About Work/energy/power in A Level Physics
Work/energy/power is one of the 13 main topics in our A Level Physics (Cambridge (CAIE) 9702) question bank, and about 3% of its real questions come from it. Tayyari Karo has 19 real questions on this topic from 2021 to 2026, from Paper 1, Paper 2; 17 are multiple choice and marked instantly, and the rest are structured questions with a model answer. By difficulty: 9 medium, 7 easy, 3 hard.
Work through the questions below, then open the explanation for each one. Redo the ones you missed a few days later.
Try 6 real questions
These are real past-paper questions. Think of your answer first, then open the explanation.
May/June 2026 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
A parent and a child run from rest at the bottom of a stairway to the top of the stairway. Both take the same time. The mass of the parent is greater than the mass of the child.
Which physical quantity for the parent and for the child has the same numerical value as a result of climbing the stairway?
- average kinetic energy
- average velocity
- gravitational potential energy gained
- power generated
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. average velocity
Same displacement in the same time gives the same average velocity; the energy and power quantities depend on mass.
May/June 2026 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
Which equation is not required to derive the formula P = Fv?
- W = Fs
- v = s/t
- F = ma
- P = W/t
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. F = ma
P = W/t = Fs/t = Fv uses W = Fs, v = s/t and P = W/t; F = ma is not needed.
May/June 2025 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
The momentum of a car of mass m increases from p₁ to p₂.
What is the increase in the kinetic energy of the car?
- (p₂²−p₁²)/2m
- (p₂−p₁)²/2m
- (p₂−p₁)/2m
- (p₁−p₂)/2m
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. (p₂²−p₁²)/2m
KE = p²/2m, so the increase is (p₂² − p₁²)/2m.
October/November 2025 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
A bungee jumper jumps from a platform and is decelerated by an elastic bungee cord. When the jumper makes the jump, his initial gravitational potential energy relative to the ground is converted into kinetic energy and into elastic potential energy in the cord. At which part of the jump are all three types of energy (gravitational PE, KE, elastic PE) non-zero?
- on the platform before the jump
- on the way down before the cord has started to extend
- on the way down as he decelerates
- at the bottom of the jump when he is stationary
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. on the way down as he decelerates
While decelerating, the cord is already stretched (elastic PE > 0), he is still moving (KE > 0), and he is still above the ground (GPE > 0).
May/June 2023 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
A man sits on a buggy pulled along by a wire attached to a kite. The wire is at 40° to the horizontal with constant tension 200 N. The man and buggy travel 20 m along a straight horizontal path in the same vertical plane as the wire. What is the work done by the tension force on the man and buggy?
- 2.6 kJ
- 3.1 kJ
- 3.4 kJ
- 4.0 kJ
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. 3.1 kJ
Work = F d cosθ = 200 × 20 × cos40° ≈ 3.06 kJ ≈ 3.1 kJ.
October/November 2021 · Paper 1 · Work/energy/power
A pulley of radius 0.40 m supports weights of 20 N and 15 N by means of a thin string. The weights are moved by slowly rotating the pulley clockwise through an angle of 60°. What is the increase in the total gravitational potential energy of the weights?
- 0.33 J
- 2.0 J
- 2.1 J
- 15 J
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. 2.1 J
Distance moved = rθ = 0.40 × (π/3) = 0.419 m; ΔPE = (20 − 15) × 0.419 ≈ 2.1 J.
