A level [97 marks]

1. [Maximum mark: 1]
A car travels clockwise around a circular track of radius R. What is the
magnitude of displacement from X to Y?

A. R
3π

B. R
π

C. R√ 2

D. R [1]

2. [Maximum mark: 1]
A car accelerates uniformly. The car passes point X at time t1 with
velocity v1 and point Y at time t2 with velocity v2. The distance XY is s.
 The following expressions are proposed for the magnitude of its
acceleration a:

I. a =
2s
2
(t2−t1)

2 2
v2 −v1
II. a =
2s

v2−v1
III. a =
t2−t1

Which is correct?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

[1]
C. II and III only

D. I, II and III

3. [Maximum mark: 1]
A block of mass 2.0 kg accelerates uniformly at a rate of 1.0 m s−2 when
a force of 4.0 N acts on it.
The force is doubled while resistive forces stay the same. What is the
block’s acceleration?

A. 4.0 m s−2

B. 3.0 m s−2
 C. 2.0 m s−2

D. 1.0 m s−2 [1]

4. [Maximum mark: 1]
A stuntman rides a motorcycle on the inside surface of a cylinder.

Which is the correct free-body diagram showing all the forces acting
on the cyclist at that position?
 [1]

5. [Maximum mark: 1]
A toy car of mass 2 kg is at rest on a horizontal surface. A force of 30 N is
applied to the toy car at time t = 0. Frictional forces of 10 N act on the
toy car throughout its motion.

What is the speed of the toy car at t = 2 s?

A. 10 m s−1

B. 20 m s−1

C. 30 m s−1

D. 40 m s−1
 [1]

6. [Maximum mark: 1]
A variable force with a maximum Fmax is applied to an object over a
time interval T. The object has a mass m and is initially at rest.

What is the speed of the object at time T?

FmaxT
A. 2m

FmaxT
B. m

C. FmaxTm

D. 2FmaxTm [1]

7. [Maximum mark: 1]
The angle θ between a ramp and a horizontal surface slowly increases
from zero. An object on the ramp does not slide as θ increases.
 The frictional force on the object is

A. constant.

B. negligible. [1]

C. proportional to cos θ.

D. proportional to sin θ.

8. [Maximum mark: 1]
A block of mass 2.0 kg is placed on a trolley of mass 5.0 kg, moving
horizontally. A force of 8.0 N is applied to the block which slides on the
surface of the trolley. The frictional force between the trolley and the
ground is zero.

The trolley accelerates at a rate of 1.0 m s−2. What is the coefficient of

dynamic friction between the block and the trolley?

A. 0.05
 B. 0.15

C. 0.25
[1]
D. 0.35

9. [Maximum mark: 1]
The variation with time of the displacement of an object is shown.

What are the average speed and average velocity of the object over
the 10 s time interval?

Average speed / m s−1 Average velocity / m s−1

A. 0.8 0.8

B. 0.8 1.2

C. 1.2 0.8

D. 1.2 1.2
[1]
10. [Maximum mark: 1]
A mass is suspended by a light string from the roof of a car. The car is
accelerating up an incline.

What is the free-body diagram for the mass?

[1]

11. [Maximum mark: 1]

 An object is travelling with velocity 5 m s−1. The object then accelerates
to 15 m s−1 in the same direction.

What is the variation with time of the acceleration of the object?

[1]

12. [Maximum mark: 1]

An object of mass 2.0 kg is on a horizontal surface. The object is pulled
by a force of 12.0 N and accelerates at 2.0 m s−2.

What is the coefficient of dynamic friction between the object and the
surface?
 A. 0.3

B. 0.4

C. 0.6

D. 0.8
[1]

13. [Maximum mark: 1]

What is the definition of the SI unit for a force?

A. The force required to accelerate, in the direction of the force, a mass

of 1 kg at 1 m s−2

B. The force required to accelerate, in the direction of the force, a mass

at 1 m s−2

C. The weight of a mass of 0.1 kg

D. The change in momentum per second [1]

14. [Maximum mark: 1]

A block moving with initial speed v is brought to rest, after travelling a
distance d, by a frictional force f . A second identical block moving
with initial speed u is brought to rest in the same distance d by a
f
frictional force 2
. What is u?

