| Exam Board | AQA |
|---|---|
| Module | M1 (Mechanics 1) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Session | June |
| Marks | 7 |
| Paper | Download PDF ↗ |
| Topic | Newton's laws and connected particles |
| Type | Block on rough horizontal surface – accelerating (finding acceleration or applied force) |
| Difficulty | Moderate -0.8 This is a straightforward M1 mechanics question requiring standard application of Newton's laws and friction formula (F = μR). All steps are routine: draw force diagram, find R from vertical equilibrium, calculate friction F = 0.3 × R, then apply F = ma horizontally. No problem-solving insight needed, just methodical application of basic mechanics principles. |
| Spec | 3.03c Newton's second law: F=ma one dimension3.03r Friction: concept and vector form3.03s Contact force components: normal and frictional3.03t Coefficient of friction: F <= mu*R model |
2 A wooden block, of mass 4 kg , is placed on a rough horizontal surface. The coefficient of friction between the block and the surface is 0.3 . A horizontal force, of magnitude 30 newtons, acts on the block and causes it to accelerate.\\
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7ac7dfd0-4c3e-4eb7-920f-ce5b24ad1281-2_111_771_1146_639}
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Draw a diagram to show all the forces acting on the block.
\item Calculate the magnitude of the normal reaction force acting on the block.
\item Find the magnitude of the friction force acting on the block.
\item Find the acceleration of the block.
\end{enumerate}
\hfill \mbox{\textit{AQA M1 2011 Q2 [7]}}