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Circular motion and Newton’s third law: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Circular motion and Newton’s third law (specification points 2.20–2.23), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,554 questions

  1. Q6(b)(i)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 6(b)(i): Even though they are running at a constant speed, the velocity of each athlete is changing. State why the velocity of each athlete is changing. (1)

  2. Q8(a)(iii)

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(a)(iii): Explain how Newton’s third law applies to the interaction between the kicking foot and the football. (3)

  3. Q9(a)(i)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(i): Which arrow in Figure 13 shows the direction of the centripetal force on the ball? (1) A B C D

  4. Q9(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(a)(ii): The ball is moving at constant speed. Give one reason why the velocity of the ball is continuously changing. (1)

  5. Q7(a)(ii)

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 7(a)(ii): The satellite travels at a constant speed around the Earth. Explain why the satellite is accelerating even though it travels at a constant speed. (2)

  6. Q7(c)(ii)

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(c)(ii): Describe how Newton’s Third Law of Motion applies to the collision between the racket and the ball. (2)

  7. Q7(c)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(c)(ii): State the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by the box on the floor. (2) magnitude direction

  8. Q8(c)

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 8(c): Explain why Vesta is accelerating even when it is travelling at a constant speed. (2)

  9. Q9(c)

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Higher

    4 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third lawMomentum
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Higher, question 9(c): Newton’s third law, when applied to the collision of the rocket and the asteroid as shown in Figure 12, can be stated as follows: The force exerted by the rocke

  10. Q7(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(a): The force that keeps an object moving in a circular path is known as the (1) A balancing force B centripetal force C reaction force D resistance force

  11. Q7(b)(i)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 markCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b)(i): Draw an arrow on Figure 11 to show the direction of the force that keeps the object moving in a circular path. (1)

  12. Q7(b)(ii)

    June 2019 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marksCircular motion and Newton’s third law
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 1 Higher, question 7(b)(ii): The object in Figure 11 is moving at constant speed. Explain why it is not moving with constant velocity. (2)
All 12 questions on Circular motion and Newton’s third law, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Even though they are running at a constant speed, the velocity of each athlete is changing. State why the velocity of each athlete is changing. (1)
  2. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(a)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how Newton’s third law applies to the interaction between the kicking foot and the football. (3)
  3. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): Which arrow in Figure 13 shows the direction of the centripetal force on the ball? (1) A B C D
  4. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): The ball is moving at constant speed. Give one reason why the velocity of the ball is continuously changing. (1)
  5. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): The satellite travels at a constant speed around the Earth. Explain why the satellite is accelerating even though it travels at a constant speed. (2)
  6. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how Newton’s Third Law of Motion applies to the collision between the racket and the ball. (2)
  7. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): State the magnitude and direction of the force exerted by the box on the floor. (2) magnitude direction
  8. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(c) (2 marks): Explain why Vesta is accelerating even when it is travelling at a constant speed. (2)
  9. November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(c) (4 marks): Newton’s third law, when applied to the collision of the rocket and the asteroid as shown in Figure 12, can be stated as follows: The force exerted by the rocke
  10. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(a) (1 mark): The force that keeps an object moving in a circular path is known as the (1) A balancing force B centripetal force C reaction force D resistance force
  11. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Draw an arrow on Figure 11 to show the direction of the force that keeps the object moving in a circular path. (1)
  12. June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): The object in Figure 11 is moving at constant speed. Explain why it is not moving with constant velocity. (2)

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