A-level · Forces & Newton's laws

Force diagrams, resultant force & equilibriumExam-style questions

What each force on a free-body diagram is and which way it points (weight always vertically down, normal reaction perpendicular to the surface, tension pulling along a string), why forces add as vectors so a resultant is found component-by-component, and what "in equilibrium" means — the resultant is zero, so the components balance.

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7 questions · A-level level · mark scheme and worked solution on each · no sign-up to try

DifficultyAll Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

1
Three horizontal forces act on a particle: $10$ N to the right, $4$ N to the left and $3$ N to the left. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force.
Level 2 · 2 marksTry it
2
A particle is in equilibrium under three horizontal forces: $8$ N to the right, $3$ N to the left and a force $P$ to the left. Find $P$ .
Level 2 · 2 marksTry it
3
Find the weight of a particle of mass $5$ kg. ( $g = 9.8$ .)
Level 2 · 2 marksTry it
4
Two forces, $6$ N due east and $8$ N due north, act on a particle. Find the magnitude of the resultant.
Level 3 · 2 marksTry it
5
A particle of mass $4$ kg experiences a resultant force of $12$ N. Find its acceleration.
Level 3 · 2 marksTry it

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