plumiMoments and centre of gravity: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Every Edexcel International A Level Physics exam question on Moments and centre of gravity (specification points 15–16), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
- Your answer
Q19(a)
The whole paper ↗Q19(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q19(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q16(a)
The whole paper ↗Q16(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q13(a)
The whole paper ↗Q13(b)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q15(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q18(a)
The whole paper ↗Q18(b)
The whole paper ↗Q18(a)
The whole paper ↗Q18(b)
The whole paper ↗
All 57 questions on Moments and centre of gravity, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): A see‑saw is a uniform beam that balances on a support. The beam can rotate around the top of the support. Two children of equal weight sit on a see‑saw at equa
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (1 mark): When the rail is in equilibrium, the principle of moments applies. State what is meant by the principle of moments. (1)
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(i) (5 marks): The uniform rail has a length of 1.40 m and a weight of 95 N. The student applies a force F to the handle, perpendicular to the rail. The piston applies a force
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(ii) (3 marks): The student could have lifted the rail by applying a vertical upwards force to the handle. The force needed to lift the rail is different when the force is vert
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (2 marks): State the conditions needed for an object to be in equilibrium. (2)
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q16(b) (6 marks): The dish is moved along the beam so that the horizontal distance from the string to the dish is 7.0 cm. Rice is added to the dish until the balance is in equili
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): A student puts a piece of wood on top of a cylinder. He stands on the wood with his feet at distances x and y from the cylinder. The weight of the student is W.
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (3 marks): Determine the moment of W about the pivot when θ is 24°. W = 580 N length of lever = 0.21 m (3) Moment =
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (2 marks): The chain-ring exerts a force F on the chain, as shown. F θ W F is proportional to the moment of W about the pivot. Explain how F changes as θ increases from 0°
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): Explain how a graph of K against L can be used to determine the value of MR. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(i) (5 marks): Plot a graph of K on the y-axis against L on the x-axis on the grid opposite. (5)
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Determine the gradient of the graph. (3) Gradient =
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Determine a value for MB. MA = 0.400 kg (2) MB =
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(iv) (4 marks): Determine a value for MR. (4) MR =
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q15(a)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the resultant moment, about the axle, of the magnetic forces acting on the coil. length of coil, BD = 5.0 cm width of coil, DC = 3.5 cm magnetic flux
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which of the following describes the centre of gravity of an object? A the point where the mass of the object is located B the point where the mass of the objec
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (5 marks): Calculate the magnitudes of the forces P and Q. You should take moments about point X. force from lorry = 4.2 × 10 5 N weight of bridge = 9.8 × 10 5 N (5) P = Q
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (5 marks): Explain why force Q increases as the lorry moves across the bridge. (5)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): State the conditions needed for the door to be in equilibrium. (2)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (1 mark): Give the meaning of the term centre of gravity. (1)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(i) (5 marks): Show that the horizontal component of the force of hinge Y on the door is about 40 N. L = 1.60 m w = 0.85 m (5)
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(ii) (4 marks): The vertical component of the force of each hinge on the door is equal to half the weight of the door. Hinge Y exerts a force F on the door at an angle θ to the
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(iii) (4 marks): An identical door is supported by hinges that are much closer together. Explain how a smaller value of L affects F and θ. You should consider moments about poin
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object. (1)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (5 marks): Explain why the board and ladder remain in the position shown. (5)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (2 marks): A downward force is required to rotate the board away from the block. This force is applied 0.80 m from the hinge. Determine the magnitude of this force. (2) Ma
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(i) (4 marks): Explain how the counterweight needs to move when the load is moved away from the tower. (4)
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(ii) (5 marks): The beam is uniform with a weight of 3.0 × 104 N. The counterweight has a weight of 1.1 × 105 N. The load has a weight of 4.4 × 104 N. Deduce whether the load c
- June 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(b) (4 marks): The student balanced the ruler on a pivot as shown, and recorded the position of the centre of gravity of the ruler. centre of gravity ruler bench pivot The stu
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(i) (2 marks): State what is meant by equilibrium. (2)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object. (1)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(b)(i) (2 marks): The position and direction of P are shown on the diagram below. centre of gravity P 0.90 m Complete the diagram above by adding labelled arrows to show the posi
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(b)(ii) (3 marks): The stone has a weight of 415 N and a length of 0.90 m. The length of the stone beyond the edge of the step is 0.50 m, as shown below. 0.90 m stone step 0.50 m
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (3 marks): Explain, by considering moments about G, why P is less than R. (3)
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (4 marks): The horizontal distance between the centre of the wheel and the handles is 1.5 m. The magnitudes of P and R are as shown. 80 N 320 N 1.5 m Determine the horizon
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (2 marks): The diagram below shows three of the forces that act on the coat hook when a coat is hung from it. The weight of the coat hook may be neglected. NOT TO SCALE ve
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (4 marks): If too many coats are hung on the coat hook, the hook will rotate and pull the screw out of the door. Point P is the position of the pivot as shown. NOT TO SCAL
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A beam is balanced on two supports as shown. P Q beam W The beam has a weight W and the reaction forces at the two supports are P and Q. Which of the following
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(a) (2 marks): Describe how the student could determine θ using a metre rule. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(b) (1 mark): Describe how the student could check that the bracket was horizontal. (1)
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(d)(i) (3 marks): The relationship between F and x is mgx W F = + l sin θ 2sin θ where l is the length of the bracket m is the mass hung from the bracket. Determine a value for W
- January 2022, AS Unit 3, Q3(d)(ii) (2 marks): The value of g obtained from the graph is 9.64 m s–2. The student concluded that the value of g obtained is accurate. Evaluate the student’s conclusion. (2)
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): A beam is supported by a pivot as shown in the diagrams. The centre of gravity of the beam is at G. The beam is acted on by a force F. Which diagram shows an ar
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (4 marks): The force of the wind is 14 N in a horizontal direction. force of wind 1.80 m weight 0.44 m Explain why the parasol will topple. Your answer should include a ca
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q19(b) (5 marks): To prevent the parasol from toppling, a rope is attached to the parasol at 1.50 m from the ground as shown. The rope makes an angle of 44° to the vertical. 25 N
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (3 marks): Calculate the reaction forces R1 and R2, shown on the diagram, when the dragster is stationary and not accelerating. (3) R1 = R2 =
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q11(a) (2 marks): Add to the diagram to show the forces acting on the plank. (2)
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q11(b) (3 marks): Calculate the distance x. (3) x =
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (3 marks): A free-body force diagram for the flagpole is shown below. Identify the forces X, Y and Z. (3) Y X Z X Y Z
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (3 marks): The aluminium wire will break if the tension in the wire exceeds 350 N. The wire is attached to the flagpole at B, 0.8 m from the wall. The wire is at an angle
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by centre of gravity. (1)
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (3 marks): There are contact forces at the two positions where the book touches the shelf. The book is moved a distance x to the right as shown. R x The magnitude of the c
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q13(c) (2 marks): Explain why the book will not remain on the shelf if x > l . 2 (2)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (5 marks): It can be assumed that the biceps muscle acts as a spring at an angle of 70 to the beam, 4.0 cm from the pivot O. Determine the magnitude of T. You will need t
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q15(b) (2 marks): Explain a limitation of using a beam to model the forearm. (2)
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (5 marks): The normal contact forces of each bracket on the shelf are equal. Determine the distance of bracket B from the left-hand end of the shelf. weight of book = 8.5
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (2 marks): Bracket B is moved closer to the left-hand end of the shelf. Explain the effect on the magnitude of the normal contact force of bracket B on the shelf. (2)
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