Unit 1: Space, Time and Motion
Topic 1.3: Work, Energy and Power Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Physics SL Topic 1.3. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1State1 mark
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State what is meant by the work done by a force.
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Unlock Question2State1 mark
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State what is meant by the kinetic energy of an object.
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Unlock Question3State1 mark
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State what the area under a force–extension graph for a spring represents.
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Unlock Question4Calculate2 marks
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A 1.5 kg watering can is lifted from the ground onto a shelf 1.2 m high.
Taking g = 9.8 N kg⁻¹, calculate the gravitational potential energy it gains.
Taking g = 9.8 N kg⁻¹, calculate the gravitational potential energy it gains.
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Unlock Question5Identify2 marks
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A box is dragged at a steady speed across a rough floor by a horizontal rope.
Identify the unit of work done, and explain why the weight of the box does no work as it is dragged.
Identify the unit of work done, and explain why the weight of the box does no work as it is dragged.
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Unlock Question6Sketch2 marks
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Sketch a force–distance graph for a constant 10 N force acting over a distance of 4.0 m, and indicate on your sketch how the work done is found from the graph.
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Unlock Question7Calculate2 marks
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A 0.40 kg hockey ball is struck and moves at 30 m s⁻¹.
Calculate its kinetic energy.
Calculate its kinetic energy.
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Unlock Question8State1 mark
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A coin falls from rest off the edge of a table.
Air resistance is negligible.
State the quantity that stays constant as the coin falls.
Air resistance is negligible.
State the quantity that stays constant as the coin falls.
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Unlock Question9State1 mark
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State the SI unit of power and express it in terms of the joule and the second.
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Unlock Question10State2 marks
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State the principle of conservation of energy, and identify the form into which most of the energy wasted by a real machine is transferred.
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Unlock Question11Determine3 marks
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A 0.040 kg golf ball rolls off a shelf and falls from rest through a height of 2.5 m.
Air resistance is negligible and g = 9.8 N kg⁻¹.
Determine the speed of the ball just before it lands.
Air resistance is negligible and g = 9.8 N kg⁻¹.
Determine the speed of the ball just before it lands.
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Unlock Question12Estimate3 marks
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A student of mass 65 kg climbs a flight of stairs of vertical height 3.2 m in 4.0 s.
Estimate the average useful power the student develops against gravity.
(Take g = 9.8 m s⁻².)
Estimate the average useful power the student develops against gravity.
(Take g = 9.8 m s⁻².)
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Unlock Question13Determine4 marks
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A loaded cart of mass 800 kg has a kinetic energy of 90 kJ.
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Unlock Question14Outline3 marks
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Outline how the work-energy principle explains why a car needs a much longer distance to stop when its speed is doubled, assuming the braking force stays the same.
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Unlock Question15Determine5 marks
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A 3.0 kg block slides along a rough horizontal floor.
A constant force of 14 N pushes it through 6.0 m, while a steady friction force of 5.0 N opposes its motion.
The block starts from rest.
A constant force of 14 N pushes it through 6.0 m, while a steady friction force of 5.0 N opposes its motion.
The block starts from rest.
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Unlock Question16Determine3 marks
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A small trolley of mass 2.5 kg starts from rest and is pushed by a motor along a smooth horizontal track, reaching a speed of 6.0 m s⁻¹ after 5.0 s.
Determine the average power delivered to the trolley.
Determine the average power delivered to the trolley.
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Unlock Question17Show that3 marks
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A constant net force of 16 N acts on a 2.5 kg cart, initially at rest, over a distance of 5.0 m.
Show that the final speed of the cart is approximately 8 m s⁻¹.
Show that the final speed of the cart is approximately 8 m s⁻¹.
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Unlock Question18Estimate2 marks
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During a test, a spring stores 200 J of elastic potential energy when it is compressed by 50 cm.
Estimate the spring constant of the spring.
Estimate the spring constant of the spring.
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Unlock Question19Determine2 marks
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At one moment during a climb, a cyclist exerts a driving force of 320 N while travelling at 18 m s⁻¹.
Determine the instantaneous power the cyclist is developing at that moment.
Determine the instantaneous power the cyclist is developing at that moment.
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Unlock Question20Show that2 marks
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A water pump is supplied with 1300 W of electrical power.
The useful power it delivers in raising water is 800 W.
Show that the efficiency of the pump is about 0.62.
The useful power it delivers in raising water is 800 W.
Show that the efficiency of the pump is about 0.62.
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