P2.
12c Forces and motion
1 Draw a line to link the diagram with the correct statement. One has been done for you. (The size of
the arrow in the diagram represents the size of the force).
2 Look at this diagram. Circle the correct answer to each of the questions.
a Which way will the book move?
left right up down
b What is the resultant force on the book?
4N 7N 11 N 18 N
3 For each diagram, write down:
i what the resultant force is ii what will happen to the object.
a b
© Pearson Education 2011. Edexcel GCSE Additional Science Activity Pack
This document may have been altered from the original.
P2.12d Resultant forces
Higher
1 For each scenario:
Draw a free-body diagram to show the forces acting.
Say what the direction of the resultant force is and what the effect on the object will be.
a A bag of shopping weighs 50 N. There is a force of 60 N upwards.
b A boy kicks a ball. His foot pushes forward with 18 N. Friction pushes back with 3 N.
c A moving skateboarder drags her foot on the ground making a force of friction.
d A fish swims against a current. The current has a backwards force of 8 N. The fish’s tail pushes
forward with a force of 8 N.
e A boy is sitting on a chair reading a book. The boy’s weight is 600 N.
f A boy strikes a snooker ball with a cue. The force from the cue is 20 N. The force of friction from
the table is 4 N.
g The weight of a car is 7500 N. The engine is providing a forwards force of 750 N. The force of air
resistance is 150 N and the friction on the road provides a force of 100 N.
2 The diagram shows the forces acting on an aeroplane in flight.
a What is the resultant force on the
plane?
b What direction does this force act in?
A decrease in speed of the aeroplane will
reduce the lift produced by the wings
while an increase in speed will increase
the lift.
c Explain the effect this resultant force
will have on the motion of the aeroplane.
d The propeller at the front of the aeroplane pushes air backwards. Explain how this makes the
aeroplane move forward.
Extra challenge
3 Thomas is standing in a lift. As it starts to go up, it accelerates.
a What forces are acting on Thomas?
b Is the upward force larger or smaller than Thomas’s weight?
c In which direction is the resultant force? Give a reason for your answer.
© Pearson Education 2011. Edexcel GCSE Additional Science Activity Pack
This document may have been altered from the original.
