O Level & A Level Mathematics (Cambridge)

A Level Maths — Mechanics, Set 1

Take the A Level Maths — Mechanics, Set 1: 20 multiple-choice questions (30 minutes) with instant scoring and a full answer review. Covers 20 A Level…

What this test covers

20 A Level Mechanics

Sample questions with answers

The first 5 questions of this test, with the correct answer and explanation.

Q1. A particle starts at 5 m/s and accelerates at 2 m/s² for 4 s. What is its final velocity?
- A. 21 m/s
- B. 11 m/s
- C. 13 m/s ✓
- D. 8 m/s
Answer: C. 13 m/s
Explanation: v = u + at = 5 + 2 × 4 = 13 m/s.
Q2. A stone is dropped from rest. Taking g = 10 m/s², how far does it fall in 3 s?
- A. 90 m
- B. 30 m
- C. 45 m ✓
- D. 15 m
Answer: C. 45 m
Explanation: s = ½gt² = ½ × 10 × 9 = 45 m.
Q3. A car accelerates from rest at 4 m/s² over 50 m. What is its final speed?
- A. 14.1 m/s
- B. 20 m/s ✓
- C. 200 m/s
- D. 10 m/s
Answer: B. 20 m/s
Explanation: v² = 0 + 2 × 4 × 50 = 400, so v = 20 m/s.
Q4. The figure shows a velocity-time graph. What is the total distance travelled?
- A. 108 m ✓
- B. 144 m
- C. 96 m
- D. 72 m
Answer: A. 108 m
Explanation: Distance is the area under the graph: ½ × 4 × 12 + 6 × 12 + ½ × 2 × 12 = 24 + 72 + 12 = 108 m.
Q5. From the same velocity-time graph, what is the acceleration during the first 4 seconds?
- A. 12 m/s²
- B. 4 m/s²
- C. 48 m/s²
- D. 3 m/s² ✓
Answer: D. 3 m/s²
Explanation: Gradient = 12 ÷ 4 = 3 m/s².

The other 15 questions

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Q6. A resultant force of 6 N acts on a 2 kg mass. What is its acceleration?
- A. 3 m/s²
- B. 12 m/s²
- C. 0.33 m/s²
- D. 8 m/s²
Q7. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is the weight of a 5 kg mass?
- A. 5 N
- B. 15 N
- C. 0.5 N
- D. 50 N
Q8. The coefficient of friction is 0.3 and the normal reaction is 40 N. What is the maximum friction?
- A. 1.2 N
- B. 133 N
- C. 12 N
- D. 40.3 N
Q9. A block slides down a smooth plane inclined at 30°. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is its acceleration?
- A. 5 m/s²
- B. 8.66 m/s²
- C. 3 m/s²
- D. 10 m/s²
Q10. A force of 20 N acts at 60° to the horizontal. What is its horizontal component?
- A. 10 N
- B. 11.5 N
- C. 17.3 N
- D. 20 N
Q11. What is the momentum of a 3 kg body moving at 4 m/s?
- A. 12 N s
- B. 0.75 N s
- C. 24 N s
- D. 7 N s
Q12. A 2 kg particle moving at 6 m/s collides with a stationary 4 kg particle, and they move off together. What is their common speed?
- A. 3 m/s
- B. 4 m/s
- C. 1.5 m/s
- D. 2 m/s
Q13. A 50 N force moves an object 8 m in the direction of the force. How much work is done?
- A. 6.25 J
- B. 58 J
- C. 42 J
- D. 400 J
Q14. What is the kinetic energy of a 4 kg mass moving at 5 m/s?
- A. 100 J
- B. 10 J
- C. 20 J
- D. 50 J
Q15. A 3 kg mass is raised 2 m. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is its gain in potential energy?
- A. 6 J
- B. 60 J
- C. 15 J
- D. 30 J
Q16. A car moves at a constant 15 m/s against a resistance of 600 N. At what rate is its engine working?
- A. 615 W
- B. 40 W
- C. 9 kW
- D. 4 kW
Q17. Masses of 3 kg and 2 kg hang on either side of a smooth pulley. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is their acceleration?
- A. 10 m/s²
- B. 2 m/s²
- C. 5 m/s²
- D. 1 m/s²
Q18. In that pulley system (3 kg and 2 kg, g = 10 m/s²), what is the tension in the string?
- A. 50 N
- B. 20 N
- C. 24 N
- D. 30 N
Q19. Three forces act on a particle in equilibrium. What is their resultant?
- A. The largest of the three forces
- B. Zero
- C. It depends on the angles
- D. The sum of their magnitudes
Q20. A 60 kg person stands in a lift accelerating upwards at 2 m/s². Taking g = 10 m/s², what is the normal reaction from the floor?
- A. 600 N
- B. 720 N
- C. 120 N
- D. 480 N