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CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Science P4.5.4 Force on a current-carrying conductor Exam Style Questions Paper 4

Question

Fig. 12.1 shows a forklift truck lifting a crate.
(a) The forklift truck does 2750 J of work on the crate when the crate is lifted through a height of 2.2 m.
The gravitational field strength, g, is 10 N/kg.
Calculate the mass of the crate.
(b) Fig. 12.2 shows the same forklift truck after it has lowered the crate.
Explain why the forklift truck is more stable after it has lowered the crate.
Use ideas about centre of mass in your answer.
(c) The forklift truck uses an electric motor to lift the crate.
Fig. 12.3 shows a simple d.c. motor.
(i) A current flows through the coil. Draw arrows on Fig. 12.3 to show the direction of the force acting on points X and Z on the coil.
(ii) State why point Y does not experience a force.
(d) A β-particle passes between the poles of a permanent magnet.
(i) Suggest why a β-particle is deflected when moving through a magnetic field.
(ii) State and explain how the deflection direction of an α-particle would differ from that of the β-particle.

Most-appropriate topic codes (Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences 0654):

• Topic P1.6.2 — Work (Part (a))
• Topic P1.5.3 — Centre of gravity (Part (b))
• Topic P4.5.4 — Force on a current-carrying conductor (Part (c))
• Topic P5.2.2 — The three types of nuclear emission (Part (d))

▶️ Answer/Explanation

(a) 125 kg

Work done against gravity is \(W = mgh\), so \(m = \dfrac{W}{gh}\).
\(m = \dfrac{2750}{10 \times 2.2} = \dfrac{2750}{22} = 125\,\text{kg}\).

(b) lower centre of mass

Lowering the crate lowers the overall centre of mass of the forklift truck system.
A lower centre of mass increases stability, since a larger tilt is needed before the line of action of weight moves outside the base, reducing the tendency to topple.

(c)(i) X: force upwards; Z: force downwards

Using Fleming’s left-hand rule with current and the magnetic field direction shown, the force on X acts upwards and the force on Z acts downwards.
These opposite forces on either side of the coil create the turning effect (torque) that rotates the motor.

(c)(ii) current is parallel to the magnetic field at Y

A force is only produced when current flows at an angle to the magnetic field.
At point Y, the current direction is parallel to the field lines, so no force acts on it.

(d)(i) it is a charged particle

A β-particle is a fast-moving electron and therefore carries a (negative) electric charge.
A charged particle moving through a magnetic field experiences a force (the motor effect), which deflects its path.

(d)(ii) opposite direction, smaller deflection

An α-particle carries a positive charge, opposite to the negative charge of a β-particle, so it deflects in the opposite direction.
Because an α-particle has a much greater mass than a β-particle, it deflects less for the same force.

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