Edexcel IAL · Physics · WPH11 · A Level

WPH11 Mechanics Topic Questions

Every WPH11 Mechanics topic question from the 2018–current syllabus, drawn from 23 papers (2019–2026) and grouped by syllabus point. Each row opens a page listing the exact question numbers, marks and a direct link into the paper. These are questions by topic, not full papers, so you can revise one topic at a time.

WPH11 25 subtopics 548 topic questions 23 papers 1,340 tagged marks

Back to Mechanics All paper codes

Core finding

9 be able to use the equation …, and understand how to use this… is the most frequently assessed subtopic in Mechanics, with 100 topic questions and 299 marks across 23 papers. 1 be able to use the equations for uniformly accelerated… follows with 73 topic questions and 207 marks. The topic contains 25 subtopics, 548 topic questions and 1,340 marks in total. Rows count only the parts tagged to that subtopic, keep the same colour in both charts and repeat paper count, tagged marks and year range in the native table.

Topic question count and mark distribution

Subtopics are on the vertical axis and sorted from highest to lowest. Only the parts whose knowledge graph matches a subtopic are counted for it, and percentages are each row's share of the tagged total in that chart. A part tagged to several subtopics is counted in each bar, so the bars are not a partition of the topic total.

Questions by subtopic

question items

9 be able to use the equation

\sum F = ma

, and understand how to use this equation in situations where m is constant (Newton's second law of motion), including Newton's first law of motion where

a = 0

, objects at rest or travelling at constant velocity Use of the term 'terminal velocity' is expected. 23 papers

10011.4%

1 be able to use the equations for uniformly accelerated motion in one dimension:

s = \frac{( u + v ) t}{2}

v = u + a t

s = u t + \frac{1}{2} a t^{2}

v^{2} = u^{2} + 2 a s

23 papers

738.3%

5 be able to resolve a vector into two components at right angles to each other by drawing and by calculation 23 papers

596.7%

16 be able to use the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body and apply the principle of moments to an extended body in equilibrium 23 papers

515.8%

7 understand how to make use of the independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile moving freely under gravity 21 papers

495.6%

20 know, and understand how to apply, the principle of conservation of energy including use of work done, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy 23 papers

465.2%

14 know the principle of conservation of linear momentum, understand how to relate this to Newton's laws of motion and understand how to apply this to problems in one dimension 23 papers

394.4%

2 be able to draw and interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs 20 papers

394.4%

12 know and understand Newton's third law of motion and know the properties of pairs of forces in an interaction between two bodies 22 papers

384.3%

15 be able to use the equation for the moment of a force, moment of force

= F x

where

x

is the perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the axis of rotation 22 papers

374.2%

10 be able to use the equations for gravitational field strength

g = \frac{F}{m}

and weight

W = m g

18 papers

343.9%

18 be able to use the equation

E_{k} = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}

for the kinetic energy of a body 22 papers

343.9%

21 be able to use the equations relating power, time and energy transferred or work done

P = \frac{E}{t}

and

P = \frac{W}{t}

22 papers

343.9%

3 know the physical quantities derived from the slopes and areas of displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, including cases of non-uniform acceleration and understand how to use the quantities 20 papers

333.8%

19 be able to use the equation

Δ E_{g r a v} = m g Δ h

for the difference in gravitational potential energy near the Earth's surface 20 papers

323.6%

13 understand that momentum is defined as

p = m v

22 papers

293.3%

17 be able to use the equation for work

Δ W = F Δ s

including calculations when the force is not along the line of motion 18 papers

293.3%

4 understand scalar and vector quantities and know examples of each type of quantity and recognise vector notation 22 papers

293.3%

6 be able to find the resultant of two coplanar vectors at any angle to each other by drawing, and at right angles to each other by calculation 22 papers

293.3%

8 be able to draw and interpret free-body force diagrams to represent forces on a particle or on an extended but rigid body using the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body 18 papers

283.2%

22 be able to use the equations

e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l e n er g y o u tp u t}{t o t a l e n er g y in p u t}

and

e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l p o w er o u tp u t}{t o t a l p o w er in p u t}

19 papers

222.5%

11 CORE PRACTICAL 1: Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling object 8 papers

111.3%

27 be able to use the Hooke's law equation,

Δ F = k Δ x

, where k is the stiffness of the object 1 papers

20.2%

32 be able to calculate the elastic strain energy

E_{e l}

in a deformed material sample, using the equation

Δ E_{e l} = \frac{1}{2} F Δ x

, and from the area under the force-extension graph The estimation of area and hence energy change for both linear and non-linear force-extension graphs is expected. 1 papers

