IB Questionbank Physics

WORK-ENERGY-POWER

2009-2011

1. A brother and sister take the same time to run up a set of steps. The sister has a greater mass
than her brother. Which of the following is correct?

Has done the most work Has developed the greatest power
A. brother brother
B. brother sister
C. sister brother
D. sister sister
(Total 1 mark)

2. A nuclear power station produces 10 GW of electrical power. The power generated by the
nuclear reactions in the core of the reactor is 25 GW. The efficiency of the power station is

A. 15 %.

B. 35 %.

C. 40 %.

D. 60 %.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 1
3. This question is about mechanics and thermal physics.

The graph shows the variation with time t of the speed v of a ball of mass 0.50 kg, that has been
released from rest above the Earth’s surface.

The force of air resistance is not negligible. Assume that the acceleration of free fall is
g = 9.81 m s–2.

(a) State, without any calculations, how the graph could be used to determine the distance
fallen.

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(1)

(b) (i) In the space below, draw and label arrows to represent the forces on the ball at
2.0 s.

(1)

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 (ii) Use the graph opposite to show that the acceleration of the ball at 2.0 s is
approximately 4 m s–2.

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(2)

(iii) Calculate the magnitude of the force of air resistance on the ball at 2.0 s.

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(iv) State and explain whether the air resistance on the ball at t = 5.0 s is smaller than,
equal to or greater than the air resistance at t = 2.0 s.

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 (c) After 10 s the ball has fallen 190 m.

(i) Show that the sum of the potential and kinetic energies of the ball has decreased by
780 J.

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(ii) The specific heat capacity of the ball is 480 J kg–1 K–1. Estimate the increase in the
temperature of the ball.

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(iii) State an assumption made in the estimate in (c)(ii).

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(1)
(Total 14 marks)

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4. The graph shows the variation with force F of the extension s of a spring.

The work done in changing the extension of the spring from 3.0 cm to 6.0 cm is

A. 15 N cm.

B. 30 N cm.

C. 45 N cm.

D. 60 N cm.
(Total 1 mark)

5. This question is about power and efficiency.

A bus is travelling at a constant speed of 6.2 m s–1 along a section of road that is inclined at an
angle of 6.0° to the horizontal.

IB Questionbank Physics 5
 (a) (i) The bus is represented by the black dot shown below. Draw a labelled sketch to
represent the forces acting on the bus.

(4)

(ii) State the value of the rate of change of momentum of the bus.

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(1)

(b) The total output power of the engine of the bus is 70 kW and the efficiency of the engine
is 35 %. Calculate the input power to the engine.

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(2)

(c) The mass of the bus is 8.5 × 103 kg. Determine the rate of increase of gravitational
potential energy of the bus.

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 (d) Using your answer to (c) and the data in (b), estimate the magnitude of the resistive forces
acting on the bus.

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(e) The engine of the bus suddenly stops working.

(i) Determine the magnitude of the net force opposing the motion of the bus at the
instant at which the engine stops.

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(2)

(ii) Discuss, with reference to the air resistance, the change in the net force as the bus
slows down.

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(2)
(Total 17 marks)

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6. Two objects undergo an inelastic collision. Which of the following is correct in respect of both
the conservation of momentum and the conservation of total energy of the system?

Momentum Total energy

A. conserved not conserved
B. conserved conserved
C. not conserved not conserved
D. not conserved conserved
(Total 1 mark)

7. This question is about forces.

An athlete trains by dragging a heavy load across a rough horizontal surface.

The athlete exerts a force of magnitude F on the load at an angle of 25° to the horizontal.

(a) Once the load is moving at a steady speed, the average horizontal frictional force acting
on the load is 470 N.

Calculate the average value of F that will enable the load to move at constant speed.

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(2)

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 (b) The load is moved a horizontal distance of 2.5 km in 1.2 hours.

Calculate

(i) the work done on the load by the force F.

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(ii) the minimum average power required to move the load.

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(c) The athlete pulls the load uphill at the same speed as in part (a).

Explain, in terms of energy changes, why the minimum average power required is greater
than in (b)(ii).

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 9
8. This question is about kicking a football.

A ball is suspended from a ceiling by a string of length 7.5 m. The ball is kicked horizontally
and rises to a maximum height of 6.0 m.

