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O-LevelPhysicsForces5054/22 · May/June 2025 · Q38 Marks

Fig. 3.1 shows a flat tyre on a car. The tyre needs to be inflated. tyre [Figure 3.1]

  1. (a)(i)The force exerted by the flat tyre on the road is 1350 N. The area of the flat tyre in contact with the road is 0.0070 m². Calculate the pressure exerted by the flat tyre on the road. pressure = ....................................................Pa[2]
  2. (a)(ii)Air is pumped into the tyre to inflate it. This increases the pressure inside. The force exerted by the tyre on the road does not change. State how the area of the tyre in contact with the road changes.[1]
  3. (b)(i)Inside the inflated tyre, a particle of air collides against the wall of the tyre. Define 'momentum'.[1]
  4. (b)(ii)Using ideas about momentum, explain why there is a force on the wall of the tyre as the particle collides with it.[2]
  5. (c)As the car moves, the temperature of the air inside the tyre increases. The increase in temperature causes an increase in the pressure of the air. Using ideas about particles, explain why the pressure increases.[2]

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Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [1] (a)(i) (P =) force / area in any form
  2. [1] (a)(i) 1.9 × 10^5 (Pa)
  3. [1] (a)(ii) (increasing pressure) decreases the area
  4. [1] (b)(i) mass (of the particle) × velocity (of the particle)
  5. [1] (b)(ii) on collision: change of momentum / direction / velocity or on collision: momentum transferred to wall
  6. [1] (b)(ii) force related to change in momentum + time or force of equal size on tyre / wall and on particle (Newton's 3rd law)
  7. [1] (c) (particles have) high(er) speed / velocity / momentum / kinetic energy
  8. [1] (c) more collisions per second or hit (wall) hard(er) or larger change in momentum per sec

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About this question

Topic
Forces, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Structured question, 8 marks.
Source
O-Level Physics, May/June 2025 Paper 2 Variant 2, question 3.

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