Cambridge IGCSE™

8: Mechanics 2 – Topic questions Paper 6

The questions in this document have been compiled from a number of past papers, as indicated in the table below.

Use these questions to formatively assess your learners’ understanding of this topic.

Question Year Series Paper number

1 2016 June 61
1 2016 June 62
1 2016 November 61

The mark scheme for each question is provided at the end of the document.

You can find the complete question papers and the complete mark schemes (with additional notes where available) on
the School Support Hub at www.cambridgeinternational.org/support

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 1

 1 A student is determining the weight of a metre rule using a balancing method.
The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.1.

P Q metre rule
x y

5.0 cm mark pivot 45.0 cm mark

bench

Fig. 1.1 (not to scale)

(a) • The student places the load P on the metre rule at the 5.0 cm mark.

• She places the metre rule on the pivot at the 45.0 cm mark.

• She places load Q on the rule and adjusts its position so that the metre rule is as near as
possible to being balanced.

• She measures the distance x between the centre of load P and the pivot and the
distance y from the centre of load Q to the pivot.

• She repeats the procedure, placing the load P at the 10.0 cm mark, at the 15.0 cm mark,
at the 20.0 cm mark and at the 25.0 cm mark. The readings are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

x/ y/ A/ B/

40.0 42.5

35.0 36.0

30.0 30.0

25.0 24.0

20.0 17.5

(i) • For each value of x, calculate A = Px, where P = 1.00 N. Record the values in the
table. P is the weight of load P.

• For each value of y, calculate B = Qy, where Q = 0.80 N. Record the values in the
table. Q is the weight of load Q.
[1]

(ii) Complete the column headings in the table. [1]

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 2

 (b) Plot a graph of A / N cm ( y-axis) against B / N cm ( x-axis). Start both axes at the origin (0,0).

[4]

(c) Using the graph, determine the vertical intercept Y (the value of A when B = 0 N cm). Show
clearly on the graph how you obtained this value.

Y = ........................................................... [1]

Y
(d) Calculate the weight W of the metre rule using the equation W = , where z = 5.0 cm.
z

W = ........................................................... [1]

(e) Suggest one practical reason why it is difficult to obtain exact results with this experiment.

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

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

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 3

 (f) The student uses an accurate electronic balance to obtain a second value for the weight of
the metre rule.

1.24 N
weight obtained on the balance = ................................................................

State and explain whether the two values for the weight agree within the limits of experimental
accuracy.

statement ..................................................................................................................................

justification ................................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 10]

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 4

 1 A student is investigating the stretching of a spring.
The apparatus is shown in Fig. 1.1.

clamp

spring
l0

Fig. 1.1

(a) On Fig. 1.1, measure the unstretched length l 0 of the spring. Record l 0 in the first row of
Table 1.1. [1]

(b) The student hangs a load L of 1.0 N on the spring and measures the new length l of the spring.
She repeats the measurements using loads of 2.0 N, 3.0 N, 4.0 N and 5.0 N. The readings are
shown in Table 1.1.

(i) For each set of readings, calculate the extension e of the spring using the equation
e = (l – l 0). Record the values of e in the table.

Table 1.1

L/N l / mm e / mm

0.0 0

1.0 59

2.0 64

3.0 69

4.0 74

5.0 78
[1]

(ii) Explain briefly one precaution that you would take in order to obtain reliable readings.

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

.......................................................................................................................................[1]
8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 5
 (c) Plot a graph of e / mm ( y-axis) against L / N ( x-axis).

[4]

(d) The student removes the load from the spring and hangs an unknown load X on the spring.
She measures the length l of the spring.

72 mm
l = ...............................................................

(i) Calculate the extension e of the spring.

e = .......................................................... [1]

(ii) Use the graph to determine the weight W of the load X. Show clearly on the graph how
you obtained the necessary information.

