1 An aircraft flies at a constant height. Air drag and the force from the aircraft’s engines together produce a force on the aircraft of 36 kN due north, as shown in Fig. 1.1. The wind produces a force of 12 kN towards the east. 12 kN 36 kN north Fig. 1.1 (not to scale) (a) Draw a scale drawing to show the resultant force acting on the aircraft. Use your drawing to determine the size of the resultant force and the angle between the resultant force and north. size of resultant force = … angle = … [3] (b) The acceleration of the aircraft is uniform. (i) Describe how a uniform acceleration differs from a non-uniform acceleration. … … … … [2] (ii) The mass of the aircraft is 60 000 kg. Calculate the acceleration of the aircraft. acceleration = … [2] [Total: 7]

1(a) scale vector diagram showing 12 N, 36 N and correct resultant force in correct direction B1 38 ± 1 kN B1 018 ± 3° B1 1(b)(i) (only in uniform acceleration) same increase / change in speed / velocity or has a constant acceleration or speed-time graph is a straight line B1 (only in uniform acceleration) same increase / change in speed / velocity in same time (period) or same rate of change of speed / velocity (with time) or change in speed / velocity is proportional to time B1 1(b)(ii) (a =) F / m in any way, algebraic or numerical C1 0.63–0.66 m / s2 A1 (a) To earn marks, you must draw a scale vector diagram showing the 12 N and 36 N forces, with the resultant force in the correct direction. Then, you need to accurately state the size of the resultant force (within 1 kN) and the angle it makes with north (within 3°). (b)(i) To describe uniform acceleration, you must state that there is a constant change in speed/velocity over time, or that the speed-time graph is a straight line. (b)(ii) To calculate acceleration, you must use the formula F/m, either algebraically or with numbers, and provide a numerical answer within the accepted range.

1 (a) (i) State the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity. … … … [1] (ii) State two examples of each type of quantity. scalar quantity 1 … 2 … vector quantity 1 … 2 … [2] (b) Fig. 1.1 shows the direction and size of two vectors P and Q. P Q Fig. 1.1 In the space next to Fig. 1.1, draw a labelled vector diagram to show the resultant vector obtained by adding vector P to vector Q. Draw vector P, vector Q and the resultant vector to the same scale as in Fig. 1.1. [2] [Total: 5]

1(a)(i) vector quantity has direction / scalar quantity does not have direction B1 1(a)(ii) any two scalar quantities, e.g. mass, distance / length, time, speed B1 any two vector quantities, e.g. velocity, acceleration, displacement, force / weight B1 1(b) P and Q drawn in correct directions to meet at a point with correct size B1 triangle or parallelogram shown with all three vectors in correct directions and the resultant clear (e.g. as another vector) B1 (a)(i) To earn this mark, you must state that a vector quantity has direction, or that a scalar quantity does not have direction. (a)(ii) You need to provide two correct examples of scalar quantities (e.g., mass, time) and two correct examples of vector quantities (e.g., velocity, force). (b) First, draw vectors P and Q with correct sizes and directions so they meet at a point. Then, complete the triangle or parallelogram with all three vectors in the correct directions, clearly showing the resultant vector.

1 Fig. 1.1 shows a wooden bench of weight 2000 N. P 0.25 m 0.48 m 2.2 m support Q 0.25 m Fig. 1.1 (a) Each of the two supports has an area of 0.040 m2 in contact with the ground. Calculate the pressure on the ground due to the bench. pressure = … [2] (b) The centre of mass of the bench is 1.1 m from the left-hand end of the bench and 0.24 m from the front. (i) Suggest one reason why the centre of mass is in this position. … … … [2] (ii) There is a force exerted vertically downwards from the point P shown in Fig. 1.1. Calculate the maximum force that can be exerted vertically downwards at P without the bench rotating about the point Q shown in Fig. 1.1. maximum force = … [3] [Total: 7]

1(a) (p =) F / A or 2000 / (2 × 0.040) or 50 000 (P–a) C1 25 000 Pa A1 1(b)(i) symmetrical left-to-right or symmetrical front-to-back or bench is stable B1 because centre of mass is in middle (horizontally) or centre of mass is within the base B1 1(b)(ii) (moment =) Fx or Wy or 2000 × (1.1 – 0.25) or 2000 × 0.85 clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment or Fx = Wy or C1 Fx = 2000 × (1.1 – 0.25) or Fx = 2000 × 0.85 or (F =)2000 × 0.85 / 0.25 C1 6800 N A1 (a) To earn marks, you must first show the correct formula for pressure (force divided by area) or substitute the given values into it, then provide the correct final answer with the correct unit. (b)(i) You earn marks by stating that the bench is symmetrical (either left-to-right or front-to-back) or stable, and then explaining that the center of mass is horizontally in the middle or within the base. (b)(ii) You earn marks by correctly calculating the moment (force times distance) for the weight of the bench, then setting the clockwise moment equal to the anticlockwise moment, and finally calculating the maximum force with the correct unit.

1 Fig. 1.1 shows a jug of liquid and an empty measuring cylinder that is on an electronic balance. 34.9 g measuring cylinder cm3 electronic balance jug liquid Fig. 1.1 (a) The electronic balance uses the weight of the measuring cylinder to determine its mass. Weight and mass have different units. State two other ways in which weight differs from mass. 1. … … 2. … … [2] (b) Describe how to determine the density of the liquid using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1. … … … … … … [4] (c) The density of the liquid is 780 kg / m3. Determine the volume of 0.65 kg of the liquid. volume = … [2] [Total: 8]

1(a) any two from: weight / it is a vector / has a direction weight / it is a force weight / it depends on location / gravitational field strength weight / it is measured with a spring balance (not a beam balance) / electronic balance / top-pan balance / newton meter B2 1(b) (pour liquid into) measuring cylinder and read / find the volume or zero the reading on the balance B1 take reading on balance or find the mass (of full measuring cylinder) or (pour liquid into) measuring cylinder and read / find the volume B1 subtract original reading / 34.9 g (from reading on balance) or take reading on balance or find the mass (of full measuring cylinder) B1 divide difference between readings by volume or divide (final) reading on balance by volume B1 1(c) (ρ =) 0.65 / 780 C1 8.3 × 10–4 m3 or 830 cm3 A1

1 A list of various quantities is shown. acceleration displacement force length mass velocity How many of these quantities are vectors? A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5

Answer: C To earn the mark, a student must correctly identify that four of the listed quantities (acceleration, displacement, force, velocity) are vectors.

Cambridge O Level Physics · 5054

O-Level Physics (5054) Motion, forces and energy past paper questions

Revise O-Level Physics (5054) — Motion, forces and energy with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

593 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Motion, forces and energy in O-Level Physics 5054 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Motion, forces and energy accounted for 578 questions worth 2,219 marks in Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	111	388
2021	91	346
2022	96	361
2023	90	363
2024	98	357
2025	92	404

Most-tested subtopics

1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques945 marks
1.2 Motion559 marks
1.7.1 Energy271 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 378 qs
Paper 2 · 93 qs
Paper 3 · 51 qs
Paper 4 · 56 qs

All most-tested Physics topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q1 · 7 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 2 · Q1 · 5 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q1 · 7 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 2 · Q1 · 8 marks
Marking scheme
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 1 · Q1 · 1 mark
Marking scheme
Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q1
Answer: C
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