THEORY QUESTIONS

1 Force is a vector quantity.

(a) State which two of the following are also vector quantities.
acceleration, distance, mass, speed, velocity
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(b) When two forces of 5 N are added, they may produce a resultant force that has any
value between 0 and 10 N.

(i) Describe how it is possible to produce a zero resultant force from two forces of 5N.
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(ii) Describe how it is possible to produce a resultant force of 10 N from two forces of 5N.
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(iii) In the space below, draw a vector diagram to show how a resultant force of about
5N may be obtained from the two 5N forces. Clearly label the forces and the resultant.

[4]
2 Fig. 2.1 shows a block is suspended with the help of two strings. The string A is exerting force of
600N and the string B is exerting force of 400N. The angle between two strings is 65°.

Fig. 2.1
Use the scale vector diagram to determine the magnitude of the resultant force exerted on
the block and the direction of the resultant force.

scale = ....................................

magnitude = ...................................

direction = ................................. [5]

3 A microphone has a weight W of 6.0 N. It is suspended by wire X from the ceiling in a radio
studio. Fig.3.1 shows the microphone held in the correct position by a horizontal wire Y.

Fig. 3.1
 (a) The tension T in wire Y is 8.0 N. Use a vector diagram to determine the magnitude and the
direction of the resultant of W and T.

magnitude = ......................................................
direction = ......................................................[4]

(b) The microphone is at rest. State the tension in wire X.

tension in X = ................................................. [1]

4 A journey consists of two displacements: the first is 500 m in a northerly direction and the
second is 200 m in an easterly direction.

(a) In the space below draw, to scale, a vector diagram of these displacements.
State the scale of your diagram.
On your diagram, show the two displacements and the resultant displacement.
Determine the size (magnitude) and direction of the resultant displacement.

scale = ......................................................
size = ......................................................
direction = ...................................................... [3]

(b) Another journey covers a distance of 700 m. Describe how it is possible that this journey
has no resultant displacement.
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PRACTICAL QUESTIONS

1 Fig. 1.1 shows a micrometer screw gauge set to measure the diameter of a steel ball.

Fig. 1.1

(a) The micrometer measures to the nearest 1/100th of a millimeter.

Write down the value of 1cm + 1/100th of millimetre as a decimal, and using unit mm.

1cm + 1/100th mm = ………………………….. mm [1]

(b) The upper scale is calibrated in millimetres.

The lower scale is marked so that its divisions are half-away between the millimeters on the
upper scale.
On the sleeve, there are 50 eqully spaced divisions. When the sleeve turns once s indicated
on Fig. 1.1, the sleeve moves 0.5mm to the right.

Explain how you know that the reading of the gauge in Fig. 1.1 is 7.94mm.
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(c) Explain how you would find out whether the gauge has a zero error.

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2 Fig. 2.1 shows a micrometer screw gauge.

Fig. 2.1

(a) A student checks that there is no zero error on this micrometer.

Explain what is meant by a zero error on a micrometer.
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(b) The student uses the micrometer to determine the thickness t of a sheet of paper. The
student folds the paper in half three times and measures the total thickness of the folded
paper. The micrometer is shown in Fig. 3.2.

Fig. 2.2

Use Fig. 2.2 to find t. Show your working.

t = …………………… mm [3]
 (c) Some modern micrometers are digital, as shown in Fig. 2.3.

Fig. 2.3

(i) Suggest one advantage of a digital micrometer.

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(ii) Suggest one disadvantage of a digital micrometer.

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3 Three newton meters, a smooth ring and three lengths of thin string A, B and C are held
horizontally a few centimetres above a sheet of white paper.

Fig. 3.1
The apparatus is used to find the vector sum of the forces in strings B and C.
The newton meters are pulled gently, then held in steady positions.
The positions of the strings A, B and C are marked with a pencil on the white paper.

(a) Explain why parallax error makes it difficult to mark the positions of the strings accurately.
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(b) Measure the angle between the strings A and B.

angle = ......................................................... [1]

(c) State the value of the force shown on the newton meter pulling string A.

force = ......................................................... [1]

(d) A student draws the force diagram shown in Fig. 3.2, to find the resultant of forces B and C.

Fig. 3.2

Using the scale given, determine the magnitude of the resultant of force B and force C.
Show your working.

resultant force = ......................................................... [1]

4 A group of students determine the approximate volume of air in their empty school laboratory.

(a) State
(i) the measuring instrument used ..........................................................................................
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(ii) the measurements taken ....................................................................................................

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(iii) how the volume of the air is calculated ..............................................................................

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(b) State two possible sources of error in their answer.

1. ...............................................................................................................................................
2. .......................................................................................................................................... [2]

5 Fig. 5.1 shows a wooden metre rule with small holes drilled through it.

Fig. 5.1

The metre rule is suspended from the hole at 5.0 cm so that it can swing freely, as shown in
Fig. 5.2.

Fig. 5.2

The rule is made to swing from side-to-side and the time T for one complete swing is determined.
(a) Describe three experimental techniques used to obtain an accurate value for T.
1. ...............................................................................................................................................
2. ...............................................................................................................................................
3. .......................................................................................................................................... [3]

MS / Sh.M / FT 12 / Gr 10/ Physics / Theory questions / General physics 8

 (b) The distance d between a hole and the zero end of the rule is varied, by suspending the rule
from different holes. The time T is determined for each value of d.
The results are recorded in the table of below.

(i) Describe how T varies with d.

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(ii) Suggest the value of T for d = 95.0 cm.

T = .................................................. [1]

(iii) Suggest why T was not measured for d = 50.0 cm.

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6 A pendulum hangs from two wooden blocks as shown in Fig. 6.1. A wooden rod is fixed so
that it just touches the string of the pendulum when it is hanging vertically. The pendulum
bob is pulled to point A and then released. As it swings, the string makes contact with the
rod for part of the swing.

Fig. 6.1
In the experiment, the height h of the centre of the wooden rod above the bench is varied.
The time t for one complete oscillation is obtained for each value of h.
(a) On Fig. 2.1, mark accurately

(i) the height h, [1]

(ii) where the student’s eye should be positioned when measuring t. [1]

(b) (i) Describe how the student could ensure that the wooden rod is horizontal. You may
draw on the diagram if you wish.
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(ii) Suggest why the wooden rod should be horizontal.

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(c) The value of t is approximately 1 s. Describe how the student could obtain precise
values for t.
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