(a) Assuming that the air resistance is negligible, show that the initial speed of the ball is
11 m s–1.

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(2)

(b) The mass of the ball is 0.55 kg and the impact time of the kicker’s foot with the ball is
150 ms. Estimate the average force exerted on the ball by the kick.

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(c) (i) Explain why the tension in the string increases immediately after the ball is kicked.

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 (ii) Calculate the tension in the string immediately after the ball is kicked. Assume that
the string is vertical.

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(3)
(Total 10 marks)

9. Which of the following is a correct definition of work?

A. Product of force and distance

B. Product of force and distance moved in the direction of the force

C. Product of power and time

D. Product of force and displacement

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 11
10. A ball is thrown vertically upwards and comes down again. Air resistance is negligible. Which
of the following graphs shows how the gravitational potential energy EP varies with time t?

(Total 1 mark)

11. A pump extracts water from a well of depth h at a constant rate of R kg s–1. What is the power
required to raise the water?

R
A.
gh

B. Rgh

Rg
C.
h

hg
D.
R
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 12
12. A ball falls vertically and bounces off the ground. Immediately before impact with the ground
the speed of the ball is u. Immediately after leaving the ground the speed is v.

kinetic energy lost on collision

Which of the following expressions is the ratio of ?
kinetic energy immediately before collision

v
A.
u

v
B. 1-
u
2
ævö
C. ç ÷
èuø

2
ævö
D. 1- ç ÷
èuø
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 13
13. A railway engine of mass m moves along a horizontal track with uniform speed v. The total
resistive force acting on the engine is F.

Which of the following is the power of the engine?

F
A.
mv

B. Fv

mv
C.
F

v
D.
F
(Total 1 mark)

14. A lift (elevator) is operated by an electric motor. It moves between the 10th floor and the 2nd
floor at a constant speed. One main energy transformation during this journey is

A. gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy.

B. electrical energy → kinetic energy.

C. kinetic energy → thermal energy.

D. electrical energy → thermal energy.

(Total 1 mark)

15. This question is about motion of a ball falling in oil.

(a) Distinguish between average speed and instantaneous speed.

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 (b) A small steel ball of mass M is dropped from rest into a long vertical tube that contains
oil.

The sketch graph shows how the speed v of the ball varies with time t.

Explain how you would use the graph to find the average speed of the ball between t = 0
and t = t1.

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(c) The gradient of the graph at t = t1 is k. Deduce an expression in terms of k, M and g, the
acceleration of free fall, for the magnitude of the frictional force F acting on the ball at t =
t1 .

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IB Questionbank Physics 15
 (d) State and explain the magnitude of the frictional force acting on the ball at t = t2.

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(Total 11 marks)

16. A constant force acts on a mass that is initially at rest. Which of the following graphs best
shows how the kinetic energy EK of the mass changes with the work W done on the mass?
Friction is negligible.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 16
17. This question is about dynamics and energy.

A bullet of mass 32 g is fired from a gun. The graph shows the variation of the force F on the
bullet with time t as it travels along the barrel of the gun.

The bullet is fired at time t = 0 and the length of the barrel is 0.70 m.

1 2
(a) State and explain why it is inappropriate to use the equation s = ut + at to calculate
2
the acceleration of the bullet.

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 (b) Use the graph to

(i) determine the average acceleration of the bullet during the final 2.0 ms of the
graph.

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(ii) show that the change in momentum of the bullet, as the bullet travels along the
length of the barrel, is approximately 9 N s.

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(c) Use the answer in (b)(ii) to calculate the

(i) speed of the bullet as it leaves the barrel.

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IB Questionbank Physics 18
 (ii) average power delivered to the bullet.

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(d) Use Newton’s third law to explain why a gun will recoil when a bullet is fired.

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(Total 15 marks)

18. A vehicle is driven up a hill at constant speed. Which of the following best describes the energy
changes involved?

A. Chemical energy is converted into gravitational potential energy.

B. Chemical energy is converted into gravitational potential energy, sound and thermal
energy.

C. Gravitational potential energy is converted into chemical energy.

D. Gravitational potential energy is converted into chemical energy, sound and thermal
energy.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 19
19. This question is about force and energies.

(a) A system consists of a bicycle and cyclist travelling at a constant velocity along a
horizontal road.

