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1.5 Moments/
Centre of Mass
Question Paper
Level IGCSE
Subject Physics (0625)
Exam Board Cambridge International Examinations(CIE)
Topic General Physics
Sub Topic 1.5 Moments / Centre of Mass
Booklet Question Paper
Time Allowed: 22 minutes
Score: /18
Percentage: /100
Grade Boundaries:
A* A B C D E U
>85% 75% 60% 45% 35% 25% <25%
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1 The diagrams show three uniform beams P, Q and R, each pivoted at its centre.
The two forces acting on each beam are also shown.
2.0 m 1.0 m
P
4.0 N 4.0 N
4.0 m 2.0 m
Q
2.0 N 5.0 N
2.0 m 4.0 m
R
1.5 N 1.0 N
Which beams rotate clockwise?
A P and Q only
B P and R only
C Q and R only
D P, Q and R
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2 The diagram shows a non-uniform beam of weight 120 N, pivoted at one end. The beam is kept in
equilibrium by force F.
20 cm 60 cm
pivot
centre of
mass of beam
weight F
120 N
What is the value of force F?
A 30 N B 40 N C 360 N D 480 N
3 A long plank XY lies on the ground. A load of 120 N is placed on it, at a distance of 0.50 m from
end X, as shown.
End Y is lifted off the ground. The upward force needed to do this is 65 N.
load 65 N
X Y
0.50 m 1.5 m 2.0 m ground
120 N W
In the diagram, W is the weight of the plank, acting at its mid-point.
What is the value of W ?
A 35 N B 47 N C 100 N D 133 N
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4 A beam pivoted at one end has a force of 5.0 N acting vertically upwards on it as shown. The
beam is in equilibrium.
5.0 N
2.0 cm 3.0 cm
pivot
weight
of beam
What is the weight of the beam?
A 2.0 N B 3.0 N C 3.3 N D 5.0 N
5 The diagram shows a uniform beam being used as a balance. The beam is pivoted at its centre.
A 1.0 N weight is attached to one end of the beam. An empty pan weighing 0.2 N is attached to
the other end of the beam.
beam
1.0 N pivot
pan (0.2 N)
How many 0.1 N weights must be placed on the pan in order to balance the beam?
A 5 B 8 C 10 D 12
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6 A heavy beam rests on two supports. The diagram shows the only three forces F1, F2 and F3
acting on the beam.
F1 F2
beam
support support
F3
The beam is in equilibrium.
Which statement is correct?
A All the forces are equal in size.
B The resultant force on the beam is in the opposite direction to the resultant turning effect.
C The resultant force on the beam is zero and the resultant turning effect on the beam is zero.
D The total upward force is twice the total downward force.
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7 The diagrams show four solid cones. The centre of mass of each cone is marked by a point
labelled M.
Which cone is the most stable?
A B C D
M M M M
8 A heavy beam rests on two supports. The diagram shows the only three forces F1, F2 and F3
acting on the beam.
F1 F2
beam
support support
F3
The beam is in equilibrium.
Which statement is correct?
A All the forces are equal in size.
B The resultant force on the beam is in the opposite direction to the resultant turning effect.
C The resultant force on the beam is zero and the resultant turning effect on the beam is zero.
D The total upward force is twice the total downward force.
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9 A heavy truck on wheels has a platform attached to it.
A man stands on the platform.
The truck does not fall over.
Which position A, B, C or D could be the centre of mass of the whole system (truck, platform and
man)?
man
truck D
platform
C
B
A
10 A uniform rod rests on a pivot at its centre. The rod is not attached to the pivot. Forces are then
applied to the rod in four different ways, as shown. The weight of the rod can be ignored.
Which diagram shows the rod in equilibrium?
A B
100 N 100 N
100 N 100 N
C D
100 N 100 N
100 N 100 N 100 N
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11 A plane lamina with centre of mass X touches the ground at point P.
Which diagram shows the lamina in equilibrium?
A B
X
X
70°
20°
P P
C D
X X
45° 45°
P P
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12 A wooden bar is pivoted at its centre so that it can rotate freely. Two equal forces F are applied to
the bar.
In which diagram is the turning effect greatest?
A B
pivot
F F F
F
C D
pivot F
F
F
F
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13 The weight of an object is found using the balance shown in the diagram. The object is put in the
left-hand pan and various weights are put in the right-hand pan.
object weights
These are the results.
weights in the right-hand pan effect
0.1 N, 0.1 N, 0.05 N, 0.02 N balance tips down slightly on the left-hand side
0.2 N, 0.1 N, 0.01 N balance tips down slightly on the right-hand side
What is the best estimate of the weight of the object?
A 0.27 N B 0.29 N C 0.31 N D 0.58 N
14 The diagram shows a uniform, flat metal sheet hanging freely from a nail at point A. A weight also
hangs freely on a string tied to A.
One of the labelled points is at the centre of mass of the metal sheet.
Which point is at the centre of mass?
nail
A
metal sheet
weight
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15 Passengers are not allowed to stand on the upper deck of double-decker buses.
upper deck
lower deck
Why is this?
A They would cause the bus to become less stable.
B They would cause the bus to slow down.
C They would increase the kinetic energy of the bus.
D They would lower the centre of mass of the bus.
16 Two objects X and Y are placed on a balance.
The balance tilts as shown.
What does this show about the masses and weights of objects X and Y?
masses weights
A X has less mass than Y X has less weight than Y
B X has less mass than Y X has more weight than Y
C X has the same mass as Y X has less weight than Y
D X has the same mass as Y X has more weight than Y
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17 The diagram shows a balance being used to find the weight of a baby. The weight of the basket
can be ignored.
At equilibrium, the pivot is nearer to the weight W than to the baby.
centre of mass
of beam
pivot
W
baby
basket
What is the weight of the baby?
A less than W
B more than W
C W
D impossible to tell
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18 The weight of an object is to be found using the balance shown in the diagram.
object
The object is put in the left-hand pan and various standard weights are put in the right-hand pan.
These are the results.
weights in the right-hand pan effect
0.1 N, 0.1 N, 0.05 N, 0.02 N balance tips down slightly on the left-hand side
0.2 N, 0.1 N, 0.01 N balance tips down slightly on the right-hand side
What is the best estimate of the weight of the object?
A 0.27 N B 0.29 N C 0.31 N D 0.58 N
