Edexcel International GCSE Physics
Edexcel International GCSE Physics Section 1: Forces and Motion Exam Questions
Free Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam questions for Section 1: Forces and Motion, with a mark scheme for every pack. Covers units, distance-time and velocity-time graphs, acceleration, forces, Newton's laws, weight, stopping distance, momentum, Hooke's law and moments.
Section 1: Forces and Motion exam questions
3 question packs of real past exam questions, each with its mark scheme. Do not stop after a few: answer as many as you can without notes, then mark every answer with the mark scheme. The more questions you do, the more quickly you will spot how examiners ask about each idea.
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About Edexcel International GCSE Physics Section 1: Forces and Motion
Section 1 is the largest section of Edexcel International GCSE Physics and underpins much of the course. It starts with units and movement, including speed, acceleration and the motion graphs, then moves on to forces, resultant force, F = m x a, weight, terminal velocity and stopping distances. It also covers momentum and its conservation, Newton's third law, Hooke's law with spring and wire extension, and moments, including centre of gravity. Questions often combine graph reading with calculations using v^2 = u^2 + 2as, and ask you to describe practicals such as investigating motion or the extension of a spring.
What you need to know
- Motion graphs The gradient of a distance-time graph gives speed. The gradient of a velocity-time graph gives acceleration and the area under it gives distance travelled.
- Speed and acceleration Average speed = distance moved / time taken. Acceleration a = (v - u) / t, and v^2 = u^2 + 2as for uniform acceleration.
- Forces and F = ma Resultant force = mass x acceleration. Weight = mass x gravitational field strength (W = mg), with g = 10 N/kg on Earth. A falling object reaches terminal velocity when air resistance equals weight.
- Stopping distance Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance. Speed, tiredness, alcohol and drugs affect thinking distance; speed, mass, road surface and tyres affect braking distance.
- Momentum Momentum p = mv and is conserved in collisions and explosions. Force = change in momentum / time taken, which explains safety features such as crumple zones and seat belts.
- Newton's third law Whenever two bodies interact, the forces they exert on each other are equal in size and opposite in direction.
- Hooke's law Extension is directly proportional to the load up to the limit of proportionality. Elastic behaviour means the object returns to its original shape when the force is removed.
- Moments Moment = force x perpendicular distance from the pivot. For a body in equilibrium, the sum of clockwise moments equals the sum of anticlockwise moments and the resultant force is zero.
Common mistakes in Section 1: Forces and Motion
- Taking the area under a distance-time graph to find something useful. For distance, use the area under a velocity-time graph.
- Using mass in kg as weight in N. Weight = mass x 10 N/kg.
- Saying an object at terminal velocity has no forces acting. The forces are balanced, so the resultant force is zero.
- Ignoring direction in momentum questions. Momentum is a vector, so give one direction a negative sign.
- Using the length of a spring rather than its extension in Hooke's law.
Try three Section 1: Forces and Motion exam-style questions
1. A car travelling at 20 m/s brakes to a stop in 40 m. Calculate its deceleration. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
v^2 = u^2 + 2as so 0 = 20^2 + 2 x a x 40; a = -400 / 80; deceleration = 5.0 m/s^2.
2. A 0.20 kg ball moving at 15 m/s is stopped by a goalkeeper in 0.10 s. Calculate the average force on the ball. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
Change in momentum = 0.20 x 15 = 3.0 kg m/s; force = change in momentum / time = 3.0 / 0.10; = 30 N.
3. Explain why a skydiver reaches terminal velocity. (3 marks)
Show the mark scheme answer
At first weight is greater than air resistance so the skydiver accelerates; air resistance increases as speed increases; when air resistance equals weight the resultant force is zero so speed is constant.
Section 1: Forces and Motion FAQs
What does Edexcel International GCSE Physics Section 1 Forces and Motion cover?
It covers motion graphs, speed and acceleration, forces and F = ma, weight, stopping distance, momentum, Newton's third law, Hooke's law and moments.
Which paper is Section 1 examined on?
Content from this section can appear on both Paper 1 and Paper 2; statements shown in bold in the specification are only assessed on Paper 2.
What equations do I need for Forces and Motion?
Learn average speed = distance / time, a = (v - u) / t, v^2 = u^2 + 2as, F = ma, W = mg, p = mv, force = change in momentum / time and moment = force x perpendicular distance.