(i) State the value of the net force acting on the cyclist.

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(1)

(ii) On the diagram draw labelled arrows to represent the vertical forces acting on the
bicycle.
(2)

(iii) With reference to the horizontal forces acting on the system, explain why the
system is travelling at constant velocity.

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(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 20
 (b) The total resistive force acting on the system is 40 N and its speed is 8.0 m s–1. Calculate
the useful power output of the cyclist.

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(1)

(c) The cyclist stops pedalling and the system comes to rest. The total mass of the system is
70 kg.

(i) Calculate the magnitude of the initial acceleration of the system.

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(ii) Estimate the distance taken by the system to come to rest from the time the cyclist
stops pedalling.

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(iii) State and explain one reason why your answer to (c)(ii) is only an estimate.

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(Total 12 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 21
20. Mechanical power

(a) Define power.

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(1)

(b) A car is travelling with constant speed v along a horizontal straight road. There is a total
resistive force F acting on the car.

Deduce that the power P to overcome the force F is P = Fv.

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(c) A car drives up a straight incline that is 4.8 km long. The total height of the incline is 0.30
km.

The car moves up the incline at a steady speed of 16 m s–1. During the climb, the average
friction force acting on the car is 5.0 ´ 102 N. The total weight of the car and the driver is
1.2 ´ 104 N.

(i) Determine the time it takes the car to travel from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

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(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 22
 (ii) Determine the work done against the gravitational force in travelling from the
bottom to the top of the incline.

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(1)

(iii) Using your answers to (c)(i) and (c)(ii), calculate a value for the minimum power
output of the car engine needed to move the car from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

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(4)

(d) From the top of the incline, the road continues downwards in a straight line. At the point
where the road starts to go downwards, the driver of the car in (c), stops the car to look at
the view. In continuing his journey, the driver decides to save fuel. He switches off the
engine and allows the car to move freely down the hill. The car descends a height of 0.30
km in a distance of 6.4 km before levelling out.

The average resistive force acting on the car is 5.0 ´ 102 N.

IB Questionbank Physics 23
 Estimate

(i) the acceleration of the car down the incline.

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(ii) the speed of the car at the bottom of the incline.

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(2)

(e) In fact, for the last few hundred metres of its journey down the hill, the car travels at
constant speed. State the value of the frictional force acting on the car whilst it is moving
at constant speed.

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(1)
(Total 18 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 24
21. The variation with time of the vertical speed of a ball falling in air is shown below.

During the time from 0 to T, the ball gains kinetic energy and loses gravitational potential
energy DEp. Which of the following statements is true?

A. DEp is equal to the gain in kinetic energy.

B. DEp is greater than the gain in kinetic energy.

C. DEp is equal to the work done against air resistance.

D. DEp is less than the work done against air resistance.

(Total 1 mark)

22. Mechanical power

(a) A car drives up a straight incline that is 4.8 km long. The total height of the incline is 0.30
km.

The car moves up the incline at a steady speed of 16 m s–1. During the climb, the average
friction force acting on the car is 5.0 ´ 102 N. The total weight of the car and the driver is
1.2 ´ 104 N.

IB Questionbank Physics 25
 (i) Determine the time it takes the car to travel from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

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(2)

(ii) Determine the work done against the gravitational force in travelling from the
bottom to the top of the incline.

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(1)

(iii) Using your answers to (a)(i) and (a)(ii), calculate a value for the minimum power
output of the car engine needed to move the car from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

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(4)

IB Questionbank Physics 26
 (b) From the top of the incline, the road continues downwards in a straight line. At the point
where the road starts to go downwards, the driver of the car in (a), stops the car to look at
the view. In continuing his journey, the driver decides to save fuel. He switches off the
engine and allows the car to move freely down the hill. The car descends a height of 0.30
km in a distance of 6.4 km before levelling out.

The average resistive force acting on the car is 5.0 ´ 102 N.

Estimate

(i) the acceleration of the car down the incline.

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(5)

(ii) the speed of the car at the bottom of the incline.

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(2)

(c) In fact, for the last few hundred metres of its journey down the hill, the car travels at
constant speed. State the value of the frictional force acting on the car whilst it is moving
at constant speed.

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(1)
(Total 15 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 27