A. v

B. v

√2

C. v

2
 D. v

4
[1]

15. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two masses m1 and m2 are connected by a string over a frictionless
pulley of negligible mass. The masses are released from rest. Air
resistance is negligible.

g m1
Mass m2 accelerates downwards at 2
. What is m2
?
A. 1

B. 1

C. 2

D. 3 [1]

16. [Maximum mark: 1]

The road from city X to city Y is 1000 km long. The displacement is 800
km from X to Y.
 What is the distance travelled from Y to X and the displacement from Y
to X?

[1]

17. [Maximum mark: 1]

A car accelerates uniformly from rest to a velocity v during time t1. It
then continues at constant velocity v from t1 to time t2.

What is the total distance covered by the car in t2?

A. v t2

B. 1

2
v(t2 − t1) + v t1

C. 1

2
v(t2 + t1)

1
D. 2
v t1 + v(t2 − t1) [1]
18. [Maximum mark: 1]
An object is sliding from rest down a frictionless inclined plane. The
object slides 1.0 m during the first second.

What distance will the object slide during the next second?

A. 1.0 m

B. 2.0 m

C. 3.0 m

D. 4.9 m [1]

19. [Maximum mark: 1]

An object of mass 2.0 kg rests on a rough surface. A person pushes the
object in a straight line with a force of 10 N through a distance d.

The resultant force acting on the object throughout d is 6.0 N.

What is the value of the sliding coefficient of friction μ between the

surface and the object and what is the acceleration a of the object?
 [1]

20. [Maximum mark: 1]

A rocket has just been launched vertically from Earth. The image shows
the free-body diagram of the rocket. F1 represents a larger force than F2.

Which force pairs with F1 and which force pairs with F2, according to
Newton’s third law?

[1]

21. [Maximum mark: 1]

An object is pushed from rest by a constant net force of 100 N. When
the object has travelled 2.0 m the object has reached a velocity of 10 m
 s−1.

What is the mass of the object?

A. 2 kg

B. 4 kg

C. 40 kg

D. 200 kg [1]

22. [Maximum mark: 1]

A book is at rest on a table. One of the forces acting on the book is its
weight.

What is the other force that completes the force pair according to
Newton’s third law of motion?

A. The pull of the book on Earth

B. The pull of Earth on the book

C. The push of the table on the book

D. The push of the book on the table [1]

23. [Maximum mark: 1]

A book of mass m lies on top of a table of mass M that rolls freely along
the ground. The coefficient of friction between the book and the table
is μ. A person is pushing the rolling table.

What is the maximum acceleration of the table so that the book does
not slide backwards relative to the table?
 g
A. μ

B. μg

mg
C. Mμ
[1]
D. m

M
μg

24. [Maximum mark: 15]

A student uses a load to pull a box up a ramp inclined at 30°. A string of constant
length and negligible mass connects the box to the load that falls vertically. The
string passes over a pulley that runs on a frictionless axle. Friction acts between
the base of the box and the ramp. Air resistance is negligible.

The load has a mass of 3.5 kg and is initially 0.95 m above the floor. The mass of
the box is 1.5 kg.

The load is released and accelerates downwards.

 (a) Outline two differences between the momentum of the box
and the momentum of the load at the same instant. [2]

(b) The vertical acceleration of the load downwards is 2.4 m s−2.

Calculate the tension in the string. [2]

(c.i) Show that the speed of the load when it hits the floor is about
2.1 m s−1. [2]

(c.ii) The radius of the pulley is 2.5 cm. Calculate the angular speed of
rotation of the pulley as the load hits the floor. State your
answer to an appropriate number of significant figures. [2]

(d) After the load has hit the floor, the box travels a further 0.35 m
along the ramp before coming to rest. Determine the average
frictional force between the box and the surface of the ramp. [4]

(e) The student then makes the ramp horizontal and applies a
constant horizontal force to the box. The force is just large
enough to start the box moving. The force continues to be
applied after the box begins to move.

