PAPER 2 THEORY QUESTIONS

Fig. 1.1 shows a crane lifting some bricks during the building of a house.

Fig. 1.1
The weight of the bricks produces a turning effect, or moment, on the arm of the crane about
the point P. The weight of the bricks is 12000 N.
(a) Calculate the moment of this force, using the distance marked on Fig. 1.1.

moment = ......................................[2]
(b) (i)

Explain why the counterweight is necessary.

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(ii) Suggest one advantage of being able to move the counterweight along the arm.
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(c) Calculate the useful work done by the crane in lifting the 12000 N load through a height
of 15 m.

work = ......................................[2]

MS / Sh.M / FT 12 / Gr 10/ Physics / Theory questions / Turning effect of forces

Fig. 2.1 shows a device for punching holes in a piece of paper. A person applies a force F at
the end of the arm. Just before the hole is made in the paper, the arm is at rest.

Fig. 2.1
(a) Just before the hole is made, the force upwards on the steel rod is 7.2 N.
Calculate the value of F. Use the distances marked on Fig. 2.1.

F = ................................................ [2]
(b) The steel rod pushes the paper into the hole in the metal base with a force of 7.2 N.
The end of the steel rod has an area of 2.8 10 5 m2.
Calculate the pressure exerted on the paper.
State the formula that you use in your calculation.

pressure = ................................................ [2]

(c) The force downwards on the paper due to the rod and the force upwards on the rod due
to the paper are related by Newtons third law. State Newtons third law.
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3

Fig. 3.1 shows a rectangular concrete slab of weight 18 000 N. It rests on a brick wall and is
the roof of a bus shelter. The concrete slab is 3.0 m wide.

Fig. 3.1
MS / Sh.M / FT 12 / Gr 10/ Physics / Theory questions / Turning effect of forces

The wall is 2.5 m from the front of the concrete slab and 0.50 m from the back. The cables
behind the shelter pull downwards and stop the slab toppling forwards.
(a) The concrete slab is of uniform thickness and density. Determine the perpendicular distance
between the wall and the centre of mass of the slab.
distance = .................................................. [1]
(b) (i)

State the principle of moments.

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....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Calculate the total downward force exerted by the cables on the slab.

force = .................................................. [2]

4

Fig. 4.1 shows a thin sheet of metal suspended from a hole in one corner at A. The weight of the
metal is 0.10N and the centre of mass is at B. The diagram is drawn full scale.

Fig. 4.1
(a) Describe in detail how you would experimentally determine the position of the centre of
mass of the sheet of metal.
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MS / Sh.M / FT 12 / Gr 10/ Physics / Theory questions / Turning effect of forces

(b) The sheet turns because of the moment of the weight about point A.
(i)

Define what is meant by the moment of a force.

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....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Using a distance measured on Fig. 4.1, calculate the moment of the weight about
point A. State clearly which distance you measured and give the unit of your final
answer.

moment = [3]
(c) Fig. 4.2 and Fig. 4.3 show a thick piece of wood with one corner on a table.
Fig. 4.4 shows the same piece of wood balanced on the table. B is the centre of mass.

Fig. 4.2
(i)

Fig. 4.4

Explain why in Fig. 4.2 the piece of wood falls to the right and in Fig. 4.3 it falls to the
left.
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....................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain why the piece of wood in Fig. 4.4 does not fall over.
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(iii) Suggest how the thickness of the wood in Fig. 4.4 affects its stability.
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5

A builder needs to determine the density of a solid cube of wood.

He places the 50 cm mark of a uniform metre rule on a pivot, so that the rule balances.
He then places the cube on the rule with its centre of gravity directly above the 75 cm mark.
A mass of 0.050 kg is moved along the rule until balance is restored. This is shown in Fig. 5.1.

Fig. 5.1
The rule is balanced when the 0.050 kg mass is at the 10 cm mark.
(a) Calculate the mass of the cube.

mass = ..............................................[3]
(b) The cube has a volume of 1.6 104 m3. Determine the density of the wood.
density = .............................................. [2]
MS / Sh.M / FT 12 / Gr 10/ Physics / Theory questions / Turning effect of forces