Grade 11 Physical Sciences · Mechanics · Paper 1 (Physics)

Force Diagrams Grade 11

Real Force Diagrams past paper questions and answers from 2022 to 2025, with each memo split into the ticks examiners give. Try one, mark yourself, and see exactly which skill cost you marks.

past paper questions: 17 past paper questions
skill: 1 skill
videos: 1 videos

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Question 4.2 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 5 marks

A boy pulls a

10

kg block, that is attached to a

5

kg block by a light, inextensible string of negligible mass, with a force of

50

N at an angle of

30°

with the horizontal as shown in the diagram below. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the surface and the

10

kg block is

0, 18

. The

5

kg block experiences a kinetic frictional force of

9

4.2 Draw a labelled free body diagram showing all the forces acting on the

10

kg block.(5)

Work it out on paper first. Then mark yourself with the official memo, one tick at a time.

Force Diagrams skills

Each skill is one thing a memo gives a tick for. Tap one for its own questions, notes and videos.

Draw a free-body or force diagramDraw every force acting on an object as a labelled arrow, for example weight, normal force, friction and applied force on a box.45 past paper questions · 3 videos

More Force Diagrams Grade 11 questions and answers

Try each one on paper before you open the memo.

4. Question 4.2 · June 2024 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 3 marks
A small sphere A, with a mass of $0, 2$ kg and a charge of $- 3 μ$ C is fastened to the end of a $0, 30$ m long light, flexible, inextensible string (with negligible mass). The string is suspended by a hook in the ceiling. Another identical small sphere, B, is placed to the left of sphere A. Sphere A experiences an attraction force and moves towards sphere B. When sphere A is in static equilibrium, the string makes an angle of $10°$ with the vertical and it is found that the distance between the spheres is $50$ cm, as shown in the diagram (not drawn to scale) below.
4.2 Draw a labelled, free-body diagram of all the forces acting on sphere A.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  TensionAn arrow from the dot, along the string, pointing up towards the hook (up and slightly to the right), labelled $T$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  WeightAn arrow from the dot pointing vertically downwards, labelled $F_{g}$ / $w$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  Electrostatic forceAn arrow from the dot pointing horizontally to the LEFT (towards B), labelled $F_{B o n A}$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
5. Question 3.2.2 · June 2024 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 4 marks
3.2 The diagram below shows two blocks of masses $7$ kg and $12$ kg, attached to each other with an inextensible string of negligible mass. The $7$ kg block is placed on a rough inclined surface that makes an angle of $37°$ with the horizontal while the $12$ kg block is suspended in the air.

The kinetic frictional force between the $7$ kg block and the surface is $13, 13$ N.

When the blocks are released, the 7 kg block accelerates up the inclined surface. Answer the questions that follow.
3.2.2 Draw a labelled free-body diagram for the 7 kg block.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Normal forceArrow perpendicular to the incline, pointing away from the surface, labelled N / Normal force.
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  TensionArrow parallel to the incline, pointing UP the slope, labelled T / F.
  
