FORCES, DENSITY & PRESSURE

3 A rod PQ is attached at P to a vertical wall, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

wire

wall
F

0.64 m 0.96 m
30°
Q
P
rod
W

Fig. 3.1

The length of the rod is 1.60 m. The weight W of the rod acts 0.64 m from P. The rod is kept
horizontal and in equilibrium by a wire attached to Q and to the wall at R. The wire provides a
force F on the rod of 44 N at 30° to the horizontal.

(a) Determine

(i) the vertical component of F,

vertical component = ...................................................... N [1]

(ii) the horizontal component of F.

horizontal component = ...................................................... N [1]

(b) By taking moments about P, determine the weight W of the rod.

W = ...................................................... N [2]

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(c) Explain why the wall must exert a force on the rod at P.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

.............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(d) On Fig. 3.1, draw an arrow to represent the force acting on the rod at P. Label your arrow with
the letter S. [1]

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3 A uniform plank AB of length 5.0 m and weight 200 N is placed across a stream, as shown in
Fig. 3.1.

FA FB

plank

A B

880 N
200 N
x

5.0 m

stream

Fig. 3.1

A man of weight 880 N stands a distance x from end A. The ground exerts a vertical force FA on
the plank at end A and a vertical force FB on the plank at end B.
As the man moves along the plank, the plank is always in equilibrium.

(a) (i) Explain why the sum of the forces FA and FB is constant no matter where the man stands
on the plank.

...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) The man stands a distance x = 0.50 m from end A. Use the principle of moments to
calculate the magnitude of FB.

FB = ...................................................... N [4]
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(b) The variation with distance x of force FA is shown in Fig. 3.2.

1000

force / N
FA
500

0
0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
x /m

Fig. 3.2

On the axes of Fig. 3.2, sketch a graph to show the variation with x of force FB. [3]

© UCLES 2014 9702/21/M/J/14 [Turn over

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3 (a) Explain what is meant by centre of gravity. For

Examiner’s
.......................................................................................................................................... Use

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Define moment of a force.

..........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(c) A student is being weighed. The student, of weight W, stands 0.30 m from end A of a
uniform plank AB, as shown in Fig. 3.1.

P
A B
0.30 m 0.20 m

W 80 N 70 N
0.50 m
2.0 m

Fig. 3.1 (not to scale)

The plank has weight 80 N and length 2.0 m. A pivot P supports the plank and is 0.50 m
from end A.
A weight of 70 N is moved to balance the weight of the student. The plank is in equilibrium
when the weight is 0.20 m from end B.

(i) State the two conditions necessary for the plank to be in equilibrium.

1. ...............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

2. ...............................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................
[2]

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(ii) Determine the weight W of the student. For

Examiner’s
Use

W = ............................................. N [3]

(iii) If only the 70 N weight is moved, there is a maximum weight of student that can
be determined using the arrangement shown in Fig. 3.1. State and explain one
change that can be made to increase this maximum weight.

..................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................. [2]

© UCLES 2011 9702/21/M/J/11 [Turn over

 5 For
Examiner’s
Use
3 (a) Explain what is meant by the centre of gravity of an object.

..........................................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................................[2]

(b) A non-uniform plank of wood XY is 2.50 m long and weighs 950 N. Force-meters (spring
balances) A and B are attached to the plank at a distance of 0.40 m from each end, as
illustrated in Fig. 3.1.

force-meter A force-meter B

0.40 m 0.40 m

X Y
2.50 m
Fig. 3.1

When the plank is horizontal, force-meter A records 570 N.

(i) Calculate the reading on force-meter B.

reading = ................................................ N

(ii) On Fig. 3.1, mark a likely position for the centre of gravity of the plank.