20.2%

23 be able to use the equation density

ρ = \frac{m}{V}

1 papers

10.1%

Marks by subtopic

marks

9 be able to use the equation

\sum F = ma

, and understand how to use this equation in situations where m is constant (Newton's second law of motion), including Newton's first law of motion where

a = 0

, objects at rest or travelling at constant velocity Use of the term 'terminal velocity' is expected. 23 papers

29912.2%

1 be able to use the equations for uniformly accelerated motion in one dimension:

s = \frac{( u + v ) t}{2}

v = u + a t

s = u t + \frac{1}{2} a t^{2}

v^{2} = u^{2} + 2 a s

23 papers

2078.5%

5 be able to resolve a vector into two components at right angles to each other by drawing and by calculation 23 papers

1757.2%

7 understand how to make use of the independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile moving freely under gravity 21 papers

1536.3%

20 know, and understand how to apply, the principle of conservation of energy including use of work done, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy 23 papers

1516.2%

16 be able to use the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body and apply the principle of moments to an extended body in equilibrium 23 papers

1496.1%

15 be able to use the equation for the moment of a force, moment of force

= F x

where

x

is the perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the axis of rotation 22 papers

1275.2%

19 be able to use the equation

Δ E_{g r a v} = m g Δ h

for the difference in gravitational potential energy near the Earth's surface 20 papers

1174.8%

18 be able to use the equation

E_{k} = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}

for the kinetic energy of a body 22 papers

1144.7%

10 be able to use the equations for gravitational field strength

g = \frac{F}{m}

and weight

W = m g

18 papers

1104.5%

14 know the principle of conservation of linear momentum, understand how to relate this to Newton's laws of motion and understand how to apply this to problems in one dimension 23 papers

1014.1%

12 know and understand Newton's third law of motion and know the properties of pairs of forces in an interaction between two bodies 22 papers

953.9%

17 be able to use the equation for work

Δ W = F Δ s

including calculations when the force is not along the line of motion 18 papers

853.5%

2 be able to draw and interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs 20 papers

823.4%

13 understand that momentum is defined as

p = m v

22 papers

813.3%

21 be able to use the equations relating power, time and energy transferred or work done

P = \frac{E}{t}

and

P = \frac{W}{t}

22 papers

733.0%

8 be able to draw and interpret free-body force diagrams to represent forces on a particle or on an extended but rigid body using the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body 18 papers

702.9%

672.7%

6 be able to find the resultant of two coplanar vectors at any angle to each other by drawing, and at right angles to each other by calculation 22 papers

642.6%

22 be able to use the equations

e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l e n er g y o u tp u t}{t o t a l e n er g y in p u t}

and

e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l p o w er o u tp u t}{t o t a l p o w er in p u t}

19 papers

522.1%

4 understand scalar and vector quantities and know examples of each type of quantity and recognise vector notation 22 papers

301.2%

11 CORE PRACTICAL 1: Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling object 8 papers

210.9%

27 be able to use the Hooke's law equation,

Δ F = k Δ x

, where k is the stiffness of the object 1 papers

90.4%

32 be able to calculate the elastic strain energy

E_{e l}

in a deformed material sample, using the equation

Δ E_{e l} = \frac{1}{2} F Δ x

, and from the area under the force-extension graph The estimation of area and hence energy change for both linear and non-linear force-extension graphs is expected. 1 papers

90.4%

23 be able to use the equation density

ρ = \frac{m}{V}

1 papers

50.2%

Subtopic comparison matrix

Curriculum order is by syllabus number, then alphabetically. Every row links to the matching past-paper question list.

