Topic 4: Forces, density and pressure

1. What is not a requirement for two forces to act as a couple?

(A) The two forces act in opposite directions.
(B) The two forces act through the same point.
(C) The two forces combine to produce zero resultant force.
(D) The two forces have equal magnitude.

A: B
2. A rod is pivoted at point O.
A force F is applied to the rod at point W, as shown.

What is the moment of the force F about O?

A F× distance OX
B F × distance OY
C F × distance WO
D F × distance WX

A: B
3. A farmer is trying to lift the corner of a large water tank. She uses a metal rod as a
lever.

The vertical force from the farmer is constant and is always applied to the end of the rod.
Which change must increase the upward force on the water tank?
(A) using a longer rod and moving the pivot closer to the tank
(B) using a longer rod and moving the pivot further away from the tank
(C) using a shorter rod and moving the pivot closer to the tank
(D) using a shorter rod and moving the pivot further away from the tank

A: C
4. The driver of a car applies two parallel forces to a steering wheel, as shown.

Each force has a magnitude of 15 N and acts in the direction shown. The steering wheel has a
diameter of 0.40 m.
What is the torque exerted on the steering wheel?
(A) 1.3 N m

(B) 2.5 N m

(C) 2.7 N m

(D) 5.4 N m

A: D
5. A uniform metre rule is pivoted at the 34.0 cm mark, as shown.
The rule balances when a 64 g mass is hung from the 4.0 cm mark.
What is the mass of the metre rule?
(A) 38g

(B) 44g

(C) 120g

(D) 136g

A: C
6. A uniform rod XY of weight 10.0 N is freely hinged to a wall at X. It is held
horizontal by a force F acting from Y at an angle of 30∘ to the horizontal, as shown.

What is the value of F?

(A) 5.0 N

(B) 8.7 N

(C) 10 N

(D) 20 N

A: B
7. The diagram shows a ball of weight W hanging in equilibrium from a string.
The string is at an angle θ to the vertical. The tension in the string is T. The ball is held away
from the wall by a horizontal force P from a metal rod.
Which relationship between the magnitudes of T, P and W is correct?
(A) P = T cosθ and W = T sinθ

(B) T = P + W

(C) T²= P²+ W²

(D) W = P tanθ and W = T cosθ

A: C
8. A rod is pivoted at one end. Initially the angle Θ of the rod to the horizontal is 0∘ .
The weight of the rod causes a moment M about the pivot. The rod is then rotated in
the vertical plane so that the angle Θ of the rod increases from 0∘ to 180∘ . Which
graph shows the variation of M with Θ ?
A: D
9. A rigid sphere is held at rest on the sea bed. When the sphere is released, it rises to the
surface of the sea. The seawater has a uniform density.
Which statement about the sphere, from its release until it reaches the surface, is
correct?
A The sphere always moves with constant acceleration.
B The sphere always moves with constant velocity.
C The upthrust on the sphere always decreases.
D The upthrust on the sphere is always constant.

A: D
10. What is a unit for density?
A Nm–3 B gmm–1 C kgcm–2 D μgmm-3

A: D
11. A uniform solid block is fully submerged in a tank of water. The dimensions of the
block are x and y, as shown.
 The block is held vertically in the position shown. The density of the block is the same as the
density of the water. If the block is always held at the same depth d below the surface of the
water, which single change would increase the magnitude of the upthrust force on the block?
A decrease the density of the block
B hold the block horizontally
C increase dimension y
D increase the density of the block

A: C
12. A bird dives to a depth of 1.50 m below the surface of a lake. Atmospheric pressure is 101
kPa. The density of water is 1000 kgm–3.
What is the pressure at this depth?
A 14.7 kPa B 86.3 kPa C 103 kPa D 116 kPa

A: D
 13. A pendulum consists of a solid sphere suspended by a string from a fixed point P,
as shown in Fig. 3.1.

The sphere swings from side to side. At one instant the sphere is at its lowest position X,
where it has kinetic energy 0.86J and momentum 0.72Ns in a horizontal direction. A
short time later the sphere is at position Y, where it is momentarily stationary at a
maximum vertical height h above position X.

The string has a fixed length and negligible weight. Air resistance is also negligible.