(iii) Determine the distance of the centre of gravity from the end X of the plank.

distance = ............................................... m
[6]

9702/2 M/J02 [Turn over

 Akhtar Mahmood (0333-4281759)
M.Sc.(Physics), MCS, MBA-IT, B.Ed.
AS Forces (Moment, Density & Pressure) MIS, DCE, D AS/400e(IBM), OCP(PITB)
teacher_786@hotmail.com

1 A ladder rests in equilibrium on rough ground A. Z is the viscous drag on the bubble, Y is
against a rough wall. the weight of the bubble, X is the upthrust
on the bubble and X = Y + Z.
B Z is the viscous drag on the bubble, Y is
the weight of the bubble, X is the upthrust
on the bubble and X > Y + Z.
C Z is the weight of the bubble, Y is the
viscous drag on the bubble, X is the
upthrust on the bubble and X = Y + Z.
D Z is the weight of the bubble, Y is the
Its weight W acts through the centre of gravity G. viscous drag on the bubble, X is the
Forces also act on the ladder at P and at Q. upthrust on the bubble and X > Y + Z
These forces are P and Q respectively.
4 Two rigid steel beams XY and YZ are fixed
Which vector triangle represents the forces on the
ladder? at their lower ends and are hinged at Y.
Each beam is inclined at 50° to the
horizontal, as shown. A weight of 4.0 × 104 N
hangs from Y. The structure is in equilibrium.

2 A ruler of length 0.30 m is pivoted at its centre.

Equal and opposite forces of magnitude 2.0 N are
applied to the ends of the ruler, creating a couple
as shown.

What is the force exerted by each beam on

the hinge at Y?
A 2.6 × 104N B 3.1 × 104N
C 5.2 × 104N D 6.2 × 104N

Two blocks X and Y are falling through a

5
vacuum in a uniform gravitational field, as
What is the magnitude of the torque of the couple shown.
on the ruler when it is in the position shown?
A 0.23Nm B 0.39Nm C 0.46Nm D 0.60Nm

3 An air bubble in a tank of water is rising with

constant velocity. The forces acting on the bubble Block X has weight 2w.
are X, Y and Z as shown. Block Y has weight w.
The blocks do not move apart.
Which value best represents the force
exerted by block X on block Y?
A0 Bw C 1.5w D 2w

What describes the three forces?

6 Two forces, each of magnitude F, act along the 9 An air-conditioning unit is supported by a
edges of a rectangular metal plate, as shown. rigid beam PQ, as shown.

The plate has length a and width b.

What is the torque about point P?
A Fa B Fb C 2Fa D 2Fb

7 A cross-shaped structure, freely pivoted at O, has

arms of lengths 5.0m, 4.0m, 3.0 m and 2.0m. It is Which diagram shows the directions of the
acted on by forces of 2.0N, 3.0N, 4.0N and an horizontal and vertical forces acting on the
unknown force F. The structure is in rotational ends of the beam?
equilibrium

10 The vertical forces that the ground exerts on

a stationary van are shown.

What is the magnitude of force F?

A 0.40N B 2.0N C 2.6N D 4.4N
8
In a machine, many couples act on a rotating
object as shown.

The van is 2.50m long with the wheels at a

distance of 0.600m from the front of the van
and 0.400m from the rear of the van. What is

gravity from the front of the van?

A 0.540m B 0.960m
C 1.14m D 1.36m

What is the resultant torque acting on the rotating

object?
A 4.7Nm B 8.6Nm C 9.3Nm D 17.1Nm
11 A cylinder of weight W is placed on a smooth The acceleration of free fall is g. What is the
slope. The contact force of the slope on the acceleration a of the two blocks?
cylinder is R. A thread is attached to the surface
of the cylinder. The other end of the thread is
fixed.
Which diagram shows the cylinder in equilibrium?

14 The diagram shows a motorised vehicle for

carrying one person.

