Lesson 4.5.4

4.5.4 Moments, levers and gears (physics only) Quiz: AQA Physics, Unit 5

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.5.4, Moments, levers and gears (physics only): 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Unit 5: Forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is defined as the turning effect of a force?

    • Work
    • Moment
    • Power
    • Pressure

  2. What formula calculates the size of the moment of a force?

    • Force divided by distance
    • Force squared
    • Mass times acceleration
    • Force times distance

  3. The unit of moment of a force is the:

    • Newton-metre, N m
    • Metre per second, m/s
    • Pascal, Pa
    • Newton, N

  4. In the moment equation, what type of distance is used?

    • Parallel distance
    • Perpendicular distance
    • Total distance
    • Diagonal distance

  5. A force of 6 N acts at a perpendicular distance of 0.5 m from a pivot. What is the moment?

    • 6.5 N m
    • 0.083 N m
    • 3 N m
    • 12 N m

  6. What condition applies when an object is balanced about a pivot?

    • Maximum moment
    • Equal opposing moments
    • Zero net force
    • Equal opposing forces

  7. A seesaw balances with a 200 N force at 1.5 m from the pivot on one side. A 300 N force on the other side is at what distance from the pivot?

    • 0.67 m
    • 1.5 m
    • 1.0 m
    • 450 m

  8. A 400 N child sits 1.2 m from a pivot. A 240 N force on the other side balances the seesaw. How far from the pivot is the 240 N force?

    • 2.0 m
    • 4.8 m
    • 0.5 m
    • 1.2 m

  9. A force of 40 N acts at 2 m from a pivot. What anticlockwise moment is needed to balance it?

    • 20 N m
    • 80 N m
    • 160 N m
    • 42 N m

  10. A spanner is pulled with 20 N at the end of a handle 0.3 m long. What is the moment about the nut?

    • 60 N m
    • 0.015 N m
    • 6 N m
    • 20.3 N m

  11. If the same force is applied further from the pivot, the moment:

    • Decreases
    • Becomes zero
    • Stays the same
    • Increases

  12. A force acts along a line passing directly through the pivot. What is its moment?

    • Twice the force
    • Maximum
    • Clockwise only
    • Zero

  13. What must exist for a force to produce a turning effect?

    • Balanced mass
    • Constant velocity
    • Distance from pivot
    • Zero friction

  14. How does a simple lever transmit rotational effects?

    • Fluid pressure transfer
    • Meshing gear teeth
    • Pivoting about fulcrum
    • Electrical induction

  15. How do gear systems transmit rotational effects of forces?

    • Magnetic attraction
    • Meshing teeth
    • Fluid compression
    • Sliding friction

  16. When a small gear drives a larger gear, how does the larger gear turn?

    • In reverse only
    • At equal speed
    • More quickly
    • More slowly

  17. A lever has an effort arm of 2 m with a 50 N effort, and a load arm of 0.5 m. What load force is balanced?

    • 25 N
    • 200 N
    • 100 N
    • 400 N

  18. A moment of 15 N m is needed. What distance from the pivot is required for a 5 N force?

    • 10 m
    • 75 m
    • 0.33 m
    • 3 m

  19. A 60 N force acts clockwise 0.4 m from a pivot. A 40 N force acts anticlockwise at distance d from the pivot. For balance, what is d?

    • 0.24 m
    • 1.0 m
    • 0.6 m
    • 2.4 m

  20. Which two quantities determine the moment of a force?

    • Force and area
    • Mass and velocity
    • Pressure and volume
    • Force and distance

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