Forces

About this lab: Forces

Interactive simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.5 Forces: push a trolley and read the acceleration from F = ma with a speed-time graph, add forces along a line to find the resultant and whether they are balanced, a block on ice, wood or rubber and a skydiver reaching terminal velocity as drag grows to match weight, a spring loaded to test Hooke's law with a load-extension graph and its limit of proportionality, a beam balanced by clockwise and anticlockwise moments, a bus on a tilting platform showing when the weight acts outside the base and the plumb-line method for finding a centre of gravity, and a ball on a string in circular motion that flies off along the tangent when the string is cut.

IGCSE Physics 0625, topic 1.5. One tab per lesson: F = ma on a trolley, adding forces along a line, friction and drag with terminal velocity, Hooke's law, moments on a beam, centre of gravity and stability, and circular motion.

Forces is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 (topic 1 Motion, forces and energy, section 1.5 Forces). The course is assessed in Papers 1 and 2 (multiple choice), 3 and 4 (theory), 5 (practical test) and 6 (alternative to practical). There are 7 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.

Syllabus coverage

• 1.5.1 Know that forces may produce changes in the size and shape of an object
• 1.5.1 Sketch, plot and interpret load–extension graphs for an elastic solid and describe the associated experimental procedures
• 1.5.1 Determine the resultant of two or more forces acting along the same straight line
• 1.5.2 Describe the moment of a force as a measure of its turning effect and give everyday examples
• 1.5.2 Define the moment of a force as moment = force × perpendicular distance from the pivot; recall and use this equation
• 1.5.2 Apply the principle of moments to situations with one force each side of the pivot, including balancing of a beam
• 1.5.3 State what is meant by centre of gravity
• 1.5.3 Describe an experiment to determine the position of the centre of gravity of an irregularly shaped plane lamina
• Lessons on this topic: Effects of forces and resultant forces, Load–extension graphs and Hooke's Law (spring constant), Newton's Second Law: F = ma, Circular motion: forces perpendicular to motion, Friction and drag forces.

Full syllabus map: IGCSE Physics 0625 topic 1.

How to use this simulation

1. 1. Newton's second law.
2. 2. Resultant forces.
3. 3. Friction and drag.
4. 4. Hooke's law.
5. 5. Moments.
6. 6. Centre of gravity.
7. 7. Circular motion.
8. The buttons at the end of the tab strip give the scene the whole window (Full screen, Hide controls) and, on a dark stage, a projector-friendly palette (Light scene). Many scenes also have drag handles: drag them to change the set-up directly.

All simulation labs · IGCSE Physics 0625 · TheLucidSTEM home