Easy Questions

1 (a) Which of the following statements is correct about inelastic deformation?

Tick (✓) three boxes.

Object returns to its original length

□

Object returns to its original shape

□

Object does not return to its original length

□

Object does not return to its original shape

□

Requires only one force

□

Requires more than one force

□

(3 marks)

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(b) What are the correct units for the force applied to a spring which makes it elastically
deform?

Tick (✓) one box.

m
□

Nm
□

N/m
□

N
□

(1 mark)

(c) Which of the following options is the correct equation linking Force (F), spring constant (k)
and extension (e)?

Tick (✓) one box.

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F = ke2
□

1
F = 2 ke □

F = ke
□

F = 2ke
□

(1 mark)

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2 (a) Figure 1 shows a force-extension graph for a spring.

Figure 1

Which marker on the force-extension graph shows the limit of proportionality?

(1 mark)

(b) Which marker on Figure 1 shows the spring obeying Hooke's law?

(1 mark)

(c) Name the quantity represented by the gradient of a force-extension graph.

(1 mark)

3 Write the equation linking elastic potential energy Ee

( )
, spring constant ( k ) and
extension ( e ) .

(1 mark)

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Medium Questions
1 A newton meter, as shown in Figure 1, consists of a point, connected to a metal spring.

When a force is applied to the spring, the spring stretches, and the point moves along
the scale.

Figure 1

Use the information provided in the diagram to calculate the spring constant of the
spring.

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 (3 marks)

2 A student wishes to carry out an investigation to measure the spring constant of a metal
spring.

Plan a method that the student could use.

Your answer should include detail of how accurate measurements may be taken and
may also include a labelled diagram

(6 marks)

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3 (a) The table below gives the results obtained by the student.

Force in N Extension in cm

2.0 1.3

4.0 2.1

6.0 2.9

8.0 3.7

10.0 4.5

12.0 5.9

The student finds that after stretching, the spring does not return to its original length.

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 Plot a graph of force (y-axis) against extension (x-axis) on the grid below.

(6 marks)

(b) Draw the position of the elastic limit on the graph, using an X.

Give your reason for choosing this point.

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 (2 marks)

(c) The student has made an error whilst calculating some of the results.

Suggest what the error was and how the results could be corrected.

(2 marks)

(d) Use the graph to calculate the spring constant of the metal spring.

(3 marks)

(e) The student decided to repeat the experiment using a double spring set up, as shown in
Figure 2

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 Figure 2

Draw a line on your original graph showing the results you would expect the student to
get.

You should assume that the initial extension of the springs is the same as with the
original experiment.

(2 marks)

(f) Explain how the elastic limit of the double spring will compare with the original spring.

(2 marks)

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4 (a) Figure 3 shows three different stages in a bungee jump.

Figure 3

Stage 1: The jumper is stationary and the bungee cord is slack

Stage 2: The bungee cord has no slack, but is not yet exerting a force on the jumper.

Stage 3: The jumper is at the lowest point and has temporarily stopped moving.

Describe the change in energy stores that occur between stage 1 and stage 3.

(3 marks)

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(b) Calculate the change in energy in the jumper’s gravitational potential store between
stage 1 and stage 2.

The jumper has a mass of 60 kg (assume that the mass of the bungee cord is negligible).

Gravitational field strength = 10 N/kg

(3 marks)

(c) Determine the energy in the jumper’s kinetic store at stage 2.

(1 mark)

(d) Calculate the speed of the bungee jumper at stage 2.

(3 marks)

(e) After reaching stage 2, the bungee cord starts to stretch, exerting an upwards force on
the jumper which eventually brings the jumper to a stop at stage 3.

Between stage 1 and stage 3 the jumper’s gravitational energy store decreases by a total
of 18 000 joules.

Determine the energy in the bungee’s elastic store at stage 3.

(1 mark)

(f) Calculate the extension of the bungee cord at stage 3.

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 (1 mark)

(g) Using an appropriate equation from the Physics equation sheet, calculate the spring
constant of the bungee cord.

You may assume that the bungee cord behaves like a perfect spring.

(3 marks)

(h) Use your answers to (f) and (g) to calculate the force exerted by the bungee cord on the
jumper at stage 3.

(3 marks)

(i) At stage 3 the jumper's spine stretches a small but safe amount.

Explain why the jumper's spine stretches.

(2 marks)

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Hard Questions
1 (a) A group of physics students are investigating force and extension of a spring.

One student obtained the results shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Mass / kg Force / N Mean total length / m Extension / m

0 0 0.051 0

0.2 1.96 0.074 0.023

0.4 3.92 0.091 0.017

0.6 5.88 0.108 0.017

0.8 7.84 0.127 0.019

As the teacher came around to check the student's data, the teacher asked the student
to think about why the extension data is not increasing.

Identify the mistake the student has made in their data analysis process.

(2 marks)

(b) Another student plotted their graph, but the shape of the curve was different to
everybody else's.

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 Figure 1 shows the student's graph.

Figure 1

Suggest what the student did to produce the graph shown in Figure 1.

(2 marks)

(c) Another student extrapolated their graph as shown in Figure 2.

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 Figure 2

What is the significance of the point marked X?

Tick (✓) one box.

X shows the original length of the spring

□

X shows the average extension of the spring

□

X shows the final length of the spring after deformation

□

X shows the increased length of the spring after deformation

□

(1 mark)

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2 (a) Figure 1 shows a force-extension graph for a spring with a spring constant k.

Figure 1

Draw a line on Figure 1 for a spring with a higher value of k.

(1 mark)

(b) A force of 2 N causes a spring to extend by 3 cm.

Calculate the extension of the spring when a 3.5 N force is applied.

Give your answer in cm to 2 significant figures.

Extension (2 significant figures) = .................................... cm

(5 marks)

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3 (a) A student plotted a force-extension graph for a spring of spring constant k.

Figure 1 shows the graph they plotted.

Figure 1

The student has labelled one of the data points as anomalous.

Justify whether you agree with the student.

(2 marks)

(b) For the spring used in part (a), calculate the work done on the spring when a 3 N force is
applied.

Give your answer in the appropriate units.

Work done = ............................. Units = ...............................

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 (4 marks)

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