  Accepted labels: T, F, tension.
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  Kinetic frictionArrow parallel to the incline, pointing DOWN the slope, labelled $f_{k}$ / kinetic friction.
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
4. ✓
  WeightArrow vertically downwards, labelled $F_{g}$ / W / Weight / Gravitational force.
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
6. Question 3.2 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 3 marks
National Building Regulations for trolley and wheelchair ramps specify that a ramp must be $6$ m in length, while the angle of the ramp must be $4, 76°$ . The combined mass of the trolley and its contents is $80$ kg. The coefficient of static friction between the wheels of the trolley and the ramp is $0, 1$ .
3.2 Draw a labelled free body diagram of all the forces acting on the trolley at the top of the ramp, just as it starts to roll down the ramp.(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  WeightArrow vertically downwards from the dot, labelled $F_{g}$ or $w$ (lower case). OR its two components $F_{g ∥}$ (down the slope) and $F_{g ⊥}$ (into the slope).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  Static frictionArrow up the slope (parallel to the ramp), labelled $f_{s}$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  Normal forceArrow perpendicular to the ramp, away from the surface, labelled $N$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
7. Question 5.2 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 5 marks
Two blocks, A and B, are tied to each other by means of a light, inextensible string as indicated in the diagram below. Block A has a mass of $10$ kg and experiences a frictional force of $10, 70$ N. Block B has a mass of $8$ kg. The coefficient of kinetic friction between block B and the incline is $0, 31$ . A force F moves the blocks up the inclined plane at a constant velocity.
5.2 Draw a labelled free-body diagram for block B.(5)
Show the memo (5 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  WeightArrow vertically downwards, labelled $F_{g}$ or $w$ (lower case).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  TensionArrow down the slope, labelled $T$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  Applied forceArrow up the slope, labelled $F$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
4. ✓
  FrictionArrow down the slope, labelled $f$ (the memo labels it $f_{s}$ ).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
5. ✓
  Normal forceArrow perpendicular to the slope, away from it, labelled $N$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
8. Question 3.2 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 4 marks
A constant force, F, pulls a 20 kg block at a constant speed over a rough horizontal surface, XY, as shown in Diagram A below. The coefficient of kinetic friction ( $μ_{k}$ ) between the block and the surface is $0, 2$ .
3.2 Draw a labelled free-body diagram showing ALL the forces acting on the block.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Normal forceArrow pointing up from the dot, labelled $F_{N}$ (normal force).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  Applied forceArrow pointing up and to the right at $35°$ to the horizontal, labelled $F$ (the applied force). The memo also accepts $F$ replaced by its components.
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  Kinetic frictionArrow pointing left (opposite to the motion), labelled $f_{k}$ or $F_{f}$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
4. ✓
  WeightArrow pointing down from the dot, labelled $F_{g}$ (weight / gravitational force).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
9. Question 4.2 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 4 marks
In the diagram below, an 8 kg block is connected to a 4 kg block by means of a light, inextensible string. A constant force of 55 N is applied to the 8 kg block to accelerate the combination of blocks to the right.

The kinetic frictional force between the 4 kg block and the inclined plane is 4 N while the kinetic frictional force between the 8 kg block and the horizontal plane is 8 N.
4.2 Draw a free body diagram of all forces acting on the 4 kg block.(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Normal forceArrow perpendicular to the incline, pointing away from the surface, labelled $F_{N}$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  TensionArrow parallel to the incline, pointing up the slope (towards the pulley), labelled $F$ or $T$ (tension in the string).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  FrictionArrow parallel to the incline, pointing down the slope, labelled $f$ .
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
4. ✓
  WeightArrow pointing vertically down, labelled $F_{g}$ . (The memo also accepts $F_{g}$ shown as its components $F_{g ∥}$ and $F_{g ⊥}$ .)
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
10. Question 3.2 · November 2022 · Paper 1 · Provincial · 5 marks
Two blocks of masses 5 kg and 2 kg are connected by a light inextensible string. A force $F$ is applied on 5 kg at an angle of $20°$ to the horizontal and the system of blocks accelerates to the right at $2$ m·s $^{- 2}$ as shown on the diagram below. The kinetic frictional force on the 5 kg block is $10$ N.
3.2 Draw a free-body diagram of ALL forces acting on the 5 kg block.(5)
Show the memo (5 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Normal forceArrow upwards from the dot, labelled N (normal force).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
2. ✓
  WeightArrow downwards from the dot, labelled W (weight, $F_{g}$ ).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
3. ✓
  FrictionArrow to the left from the dot, labelled f (kinetic friction).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
4. ✓
  TensionArrow to the left from the dot, labelled T (tension in the string).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram
5. ✓
  Applied force FArrow upwards to the right at $20°$ to the horizontal from the dot, labelled F.
  
  The memo also accepts F drawn as its two components: $F_{X}$ to the right and $F_{Y}$ upwards (one mark for the pair).
  1 mark · Draw a free-body or force diagram

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