Work, energy and power: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions

Every Edexcel International A Level Physics exam question on Work, energy and power (specification points 17–22), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 116 questions on Work, energy and power, as a list

June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): The driver of a car applies the brakes. The frictional force F between the tyres and the road is constant. The average power dissipated by F is 50 kW. The car m
June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q14 (4 marks): The brakes in a car reduce the kinetic energy of the car. In an electric car, some of this energy is transferred to the battery in the car. An electric car of m
June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q18(c) (6 marks): Diagram 1 shows the position of the spheres when sphere A is released. After being released, sphere A collides with sphere B and comes to rest. Spheres B, C and
June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q20(c) (4 marks): After jumping from the aeroplane, the skydiver accelerated and then reached a terminal velocity before opening his parachute. Explain how energy conservation ap
January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (2 marks): As a truck enters the escape lane, the kinetic energy of the truck is 8.0 × 10 5 N on the truck as the truck The sand exerts an average resistive force of 3.5 ×
January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (5 marks): In one minute, each pipe transfers 1700 m 3 of water to the generator. The density of the water in the lake is 1100 kg m −3. Show that the power transferred by
January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q15(b) (2 marks): Water travels from the lake to the generator through 4 identical pipes. As water moves through the 4 pipes to the generator, the total power wasted is 256 MW. C
October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following units is equivalent to the watt? A N m B N m −1 C J s D J s −1
October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): A person stands on a moving staircase. The moving staircase increases the gravitational potential energy of the person by 5000 J in a time of 42 s. The efficien
October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (3 marks): The kinetic energy of the athlete is 409 J. Show that the athlete has a horizontal speed of about 3.4 m s −1. (3)
October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (5 marks): After passing over the bar, the athlete moves through a vertical distance of 1.4 m before he lands. Calculate the velocity of the athlete as he lands. (5) Magni
October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q17(b) (4 marks): The bridge is above a river. The student will reach the river if the rope stretches to a total length of 35 m during the bungee jump. The student has a mass of
October 2024, Unit 4, Q11 (3 marks): In 2021 scientists identified Amaterasu, the second most energetic cosmic ray particle ever detected on Earth. Amaterasu had an energy of 2.4 × 1020 eV. A newsp
June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q1 (1 mark): An engine is used to remove water from a mine. The engine transfers energy to the water at a rate of 180 kW and wastes energy at a rate of 60 kW. Which of the f
June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q11(a) (2 marks): Show that the gravitational potential energy gained by the train is about 400 MJ. 6 kg mass of train = 1.7 × 10 (2)
June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q11(b) (3 marks): The train’s engine has an output power of 20 MW. The train takes a time of 35 s to move through the vertical height of 25 m. Calculate the work done by the engi
June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(b) (2 marks): Before the collision, the kinetic energy of ball A is 4.5 × 10 energy of ball B is zero. Determine the decrease in total kinetic energy during the collision. (2
June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q19(c) (3 marks): People take turns at moving along the zip-line from the high point to the low point. The people are initially at rest at the high point. Explain why the speeds
June 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why it is necessary to control this variable. (2)
January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q4 (1 mark): A cyclist moves along a horizontal road at a constant speed. She then moves at the same speed up a hill with a constant gradient. Which of the following graphs
January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q14(a)(ii) (3 marks): The child has a mass of 24 kg. Determine the maximum speed v of the child on the slide. (3) v =
January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q14(b) (3 marks): Two slides, X and Y, have the same height. Slide X is longer than slide Y, as shown. slide X slide Y A child moves from rest down slide X and reaches a maximum
January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q2(c) (3 marks): Explain how the measurements made by the student should be used to determine the efficiency of the motor as it lifts the mass. (3)
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): A helicopter moves vertically upwards with an increasing speed. Which of the following describes the increase in gravitational potential energy of the helicopte
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): An object moves with a velocity v. The kinetic energy of the object is doubled. Which of the following is an expression for the new velocity of the object? A 2v
