Newton’s laws: OCR GCSE Combined Science A questions

Every OCR GCSE Combined Science A exam question on P2.2 Newton’s laws, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 72 questions on Newton’s laws, as a list

June 2025, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q2 (1 mark): A box is at rest on flat ground. Which diagram shows the correct direction of the normal contact force acting on the box? A B C D Your answer [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): The diagram shows an aeroplane moving forwards, looking from above. There is a large forward force from its engines. There is also a smaller sideways force from
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): A 5000 kg cannon fires a 10 kg cannonball. Just after firing, the momentum of the cannonball is 50 kg m / s. What is the velocity of the cannon just after firin
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(a) (4 marks): Explain how they should use this apparatus to find acceleration. Include any extra equipment they need. [4]
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(b)(i) (1 mark): Two forces act to reduce the acceleration of the car. One of these forces is air resistance. Name the other force. [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest how the teacher can reduce the effect of this other force. [1]
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(c) (2 marks): The table shows the student’s results. Acceleration of car (m / s2) Force applied to car (N) 0.30 0.51 0.60 1.02 0.90 1.53 Suggest two changes the student could
June 2025, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(d) (1 mark): Predict the acceleration if a force of 1.2 N was applied to the car. Use data from the table. Acceleration = m / s2 [1]
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q5 (1 mark): An object of mass 2.0 kg accelerates. The force acting on the object is 5.0 N. Calculate the acceleration of the object. Use the equation: force = mass × accele
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): The diagram shows some forces acting on a moving object. 10 N 10 N W E Which statement describes the motion of the object? A The object accelerates towards E. B
June 2024, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q14 (6 marks): 14* A crane lifts a block straight upwards. Fig. 14.1 shows the forces acting on the block. The size of these forces may change during its journey. Fig. 14.1 Pu
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): A skydiver jumps from an airplane and reaches terminal velocity before the parachute opens. Which statement describes what is happening when they reach terminal
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): Four cars are travelling along a road. Which car has the highest momentum? Use the equation: momentum = mass × velocity Mass of car (kg) Velocity of car (m / s)
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): Four different objects are acted on by different forces. Which object has the highest acceleration? A 4 N 10 N 1 kg B 4 N 10 N 2 kg C 7 N 10 N 1 kg D 7 N 10 N 2
June 2024, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12 (6 marks): 12* A cable is used to lift a block vertically upwards. Fig. 12.1 shows the forces acting on the block. Fig. 12.1 Pull of cable on block upwards Pull of gravity
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q1 (1 mark): A spaceship travels from planet P to planet Q. The diagram shows the size of the forces acting on the spaceship. P Q Which sentence describes the motion of the
June 2023, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(d)(iii) (1 mark): The free body force diagram shows how the girl accelerates as she walks along the ground. X Friction Weight What is the name of force X? Tick (3) one box. Air r
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(c)(i) (1 mark): Use Fig. 12.2 to determine the acceleration of a car with a mass of 960 kg. Acceleration = m / s2 [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q12(c)(ii) (2 marks): Use Fig. 12.2 to estimate the acceleration of a car with a mass of 1400 kg. Show your working on the graph. Acceleration = m / s2 [2]
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram shows some forces acting on an object. 5 N 2 N 14 N What is the resultant force on the object? A 5.4 N B 12 N C 13 N D 14.9 N Your answer [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15 (6 marks): 15* Fig. 15.1 shows the distance–time graph for a skydiver after jumping out of a plane. The graph describes the distance the skydiver falls through until the p
June 2023, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(c) (3 marks): The child now has a small marble and a large marble. The child rolls the small marble across the floor. The small marble collides with the stationary large marb
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(a)(i) (1 mark): Use the graph to determine the acceleration of a car with a mass of 1250 kg. Acceleration = m / s2 [1]
June 2023, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q15(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use the graph to estimate the acceleration of a car with a mass of 700 kg. Acceleration = m / s2 [2]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): Which pair of forces are a Newton’s third law pair? A Weight of magnet and magnetic force B Weight of person and friction on person C Weight of person and pull
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q9 (1 mark): The diagram shows some forces acting on a toy car. 1 N 3 N Which row in the table describes the motion of the toy car? Resultant force Motion A 2 N forwards acc
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(e)(i) (1 mark): Which lump of clay has the greatest acceleration? Use the Data Sheet. Tick (✓) one box. 100 g 200 g 300 g [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q11(e)(ii) (1 mark): Explain the reason for your answer to (e)(i). [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 6 Foundation, Q16(d)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest what happens to the egg between points X and Y. Explain your answer by writing about force and acceleration. [2]
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q1 (1 mark): The diagram shows some forces acting on a toy car. 1 N 3 N Which row of the table describes the motion of the toy car? Resultant force Motion A 2 N forwards acc
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): A toy train moves around a circle of track. The speed of the toy train is 2 cm / s. Why is the velocity of the toy train changing? A Air resistance is acting on
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): A child uses a force of 10 N at an angle of 60° to push a toy car. This is a scale diagram of the force: Scale: 1 cm = 1 N 10 N 60° Horizontal What is the horiz
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q13(b) (4 marks): Two children are squashing clay on a desk. Child A says, ‘Only one force is needed to squash clay.’ Child B says, ‘There are three forces acting on the clay whe
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(a) (1 mark): Define the term momentum. [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(b) (1 mark): Define the principle of conservation of momentum. [1]