12
A light rigid rod XY has an object of weight W
fixed at one end. The rod is in equilibrium, resting
on a roller at Z and a vertical wall at X. The roller
exerts a force R on the rod as shown. The The vehicle has two wheels on one axle.
diagram shows the directions, but not the The passenger stands on a platform
magnitudes, of the forces R and W. between the wheels.
The weight of the machine is 600N. Its
centre of mass is 200 mm in front of the
axle. The wheel radius is 400 mm.
When stationary, a passenger of weight
600N stands with his centre of mass 200
mm behind the axle to balance the machine.
The motor is now switched on to provide a
horizontal force of 90N at the ground to
What is the direction of the force on the rod at X? move the vehicle forwards.
How far and in which direction must the
passenger move his centre of mass to
maintain balance?
A 60mm backwards B 60mm forwards
C 140mm backwards D 140mm forwards

Two blocks of masses M and m are joined by a 15 A ball is falling at terminal speed in still air.
13
thin string which passes over a frictionless pulley, The forces acting on the ball are upthrust,
as shown. viscous drag and weight.
What is the order of increasing magnitude of
these three forces?
A
B
C
D
16 A cupboard is attached to a wall by a screw. 19 The diameter of a solid metal sphere is
Which force diagram shows the cupboard in measured using a micrometer screw gauge.
equilibrium, with the weight W of the cupboard, The diagram shows an enlargement of the
the force S that the screw exerts on the cupboard shaft of the micrometer screw gauge when
and the force R that the wall exerts on the taking the measurement.
cupboard?

The mass of the sphere is 0.450g. What is

the density of the metal used to make the
sphere?
A 965kg m-3 B 1340kg m-3
C 7720kg m-3 D 10700kgm-3

20 Full-fat milk is made up of fat-free milk mixed

with fat.
A volume of 1.000 × 10-3 m3 of full-fat milk
has a mass of 1.035 kg. It contains 4.00%
fat by volume.
The density of fat-free milk is 1.040 × 103
kgm-3
A sealed cylindrical steel can is situated below the
17 What is the density of fat?
surface of water.
A 1.25 × 102 kg m-3 B 9.15 × 102 kg m-3
C 9.28 × 102 kg m-3 D 1.16 × 103 kg m-3

21 The density of water is 1.0 gcm-3 and the

density of glycerine is 1.3 g cm-3 .
Water is added to a measuring cylinder
containing 40 cm3 of glycerine so that the
density of the mixture is 1.1 gcm-3. Assume
What is the origin of the upthrust that acts on the
that the mixing process does not change the
can?
total volume of the liquid.
A The air pressure in the can is less than the
A 40 cm3 B 44 cm3
water pressure outside the can.
C 52 cm3 D 80 cm3
B The average density of the air and steel is less
than the density of water.
22 Atmospheric pressure at sea level has a
C The water pressure on the bottom of the can is
value of 100kPa. The density of sea water is
greater than the water pressure on the top.
1020kg m-3
D The weight of displaced water acts upwards on
At which depth in the sea would the total
the can.
pressure be 110kPa?
18 A 1.0 m B 9.8m C 10 m D 11m
In a large container in an oil refinery, three oils of
different densities are mixed. No chemical activity
occurs.
The mixture consists of
1200kg of oil of density 1100kgm-3 ,
1500kg of oil of density 860 kgm-3 ,
4000kg of oil of density 910kgm-3 .
What is the density of the mixture?
A 927kg m-3 B 957kg m-3
C 1010kg m-3. D 1080kg m-3
23 The density of air on the Earth decreases almost
linearly with height from 1.22kgm-3 at sea level to
0.74 kgm-3 at an altitude of 5000m.

particular day is 100000Pa. The value of g

surface and an altitude of
5000 m can be considered to have a constant
value of 9.7ms-2
What will be the atmospheric pressure at an
altitude of 5000m?
A 36000Pa B 48000Pa
C 52000Pa D 59000Pa

24 A U-tube has one arm of area of cross-section A

and the other of cross-section 4A. The tube
contains water of density 1000kg m-3 and oil of
density 850kg m-3, as shown.

The column of oil on top of the water in the left-

hand arm is of length 30.0cm.
What is the difference in height x between the
levels in the two arms of the tube?
A 4.5cm B 6.2 cm C 23.8cm D 25.5cm

25 The diagram shows the cross-section of an

Olympic-size swimming pool filled with water. It is
not drawn to scale. The density of the water is
1000kg m-3.

What is the difference in pressure between X and

Y?
A 0.35 kPa B 3.4 kPa
C 21.3 kPa D 58.9 kPa