GCSE Questions: Moments and Centre of Gravity

Q12. The diagram shows the back of a lorry. The lorry is used to carry horses.

(a) The ramp is lowered by pulling on the rope or by pulling on the handle. The hinge acts as a pivot.

Explain why it is easier to lower the ramp by pulling on the rope rather than pulling on the handle.

[2 marks]

(b) When the ramp is lowered, work is done to stretch a spring on the side of the ramp. Elastic potential energy is stored in the stretched spring.

This diagram shows the ramp part way down in a balanced horizontal position.

With the ramp horizontal:

the moment caused by the weight of the ramp = 924 Nm

the spring is stretched by 0.250 m

Calculate the elastic potential energy stored in the stretched spring.

Use data from the diagram.

[6 marks]

[8 Marks TOTAL]