plumiMoments, levers and gears: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Moments, levers and gears (specification points 9.6–9.9), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Q9(b)
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Q2(b)(i)
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Q2(b)(ii)
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Q2(c)
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Q6(a)
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Q6(b)(i)
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Q6(b)(ii)
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Q6(c)(i)
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Q6(c)(ii)
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Q2(a)(i)
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Q2(a)(ii)
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Q2(b)
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Q2(c)(i)
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Q2(c)(ii)
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Q6(a)
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Q6(b)(i)
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Q6(b)(ii)
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Q7(b)(i)
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Q7(b)(ii)
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Q7(c)
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All 55 questions on Moments, levers and gears, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q9(b) (6 marks): Figure 21 shows a device that a person can use to lift a large load with a smaller effort force. rope around long handle a drum gears hook (Source: © Shuttersto
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows a rock and a long lever. rock lever P Q pivot Figure 3 The lever is used to try to move the rock. The lever is pushed downwards at Q with a force
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): When the force of 375 N is pushed down at Q, the rock does not move. Explain why pushing down at P with a force of 375 N may be more successful in moving the ro
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): Figure 4 shows a uniform ruler that can rotate about a pivot. The ruler is balanced by adding weights to each side. pivot 50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 cm cm
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a unit for the moment of a force? (1) A N/m2 B N/m C N m D N m2
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): State the principle of moments. (2)
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the force F2 shown in Figure 15. Use the following data F1 = 11.4 N • d1 = 24.5 cm • d2 = 3.7 cm • (3) F2 = N
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c)(i) (2 marks): Gear wheel P rotates clockwise at a rate of 1.0 revolution per minute. Calculate the rotation rate of gear wheel Q in revolutions per hour. (2) rotation rate
- June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how a gear wheel could be added to the system to give a clockwise rotation with double the rotation rate of gear wheel Q. Your answer should refer to •
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): P rotates once. How many times does Q rotate when P rotates once? (1) A 200 times B 20 times C 10 times D 2 times
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): A third gear wheel is added to the system in Figure 2 so that this third wheel rotates in the opposite direction to Q but at the same speed as Q. 1. Draw an X o
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows a 9.0 N force acting on a ruler. ruler 0.40 m pivot 9.0 N Figure 3 Calculate the moment of the 9.0 N force about the pivot. Use the equation mome
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Use the principle of moments to state the moment of force G about the pivot. (1) moment of force G = N m
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Force F = 8.0 N. The moment of force F about the pivot = 2.4 N m. Calculate the distance, d, of force F from the pivot. Use the equation × moment = force perpen
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (1 mark): Figure 11 shows a person doing a push‑up exercise. Figure 11 An upward force is used to cause rotation about a pivot. Which row of the table is correct for this
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): Use the principle of moments to show that the system shown in Figure 13 is in equilibrium. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): The person then holds a ball weighing 15 N in their hand. Figure 14 shows the forces on the forearm and their distances from the elbow joint. not to scale force
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the moment of the weight of child P about the pivot in N m. Use the equation moment of a force = force × distance to pivot (2) moment = N m
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(b)(ii) (3 marks): Figure 18 shows the same balanced seesaw, with the distance of child Q to the pivot labelled as well. child Q child P pivot 0.95 m 1.80 m 150 N weight W Figure
- June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q7(c) (6 marks): Figure 19 shows a crowbar being used to lift a heavy weight. force heavy weight pivot Figure 19 Explain how the crowbar enables a person to lift a heavy weight.
