Questions on Pressure and Moments

Q102.

(a) James is cutting a piece of wire with a pair of wire cutters. James exerts a force of 50 N on each of the handles.

(i) What is the turning moment about the pivot, on each handle?

(2 marks)

(ii) What force is applied, by each blade, on the wire?

(1 mark)

(b) Stephanie uses a pair of wire cutters. The diagram below is an end-on view of the blades as they begin to cut the wire.

Stephanie exerts a force of 200 N on the wire with each blade.

The area of contact of each blade on the wire is 0.0005 cm2.

(i) What is the pressure of each blade on the wire?

(2 marks)

(ii) As the blades sink deeper into the wire, the pressure of the blades on the wire decreases. Explain why this happens.

(2 marks)

Maximum 7 marks