Explain, with reference to the frictional force acting, why the

box accelerates once it has started to move. [3]

25. [Maximum mark: 1]

An elevator (lift) and its load accelerate vertically upwards.
 Which statement is correct in this situation?

A. The net force on the load is zero.

B. The tension in the cable is equal but opposite to the combined

weight of the elevator and its load.

C. The normal reaction force on the load is equal but opposite to the
force on the elevator from the load. [1]

D. The elevator and its load are in translational equilibrium.

26. [Maximum mark: 1]

X and Y are two objects on a frictionless table connected by a string.
The mass of X is 2 kg and the mass of Y is 4 kg. The mass of the string is
negligible. A constant horizontal force of 12 N acts on Y.
 What are the acceleration of Y and the magnitude of the tension in the
string?

[1]

27. [Maximum mark: 1]

The graph shows how the position of an object varies with time in the
interval from 0 to 3 s.

At which point does the instantaneous speed of the object equal its
average speed over the interval from 0 to 3 s? [1]

28. [Maximum mark: 1]

 Two forces act on an object in different directions. The magnitudes of
the forces are 18 N and 27 N. The mass of the object is 9.0 kg. What is a
possible value for the acceleration of the object?

A. 0 m s−2

B. 0.5 m s−2

C. 2.0 m s−2

D. 6.0 m s−2 [1]

29. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two identical boxes are stored in a warehouse as shown in the
diagram. Two forces acting on the top box and two forces acting on the
bottom box are shown.

Which is a force pair according to Newton’s third law?

A. 1 and 2

B. 3 and 4
 C. 2 and 3

D. 2 and 4 [1]

30. [Maximum mark: 1]

The minute hand of a clock hanging on a vertical wall has length
L = 30 cm.

The minute hand is observed pointing at 12 and then again 30 minutes

later when the minute hand is pointing at 6.

What is the average velocity and average speed of point P on the

minute hand during this time interval?

[1]
31. [Maximum mark: 1]
A person is standing at rest on the ground and experiences a
downward gravitational force W and an upward normal force from the
ground N. Which, according to Newton’s third law, is the force that
together with W forms a force pair?

A. The gravitational force W acting upwards on the ground.

B. The gravitational force W acting upwards on the person.

C. The normal force N acting upwards on the person.

D. The normal force N acting downwards on the ground. [1]

32. [Maximum mark: 1]

A person with a weight of 600 N stands on a scale in an elevator.

What is the acceleration of the elevator when the scale reads 900 N?

A. 5. 0 m s
−2
downwards

B. −2
1. 5 m s downwards

C. −2
1. 5 m s upwards

D. 5. 0 m s
−2
upwards [1]
33. [Maximum mark: 1]
Two identical boxes containing different masses are sliding with the
same initial speed on the same horizontal surface. They both come to
rest under the influence of the frictional force of the surface. How do
the frictional force and acceleration of the boxes compare?

[1]

34. [Maximum mark: 1]

A mass is released from the top of a smooth ramp of height h. After
leaving the ramp, the mass slides on a rough horizontal surface.

The mass comes to rest in a distance d. What is the coefficient of

dynamic friction between the mass and the horizontal surface?

gd
A.
h

d
B. √
2gh
 d
C.
h
[1]
h
D.
d

35. [Maximum mark: 1]

A block rests on a rough horizontal plane. A force P is applied to the
block and the block moves to the right.

There is a coefficient of friction μd giving rise to a frictional force F

between the block and the plane. The force P is doubled. Will μd and F
be unchanged or greater?

[1]

36. [Maximum mark: 1]

P and Q leave the same point, travelling in the same direction. The
graphs show the variation with time t of velocity v for both P and Q.
 What is the distance between P and Q when t = 8. 0 s?

A. 20 m [1]

B. 40 m

C. 60 m

D. 120 m

37. [Maximum mark: 1]

Three forces act on a block which is sliding down a slope at constant
speed. W is the weight, R is the reaction force at the surface of the
block and F is the friction force acting on the block.
 In this situation

A. there must be an unbalanced force down the plane.

B. W = R.
[1]

C. F = W.

D. the resultant force on the block is zero.

38. [Maximum mark: 1]

A body is held in translational equilibrium by three coplanar forces of
magnitude 3 N, 4 N and 5 N. Three statements about these forces are

I. all forces are perpendicular to each other

II. the forces cannot act in the same direction
III. the vector sum of the forces is equal to zero.

Which statements are true?