- June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(i) (2 marks): The moment of C about point P is 0.60 Nm. Calculate the weight of C. Use the equation moment = F × d (2) weight of C N
- June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the total moment of S and R about P is 0.70 N m. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b)(iii) (3 marks): Using the data in the question and the principle of moments, determine if the toy shown in Figure 13 is in equilibrium. The rod is very light so its weight can
- June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(c) (2 marks): Figure 14 show a rack and pinion system, used on a mountain railway. pinion rack Figure 14 The teeth on the rack are 8.0 cm apart. Calculate how far along the r
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (1 mark): Figure 2 shows four items of equipment that can be used in investigations. In which of these does a force cause rotation? (1) N W E S spring balance plotting co
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows a force, F, acting on a ruler. The ruler has a pivot at one end. F = 4.0 N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 cm pivot Figure 3 Calc
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): A 20 cm ruler has a pivot at its centre. The ruler is balanced when no forces act on the ruler. Figure 4 shows two forces, Y and Z, acting on the ruler. Y = 3.0
- June 2022, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(d) (2 marks): Figure 5 shows an arrangement of three gears, P, Q and R. Q P R Figure 5 P and R have the same number of teeth. P rotates in the direction shown. State how the
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a) (1 mark): State the relationship between the moment of the weight of the magnet and the moment of the weight of the piece of modelling clay about the pivot. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (3 marks): The student fixes a coil to the bench under the magnet as shown in Figure 15. 12.0 cm 8.4 cm N S connections 0.050 N weight to power supply coil of wire Figure
- November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(d) (2 marks): The student reverses the direction of the current in the coil. Describe how the student can bring the system back into equilibrium without making any changes to
- November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (3 marks): Figure 3 shows a force of 200 N acting at the end of a plank of wood. The force acts at right angles to the plank and at 3.0 m away from a pivot. force of 200 N
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q1(a) (1 mark): Figure 1 shows some forces acting on a seesaw. The forces shown have the same magnitude but act in different directions. A B C D Figure 1 In which of these coul
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q1(b) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows an open door. door hinges Q P Figure 2 Explain why it is easier to close the door by pushing at point P rather than pushing at point Q. (2)
- November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q1(c) (3 marks): Figure 3 is a diagram of the forces acting on a swing. The swing is not moving. F1 F2 rope rope 0.80 m 0.50 m A B seat 450 N Figure 3 The seat of the swing, AB,
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Figure 6 shows two gears. gear S gear R Figure 6 Gear R and gear S can rotate. Gear R has 20 teeth. Gear S has 60 teeth. Gear S rotates through 2 complete revol
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Figure 7 shows two gears, S and T. gear T gear S Figure 7 Gear S can rotate on a fixed axle. Gear T can move up and down. Gear S has 60 teeth. The distance betw
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): Figure 8 shows a force of 70 N turning a lever about point P. lever P 0.40 m 70 N Figure 8 Calculate the moment of the 70 N force about point P. State the unit.
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 9 shows a worker using a wheelbarrow to move some sand. effort axle load Figure 9 The load is equal to the total weight of the sand and the wheelbarrow.
- June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a) (1 mark): Figure 6 shows four forces, P, Q, R and S, acting on a rod. The rod can rotate around an axle. Q P rod R axle S Figure 6 Which force will make the rod rotate ab
- June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain, using calculations, why the person cannot lift the rock. (3)
- June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one change to the arrangement that will make it possible for this person to lift the rock. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): The rider uses the pedals to make the large gear wheel turn. The large gear wheel moves the chain. The chain turns the small gear wheel. The large gear wheel ha
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(a) (1 mark): Figure 19 shows four forces, P, Q, R and S, acting on a rod. The rod can rotate around an axle. Q P rod R axle S Figure 19 Which force will make the rod rotate
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain, using calculations, why the person cannot lift the rock. (3)
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one change to the arrangement that will make it possible for this person to lift the rock. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q10(c)(i) (2 marks): The rider uses the pedals to make the large gear wheel turn. The large gear wheel moves the chain. The chain turns the small gear wheel. The large gear wheel ha
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following describes the motion of gear R? (1) speed (revolutions per second) direction of rotation A 4 same as P B 1 same as P C 4 opposite to P D
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 11 shows the same arrangement with gear R replaced by a rack. P rack 10 teeth Q 40 teeth Figure 11 The rack can move up or down when the gears turn. The
- June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q6(b) (4 marks): Figure 12 shows three toy animals hanging from a rod. The rod hangs from the ceiling by a string tied to the centre of the rod. The system is in equilibrium. 15
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): Figure 9 shows two gears. Gear Q moves clockwise as shown by the arrow. P Q Figure 9 Which of these describes how gear P moves? (1) A anticlockwise, slower than
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(a)(ii) (1 mark): Figure 10 shows the number of teeth on the gears. Gear P has 24 teeth, gear Q has 16 teeth. P Q 24 teeth 16 teeth Figure 10 Which of these gives the ratio of th
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): The weight of the load is 650 N. The centre of the load is 0.75 m from the pivot. Calculate the moment of the load about the pivot. State the unit. Use the equa
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): State the principle of moments. (1)
- June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q5(b)(iii) (3 marks): An effort of 160 N is applied to the end of the lever to balance the load in Figure 11. Calculate the distance between the effort and the pivot. (3) distance =
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