.600 68 0.700 107 0.800 166 Plot a graph of d on the y‑axis against l3 on
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q17(b)(iii) (5 marks): The table gives the value of E for several types of wood. Wood type E / GPa Pine 6.9 Douglas fir 9.7 Spruce 11.1 Birch 13.9 Deduce the type of wood from which t
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): In an investigation to determine the Young modulus of steel in the form of a wire, a student plots a straight line graph. The Young modulus is numerically equal
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q12(a)(i) (1 mark): State one difference between the lens of a 23‑year‑old and the lens of a 30‑year‑old. (1)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q12(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason for your answer, making reference to the graph. (1)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q13(a) (3 marks): Determine the stiffness of the spring. (3) Stiffness =
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q13(b) (6 marks): Discuss the extent to which the student’s results are consistent with the information given by the manufacturer. (6)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q16(c) (2 marks): A load of 5.0 × 103 tonnes is held stationary by several vertical steel cables. The strain on the cables is 5.0 × 10–3. Calculate the total cross‑sectional area
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q16(d) (3 marks): The speed of the load in the shaft will depend on the variation of the electricity supply and demand throughout the day. Explain why the total area of the cable
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): What is the stiffness of the combination of springs? k A 2 B k C 2k D 4k
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): What is the elastic strain energy stored for the combination of springs? E A 2 B E C 2E D 8E
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): A mass of 24 kg is suspended from a steel wire of length 1.5 m. The wire has cross‑sectional area 3.1 × 10−6 m2. The Young modulus of steel is 1.8 × 1011 Pa. Wh
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q10(a)(i) (4 marks): Explain whether this method would produce accurate values for the extensions of the spring. (4)
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q10(a)(ii) (5 marks): Explain how the student could modify his method in order to obtain more accurate values for the extensions of the spring. (5)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q15(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the stiffness of the spring is about 50 N m−1. (2)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q15(a)(ii) (4 marks): Two identical force meters of this type support a mass of 0.400 kg as shown. Diagram not to scale 60° 0.400 kg (Source: adapted from https://image.slidesharecdn
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): The following measurements were made to determine the Young modulus of a metal bar. original length of bar = 0.50 m area of cross section = 4.5 × 10−4 m2 tensil
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q10(b) (2 marks): Another concrete post is reinforced with steel rods, to increase its tensile strength. A steel rod is under a tensile load of 130 N and extends by 4.0 × 10−4 m.
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q17(b) (3 marks): The graph shows how stress varies with strain for normal bone and for unhealthy bone. normal bone unhealthy bone Stress Strain Describe how the graph shows that
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): When a force F is applied to a spring with stiffness k, the elastic potential energy stored is E. What is the elastic potential energy stored when a force 2F is
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q15(c)(i) (4 marks): The length of one string is 68 cm. Calculate the extension required to produce a tension of 93.4 N in the string. Young modulus of string material = 1.8 × 109 N
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q10 (4 marks): A student carries out an investigation to measure the Young modulus of the material of a wire. He clamps one end of the wire and passes the other end over a pul
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q12(a) (2 marks): Determine a value for the spring constant of the spring for compression forces up to 60 N. (2) Spring constant =
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q12(b) (3 marks): The compression force is increased from 60 N to 220 N. Determine a value for the additional energy stored in the spring due to this increase in force. (3) Addit
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q12(c) (2 marks): When fully compressed all the coils lie flat inside each other. h d unloaded fully compressed The height h of the spring when unloaded is 126 mm. Calculate the
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): A mass is supported by a single spring as shown. The strain energy stored by the spring is E. The mass is then supported by two springs, each identical to the f
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain which of these wires is the thinnest that could be used to support the sphere safely. breaking stress of steel = 3.10 × 10°N m2 (3)
- June 2019, Paper 2, Q16(b)(ii) (3 marks): The wire identified in part (i) is used for the pendulum, the unstretched length of the new wire is 11.2m. Calculate the extension of the new wire when the sphe
