Lesson 3.4.1

3.4.1 Springs Quiz: OCR Physics, Unit 2

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.4.1, Springs: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Physics (H156), Unit 2: Forces and motion, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which term describes the extension of a spring caused by a pulling force?

    • Plastic deformation
    • Shear deformation
    • Compressive deformation
    • Tensile deformation

  2. According to Hooke's law, what is force directly proportional to for a spring?

    • Extension
    • Cross-sectional area
    • Spring constant
    • Original length

  3. The spring constant k has the unit:

    • N m^2
    • m N^-1
    • N m
    • N m^-1

  4. What does a straight-line force-extension graph passing through the origin indicate?

    • Plastic deformation occurs
    • Zero elastic potential energy
    • Constant stress
    • Hooke's law is obeyed

  5. What type of force-extension relationship is shown by a rubber band?

    • Inverse square
    • Non-linear
    • Directly proportional
    • Linear

  6. In the Hooke's law equation F = kx, what physical quantity does k represent?

    • Elastic limit
    • Young modulus
    • Force constant
    • Tensile stress

  7. What type of deformation occurs when pushing forces decrease the length of a spring?

    • Tensile deformation
    • Elastic strain
    • Plastic deformation
    • Compressive deformation

  8. A spring of constant 50 N m^-1 is extended by 0.08 m. What is the force?

    • 40 N
    • 625 N
    • 4 N
    • 0.0016 N

  9. A force of 12 N extends a spring by 0.30 m. What is the spring constant?

    • 3.6 N m^-1
    • 4 N m^-1
    • 0.025 N m^-1
    • 40 N m^-1

  10. A spring of constant 200 N m^-1 is compressed by 0.05 m. What is the force needed?

    • 4 N
    • 0.25 N
    • 10 N
    • 40 N

  11. A spring of constant 80 N m^-1 is stretched to an extension of 0.15 m, within its limit of proportionality. What is the force?

    • 5.3 N
    • 12 N
    • 120 N
    • 0.53 N

  12. A 0.5 kg mass hangs from a spring of constant 20 N m^-1. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the extension?

    • 2.5 m
    • 0.10 m
    • 0.25 m
    • 0.025 m

  13. A spring obeys Hooke's law. If its extension doubles, the force needed:

    • Quadruples
    • Doubles
    • Halves
    • Stays the same

  14. A wire extends by 2.5 mm under a load of 10 N. What is its spring constant?

    • 4000 N m^-1
    • 4.0 N m^-1
    • 0.25 N m^-1
    • 400 N m^-1

  15. A spring of constant 500 N m^-1 is extended by 4 cm. What is the force on it?

    • 125 N
    • 0.2 N
    • 2 N
    • 20 N

  16. Spring A has k = 100 N m^-1 and B has k = 50 N m^-1. Under equal force, how does B extend?

    • Twice as much
    • Four times as much
    • Half as much
    • By the same amount

  17. On a force-extension graph, what point is marked where the line stops being straight?

    • Limit of proportionality
    • Yield point
    • Breaking point
    • Elastic limit

  18. If a spring is cut into two equal halves, what happens to its force constant?

    • It stays the same
    • It doubles
    • It halves
    • It quadruples

  19. Two identical springs, each with k = 40 N m^-1, are arranged side by side and stretched equally. What is the combined spring constant?

    • 20 N m^-1
    • 160 N m^-1
    • 80 N m^-1
    • 40 N m^-1

  20. A spring of constant 30 N m^-1 supports 0.6 kg, then 0.3 kg more is added. Using g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the total extension?

    • 0.29 m
    • 0.49 m
    • 0.20 m
    • 0.10 m

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