(a) On Fig. 3.1, draw a solid line to represent the displacement of the centre of the
sphere at position Y from position X. [1]

(b) Show that the mass of the sphere is 0.30kg.

(c) Calculate height h.

h = …………………………………………….. m [2]

(d) The distance between point P and the centre of the sphere is 0.93m. When the sphere
is at position Y, the string is at an angle θ to the vertical. Show that θ is 47°. [1]

(e) For the sphere at position Y, calculate the moment of its weight about point P.
moment = ………………………………………….. Nm [2]
(f) State and explain whether the sphere is in equilibrium when it is stationary at position Y.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………

Answer/Explanation
Ans:

(a) solid straight line drawn between centre of sphere at X and at Y

(b)

(c) (Δ)E = mg(Δ)h

h = 0.86 / (0.30 × 9.81)

= 0.29 m

(d) cos θ = (0.93 – 0.29) / 0.93 so θ = 47°

(e)

(f) there is a resultant force (acting on sphere)

or
there is a resultant moment (about P acting on pendulum)
(so) not in equilibrium

14. (a) Define velocity.

(b) A car travels in a straight line up a slope, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

The car has mass 850kg and travels with a constant speed of 9.0ms–1. The car’s engine exerts
a force on the car of 2.0kN up the slope. A resistive force FD, due to friction and air
resistance, opposes the motion of the car. The variation of FD with the speed v of the car is
shown in Fig. 3.2.

(i) State and explain whether the car is in equilibrium as it moves up the slope.

(ii) Consider the forces that act along the slope. Use data from Fig. 3.2 to determine the
component of the weight of the car that act down the slope.
 component of weight =
………………………………………………. N [2]

(iii) Show that the power output of the car is 1.8×104W.[2]

(iv) The car now travels along horizontal ground. The output power of the car is
maintained at 1.8 × 104W. The variation of the resistive force FD acting on the car is
given in Fig. 3.2.

Calculate the acceleration of the car when its speed is 15ms–1.

acceleration = …………………………………………..ms–
2
[3] [Total: 10]

Answer/Explanation
Ans:

(a) change of displacement /time (taken)

(b)(i) constant velocity, so resultant force is zero

(so car is) in (dynamic) equilibrium

(b)(ii) FD = 0.40 (kN) or 0.40 × 103 (N)

component of weight = 2.0 × 103 – 0.40 × 103

= 1.6 × 103N

(b)(iii) P = Fv
= 2.0 ×103 × 9.0 = 1.8 × 104W

(b)(iv) (driving) force = 1.8 × 104 / 15 (= 1.2 × 103)

FD = 0.66 (kN) or 0.66 × 103(N)
acceleration = (1.2 × 103 – 0.66 × 103)/ 850

= 0.64 (0.635) m s–2

15. A pendulum consists of a solid sphere suspended by a string from a fixed point P, as
shown in Fig. 3.1.

The sphere swings from side to side. At one instant the sphere is at its lowest position X,
where it has kinetic energy 0.86J and momentum 0.72Ns in a horizontal direction. A short
time later the sphere is at position Y, where it is momentarily stationary at a maximum
vertical height h above position X.

The string has a fixed length and negligible weight. Air resistance is also negligible.

(a) On Fig. 3.1, draw a solid line to represent the displacement of the centre of the sphere at
position Y from position X. [1]

(b) Show that the mass of the sphere is 0.30kg.

(c) Calculate height h.

h = …………………………………………….. m [2]

(d) The distance between point P and the centre of the sphere is 0.93m. When the sphere is at
position Y, the string is at an angle θ to the vertical. Show that θ is 47°. [1]

(e) For the sphere at position Y, calculate the moment of its weight about point P.

moment = ………………………………………….. Nm [2]

(f) State and explain whether the sphere is in equilibrium when it is stationary at
position Y.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………

Answer/Explanation
Ans:

(a) solid straight line drawn between centre of sphere at X and at Y

(b)

(c) (Δ)E = mg(Δ)h

h = 0.86 / (0.30 × 9.81)

= 0.29 m

(d) cos θ = (0.93 – 0.29) / 0.93 so θ = 47°

(e)

(f) there is a resultant force (acting on sphere)

or
there is a resultant moment (about P acting on pendulum)
(so) not in equilibrium

16. (a) State two conditions for an object to be in equilibrium.

