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

Newton's Laws Applications Grade 11

Real Newton's Laws Applications past paper questions and answers from 2023 to 2025, with each memo split into the ticks examiners give. Try one, mark yourself, and see exactly which skill cost you marks.

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Question 1.1 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks

Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10) in the ANSWER BOOK, e.g. 1.11 E.

1.1 The net force acting on an object on a horizontal surface is always ...(2)

A in the direction of motion of the object.
B in the direction of acceleration of the object.
C zero when the object moves at constant acceleration.
D increasing when the object moves at constant acceleration.

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

Newton's Laws Applications skills

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More Newton's Laws Applications Grade 11 questions and answers

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4. Question 2.3.1 · November 2025 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
A block of mass $5$ kg is at rest on a rough horizontal surface. When a constant force F of magnitude $18$ N acts on the block at an angle $θ$ to the horizontal, the block experiences maximum static friction. See the diagram below.
2.3 The horizontal component of force F is $15$ N.

Calculate:
2.3.1 $θ$ (2)
Show the memo (2 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Substitution $F_{x} = F cos θ$
  $15 = 18 cos θ$
  1 mark · Resolve a vector into components
2. ✓
  Answer $θ = 33, 56°$
  1 mark · Resolve a vector into components
5. Question 1.1 · November 2024 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
1.1 Several forces are acting on a moving object.

Which ONE of the following statements is CORRECT when these forces are in equilibrium?(2)
1. A The velocity of the object is increasing.
2. B The object is moving at a constant velocity.
3. C The kinetic energy of the object is decreasing.
4. D The object has a non-zero acceleration.
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Correct optionForces in equilibrium have a resultant (net) force of zero. By Newton's second law, $F_{n e t} = ma = 0$ , so $a = 0$ . A moving object with zero acceleration keeps moving at constant velocity (Newton's first law).
  
  A and D need a non-zero acceleration, and C needs the speed to change, which also needs a net force.
  
  Answer: B
  2 marks · Explain using Newton's laws
6. Question 2.3.1 · November 2024 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 4 marks
In an experiment, a crate of mass $8, 5$ kg, lying stationary on a rough horizontal table, is connected to a mass hanger by means of a light inextensible string passing over a frictionless pulley, as shown in the diagram below. Mass pieces are added to the mass hanger and the acceleration of the crate is measured. The experiment is repeated several times by adding different masses to increase the hanging mass each time.

Ignore the effects of air friction.

The results obtained were used to draw the sketch graph below.
2.3 Calculate the:
2.3.1 Coefficient of static friction ( $μ_{s}$ )(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Tension from the hanging massFor the hanging mass: $F_{n e t} = ma$
  $m g - T = 0$
  $T = m g$
  $T = 4, 2 (9, 8)$
  $= 41, 16$ N
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies
2. ✓
  Forces on the crate (any one)For the crate: $F_{n e t} = ma$
  $T - f_{s}^{ma x} = 0$
  $f_{s}^{ma x} = T$
  (Any one of: $F_{n e t} = ma$ / $T - f_{s}^{ma x} = ma$ / $T - μ_{s} m g = ma$ / $T - f_{s}^{ma x} = 0$ / $f_{s}^{ma x} = T$ / $μ_{s} N = T$ / $f_{s}^{ma x} = μ_{s} N$ )
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies
3. ✓
  Substitution into $f_{s}^{ma x} = μ_{s} N$ $μ_{s} (8, 5) (9, 8) = 41, 16$
  1 mark · Calculate and explain frictional force
4. ✓
  Answer $μ_{s} = 0, 49$
  1 mark · Calculate and explain frictional force
7. Question 1.1 · May/June 2024 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer. Choose the answer and write only the letter (A–D) next to the question numbers (1.1 to 1.10).
1.1 A book rests on a table. Which ONE of the following forces will form an action-reaction pair with the weight of the book?(2)
1. A Force of the Earth on the book
2. B Force of the book on the Earth
3. C Force of the book on the table
4. D Force of the table on the book
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Choose the correct optionThe weight of the book is the force of the Earth on the book. Its Newton III partner is the same type of force with the two objects swapped: the force of the book on the Earth (equal in size, opposite in direction).
  
