plumiSprings: OCR A‑Level Physics A questions
Every OCR A-Level Physics A exam question on 3.4.1 Springs, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q24(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 24(b)(i): [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h15601-jun25-24-bi-qp.webp?v=3)
Q18(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 1, question 18(a)(i): Complete the final column of the table. [1] 17 6.0 4.0 F / N 2.0 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 x / m](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55601-jun24-18-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q18(a)(ii)
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Q18(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 1, question 18(a)(iii): Discuss whether Hooke’s law can be applied to the cord. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55601-jun24-18-aiii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q18(b)
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Q4(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 Paper 3, question 4(a): Describe how you could determine k using an appropriate experiment. [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55603-jun24-04-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q4(b)(i)
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Q21(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 Paper 1, question 21(a)(ii): Explain why the magnitude of the resultant force F on the glider is given by F = 2kx where x is the displacement at any time. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55601-jun23-21-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q21(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2023 AS Paper 1, question 21(a): Calculate the force constant of the spring. force constant = N m–1 [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h15601-jun23-21-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(a)
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Q22(a)
The whole paper ↗![June 2022 AS Paper 1, question 22(a): Describe how the force constant of the compression spring in the pogo stick can be verified in the laboratory. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h15601-jun22-22-a-qp.webp?v=3)
Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗![November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 3(a)(i): Show that the gradient of the straight line of best fit is about 0.12 m kg−1. [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h15602-nov20-03-ai-qp.webp?v=3)
Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![November 2020 AS Paper 2, question 3(a)(ii): Using the gradient, determine a value for k. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and include an appropriate unit. k = unit [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h15602-nov20-03-aii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2019 Paper 1, question 16(b)(ii): State any value of F when the cable behaves 1. elastically F = kN 2. plastically. F = kN [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55601-jun19-16-bii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q16(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2019 Paper 1, question 16(b)(iii): Use Fig. 16.2 to determine the force constant k in N m–1 of the cable. k = N m–1 [2]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55601-jun19-16-biii-qp.webp?v=3)
Q3(b)
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Q6(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗![June 2017 Paper 3, question 6(b)(ii): Calculate the extension x of the string shown in Fig. 6.2. x = m [3]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/h55603-jun17-06-bii-qp.webp?v=3)
All 26 questions on Springs, as a list
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q24(b)(i) (3 marks): [3]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the final column of the table. [1] 17 6.0 4.0 F / N 2.0 0 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 x / m
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(a)(ii) (3 marks): Plot the data point for F = 6.0 N on the graph above. The other points have been plotted. Draw and label two curves to show the loading and unloading of the cor
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(a)(iii) (2 marks): Discuss whether Hooke’s law can be applied to the cord. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q18(b) (2 marks): An alternative arrangement for the experiment is to use a pulley as shown in Fig. 18.2. The arrangement makes it possible to cover a larger range of extensions.
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(a) (3 marks): Describe how you could determine k using an appropriate experiment. [3]
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the magnitude of the block’s initial acceleration at the instant that the force F is removed. Assume that the spring is not extended beyond its limit
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q21(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the magnitude of the resultant force F on the glider is given by F = 2kx where x is the displacement at any time. [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q21(a) (2 marks): Calculate the force constant of the spring. force constant = N m–1 [2]
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4 (12 marks): (a) Two identical springs each have a force constant of 36 N m–1. In an experiment, the two 4 springs are suspended from a fixed support as shown in Fig. 4.1. F
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q16(a) (4 marks): Describe how an experiment can be carried out to determine the force constant of an elastic cord in the laboratory by plotting a suitable graph. You may assume
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q22(a) (2 marks): Describe how the force constant of the compression spring in the pogo stick can be verified in the laboratory. [2]
- November 2020, AS Paper 1, Q9 (1 mark): A 0.30 kg mass is hung from a spring. The length of the spring is now 16.0 cm. The length of the spring becomes 17.5 cm when an additional 0.20 kg mass is hung
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the gradient of the straight line of best fit is about 0.12 m kg−1. [2]
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using the gradient, determine a value for k. Give your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and include an appropriate unit. k = unit [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): State any value of F when the cable behaves 1. elastically F = kN 2. plastically. F = kN [2]
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q16(b)(iii) (2 marks): Use Fig. 16.2 to determine the force constant k in N m–1 of the cable. k = N m–1 [2]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): A uniform concrete slab is placed on two supports. The slab sags due to its own weight. A B concrete slab support support ground C D Which point, A, B, C or D,
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q3(b) (3 marks): The 23 g mass ball from (a) is used in an experiment with a spring. The student measures the unstretched length L0 of a spring as shown in Fig. 3.1. L0 spring s
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q6(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the extension x of the string shown in Fig. 6.2. x = m [3]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): Complete the table shown in Fig. 2.2 by calculating and recording values of the extension [1] e / cm of the spring combination.
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(b) (4 marks): On Fig. 2.3 plot a graph of e / cm (y-axis) against F / N (x-axis). Draw the straight line of best [4] fit.
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(c) (1 mark): Determine the gradient of the straight line of best fit. gradient = [1] 7 0 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 F / N Fig. 2.3
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(d) (2 marks): Use your answer to (c) to determine the experimental value for the force constant k2 of the two-spring combination. Include an appropriate unit. k2 = [2]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(e) (2 marks): State and explain whether your graph shows that the spring combination obeys Hooke’s law. [2]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q2(f) (2 marks): The experiment is repeated with a third identical spring added to the bottom of the two springs. The force constant of this new three-spring combination is k3.
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