Lesson T2.2.3

T2.2.3 Moments and the turning effect Quiz: KS3 Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T2.2.3, Moments and the turning effect: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Physics (National Curriculum), Unit 2: Motion and forces, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is a moment?

    • A force that stretches an object, such as a spring pulled by a hook
    • The speed of a rotating object, measured in revolutions per minute
    • The turning effect of a force about a pivot
    • The mass of an object, which is the amount of matter it contains

  2. What is the formula for the moment of a force?

    • Moment = force ÷ distance from the pivot, measured in newtons per metre
    • Moment = force + distance from the pivot, measured in newton metres
    • Moment = mass × speed of the object as it turns about the pivot
    • Moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot

  3. What is the unit of moment?

    • Newton (N)
    • Joule (J)
    • Newton metre (N m)
    • Metre per second (m/s)

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

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

  5. Why does a longer spanner make it easier to turn a nut?

    • It makes the force act over a smaller area, which concentrates the pressure
    • It increases the mass of the spanner, so it has more weight to turn the nut
    • A longer distance from the pivot gives a bigger moment for the same force
    • It reduces friction inside the nut, so the spanner turns with much less effort

  6. A seesaw is balanced. A child of 300 N sits 1 m from the pivot. The other child sits 2 m from the pivot. What is the other child's weight?

    • 150 N
    • 300 N
    • 600 N
    • 75 N

  7. A seesaw is balanced. Which statement is correct?

    • The forces on each side are always greater than the pivot force
    • The distances from the pivot are always equal
    • The seesaw has no moments at all
    • The total clockwise moment equals the total anticlockwise moment

  8. Which action gives the greatest turning moment when turning a bolt with a spanner?

    • Pushing at the centre of the spanner, where the handle is held most firmly
    • Pushing close to the bolt, where the spanner is shortest and easiest to hold
    • Pushing at the end of a long spanner, at right angles to it
    • Pushing along the spanner towards the bolt, which grips the nut more firmly

  9. Which force creates the biggest moment: 10 N at 0.2 m, 4 N at 1 m or 2 N at 3 m?

    • 2 N at 3 m
    • 4 N at 1 m
    • 10 N at 0.2 m
    • All three are equal

  10. A 20 N force acts at right angles to a lever, 0.4 m from the pivot. What is the moment?

    • 8 N m
    • 20.4 N m
    • 50 N m
    • 0.02 N m

  11. A force is applied to a spanner at 30° rather than at right angles. What is the effect on the moment?

    • The moment is larger, because the angled force has a greater total size
    • The moment is smaller because only the perpendicular part turns the nut
    • The moment reverses direction, so the nut is turned in the opposite way
    • The moment is unchanged, because the force is still applied to the spanner

  12. Why is a door easier to push open when you push far from the hinges?

    • The distance from the hinge does not matter, because the force is the same
    • The hinge stops the moment completely, so the door opens by friction alone
    • A smaller distance from the hinge gives a bigger moment for the same force
    • A larger perpendicular distance from the hinge gives a bigger moment for the same force

  13. A 400 N child sits 1.5 m from a pivot. A 300 N child sits on the other side. How far from the pivot must the second child sit to balance?

    • 2 m
    • 1.33 m
    • 0.75 m
    • 4.5 m

  14. A 3 N force produces a moment of 15 N m. What is the perpendicular distance from the pivot?

    • 5 m
    • 12 m
    • 0.2 m
    • 45 m

  15. Which everyday tool works by using a moment to lever something up?

    • A sheet of paper
    • A crowbar
    • A pencil
    • A glass of water

  16. A bar is pivoted and has a clockwise moment of 24 N m and an anticlockwise moment of 16 N m. What happens?

    • It stays balanced
    • It stops turning
    • It turns anticlockwise
    • It turns clockwise

  17. A 5 N force acts 2 m to the left of a pivot. What force acting 1 m to the right of the pivot balances it?

    • 2 N
    • 10 N
    • 20 N
    • 5 N

  18. Why does a wheelbarrow with longer handles need less force to lift a load?

    • Longer handles remove all friction from the wheel, so the load moves freely
    • The handles store energy as elastic potential energy, which is released to lift
    • The handles reduce the weight of the load, so less force is needed to lift it
    • The handles act as a longer lever, so a smaller force gives the same moment

  19. A spanner is 0.25 m long. A 40 N force is applied at right angles at its end. What is the moment?

    • 10 N m
    • 160 N m
    • 0.00625 N m
    • 40.25 N m

  20. A 500 N person sits 3 m from the pivot of a seesaw. How far from the pivot must a 750 N person sit on the other side to balance?

    • 2 m
    • 4.5 m
    • 6 m
    • 1 m

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