Unit 1: Space, Time and Motion
Topic 1.2: Forces and Momentum Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 1.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1State1 mark
2026
State the condition for an object to be in translational equilibrium.
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A cork floats at rest, partly submerged, on the surface of still water.
Identify the two forces acting on the cork and state the relationship between their magnitudes.
Identify the two forces acting on the cork and state the relationship between their magnitudes.
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Momentum is one of the quantities used to describe collisions.
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State what is meant by an object being in translational equilibrium.
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2026
A block floats partly submerged in water, at rest.
Draw a free-body diagram for the block.
Draw a free-body diagram for the block.
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State the condition that must be met for the total momentum of a system of objects to be conserved during a collision.
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A 0.45 kg ball experiences a single net force of 6.0 N.
Calculate the magnitude of its acceleration.
Calculate the magnitude of its acceleration.
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A 2.5 kg block sliding on a frictionless surface speeds up from 3.0 m s−1 to 11 m s−1 along a straight line.
Calculate the impulse delivered to the block.
Calculate the impulse delivered to the block.
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2026
A block rests on a rough slope.
Draw a free-body diagram for the block.
Draw a free-body diagram for the block.
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2026
State the unit of the coefficient of friction.
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A solid brass cylinder of volume 4.0 × 10−4 m3 is fully submerged in water of density 1.0 × 103 kg m−3 (g = 9.8 N kg−1).
Calculate the buoyancy force on the cylinder.
Calculate the buoyancy force on the cylinder.
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A satellite moves in a circular orbit around a planet at a constant speed.
State the direction of the net force acting on the satellite, and state why the satellite is accelerating even though its speed does not change.
State the direction of the net force acting on the satellite, and state why the satellite is accelerating even though its speed does not change.
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A 0.45 kg ball travelling at 14 m s−1 is caught by a fielder and brought to rest in 0.060 s.
Determine the magnitude of the average force the fielder's hands exert on the ball.
Determine the magnitude of the average force the fielder's hands exert on the ball.
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A single force of 200 N acts on a trolley at 52° above the horizontal.
Calculate the horizontal and vertical components of this force.
(cos 52° = 0.62, sin 52° = 0.79)
Calculate the horizontal and vertical components of this force.
(cos 52° = 0.62, sin 52° = 0.79)
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2026
A 20 kg crate rests on a horizontal floor with coefficient of static friction 0.40. Take g = 9.81 m s−2.
Calculate the maximum static friction force.
Calculate the maximum static friction force.
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2026
A resultant force of 6.0 N acts on a mass of 2.0 kg.
Show that the acceleration is 3.0 m s−2.
Show that the acceleration is 3.0 m s−2.
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State what is meant by the terminal velocity of an object falling through a fluid.
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State what is meant by the static friction force acting on an object.
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