1.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..
2.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………..
(b) A sphere of weight 2.4N is suspended by a wire from a fixed point P. A horizontal
string is used to hold the sphere in equilibrium with the wire at an angle of 53° to the
horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

(i) Calculate:
1. the tension T in the wire
T = …………………………………………………… N

2. the force F exerted by the string on the sphere.

F = …………………………………………………… N

(ii) The wire has a circular cross-section of diameter 0.50mm. Determine the stress σ in the
wire.
σ = ……………………………………………. Pa

(c) The string is disconnected from the sphere in (b). The sphere then swings from its initial
rest position A, as illustrated in Fig. 3.2.

The sphere reaches maximum speed when it is at the bottom of the swing at position B. The
distance between P and the centre of the sphere is 75cm.
Air resistance is negligible and energy losses at P are negligible.
(i) Show that the vertical distance h between A and B is 15cm.

(ii) Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the sphere as it moves from A to
B.
change in gravitational potential energy = ……………………………………………… J

(iii) Use your answer in (c)(ii) to determine the speed of the sphere at B.
Show your working.
speed = ………………………………………… ms–1

Answer/Explanation
Answer:

(a) resultant force (in any direction) is zero

resultant torque/moment (about any point) is zero

(b) (i) 1. T sin 53° = 2.4

T = 3.0 N
2. F =
T cos 53° or F2=T2–2.42
F = 1.8 N
(ii) σ = T / A or σ = F / A
A=πd2/4orA=πr2
σ=3.0×4/[π×(0.50×10–3)2]
= 1.5×107 Pa

(c) (i) h = 75 – 75 sin 53° = 15 cm

(ii) (Δ)E = mg(Δ)h or ( Δ)E = W(Δ)h
(Δ)E = 2.4 × 15 × 10–2
= 0.36 J
(iii) E=1/2mv2
0.36–1/2×(2.4/9.81)×v2
v=1.7ms−1

17. A jet of water hits a vertical wall at right angles, as shown in Fig. 3.1.
The water hits the vertical wall with a velocity of 5.0m/s in a horizontal direction. The cross-
sectional area of the jet is 1.5×10–4m2. The density of the water is 1.0×103kgm–3.
The water runs down the wall after hitting it.
(a) Show that, over a time of 1.6s, the mass of water hitting the wall is 1.2kg.

[2]

(b) Calculate:
(i) the decrease in the horizontal momentum of the mass of water in (a) due to hitting the wall

decrease in momentum = ……………………………………………. Ns [1]

(ii) the magnitude of the horizontal force exerted on the water by the wall.

force = ……………………………………………… N [1]

(c) State and explain the magnitude of the horizontal force exerted on the wall by the water.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………… [1]
(d) Calculate the pressure exerted on the wall by the water.

pressure = ……………………………………………. Pa [2]

[Total: 7]

Answer/Explanation
Ans:

(a) (m=)ρV
=1.0×103×1.5x10−4×5.0×1.6=1.2(kg)

(b)(i) (Δ)p=1.2×5.0
=6.0Ns

(b)(ii) F = 6.0/1.6 or 1.2×5.0/1.6

= 3.8 N

(c) Newton’s third law applies (so) 3.8 N.

(d) p = F/A
=3.8/1.5×10−4
=2.5×104Pa
18. A sphere of radius 2.1mm falls with terminal (constant) velocity through a liquid, as
shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

Three forces act on the moving sphere. The weight of the sphere is 7.2×10−4N and the
upthrust acting on it is 4.8×10−4N. The viscous force FV acting on the sphere is given by

FV=krv

where r is the radius of the sphere, v is its velocity and k is a constant. The value of k in SI
units is 17.

(a) Determine the SI base units of k.

(b) Use the value of the upthrust acting on the sphere to calculate the density ρ of the
liquid.

(c) (i) On the sphere in Fig. 1.1, draw three arrows to show the directions of the
weight W, the upthrust U and the viscous force FV. Label these
arrows W, U and FV respectively.

(ii) Determine the magnitude of the terminal (constant) velocity of the sphere.

Answer/Explanation
Ans: