Edexcel AS Levels Physics – Senan Alwis

Tutorial 3 – Forces and Energy

1. An apple and a leaf fall from a tree at the same instant. Both the apple and the leaf start at the same
height above the ground. The following observations were made:

 The leaf is observed to fall and reach a constant velocity before it hits the ground.
 The apple hits the ground before the leaf.

Use Newton’s laws of motion to explain the two observations. You will be tested on the quality of your
answer construction and writing.

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2. In the 1969 Moon landing, the Lunar Module separated from the Command Module above the surface of
the Moon when it was travelling at a horizontal speed of 2040 ms –1. In order to descend to the Moon’s
surface, the Lunar Module needed to reduce its speed using its rocket as shown in Figure 1.

a. The average thrust from the rocket was 30 kN and the mass of the Lunar Module was 15,100 kg.
i. Calculate the horizontal deceleration of the Lunar Module.

ii. Calculate the time for the Lunar Module to slow to the required horizontal velocity of
 150 ms-1. Assume the mass remained constant.

b. The rocket was then used to control the velocity of descent so that the Lunar Module descended
vertically with a constant velocity as shown in Figure 2. Due to the use of fuel during the
previous deceleration, the mass of the Lunar Module had fallen by 53%.

Acceleration due to gravity near the moon’s surface = 1.61 ms-2

i. Draw force vectors on Figure 2 to show the forces acting on the Lunar Module at this time.
Label the vectors.
ii. Calculate the thrust force needed to maintain a constant vertical downwards velocity.

c. When the Lunar Module was 1.2 m from the lunar surface, the rocket was switched off. At this
point the vertical velocity was 0.80 ms –1. Calculate the vertical velocity at which the Lunar
Module reached the lunar surface.

3. A “grandfather” clock is a type of clock where the energy needed to provide the movement of the hands
comes from a falling mass. To wind up the clock, the mass has to be raised a distance h.
In one such clock, the mass is a steel cylinder of diameter 0.060 m and height 0.17 m.

a. Show that its mass is approximately 4 kg. The density of steel is 7.8 × 103 kg m–3.

b. The distance fallen by the mass is 1.1 m. Calculate the change in its gravitational potential
energy.

c. The clock has to be wound up once per week. Calculate the average power output of the falling
mass.
 4. The diagram shows a ballet dancer balancing on the point P of her right foot, with her left leg extended.

The arrow labelled X represents the weight of the whole of her body apart from her legs.

a. Add a second arrow to the diagram to represent the weight of her extended left leg. Label this
arrow Y.
b. Add a third arrow, labelled Z, to represent the weight of her right leg.
c. With reference to the relative sizes and positions of these forces, explain how this situation
illustrates the principle of moments. You will be tested on the quality of your answer
construction and logical reasoning in this question.

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5. A man is pushing a shopping trolley at a speed of 1.10 ms –1 along a horizontal surface. There is a
constant frictional force opposing the motion. The man stops suddenly, letting go of the trolley, which
rolls on for a distance of 1.96 m before coming to rest.

a. Show that the deceleration of the trolley is approximately 0.3 ms–2.

b. The total mass of the trolley and its contents is 28.0 kg. Calculate the frictional force opposing its
motion.

c. Calculate the power needed to push the trolley at a steady speed of 1.10 ms–1.

d. The man catches up with the trolley. Calculate the steady force he must now apply to it to
accelerate it from rest to 1.10 ms–1 in 0.900 s.
 6. A book is resting on a table. A student draws a correct free-body force diagram for the book as shown
below.

The student makes the statement that “The forces labelled above make a Newton third law pair; therefore the
book is in equilibrium”.

Use your knowledge of Newton’s 3rd Law to explain whether this statement is correct or incorrect. Give reasons
to support your choice. You will be tested on the quality of your answer construction.

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 7. The diagram below shows a drop-down table attached to a wall. The table is supported horizontally by
two side arms attached to the mid-points of the sides of the table.

The table surface is 80 cm long, 50 cm deep and 1.8 cm thick. It is made from wood of density 0.70 g cm –3.
a. Show that its weight is about 50 N.

The free-body force diagram below shows two of the three forces acting on the table top.
 b. Calculate the horizontal and vertical components of the 83 N force. Add appropriately labelled arrows to
the free-body force diagram to show these components.

c. Find the magnitude of the force that the hinge applies to the table top and state its angle.

8. The diagram shows part of a roller coaster ride.

The vehicle starts from rest at A and is hauled up to B by a motor. It takes 15.0 s to reach B, at which point its
speed is negligibly small. Ignore resistive forces throughout this question.
a. Complete the box in the diagram below, which expresses the conservation of energy for the
journey from A to B.
 b. The mass of the vehicle and the passengers is 3400 kg.
i. Calculate the useful work done by the motor.

ii. Calculate the power output of the motor.

At point B the motor is switched off and the vehicle moves under gravity for the rest of the ride.

c. Describe the overall energy conversion which occurs as it travels from B to C.

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d. Calculate the speed of the vehicle at point C.

e. On another occasion there are fewer passengers in the vehicle; hence its total mass is less than
before. Its speed is again negligible at B. State with a reason how, if at all, you would expect the
speed at C to differ from your previous answer.

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9. A granite block is suspended at rest just below the surface of water in a tank (Figure i). The block is now
released and falls 0.80 m to the bottom (Figure ii).

a. The volume of the block is 3.0 × 10–3 m3 , and the density of granite is 2700 kg m–3. Calculate the
gravitational potential energy lost by the block as it falls.

b. Although the water level has not changed, the water has gained gravitational potential energy.
Explain why.

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c. The gravitational potential energy gained by the water is less than that lost by the granite block.
Explain this.

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