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Chapter 12 Practice Paper: Moments, levers and gears (Physics only) — question paper

QuizQuipPractice Series
QQ/GCSE-PHYS/CH12

GCSE (9–1) · GCSE Physics (Physics only (separate science))

Chapter 12 Practice Paper

Moments, levers and gears (Physics only)

Duration: 40 minutes
Total: 30 marks
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READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

  • Answer all questions.
  • Section A contains ten multiple-choice questions. Choose one answer, A, B, C or D, for each.
  • Section B contains structured questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
  • You may use a calculator.
  • The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
  • The total mark for this paper is 30.

Original practice material written for the MOE GCSE Physics syllabus. It is not an official MOE or school examination paper. Chapter 12: moments M = F d, the principle of moments, levers as force multipliers, and gear ratios for speed and turning moment (Physics only content).

For Examiner’s Use
Section A/ 10
Section B/ 20
Total/ 30

Section A: Multiple-choice questions[10 marks]

Choose one answer for each question. Each question is worth 1 mark.

  1. 1

    The moment of a force about a pivot is best described as the force’s

    1. Aspeed of rotation
    2. Benergy transfer
    3. Cturning effect
    4. Drate of doing work
    ( )
  2. 2

    The unit for a moment of a force is

    1. Anewton-metres
    2. Bnewtons
    3. Cjoules
    4. Dnewtons per metre
    ( )
  3. 3

    A 30 N force acts 0.20 m from a pivot, square to the lever arm. The moment is

    1. A150 N m
    2. B30.2 N m
    3. C0.0067 N m
    4. D6.0 N m
    ( )
  4. 4

    An object balanced on a pivot satisfies

    1. Aall forces acting through the pivot
    2. Bclockwise moments = anticlockwise moments about the pivot
    3. Cequal weights on both sides
    4. Dzero friction
    ( )
  5. 5

    A 400 N weight rests 1.5 m from a pivot. It is balanced by 600 N acting at

    1. A4.0 m
    2. B2.25 m
    3. C1.0 m
    4. D0.67 m
    ( )
  6. 6

    Two identical gears mesh directly. Compared with the driver, the driven gear turns

    1. Afaster
    2. Bin the opposite direction
    3. Cat the same speed
    4. Din the same direction
    ( )
  7. 7

    A 15-tooth gear drives a 45-tooth gear. The driven gear’s speed is

    1. A45 times the driver’s
    2. Bthe same
    3. Cthree times the driver’s
    4. Done third of the driver’s
    ( )
  8. 8

    Switching to a spanner with a longer handle helps loosen a tight nut because it

    1. Aincreases the perpendicular distance, so increases the moment
    2. Breduces the friction in the thread
    3. Creduces the needed moment
    4. Dincreases the force your hand can exert
    ( )
  9. 9

    In a lever with the effort arm longer than the load arm, the effort is

    1. Alarger than the load
    2. Birrelevant to balance
    3. Cequal to the load
    4. Dsmaller than the load
    ( )
  10. 10

    For the moment of a force, the distance used is measured

    1. Aalong the force’s line of action
    2. Bfrom the pivot to the nearest end of the object
    3. Cperpendicularly from the pivot to the force’s line of action
    4. Dalong the ground
    ( )

Section B: Structured questions[20 marks]

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

  1. 11

    Two children balance on a see-saw. A 450 N child sits 2.0 m from the pivot; a 600 N child sits on the other side.

    1. (a)

      State the principle of moments.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      At what distance from the pivot must the 600 N child sit for balance?

      [3]
    3. (c)

      Explain why the two children can balance despite having different weights.

      [2]
  2. 12

    A crowbar is used to lift a 1 000 N slab. The pivot is 0.12 m from the slab; the effort is applied 1.6 m from the pivot on the opposite side.

    1. (a)

      Calculate the size of the effort required to raise the slab.

      [3]
    2. (b)

      State what has happened to the size of the force needed, compared with lifting the slab directly.

      [1]
    3. (c)

      Explain the distance trade-off the crowbar imposes.

      [2]
  3. 13

    In a machine, a 24-tooth driver gear turns at 60 rpm, transmitting a moment of 3.0 N m to a 72-tooth driven gear. Assume friction losses are negligible.

    1. (a)

      Work out the rotation speed of the driven gear, in revolutions per minute.

      [2]
    2. (b)

      Calculate the moment delivered by the driven gear.

      [2]
    3. (c)

      Describe the trade-off this gear pair makes.

      [2]
    4. (d)

      Give one everyday use of a gear system.

      [1]

— End of paper —