Lesson 3.03u

3.03u Connected particles Quiz: OCR Maths, Unit 18

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.03u, Connected particles: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Maths (H240), Unit 18: Forces and Newton's Laws, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Two particles are connected by a taut inextensible string. What property do their accelerations share?

    • Equal direction
    • Inverse magnitude
    • Zero magnitude
    • Equal magnitude

  2. How does tension vary along a light string passing over a smooth pulley?

    • It is constant
    • It increases
    • It decreases
    • It is zero

  3. What parameter of tension changes when a light string passes over a smooth pulley?

    • Direction only
    • Both magnitude and direction
    • Magnitude only
    • Neither magnitude nor direction

  4. A suspended particle accelerates downwards. How does tension compare to its weight?

    • Greater than weight
    • Zero
    • Less than weight
    • Equal to weight

  5. Two particles of masses m1 and m2 (m1 > m2) hang over a smooth pulley. Which expression gives their common acceleration?

    • a = (m1 + m2)g/(m1 - m2)
    • a = (m1 - m2)g/(m1 + m2)
    • a = (m1 - m2)g
    • a = m1 g/m2

  6. A particle of mass 6 kg on a smooth horizontal table is connected by a light string over a smooth pulley to a particle of mass 2 kg hanging freely. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the acceleration of the system?

    • 19.6 m s^-2
    • 9.8 m s^-2
    • 2.45 m s^-2
    • 4.9 m s^-2

  7. In the set-up of a 6 kg particle on a smooth table connected to a 2 kg hanging particle, with a = 2.45 m s^-2, what is the tension in the string? Take g = 9.8 m s^-2.

    • 14.7 N
    • 19.6 N
    • 4.9 N
    • 29.4 N

  8. A train engine of mass 10000 kg in total pulls a train with a driving force of 5000 N against a total resistance of 1000 N. What is the acceleration of the train?

    • 0.1 m s^-2
    • 0.5 m s^-2
    • 0.6 m s^-2
    • 0.4 m s^-2

  9. A particle of mass 4 kg on a smooth horizontal table is connected over a smooth pulley to a particle of mass 2 kg hanging freely. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the acceleration, to 2 decimal places?

    • 6.53 m s^-2
    • 4.90 m s^-2
    • 3.27 m s^-2
    • 1.96 m s^-2

  10. For the 4 kg and 2 kg system on a smooth table with a = 3.27 m s^-2, what is the tension in the string, to 1 decimal place?

    • 19.6 N
    • 7.8 N
    • 6.5 N
    • 13.1 N

  11. A particle of mass 4 kg rests on a rough horizontal table with coefficient of friction 0.2 and is connected over a smooth pulley to a particle of mass 2 kg hanging freely. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the acceleration?

    • 0.98 m s^-2
    • 4.90 m s^-2
    • 1.96 m s^-2
    • 3.27 m s^-2

  12. A particle of mass 3 kg on a smooth plane inclined at 30 degrees is connected over a smooth pulley at the top to a particle of mass 2 kg hanging freely. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the acceleration?

    • 2.45 m s^-2
    • 4.90 m s^-2
    • 1.96 m s^-2
    • 0.98 m s^-2

  13. In the set-up with the 3 kg particle on a smooth 30 degree plane and the 2 kg particle hanging, what is the tension in the string? Take g = 9.8 m s^-2.

    • 14.7 N
    • 19.6 N
    • 9.8 N
    • 17.6 N

  14. Particles of masses 5 kg and 3 kg hang either side of a smooth pulley and are released from rest. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, how long does the 5 kg particle take to descend 2 m, to 2 decimal places?

    • 2.56 s
    • 0.90 s
    • 1.28 s
    • 1.63 s

  15. A particle of mass 5 kg rests on a rough horizontal table with coefficient of friction 0.1 and is connected over a smooth pulley to a particle of mass 3 kg hanging freely. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the acceleration, to 2 decimal places?

    • 3.68 m s^-2
    • 3.06 m s^-2
    • 2.45 m s^-2
    • 5.88 m s^-2

  16. A train engine of mass 5000 kg pulls a truck of mass 3000 kg along a smooth horizontal track with a driving force of 4000 N on the engine and no resistance. What is the tension in the coupling between them?

    • 2500 N
    • 4000 N
    • 1500 N
    • 3500 N

  17. When is the tension in a vertical string equal to the hanging particle's weight?

    • Accelerating downwards
    • In equilibrium
    • In freefall
    • Accelerating upwards

  18. Two particles of equal mass 3 kg hang either side of a smooth pulley and remain at rest. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the tension in the string?

    • 14.7 N
    • 58.8 N
    • 29.4 N
    • 0 N

  19. Particles of masses 5 kg and 3 kg are connected over a smooth pulley and both accelerate. Taking g = 9.8 m s^-2, what is the tension in the string?

    • 24.5 N
    • 49 N
    • 36.75 N
    • 29.4 N

  20. What is the tension in a connecting string when it becomes slack?

    • Equal to weight
    • Maximum
    • Zero
    • Constant

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