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IB Physics HL A.2.5 Contact Forces Question Bank

Practise IB Physics HL A.2.5 with questions identifying normal contact, tension and force transmission from free-body diagrams.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Course
Physics HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • identify normal, friction, tension, elastic, drag and buoyant forces in a contact-force model
  • draw or interpret a free-body diagram and distinguish contact forces from field forces
  • apply Newton’s second law to determine a contact force between interacting bodies

A.2.5—Contact forces question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

The diagram shows two blocks of mass m and M in contact on a frictionless surface. A force F is applied on the block of mass m and causes the blocks to move with an acceleration a.

Figure for Question A.2.5—Contact forces question 1 — IB Physics HL

What is the force that the block of mass M is exerting on the block of mass m ?

A

m a

B

Ma

C

(M+m) a

D

mM+ma\frac{m}{M+m} a

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