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q7 (1 mark): A power station provides an electrical output power of 2.1 GW. The power station transfers thermal energy to the surroundings at a rate of 3.4 GW. Which of the
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): A box is pulled along the ground by a rope inclined at an angle of 40° to the horizontal as shown. rope 30 N 40° box The tension in the rope is 30 N. The box is
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q14(b) (3 marks): The cable is attached to a 150 N weight. Each time the person pulls the handle the weight moves up a vertical distance of 0.25 m. The weight returns to its orig
October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(ii) (5 marks): The force‑extension graph for the steel cable is shown below. Force total weight of electromagnet and steel object 0 Extension When the electromagnet is switche
October 2023, Unit 5, Q18(c) (2 marks): Explain why the mass of the asteroid would not remain constant as the asteroid fell to the surface of the Earth. (2)
June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): The wind exerts a force of 225 N on a windsurfer. The windsurfer moves a distance of 450 m at an angle of 40° to the wind, as shown. 450 m windsurfer direction
June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): An object accelerates from rest down a frictionless slope. The object moves a distance of 20 m. The slope is at an angle of 23° to the horizontal, as shown. obj
June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(a) (2 marks): The final speed of the train is 76 m s–1. Show that the useful work done to accelerate the train is about 2 GJ. mass of train = 7.2 × 105 kg (2)
June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q13(b) (2 marks): The train accelerates for 180 s. The train has an input power of 16 MW while accelerating. Determine the work done against air resistance as the train accelerat
June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (4 marks): The crane has an electric motor with an efficiency of 47%. The crane lifts a load of 4.4 × 104 N. The load moves through a vertical distance of 15 m in a time o
June 2023, Unit 4, Q18(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the maximum speed of sphere B after the collision. h = 1.1 cm mass of sphere B = 28 g (3) Maximum speed =
January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): An object of mass m is resting on top of a spring. The spring is compressed a further distance Δx by a vertical force F. The force is removed and the spring ret
January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): A motor lifts a mass of 50 000 kg through a vertical height of 25 m. The motor has an output power of 700 kW. Which of the following gives the time in seconds t
January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(a) (3 marks): The kinetic energy of the hammer head as it hits the button is greater than the change in gravitational potential energy of the hammer head as it moves down. Ex
January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(b) (5 marks): The hammer is initially at rest at its highest point. As the person moves the hammer head towards the button, the average resultant force on the hammer head is
January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(c) (2 marks): If the velocity of the hammer head as it hits the button doubles, the height gained by the cylinder does not double. Explain why. (2)
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A proton and an electron have equal kinetic energies. The speed of the proton is v. The mass of a proton is 2000 times greater than the mass of an electron. Whi
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): An electric pump has an output power of 25 kW and an efficiency of 52%. Which of the following expressions gives the rate in kW at which energy is dissipated? A
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q11(c) (2 marks): The terminal velocity of the boat is 4.8 m s–1. Calculate the output power of the engine. (2) Output power =
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q16(c) (2 marks): The kinetic energy of the two skaters after the collision is much less than their combined kinetic energy before the collision, so the collision is inelastic. E
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (2 marks): Show that the work done by the cyclist is about 3 × 104 J. (2)
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(i) (4 marks): Calculate the work done by the cyclist against air resistance. mass of cyclist and bicycle = 90 kg (4) Work done against air resistance =
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(ii) (1 mark): State one assumption that must be made when calculating the work done against air resistance. (1)
October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(c) (2 marks): At the top of the slope, the road becomes horizontal. The cyclist continues to pedal with the same force. Explain how the speed of the cyclist changes as the ro
June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q1 (1 mark): A machine has a power of 750 W and transfers 150 kJ of energy during a time t. Which of the following expressions gives t in seconds? A 750 150 B 750 × 150 1000
June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A cyclist rode along a slope at a constant speed. The increase in vertical height of the cyclist was Δh. The slope was at an angle θ to the horizontal as shown.