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(a) (3 marks): Show that the energy per unit volume that would have to be absorbed by the seat belt is about 2 × 108 J m–3. mass of dummy = 75 kg (3)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the area under the graph represents the energy stored per unit volume in the seat belt. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q10(b)(ii) (3 marks): Use the graph to determine whether the seat belt absorbs all the kinetic energy of the dummy from part (a). In this collision, the maximum strain of the seat be
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): A deforming force is applied to a sample of material. Which row of the table shows the axes of a graph for which the gradient is stiffness k? y-axis x-axis A ex
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q6(b) (6 marks): Assess the validity of the student’s suggestion by considering the effective stiffness of two identical springs in parallel. (6)
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q16(c) (4 marks): Manufacturers are developing new materials for flexible screens for liquid‑crystal displays. The graph shows how stress varies with strain for two materials X a
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): The Young Modulus of a material can be expressed by the formula E = Fx Δ . A x The derivation of this formula is E = σ ε So E = E = Fx And A x Δ Which of the fo
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q9 (6 marks): *9 A resistance band is a length of an elastic material that can be used for exercise. The user repeatedly applies an increasing tensile force (loading) and the
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q10(a) (2 marks): Calculate the work done on the spring. (2) Work done =
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q10(b) (2 marks): Calculate the extension of the spring when a force of 27 N is applied. (2) Extension =
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): Two identical springs are arranged side by side as shown. 20 N When a force of 20 N is applied, an extension of 8 cm is obtained. A force of 5 N is applied to o
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q20(b)(i) (3 marks): An article states that ‘the maximum change in the 4 km length of the arm is about 0.001 times the diameter of a proton’. Determine whether this statement applie
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): The speed of sound v in the rod depends on the Young modulus E and the density ρ of the material of the rod as given by the equation E v = ρ Calculate the Young
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q11(a) (2 marks): Criticise the student’s table. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q11(b) (2 marks): The student used her data to plot a graph as shown. 1.6 – 1.4 – 1.2 – 1.0 – 0.8 – 0.6 – 0.4 – 0.2 – 0.0 – 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 extension / cm Determine a
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q16(a)(i) (5 marks): Use the results to plot a graph of weight against compression. You may use the additional column for your processed data. (5)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q16(a)(ii) (4 marks): The student concluded that the spring obeys Hooke’s law with a spring constant of about 600 N m–1. Determine whether the student’s conclusion is justified. (4)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q16(b) (4 marks): Another trolley was adapted by placing a tube around the plunger so that it could be used to launch marbles. A marble was placed in the tube while the plunger w
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): A spring is hung vertically and masses are added to the lower end. The graph shows how the extension Δx of the spring varies with the mass m added. Δx 0 m The w
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q16(b)(ii) (3 marks): The gauge factor GF of a strain gauge is given by ΔR GF = εR where ε is the strain R is the initial resistance ΔR is the change in resistance When forces are ap
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q17(c) (5 marks): The graph shows typical stress-strain curves for wood and steel. stress steel wood strain Discuss how the use of steel, rathe
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q16(a) (2 marks): Explain why graphene, despite its greater strength, is unlikely to replace steel in many applications. (2)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): The diagram shows a force-extension graph for a wire. C D A L B Force 0 Extension L is the elastic limit. Which point represents the yield point? A B C D
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q10(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the force applied to the shrilk at a strain of 0.02 cross-sectional area = 1.2 × 10–6 m2 (3) Force =
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): Determine the extension of the shrilk at a strain of 0.04 (2) Extension =
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q10(b) (3 marks): Deduce whether shrilk or polythene is better for making waste bags. (3)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): The rope extends by 2.5 cm when used as shown. Calculate the energy stored within the rope. (2) Energy stored =
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q16(b)(iii) (1 mark): State one assumption made in this calculation. (1)
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