A student investigates moments of forces - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 1

The force can be calculated using the formula for moments:

$\text{Moment} = \text{Force} \times \text{Distance}$

In this case, we rearrange the formula to find the force:

$\text{Force} = \frac{\text{Moment}}{\text{Distance}}$

Given that the moment is $0.050 \times 8.4$ and the distance is $12.0$ cm, we begin by substituting values:

1. Recall and substitute:

   • Moment = $12.0$ cm = $0.050 \times 8.4$
   • Rearrangement to find force:
   • Force = $\frac{0.050 \times 8.4}{12.0}$

2. Evaluation:

   • Simplifying further, we find:
   • Force = $0.035$ N.

To investigate moments of forces, one can:

1. Measure the value of current to verify how it influences the force.
2. Vary the current in the circuit to see its effect on the force exerted.
3. Restore equilibrium of the system by adjusting weights until the balance is achieved.
4. Calculate the ratio of force between the current or distance, and if this ratio remains constant, it indicates proportionality between the two variables, hence demonstrating the relationship.

To adjust the setup:

1. Move the weight of $0.050$ N to the other side (3.6 cm from the magnet).
2. Alternatively, adjust the mass of the modelling clay to maintain the necessary balance, possibly by reducing the clay's mass by removing portions as needed.
3. Additionally, ensure the measurement is accurate by adding weights between the pivot and the magnet, optimizing the experiment for valid results.