A. I and II only

B. I and III only

C. II and III only

D. I, II and III [1]

39. [Maximum mark: 8]
A company delivers packages to customers using a small unmanned aircraft.
Rotating horizontal blades exert a force on the surrounding air. The air above the
aircraft is initially stationary.

The air is propelled vertically downwards with speed v. The aircraft hovers
motionless above the ground. A package is suspended from the aircraft on a
string. The mass of the aircraft is 0. 95 kg and the combined mass of the
package and string is 0. 45 kg. The mass of air pushed downwards by the
blades in one second is 1. 7 kg.

(a(i)) State the value of the resultant force on the aircraft when
hovering. [1]

(a(ii)) Outline, by reference to Newton’s third law, how the upward lift
force on the aircraft is achieved. [2]

(a(iii)) Determine v. State your answer to an appropriate number of

significant figures. [3]

(b) The package and string are now released and fall to the ground.
The lift force on the aircraft remains unchanged. Calculate the
initial acceleration of the aircraft. [2]

40. [Maximum mark: 1]

 Two forces act along a straight line on an object that is initially at rest.
One force is constant; the second force is in the opposite direction and
proportional to the velocity of the object.

What is correct about the motion of the object?

A. The acceleration increases from zero to a maximum.

B. The acceleration increases from zero to a maximum and then

decreases.

C. The velocity increases from zero to a maximum.

D. The velocity increases from zero to a maximum and then decreases. [1]

41. [Maximum mark: 1]

The variation with time t of the acceleration a of an object is shown.

What is the change in velocity of the object from t = 0 to t = 6 s?

A. 6 m s–1
 B. 8 m s–1

C. 10 m s–1

D. 14 m s–1 [1]

42. [Maximum mark: 1]

A climber of mass m slides down a vertical rope with an average
acceleration a. What is the average frictional force exerted by the rope
on the climber?

A. mg

B. m(g + a)

C. m(g – a)

D. ma [1]

43. [Maximum mark: 1]

A cube slides down the surface of a ramp at a constant velocity. What is
the magnitude of the frictional force that acts on the cube due to the
surface?

A. The weight of the cube

B. The component of weight of the cube parallel to the plane

C. The component of weight of the cube perpendicular to the plane

D. The component of the normal reaction at the surface parallel to the

plane [1]
44. [Maximum mark: 1]
The graph shows the variation with time of the resultant net force
acting on an object. The object has a mass of 1kg and is initially at rest.

What is the velocity of the object at a time of 200 ms?

A. 8 m s–1

B. 16 m s–1

C. 8 km s–1

D. 16 km s–1 [1]

45. [Maximum mark: 1]

Two forces of magnitude 12 N and 24 N act at the same point. Which
force cannot be the resultant of these forces?

A. 10 N

B. 16 N

C. 19 N

D. 36 N [1]

46. [Maximum mark: 1]

 A block of weight W slides down a ramp at constant velocity. A friction
force F acts between the bottom of the block and the surface of the
ramp. A normal reaction N acts between the ramp and the block. What
is the free-body diagram for the forces that act on the block?

[1]

47. [Maximum mark: 1]

A sports car is accelerated from 0 to 100 km per hour in 3 s. What is the
acceleration of the car?

A. 0.1 g

B. 0.3 g

C. 0.9 g

D. 3 g
 [1]

48. [Maximum mark: 1]

A waiter carrying a tray is accelerating to the right as shown in the
image.

What is the free-body diagram of the forces acting on the tray?

[1]

49. [Maximum mark: 1]

A book is at rest on a table. What is a pair of action–reaction forces for
this situation according to Newton’s third law of motion?
 [1]

50. [Maximum mark: 5]

A uniform ladder of weight 50.0 N and length 4.00 m is placed against a
frictionless wall making an angle of 60.0° with the ground.

