At a launch facility, a powered capsule carrier is tested with different payloads. A force sensor records the horizontal forces during each run.
| Run | Mass of carrier and payload in kg\text{kg}kg | Driving force forwards in N\text{N}N | Resistive force backwards in N\text{N}N |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 150 | 30 |
| 2 | 60 | 165 | 45 |
| 3 | 80 | 180 | 60 |
Explain why these measurements allow the effect of mass on acceleration to be compared fairly.
In a fourth run, the mass of the carrier and payload is 100 kg. The driving force is 195 N forwards and the resistive force is 75 N backwards.
Calculate the acceleration of the carrier.
103 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 2.3 Forces and Newton's laws, covering 2.3.1 Newton's first law, 2.3.2 Newton's second law, and 2.3.3 Weight and gravitational field strength. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.