  The force of the table on the book (D) is the normal force. It also balances the weight, but it acts on the same object (the book) and is a different type of force, so it is not the action-reaction partner.
  
  Answer: B
  2 marks · Explain using Newton's laws
8. Question 2.3.1 · May/June 2024 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 3 marks
Block A of mass $4, 1$ kg is connected to block B of mass $2, 3$ kg by a light inextensible string passing over a frictionless pulley. Block A is at rest on a rough horizontal table and block B hangs vertically, as shown in the diagram below.

A force F of magnitude $49$ N is applied on block A at an angle of $50°$ to the horizontal, causing block A to accelerate TO THE LEFT from rest along the table.

The coefficient of kinetic friction between the surface of the table and block A is $0, 35$ .
2.3 Calculate the magnitude of the:
2.3.1 Kinetic frictional force exerted on block A(3)
Show the memo (3 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Formula $f_{k} = μ_{k} F_{N}$
  
  Any one: $f_{k} = μ_{k} (F_{g} - F_{y})$ or $f_{k} = μ_{k} (m g - F sin θ)$
  1 mark · Calculate and explain frictional force
2. ✓
  Substitution $f_{k} = (0, 35) [(4, 1) (9, 8) - 49 sin 50°]$
  1 mark · Calculate and explain frictional force
3. ✓
  Answer with unit $f_{k} = 0, 93$ N
  1 mark · Calculate and explain frictional force
9. Question 1.1 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 2 marks
Various options are provided as possible answers to the following questions. Each question has only ONE correct answer.
1.1 A constant net force is applied to a block. Which ONE of the following statements is CORRECT?

The block will move with a ...(2)
1. A constant velocity.
2. B constant acceleration.
3. C constantly increasing acceleration.
4. D constantly decreasing acceleration.
Show the memo (1 tick)Memo
1. ✓
  Correct optionBy Newton's second law $F_{n e t} = ma$ , so $a = \frac{F _{n e t}}{m}$ . If $F_{n e t}$ and $m$ stay constant, the acceleration is constant. A constant velocity (A) would need zero net force.
  
  Answer: B
  2 marks · Explain using Newton's laws
10. Question 2.3.1 · November 2023 · Paper 1 · National (DBE) · 4 marks
Two blocks, $A$ , of mass $4$ kg, and $B$ , of mass $9$ kg, are connected by a light inextensible string. The blocks are held at rest on a plane which is inclined at an angle of $35°$ with the horizontal.

A constant force, $F$ , acting parallel to the plane, is applied to block $B$ , as shown in the diagram below. The blocks now accelerate up the plane at $2$ m·s $^{- 2}$ .
2.3 Calculate the magnitude of:
2.3.1 The tension in the string(4)
Show the memo (4 ticks)Memo
1. ✓
  Formula (any one)For block A, up the incline as positive:
  $F_{n e t} = ma$
  $T - f_{k} - w_{∥} = ma$
  $T - f_{k} - m g sin θ = ma$
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies
2. ✓
  Substitution of the forces $T - 5, 88 - 4 (9, 8) sin 35°$
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies
3. ✓
  Substitution of ma $= 4 (2)$
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies
4. ✓
  Answer with unit $T = 36, 36$ N
  1 mark · Solve problems with connected bodies

Newton's Laws Applications Grade 11 videos

Short lessons from South African teachers first. Videos load only when you tap play, to save your data.

Equations of Motion Introduction Grade 10 PhysicsMiss Martins Maths and Science

Vectors in 2D grade 11: Resolving a vector into perpendicular and parallel componentsMiss Martins Maths and Science

Grade 11 Physics Closed Vector Diagrams: Triangle of forcesMiss Martins Maths and Science

Grade 11 Newton Laws: FrictionKevinmathscience

Grade 11 Newton Laws: Fnet = maKevinmathscience

Grade 11 Newton Laws: Connected objectsKevinmathscience

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