A technician tests a powered maintenance platform on a straight, horizontal track. The total mass of the platform remains constant at 25 kg.
For each test, sensors measure the driving force, the resistive force acting in the opposite direction and the acceleration.
| Driving force in N\text{N}N | Resistive force in N\text{N}N | Acceleration in m s−2\text{m s}^{-2}m s−2 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 5 | 1.00 |
| 46 | 6 | 1.60 |
| 62 | 7 | 2.20 |
| 78 | 8 | 2.10 |
| 94 | 9 | 3.40 |
Describe how the technician should analyse the results to test whether acceleration is directly proportional to resultant force.
In your answer, explain what the data show, including the expected acceleration for any result that does not fit the pattern, and how that result should be treated.
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.