(a) Outline why the normal force acting on the ladder at the point
of contact with the wall is equal to the frictional force F between
the ladder and the ground. [1]

(b) Calculate F. [2]

(c) The coefficient of friction between the ladder and the ground is
0.400. Determine whether the ladder will slip. [2]

51. [Maximum mark: 1]

A truck has an initial speed of 20 m s–1. It decelerates at 4.0 m s–2. What
is the distance taken by the truck to stop?
 A. 2.5 m

B. 5.0 m

C. 50 m

D. 100 m [1]

52. [Maximum mark: 1]

A runner starts from rest and accelerates at a constant rate throughout
a race. Which graph shows the variation of speed v of the runner with
distance travelled s?

[1]
53. [Maximum mark: 1]
Two blocks X and Y rest on a frictionless horizontal surface as shown. A
horizontal force is now applied to the larger block and the two blocks
move together with the same speed and acceleration.

Which free-body diagram shows the frictional forces between the two
blocks?

[1]

54. [Maximum mark: 1]

Three forces act at a point. In which diagram is the point in
equilibrium?
 [1]

55. [Maximum mark: 12]

Ion-thrust engines can power spacecraft. In this type of engine, ions are created
in a chamber and expelled from the spacecraft. The spacecraft is in outer space
when the propulsion system is turned on. The spacecraft starts from rest.

The mass of ions ejected each second is 6.6 × 10–6 kg and the speed of each ion
is 5.2 × 104 m s–1. The initial total mass of the spacecraft and its fuel is 740 kg.
Assume that the ions travel away from the spacecraft parallel to its direction of
motion.

(a) Determine the initial acceleration of the spacecraft. [2]

An initial mass of 60 kg of fuel is in the spacecraft for a journey to a planet. Half
of the fuel will be required to slow down the spacecraft before arrival at the
destination planet.

(b.i) Estimate the maximum speed of the spacecraft. [2]

(b.ii) Outline why scientists sometimes use estimates in making

calculations. [1]

In practice, the ions leave the spacecraft at a range of angles as shown.

(c.i) Outline why the ions are likely to spread out. [2]

(c.ii) Explain what effect, if any, this spreading of the ions has on the
acceleration of the spacecraft. [2]

On arrival at the planet, the spacecraft goes into orbit as it comes into
the gravitational field of the planet.

(d.i) Outline what is meant by the gravitational field strength at a

point. [2]

(d.ii) Newton’s law of gravitation applies to point masses. Suggest

why the law can be applied to a satellite orbiting a spherical
planet of uniform density. [1]
56. [Maximum mark: 1]
A uniform ladder resting in equilibrium on rough ground leans against
a smooth wall. Which diagram correctly shows the forces acting on the
ladder?

[1]

57. [Maximum mark: 1]

The distances between successive positions of a moving car, measured
at equal time intervals, are shown.

The car moves with

A. acceleration that increases linearly with time.

B. acceleration that increases non-linearly with time.

C. constant speed.
 D. constant acceleration. [1]

58. [Maximum mark: 1]

A box is accelerated to the right across rough ground by a horizontal
force Fa. The force of friction is Ff . The weight of the box is Fg and the
normal reaction is Fn. Which is the free-body diagram for this situation?

[1]

59. [Maximum mark: 1]

A boy runs along a straight horizontal track. The graph shows how his
speed v varies with time t.
 After 15 s the boy has run 50 m. What is his instantaneous speed and his
average speed when t = 15 s?

[1]

60. [Maximum mark: 1]

A weight W is tied to a trolley of mass M by a light string passing over a
frictionless pulley. The trolley has an acceleration a on a frictionless
table. The acceleration due to gravity is g.

What is W ?

M ag
A. (g−a)

M ag
B. (g+a)

Ma
C. (g−a)

Ma
D. (g+a)
[1]
61. [Maximum mark: 1]
A ball starts from rest and moves horizontally. Six positions of the ball
are shown at time intervals of 1.0 ms. The horizontal distance between
X, the initial position, and Y, the final position, is 0.050 m.

What is the average acceleration of the ball between X and Y?

A. 2000 m s–2

B. 4000 m s–2

C. 5000 m s–2

D. 8000 m s–2 [1]

© International Baccalaureate Organization, 2024