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

[Total: 10]

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 6

 1 A student uses a pendulum to determine a value for the acceleration of free fall g.
Figs. 1.1 and 1.2 show the apparatus.

clamp clamp

bob

one complete
oscillation

Fig. 1.1 Fig. 1.2

(a) On Fig. 1.1, measure the length l of the pendulum.

l = .................................................... cm [1]

(b) The student adjusts the pendulum until its length l = 50.0 cm. The length l is measured to the
centre of the bob.

Explain briefly how the student avoids a parallax (line of sight) error when measuring length l.

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

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

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

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 7

 (c) The student displaces the pendulum bob slightly and releases it so that it swings.
He measures the time t for 20 complete oscillations of the pendulum.
27.8 s
t = ...............................................................

(i) Calculate the period T of the pendulum. The period is the time for one complete
oscillation.

T = ...........................................................[1]

(ii) Measuring the time for a large number of oscillations, rather than for one oscillation,
gives a more accurate value for T.

Suggest one practical reason why measuring the time for 200 oscillations, rather than
20 oscillations, may not be suitable.

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

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

(iii) Calculate T 2.

T 2 = ...........................................................[1]

Calculate the acceleration of free fall g using the equation g = 4π2l . Give your answer to
2
(iv)
a suitable number of significant figures for this experiment. T

g = ................................................. m / s2 [2]

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 8

 (d) The student checks the value of the acceleration of free fall g in a text book. The value in the
book is 9.8 m / s2.

(i) Suggest a practical reason why the result obtained from the experiment may be different.

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

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

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

(ii) Suggest two improvements to the experiment.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 10]

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 9

 Question Answer Mark
A and B values correct
1 (a) (i) A: 40.0, 35.0, 30.0, 25.0, 20.0 1
B: 34.0, 28.8, 24.0, 19.2, 14.0
1 (a) (ii) cm, cm, N cm, N cm 1

1 (b) Axes correctly labelled with quantity, right way round 1

Appropriate scales, starting at origin (0,0) 1
All plots correct to ½ small square 1
Good line judgement, thin, continuous, single line through the plots; with 1
neat plots
1 (c) method shown on graph U and correct to ½ small square 1

1 (d) W = 1.0–1.4 no e.c.f 1

1 (e) difficulty of achieving balance or other sensible suggestion 1

1 (f) expect agree; allow e.c.f.

1
explanation includes idea of close enough (or, e.c.f. too different)
Total: 10

1 (a) l0 = 55 (mm) c.a.o. 1

1 (b) (i) 4, 9, 14, 19, 23 e.c.f (a) 1

1 (b) (ii) viewing scale at right angles or use of straight edge/set square/pointer
1
between bottom of spring and scale/ruler
1 (c) axes correctly labelled with quantity and unit 1
suitable scales 1
all plots correct to ½ small square 1
good line judgement, thin, continuous line, neat plots 1
1 (d) (i) e = 17(mm) e.c.f (a) 1

1 (d) (ii) method clearly shown on graph 1

W value 3.5–3.75 unit N needed, no e.c.f from (i) 1
Total: 10

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 10

 Question Answer Mark
1 (a) l = 4.1–4.2 (cm) 1
either suitable use of a horizontal straight edge, explained briefly
1 (b) OR holding rule close to pendulum 1
OR line of sight perpendicular (to rule)
1 (c) (i) T = 1.39(s) OR 1.4 1

1 (c) (ii) pendulum may stop OR student may lose count 1

1 (c) (iii) 1.93 s2 (e.c.f. allowed) 1

10.2(2) 1
1 (c) (iv)
2 or 3 sig figs 1
Explanation of cause of inaccuracy in measurement of t or l.
1 (d) (i) e.g. student did not react quickly enough when starting/stopping 1
stopwatch OR difficulty in measuring accurately to centre of bob
Any two from:
Use different length(s)
Repeat timing
1 (d) (ii) Use of a fiducial mark 2
Increased number of oscillations
Plot a graph using length and time or time2
Total: 10
Notes about the mark scheme are available separately.

8: Mechanics 2 - Topic questions (Paper 6) Copyright © UCLES 2017 11