Forces and Motion
Each subtopic includes About section, revision page link, 10 preview questions, and practice CTAs.
Gravity and the difference between mass and weight
SubtopicGravity and the difference between mass and weight under Forces and Motion for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What can change the mass of an object?
A.Moving it to the Moon
B.Taking away some of its matter
C.Heating it up
D.Dropping it
- 2.
Gravity is always a pull toward ____.
A.The sky
B.The source of the mass
C.The nearest magnet
D.The East
- 3.
If gravity on a mystery planet is half of Earth's gravity, how would your weight change?
A.It would double
B.It would stay the same
C.It would be half
D.It would be zero
- 4.
A student measures an object and finds it is . What have they measured?
A.The object's weight
B.The object's mass
C.The object's height
D.The object's gravity
- 5.
A student creates the flowchart below to show how two different factors interact to determine a specific property of an object on a planet's surface. Which property is correctly represented by 'Property X'?
A.The volume of the object
B.The density of the object
C.The weight of the object
D.The temperature of the object
- 6.
A mass is placed on a balance scale on the Moon. What mass must be placed on the other side to balance it?
A.B.C.D.Mass cannot be balanced on the Moon.
- 7.
When comparing two different planets, the one with the higher 'surface gravity' will:
A.Make objects have more mass.
B.Make objects have more weight.
C.Make objects fall more slowly.
D.Have no effect on the weight of objects.
- 8.
Which of the following statements explains why a person can jump higher on the Moon than on Earth?
A.The person's weight is less on the Moon, so the same leg force results in a higher jump.
B.The person's mass is less on the Moon, making them easier to move.
C.There is no air on the Moon to push the person back down.
D.The Moon's surface is more bouncy than Earth's.
- 9.
An object is moving away from Earth into deep space. Which graph correctly describes the change in its mass and weight?
A.Mass remains a horizontal line; weight curves downwards towards zero.
B.Both mass and weight decrease as a straight line towards zero.
C.Mass decreases to zero; weight remains constant.
D.Mass increases as the object speeds up; weight remains constant.
- 10.
If you double the mass of an object, but keep it on the same planet, what happens to its weight?
A.Its weight doubles.
B.Its weight stays the same.
C.Its weight is halved.
D.Its weight increases by four times.
Download the worksheet for Forces and Motion - Gravity and the difference between mass and weight to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Effects of air resistance and water resistance
SubtopicEffects of air resistance and water resistance under Forces and Motion for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
What effect does air resistance have on a moving ball?
A.It makes it speed up
B.It has no effect at all
C.It slows it down
D.It makes it change colour
- 2.
Why does a flat hand pushed through water feel more resistance than a hand pushed through 'edge-first' (like a karate chop)?
A.The flat hand has a larger surface area hitting the water
B.The 'edge-first' hand is heavier
C.Water doesn't like flat shapes
D.The flat hand is moving slower
- 3.
Which of these is NOT a way to reduce drag on a vehicle?
A.Making it more streamlined
B.Polishing the surface
C.Increasing its front surface area
D.Reducing the speed
- 4.
If you are running against a very strong wind, you are feeling the effects of...
A.Water resistance
B.Magnetic force
C.Air resistance
D.Gravity
- 5.
Air resistance is a type of:
A.Magnetic force
B.Gravitational force
C.Frictional force
D.Electrical force
- 6.
Why is it harder to push a wide, flat boat through the water than a narrow, pointed canoe?
A.The canoe is always made of lighter material
B.The wide boat has a larger surface area hitting the water, increasing resistance
C.The canoe has more gravity pulling it forward
D.Water resistance only acts on wide objects
- 7.
If you are pedaling a bike and stop pedaling, you eventually slow down and stop. On a flat road, which forces are responsible for this?
A.Only gravity
B.Only air resistance
C.Air resistance and friction from the ground
D.Magnetism and gravity
- 8.
A skydiver is in the 'spread-eagle' position (belly down, arms and legs out). They then pull their arms and legs in to go into a 'head-down' dive. What happens to the forces acting on them?
A.The force of gravity increases because they are more compact.
B.The force of air resistance increases because they are moving faster.
C.The force of air resistance decreases because their frontal surface area is reduced.
D.All forces acting on them suddenly disappear.
- 9.
If a diver jumps into a tank of very thick syrup versus a tank of water, in which liquid will they feel the greatest 'drag' force?
A.In the water, because water molecules are more slippery.
B.In the syrup, because it is more viscous and resists the diver's motion more strongly.
C.They will feel the same force in both because their body shape is the same.
D.In neither, because drag only exists in gases like air.
- 10.
Why does a piece of flat paper fall in a zig-zag or 'fluttering' motion instead of falling straight down?
A.Gravity pulls on different parts of the paper at different times.
B.The air resistance is uneven and pushes against different parts of the flat surface as it tips.
C.The paper is trying to find a way to turn into a crumpled ball.