Subtopic	Topic questions	Papers	Marks	Years
1 be able to use the equations for uniformly accelerated motion in one dimension: $s = \frac{( u + v ) t}{2}$ $v = u + a t$ $s = u t + \frac{1}{2} a t^{2}$ $v^{2} = u^{2} + 2 a s$	73	23	207	2019–2026	Open topic questions
2 be able to draw and interpret displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs	39	20	82	2019–2026	Open topic questions
3 know the physical quantities derived from the slopes and areas of displacement-time, velocity-time and acceleration-time graphs, including cases of non-uniform acceleration and understand how to use the quantities	33	20	67	2019–2026	Open topic questions
4 understand scalar and vector quantities and know examples of each type of quantity and recognise vector notation	29	22	30	2019–2026	Open topic questions
5 be able to resolve a vector into two components at right angles to each other by drawing and by calculation	59	23	175	2019–2026	Open topic questions
6 be able to find the resultant of two coplanar vectors at any angle to each other by drawing, and at right angles to each other by calculation	29	22	64	2019–2026	Open topic questions
7 understand how to make use of the independence of vertical and horizontal motion of a projectile moving freely under gravity	49	21	153	2019–2026	Open topic questions
8 be able to draw and interpret free-body force diagrams to represent forces on a particle or on an extended but rigid body using the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body	28	18	70	2019–2026	Open topic questions
9 be able to use the equation $\sum F = ma$ , and understand how to use this equation in situations where m is constant (Newton's second law of motion), including Newton's first law of motion where $a = 0$ , objects at rest or travelling at constant velocity Use of the term 'terminal velocity' is expected.	100	23	299	2019–2026	Open topic questions
10 be able to use the equations for gravitational field strength $g = \frac{F}{m}$ and weight $W = m g$	34	18	110	2019–2026	Open topic questions
11 CORE PRACTICAL 1: Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling object	11	8	21	2019–2025	Open topic questions
12 know and understand Newton's third law of motion and know the properties of pairs of forces in an interaction between two bodies	38	22	95	2019–2026	Open topic questions
13 understand that momentum is defined as $p = m v$	29	22	81	2019–2026	Open topic questions
14 know the principle of conservation of linear momentum, understand how to relate this to Newton's laws of motion and understand how to apply this to problems in one dimension	39	23	101	2019–2026	Open topic questions
15 be able to use the equation for the moment of a force, moment of force $= F x$ where $x$ is the perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the axis of rotation	37	22	127	2019–2026	Open topic questions
16 be able to use the concept of centre of gravity of an extended body and apply the principle of moments to an extended body in equilibrium	51	23	149	2019–2026	Open topic questions
17 be able to use the equation for work $Δ W = F Δ s$ including calculations when the force is not along the line of motion	29	18	85	2019–2026	Open topic questions
18 be able to use the equation $E_{k} = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$ for the kinetic energy of a body	34	22	114	2019–2026	Open topic questions
19 be able to use the equation $Δ E_{g r a v} = m g Δ h$ for the difference in gravitational potential energy near the Earth's surface	32	20	117	2019–2026	Open topic questions
20 know, and understand how to apply, the principle of conservation of energy including use of work done, gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy	46	23	151	2019–2026	Open topic questions
21 be able to use the equations relating power, time and energy transferred or work done $P = \frac{E}{t}$ and $P = \frac{W}{t}$	34	22	73	2019–2026	Open topic questions
22 be able to use the equations $e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l e n er g y o u tp u t}{t o t a l e n er g y in p u t}$ and $e f f i c i e n cy = \frac{u se f u l p o w er o u tp u t}{t o t a l p o w er in p u t}$	22	19	52	2019–2026	Open topic questions
23 be able to use the equation density $ρ = \frac{m}{V}$	1	1	5	2025	Open topic questions
27 be able to use the Hooke's law equation, $Δ F = k Δ x$ , where k is the stiffness of the object	2	1	9	2026	Open topic questions
32 be able to calculate the elastic strain energy $E_{e l}$ in a deformed material sample, using the equation $Δ E_{e l} = \frac{1}{2} F Δ x$ , and from the area under the force-extension graph The estimation of area and hence energy change for both linear and non-linear force-extension graphs is expected.	2	1	9	2026	Open topic questions

Browse every topic question

Topic question rules and edge cases

How many subtopics does Mechanics contain?: This page lists 25 subtopics tagged to the current syllabus. They are ordered by syllabus number, then alphabetically, and each row opens a page of matching past-paper questions.
How are the subtopic question and mark totals calculated?: A multiple-choice question contributes one item and its marks to every subtopic it is tagged with. A structured question contributes one item per tagged part, and that part’s marks; untagged parts of the same question are not counted here. A part tagged to several subtopics therefore appears under each of them.
Why do some subtopics have no numbered prefix?: Practical-skills statements and some syllabus bullets are unnumbered. Numbered statements come first; unnumbered statements and ties are sorted alphabetically.
Is the LaTeX rendered without JavaScript?: Yes. Subtopics that contain formulas are converted to static KaTeX HTML during the build, and the KaTeX stylesheet is served from the same site.

WPH11 Mechanics Topic Questions

Topic question count and mark distribution

Questions by subtopic

Marks by subtopic

Subtopic comparison matrix

Browse every topic question

Other topics in WPH11

Topic question rules and edge cases