Home / IGCSE Physics (0625) 1.3 Mass and weight Paper 4 -Exam Style Questions

iGCSE Physics (0625) 1.3 Mass and weight Paper 4-Exam Style Questions- New Syllabus

Question

Table 2.1 contains information about the planet Mars.
(a) Define gravitational field strength.
(b) (i) An object has a weight of $42\text{ N}$ at the surface of the Earth. Calculate the weight of the object at the surface of Mars.
(ii) Calculate the volume of Mars.
(c) Fig. 2.1 shows a space buggy that is tested on Earth. The buggy is travelling at a constant speed in a straight line. The driving force on the buggy is $30\text{ N}$.
(i) Draw and label one arrow on Fig. 2.1 to show the size and direction of the resistive forces on the buggy.
(ii) Air resistance on Mars is less than air resistance on Earth. The same driving force, $30\text{ N}$, is exerted on the buggy on Mars. 1. State the effect this has on the resultant force on the buggy on Mars. 2. State the relationship between resistive forces, driving force and resultant force.

Most-appropriate topic codes (Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625):

• Topic $1.3$ — Mass and weight (Parts $\mathrm{(a)}$, $\mathrm{(b)(i)}$)
• Topic $1.4$ — Density (Part $\mathrm{(b)(ii)}$)
• Topic $1.5.1$ — Effects of forces (Part $\mathrm{(c)}$)

▶️ Answer/Explanation

(a)
Force per unit mass (on an object in a gravitational field).

Gravitational field strength, denoted by $g$, defines the intensity of a gravitational field. It is formally defined as the gravitational force ($W$) exerted on an object per unit of its mass ($m$): $g = \frac{W}{m}$.

(b)(i)
$16\text{ N}$

First, find the mass on Earth: $m = \frac{W}{g} = \frac{42}{9.8} \approx 4.286\text{ kg}$. Weight on Mars is $W = m \times g_{\text{Mars}} = 4.286 \times 3.7 = 15.86\text{ N} \approx 16\text{ N}$.

(b)(ii)
$1.6 \times 10^{20}\text{ m}^3$

Using $\rho = \frac{m}{V}$, then $V = \frac{m}{\rho}$. $V = \frac{6.4 \times 10^{23}}{3900} \approx 1.641 \times 10^{20}\text{ m}^3$.

(c)(i)
An arrow drawn parallel to the driving force, pointing to the right, and labelled $30\text{ N}$. Since the buggy moves at constant speed, the resultant force is zero; thus resistive forces must equal the driving force in the opposite direction.

(c)(ii)
1. The resultant force increases (it is no longer zero).
2. Resultant force = driving force $-$ resistive force.

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