June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q14(a) (3 marks): A car travelling at 13.0 m s–1 decelerated to rest. The energy transferred to the car’s battery during the deceleration was 73.9 kJ. Calculate the efficiency of
June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q14(b)(ii) (4 marks): The graph shows how the efficiency of the regenerative braking system depends upon the initial velocity of the car for initial velocities in the range 20 m s–1
June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): For each value of H, the student released the sphere from the same position on the track. Explain why this ensured the sphere always reached the end of the trac
June 2022, Unit 4, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): The vehicle then moved between the poles of the magnet before passing through light gate 2. The magnet caused the kinetic energy of the vehicle to reduce by 10%
January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (2 marks): Explain how the counterweight affects the amount of work required from the electric motor to raise the lift. (2)
January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q12(b) (4 marks): The electric motor raises the lift through a height of 40.0 m in a time of 30.0 s. Show that the output power of the electric motor is about 12 kW. total mass o
January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q12(c) (2 marks): The electric motor dissipates energy to the surroundings at a rate of 3 600 W. Determine the efficiency of the electric motor. (2) Efficiency =
January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (2 marks): Show that the kinetic energy of the ball just after launching is about 4 × 10−5 J. mass of ball = 12 g (2)
January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q16(d) (4 marks): The spring returns to its original length L. Sketch a graph, on the axes below, to show how the velocity of the ball varies with the length of the spring. (4) v
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): A crane lifts a container of weight 4.0 × 105 N through a height of 25 m. Which of the following gives the gravitational potential energy gained by the containe
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q11(a) (2 marks): Calculate the increase in kinetic energy of the car as it accelerates down the slope. (2) Increase in kinetic energy =
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q11(b) (2 marks): As the car accelerates down the slope, the work done against frictional forces is 0.26 J. Calculate the vertical displacement of the car. (2) Vertical displacem
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q15 (6 marks): * 15 The photograph shows a toy car that contains a spring. Pulling the car backwards along the floor compresses the spring. Energy is stored in the compressed
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): Show that the total force that the team exerts on the block is about 14 kN. (2)
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (3 marks): Determine the total work done by the team. (3) Total work done =
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c) (2 marks): Show that the useful work done on the block is about 90 kJ. (2)
October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(d) (2 marks): Determine the efficiency of the system. (2) Efficiency =
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): Criticise these results. (2)
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(a)(ii) (5 marks): Plot a graph of r on the y-axis and h on the x-axis. (5)
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the velocity u of the cube immediately before the collision is given by 2 u = gh (2)
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): The coefficient of restitution e is given by the equation v e = u where v is the velocity of the cube immediately after the collision. Explain why the gradient
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(c) (3 marks): The student researched the range of values for the coefficients of restitution e of different metals. stainless steel 0.63 < e < 0.93 cast iron 0.3 < e < 0.6 De
October 2021, AS Unit 3, Q4(d) (2 marks): Explain how friction between the cube and the surface of the ramp would affect the value obtained for e. (2)
October 2021, Unit 4, Q15(a)(ii) (3 marks): Deduce whether this velocity is enough for the carriage to reach the top of the tower. Assume that resistive forces are negligible. (3)
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q4 (1 mark): A hydroelectric power station has an efficiency of 32%. In one hour the useful energy output of the power station is 1.2 × 1013 J. Which of the following expres
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): A tractor pulls a trailer a distance s in time t. The useful power output of the tractor is P. Which of the following equations gives the force F of the tractor
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q11(c) (2 marks): Calculate the change in total kinetic energy during the collision. (2) Change in total kinetic energy =
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (3 marks): Show that the trolley reaches point B with a speed of about 3 m s−1 . (3)
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q14(b) (3 marks): Another skier travels along the horizontal surface with an initial speed of 23 m s−1 . She comes to rest after travelling a distance of 43 m. Calculate the aver
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q16(c) (2 marks): The power from the car’s engine is constant. Explain how the force from the engine varies as the car accelerates. (2)
June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(c) (2 marks): Assess whether the stretching of the rope has a significant effect on the efficiency of the pulley system. (2)
June 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following derived units can be expressed in SI base units as kg m2 s–3 ? A coulomb B joule C volt D watt
January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): An object of mass 8.2 kg, initially at rest, falls a vertical distance of 25 m through the air and has a final velocity of 20 m s−1. Which of the following give