D.The paper is lighter than the air around it, so it is trying to float up.
Download the worksheet for Forces and Motion - Effects of air resistance and water resistance to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Friction between surfaces
SubtopicFriction between surfaces under Forces and Motion for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
You are pushing a shopping trolley. Which situation will have the MOST friction between the wheels and the floor?
A.An empty trolley on a smooth floor
B.A full trolley with heavy groceries on a smooth floor
C.An empty trolley on a rug
D.A full trolley with heavy groceries on a rug
- 2.
A hovercraft moves on a cushion of air. This makes it very fast because:
A.It has very large engines
B.It is not touching the ground, which removes most friction
C.Air is heavier than water
D.It uses magnets to push the air
- 3.
Why are new shoes sometimes slippery when you first walk on a tiled floor?
A.The soles are very rough
B.The soles are very smooth and have not been worn down yet
C.The floor is too cold
D.The shoes are too heavy
- 4.
Look at the diagram of a skydiver. Which arrow represents the friction caused by the air?
A.Arrow pointing Down
B.Arrow pointing Up
C.Arrow pointing Left
D.Arrow pointing Right
- 5.
A group of students are testing how the shape of an object affects 'water resistance' (a type of friction). They drop four different objects (A, B, C, and D) into a tall tube of water. Based on the concept of streamlining, which shape will experience the LEAST friction and reach the bottom of the tube the fastest?
A.Shape A (Large Cube)
B.Shape B (Flat Plate)
C.Shape C (Streamlined Teardrop)
D.Shape D (Wide Cylinder)
- 6.
Why does a violinist rub 'rosin' (a sticky substance) on their bow?
A.To make the bow slide more smoothly over the strings.
B.To increase friction so the bow can 'grip' the strings and make them vibrate.
C.To protect the bow from getting too hot from friction.
D.To make the bow heavier so it presses harder on the strings.
- 7.
Which of these would be the most likely friction force for a wooden block on a very rough surface if the same block measures on a smooth surface?
A.B.C.D. - 8.
Why is it harder to stop a heavy truck than a small car, even if they have the same type of tires and are on the same road?
A.The truck has more kinetic energy and its weight creates more friction, but the momentum is much greater
B.The truck has less friction than the car
C.The car's tires are made of a different rubber
D.The road pushes harder against the car than the truck
- 9.
In an experiment, if you change the surface from 'dry wood' to 'wood with soap', you are changing the:
A.Dependent variable
B.Independent variable
C.Control variable
D.Constant variable
- 10.
Two identical blocks are placed on a table. Block A is flat. Block B is standing on its end. Which block requires more force to start sliding?
A.Block A
B.Block B
C.Both require approximately the same force
D.It depends on the color of the blocks
Download the worksheet for Forces and Motion - Friction between surfaces to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.
Mechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears
SubtopicMechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears under Forces and Motion for Grade 5 IGCSE.
Preview questions (no answers)
- 1.
Mechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears are all used to transfer:
A.Force and motion
B.Water and air
C.Heat and light
D.Sound and electricity
- 2.
When two gears are connected, what ensures that they do not slip past each other?
A.Oil
B.Magnets
C.Interlocking teeth
D.Glue
- 3.
In the study of levers, what name is given to the weight we want to lift?
A.Effort
B.Pivot
C.Load
D.Mass
- 4.
If you want to pull down on a rope to lift a load up, which machine are you using?
A.A lever
B.A fixed pulley
C.A gear wheel
D.A ramp
- 5.
Why does a bicycle have different sized gears?
A.To make the bike look better
B.To allow the rider to choose between more speed or more turning force
C.To make the chain tighter
D.To prevent the wheels from locking
- 6.
A door handle (knob) is an example of which type of mechanism when it turns a latch?
A.A pulley
B.A lever
C.A wheel and axle (similar to a gear)
D.An inclined plane
- 7.
What happens to the effort required as you add more movable pulleys to a system?
A.It increases
B.It decreases
C.It stays the same
D.It becomes zero
- 8.
A nutcracker is used to crush a walnut. If the walnut is from the hinge and your hand is from the hinge, what is the mechanical advantage?
A.3
B.5
C.12
D.18
- 9.
In a wheel and axle system, which part acts as the 'fulcrum' of the lever hidden within the mechanism?
A.The outer rim of the wheel.
B.The center of the axle.
C.The edge of the axle.
D.The handle used to turn the wheel.
- 10.
How can you calculate the Gear Ratio of a simple two-gear system?
A.Number of teeth on Driver / Number of teeth on Driven
B.Number of teeth on Driven / Number of teeth on Driver
C.Diameter of Driver + Diameter of Driven
D.Number of teeth on Driver Speed of Driver
Download the worksheet for Forces and Motion - Mechanisms like levers, pulleys, and gears to practice offline. It includes additional chapter-level practice questions.