AQA GCSE Physics Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), November 2021: Question 2
11 marks · Standard Demand difficulty · Short Answer
Analyze forces, moments, motion graphs, and displacement for a cyclist using multiple short-answer and calculation questions.
Practise this questionQuestion
Question text
02 Figure 3 shows a cyclist on a bicycle.
The cyclist is moving at a constant velocity.
Arrows A and B represent the horizontal forces acting on the bicycle and cyclist.
Figure 3
02.1 What is force A?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Air resistance
Friction
Tension
Upthrust 7
02.2 What is force B?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
Air resistance
Magnetic
Tension
Upthrust
02.3 What is the relationship between force A and force B when the cyclist travels at a
constant velocity?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
A = B
A > B
A < B 8
02.4 The cyclist applies a force of 150 N to one of the bicycle pedals.
Figure 4 shows the distance between the force applied and the pivot.
Figure 4
Calculate the moment about the pivot caused by the force applied to the
pedal in Figure 4.
Use the equation:
moment of a force = force × distance
[2 marks]
Moment = N m
02.5 Figure 5 shows how the pedal is connected to the back wheel of the bicycle.
Figure 5
Complete the sentence.
Choose the answer from the box.
[1 mark]
axle chain cog
The force from the cyclist pushing down on the pedal is transmitted to the back wheel
by the .
Figure 6 shows how the velocity of the cyclist changes during a journey.
Figure 6
02.6 What is the change in velocity of the cyclist in the first 20 seconds of the journey?
[1 mark]
Tick ( ) one box.
5.2 m/s
5.4 m/s
5.6 m/s
5.8 m/s 11
02.7 Determine the acceleration of the cyclist during the first 20 seconds of the journey.
Use your answer from Question 02.6
Use the equation:
change in velocity
acceleration =
time taken
[2 marks]
Acceleration of the cyclist = m/s2
02.8 Complete the sentence.
Choose the answer from the box.
[1 mark]
deceleration speed velocity
Between 30 and 40 seconds the cyclist moves with
a constant .
02.9 The cyclist travels from home to school.
Figure 7 shows the route the cyclist followed.
Figure 7
Draw an arrow on Figure 7 to show the displacement of the cyclist.
[1 mark]
Mark scheme
Show the mark scheme
Question 2
AO /
Question Answers Extra information Mark
Spec. Ref.
02.1 friction 1 AO1
4.5.1.2
02.2 air resistance 1 AO1
4.5.1.2
02.3 A = B 1 AO1
4.5.6.2.2
02.4 M = 150 × 0.24 1 AO2
4.5.4
M = 36 (Nm) 1
02.5 chain 1 AO2
4.5.4
02.6 5.8 m/s 1 AO2
4.5.6.1.5
02.7 a = 5.8 allow their v from question 02.6 1 AO2
20 4.5.6.1.5
a = 0.29 (m/s2) allow a correctly calculated 1
value using their v from
question 02.6
02.8 Deceleration 1 AO3
4.5.6.1.5
02.9 straight arrow drawn between 1 AO1
home and school pointing 4.5.6.1.1
towards school.
Total 11
How to answer it
Forces, Moments and Motion Study Guide
What this question tests
This question assesses core mechanics topics including contact and non-contact forces, Newton's first law (terminal velocity/constant speed), calculating moments of forces, interpreting velocity-time graphs to calculate acceleration, and distinguishing between vector quantities (displacement) and scalar quantities.
Part 02.1 & 02.2: Identifying Forces
Identifying force A (tyre/ground interaction) and force B (air resistance)
✅ Correct Answers
- 02.1: Friction
- 02.2: Air resistance
💡 Key Knowledge
- Force A acts upwards/backwards at the point where the tyre touches the road. This is contact friction between the tyre and road surface.
- Force B acts horizontally backwards against the motion of the cyclist, caused by air particles colliding with the rider and bicycle.
Part 02.3: Constant Velocity & Forces
Relating force A and force B at constant velocity
✅ Correct Answer
A = B
🧠 Exam Technique & Knowledge
According to Newton's First Law, when an object travels at a constant velocity (steady speed in a straight line), the resultant force on the object must be zero. Therefore, the forward driving forces must exactly balance the backward resistive forces.
Part 02.4: Calculating Moments
Calculating the turning effect on the pedal
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation
- State the formula: Moment = force × distance
- Substitute values: 150 N × 0.24 m
- Calculate final answer: 36 N m
❌ Common Errors
- Forgetting to include or miscalculating the units (N m).
- Inverting multiplication or dividing values instead of multiplying force by perpendicular distance from the pivot.
Part 02.5: Transmission of Forces
Completing the sentence about mechanical systems
✅ Correct Answer
chain
💡 Key Knowledge
Bicycles use gears and a chain to transmit rotational force (moments) from the front pedals to the back wheel.
Part 02.6 & 02.7: Velocity-Time Graphs & Acceleration
Reading values from a graph and calculating acceleration
✅ Correct Answers
- 02.6: 5.8 m/s (change in velocity from t = 0 to t = 20 s)
- 02.7: 0.29 m/s²
📐 Step-by-Step Calculation (02.7)
- State equation: acceleration = change in velocity / time taken
- Substitute values: 5.8 / 20
- Calculate: 0.29 m/s²
🧠 ECF (Error Carried Forward) Note
If you misread 02.6, examiners will allow a correctly calculated acceleration based on whatever velocity value you brought forward from 02.6! Always read graph grid lines carefully (each small square on the vertical axis represents 0.2 m/s).
Part 02.8: Interpreting Motion Graphs
Completing the sentence for the 30 to 40 second interval
✅ Correct Answer
Deceleration
💡 Knowledge & Analysis
Looking at Figure 6, between 30 and 40 seconds the line slopes downwards from a velocity of nearly 6 m/s down to 0 m/s. A downward slope on a velocity-time graph indicates negative acceleration, known as deceleration.
Part 02.9: Displacement
Drawing an arrow to represent displacement
✅ Correct Answer Description
A single straight arrow drawn directly from the starting point labelled "Home" to the end point labelled "School", pointing towards "School".
❌ Common Errors
Students often trace the curved path shown on the map. Remember that displacement is defined as the distance in a given direction—it is always a straight line from start to finish, regardless of the actual route taken!
Topics
Physics · P5: Forces
Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Physics examination, Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), November 2021. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.