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(c) (3 marks): In an experiment, shown in Fig. 16.1, the teacher uses a pellet gun to shoot an apple. Fig. 16.1 150 m / s Pellet Wall The mass of the pellet is 7 grams. Calcul
June 2022, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q16(d) (3 marks): The teacher repeats the experiment with a different pellet as shown in Fig. 16.2. Fig. 16.2 v Momentum of pellet = 1.1 kg m / s Pellet stuck in apple Wall Wall
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the free-body force diagram by adding in the missing force. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which word describes this missing force? Put a ring around the correct answer. Contact Electrostatic Gravity Magnetic [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(b) (2 marks): A person kicks the ball. Complete the sentences explaining what happens to the ball. Choose words from the list. You may use each word once, more than once or n
November 2021, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q12(c) (2 marks): The mass of the ball is 0.4 kg. How much force is needed to accelerate the ball at 400 m / s2? Use the equation: force = mass × acceleration Force = N [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): This is a diagram of a collision between two cars. The cars stick together in the collision. Before collision After collision Mass = 1200 kg Mass = 800 kg Mass
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(a) (2 marks): Draw a free-body force diagram for the ball. [2]
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(b)(i) (1 mark): The ball is stationary on the field. Explain why using Newton’s laws. [1]
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(b)(ii) (3 marks): Student A kicks the ball with their toes. This hurts the student’s toes. Explain why using Newton’s laws. [3]
November 2021, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(c)(ii) (3 marks): Student B kicks the ball with a force of 216 N. The mass of the ball is 0.45 kg. Calculate the acceleration of the ball. Use the equation: force = mass × accele
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): A man stands next to a wall. He exerts a force on the wall by pushing against the wall with both hands. His feet remain in the same place esa Which statement is
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q10: Which row of the table describes inertia and mass? 10 Mass Inertia How difficult it is to change the velocity of an object. Force + acceleration A Force x accel
November 2020, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(a) (3 marks): A skydiver steps out of a plane. The table describes the motion of the skydiver at different times. Complete the gaps in the table. Free-body force diagram Expl
November 2020, Physics Paper 12 Higher, Q13(b)(i) (1 mark): Fig. 13.2 shows a free-body force diagram for the cork. Force of water on cork Force of Earth on cork Fig. 13.2 At position A in Fig. 13.1, the cork starts to m
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(b)(i) (2 marks): Label the forces on the diagram in Fig. 13.2. [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(b)(ii) (2 marks): The loop at the end of the spring breaks and the mass falls. Explain why the mass falls and describe its motion as it falls.
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q13(c) (2 marks): The mass is placed on a bench, as shown in Fig. 13.3. This is a diagram showing the force of the bench on the mass. Force of the bench on the mass Mass Bench Fi
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(b) (1 mark): Friction can change the results of this experiment. Suggest one way friction can be reduced. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(d) (1 mark): The student repeats the experiment with different masses. This is a graph showing her results. 5.0 × 4.0 × × 3.0 Acceleration (m / s2) × 2.0 × 1.0 × 0.0 0.0 1.0
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q6 (1 mark): Which statement describes Newton’s third law? A Action and reaction are equal, opposite and act on the same object. B Action and reaction are equal, opposite an
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): The diagrams show a collision between two trolleys. Moving Stationary Trolleys stuck together trolley trolley 3 m / s ? m / s 2 kg 1 kg 2 kg 1 kg Before collisi
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw a labelled free body force diagram for the spring. The spring is attached to the support at the top and has cube A attached at the bottom. [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(b)(ii) (1 mark): The resultant force on the spring is zero. Explain why. Use your answer to 12(b)(i) to help you. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q12(b)(iii) (1 mark): More than one force is required to stretch the spring. Describe what happens if only one force is applied. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(a) (2 marks): She hangs a 400 g mass over the pulley. How can she work out the accelerating force on the trolley? Use an equation to help explain your answer. [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(c) (1 mark): Describe one way this experiment could be improved. [1]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(d) (6 marks): Student A does an experiment to find out if force is related to acceleration. Fig. 15.1 is a diagram of her experiment. Card Light gate (connected to a computer
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(e)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the gradient of the graph in Fig. 15.4. Gradient = per kg [2]
June 2019, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q15(e)(ii) (2 marks): Student B’s graph in Fig. 15.4 can be described by an equation. Write this equation in the form: y = mx + c Use your answer to 15(e)(i) and student B’s graph in
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(a)(i) (2 marks): Name the upwards and downwards forces on the rocket during launch. Upwards force: Downwards force: [2]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(a)(ii) (1 mark): At launch, the upwards force is 10 000 N and the downwards force is 8 000 N. Write down the size of the resultant force in Newtons. Answer = N [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 5 Foundation, Q15(a)(iii) (3 marks): The rocket has a mass of 800 kg. Calculate its acceleration. Use the equation: Force = Mass × Acceleration Answer = m/s2 [3]
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q4 (1 mark): Which of the following forces is a non-contact force? A Drag B Electrostatic C Tension D Upthrust Your answer [1]
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): How can mass be calculated? A Acceleration divided by force B Force divided by acceleration C Gravity divided by weight D Weight divided by force Your answer [1
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(a) (3 marks): Objects in freefall eventually reach terminal velocity. Draw a labelled diagram to show the forces acting on an object when it is falling at terminal velocity.
June 2018, Physics Paper 11 Higher, Q14(b) (3 marks): A student measures two forces. The forces are 5.0 N and 3.0 N. The forces act at 90° to each other. Draw a scale drawing to determine the resultant force. Answe

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