January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): A locomotive pulls a train at constant speed against a force of 8 400 kN. The output power of the locomotive is 70 MW. Which of the following gives the time in
January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (3 marks): A single passenger of mass 72 kg stands on the walkway. The speed of the walkway is 0.51 m s−1. Show that the rate at which the walkway does work on the passeng
January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q12(b) (3 marks): The walkway system has an efficiency of 78%. Calculate the power input to the system when 15 passengers of average mass 72 kg are standing on the walkway. (3) P
January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q15 (6 marks): *15 In a bungee jump, the bungee jumper falls from a high platform while attached to an elastic cord. The cord is also attached to the platform. The cord slows
January 2021, AS Unit 2, Q1 (1 mark): The unit of power is the watt. Which of the following is included in the SI base units for power? A newton B kilogram C joule D ampere
January 2021, Unit 5, Q13(a) (1 mark): Give the SI base units of energy. (1)
January 2021, Unit 5, Q17(b) (2 marks): Salyut 1 burned up over the Pacific Ocean as it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere. Explain why Salyut 1 burned up. (2)
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): The diagram shows a roller coaster. A roller coaster car stops momentarily at P before descending towards Q. P 75 m Q 30 m Which of the following expressions co
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): A lamp with an efficiency of 0.68 usefully transfers 120 J of energy. Which of the following can be used to determine E, the energy supplied to the lamp? A E =
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q11(a) (2 marks): Show that the average power input to the engine was about 70 kW. (2)
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q11(b) (3 marks): The car travelled a total distance of 730 km during the journey. The average force of the engine was 2.1 kN. Show that the average power output of the engine wa
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q11(c) (2 marks): Determine the efficiency of the engine. (2) Efficiency of engine =
October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (6 marks): To reach the goal, the disc must move up a ramp which is at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. goal disc 30° The velocity of the disc at the bottom of the ramp
October 2020, Unit 4, Q15(a) (2 marks): The photographs show the mechanical version trap before and after it is set to trap a mouse. lever A upper jaw upper jaw lever A pivot Before being set After be
January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following quantities has the SI base units kg m2 s−3? A force B momentum C power D work done
January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): A motor with an efficiency of 68% is used to raise a load of 350 N through a height of 25 m. Which of the following expressions gives the energy supplied to the
January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q4(a) (2 marks): Criticise these results. (2)
January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q4(b) (3 marks): Complete the last row of the table. (3)
January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q4(c) (5 marks): Plot a graph of change in gravitational potential energy on the y-axis against mean energy supplied on the x-axis. (5)
January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q4(d) (2 marks): Determine the efficiency of the motor. (2) Efficiency =
January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q4(e) (3 marks): The students repeated the experiment with a much larger mass and determined that the efficiency of the motor was decreased. Describe how they should collect and
January 2020, Unit 4, Q13(b) (5 marks): Initially the spring was fully compressed. As the toy was released, the head accelerated upwards on its own until the spring was uncompressed. The head then pul
January 2020, Unit 4, Q13(c) (2 marks): Determine whether kinetic energy was conserved as the head began to pull the base upwards. (2)
June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q7 (1 mark): A water pump causes 200 g of water to be ejected from the nozzle of a garden hose each second at a velocity of 3 m sí. Which of the following expressions could
June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q12 (4 marks): Machines make work easier by changing the size or direction of a force. A student designed a simple machine to lift a box of mass 50 kg. The student claimed the
June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(i) (5 marks): Show that the maximum force acting on the climber due to the rope is about 10 kN. Assume the extension of the rope is proportional to its tension. total unstret
June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): A new climber suggests using a longer length of rope between the loop and the climber, as this would absorb more energy after a fall. Comment on this suggestion
June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q17(b) (6 marks): Climbing rope manufacturers recommend that ropes are replaced every 5 years. The force-extension graphs, up to the breaking point, for a one metre length of a r
January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which of the following is equivalent to 1 kilowatt-hour? A 0.28 J B 0.28 W C 3.6 × 106 J D 3.6 × 106 W
January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q4 (1 mark): A force of 90 N is used to push a box along a ramp of length 10 m, up to a platform. The platform is 4 m above the ground. The weight of the box is 200 N. 90 N
January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): A ball is dropped, bounces once and is then caught. Which of the following graphs of gravitational potential energy Egrav against time t could represent the mot
January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(ii) (5 marks): An athlete reaches the finish line at a velocity of 33 m s–1. She then applies a minimum braking force of 240 N as she moves along the uphill section of track t

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