Oct/Nov 2016

A student is holding a can of oil. Which quantity can be measured using just a measuring cylinder?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Inside the box are the names of eight different energy resources. natural gas, geothermal, solar, waves, hydroelectric, oil, wind, coal How many of these energy resources are renewable?

Energy, work and power

A child sprints up a flight of stairs four times, and the duration of each ascent is noted. For which recorded time is the child’s useful power at its maximum?

Energy, work and power

The diagrams display the true sizes of the heels of four different shoes, viewed from below. Which heel is most likely to damage wooden floors?

Pressure

The diagram illustrates a device used to measure gas pressure. What is this instrument named?

Pressure

Smoke particles suspended in air are lit by a beam of light. The particles are observed using a microscope. They are seen to travel in an irregular zig-zag pattern. What is responsible for this motion?

Kinetic particle model of matter

As a liquid evaporates, certain molecules leave from its surface and the liquid's temperature alters. Which row correctly shows the escaping molecules and how the liquid's temperature changes?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A lump of ice that is melting at $0^{\circ}\text{C}$ and a beaker containing boiling water are both placed in a laboratory. The laboratory temperature is $20^{\circ}\text{C}$. What is happening to the temperature of the melting ice, and what is happening to the temperature of the boiling water?

Thermal properties and temperature

Changes in which physical property are not suitable for temperature measurement?

Thermal properties and temperature

Which statement about infra-red radiation is accurate?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A pan is designed to heat water on a stove. Which type of materials should be used to make the pan and its handle?

Thermal properties and temperature

The graph illustrates how the distance a vehicle travels varies with time. Which row gives the speed of the vehicle in each part of the graph?

Motion

A toy boat is floating on the water in a tank, and at first it is at rest. A stone is thrown into the tank, producing a transverse wave that travels across the water surface. The diagram shows the tank as seen from above. What happens to the boat as the wave travels past it?

General properties of waves

The four statements below refer to the diffraction of a wave on the surface of water. Which statement is correct?

General properties of waves

A child is wearing a T-shirt that has the letter 'F' on it. The child is standing in front of a vertical plane mirror. What image does the child see?

Light

As white light travels through a glass prism, it is dispersed as illustrated in the diagram. Which row compares how violet light is refracted with how red light is refracted at faces 1 and 2 of the prism?

Light

Which region of the electromagnetic spectrum provides the radiation used in a television remote controller?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A girl finds that, when she calls out inside a cave, her voice comes back as an echo. Which wave property makes this echo happen?

Sound

The four diagrams show displacement in four separate sound waves. Each diagram is drawn to the same scale. Which diagram shows the sound with the greatest pitch?

Sound

In two different experiments, a magnet is moved close to an unmagnetised iron bar. As a result, the bar becomes magnetised. Which magnetic pole is produced at X and at Y?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

A polythene rod is rubbed using a cloth. The rod ends up positively charged due to the transfer of charged particles. Which row states the name of these charged particles, and the direction in which they move?

Electrical quantities

The diagram illustrates a lamp in a circuit. Which alteration to the circuit would make the current in the lamp larger?

Electric circuits

A stone is dropped from the top of a cliff. Air resistance can be neglected. Which graph represents how the stone’s acceleration changes with time while it is falling?

Motion

An ammeter and an $18\,\Omega$ resistor are joined in series to a battery. The ammeter reads $0.50\,\text{A}$. What is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery?

Electric circuits

A source that provides constant electromotive force (e.m.f.) is connected across a thermistor. An electric current flows through the thermistor. The thermistor’s temperature is lowered. Which row indicates how the thermistor’s resistance changes and how the current changes?

Electrical quantities

The diagram illustrates a circuit that includes a battery, a resistor with high resistance, a switch and a lamp. At first, the switch is open. What occurs to the lamp when the switch is closed?

Electric circuits

The circuit diagram contains two identical lamps and three ammeters. Ammeter 1 reads $0.30\,\text{A}$. Which row shows values that could be the currents in ammeters 2 and 3?

Electric circuits

Two electrical appliances are linked to the mains supply. The lead attached to one appliance contains an earth wire. The cable connected to the other appliance does not require an earth wire. What is one reason for this difference?

Electrical safety

The diagram illustrates a transformer. Which row indicates materials appropriate for constructing the core and the primary coil?

Electromagnetic effects

An electric current can cause both a heating effect and a magnetic effect. Which row identifies the effect used by a relay and one use of a relay?

Electromagnetic effects

A sodium nuclide may be shown as $^{{23}}_{{11}}\text{Na}$. Which row shows the numbers of particles present in a neutral sodium atom?

The nuclear model of the atom

Radioactive substances can give out $\alpha$-particles or $\beta$-particles. Which statement correctly describes the effect of these emissions?

Radioactivity

A radioactive source $S$ gives out $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays. A detector is set $5\ \text{cm}$ from $S$. A thin sheet of paper is positioned as shown in the diagram. Which emissions from the source are able to be detected?

Radioactivity

What term is used for the gravitational force exerted by the Earth on an object?

Mass and weight

A radioactive nuclide has a half-life of $2.0$ hours. The decay rate for a sample of this nuclide is recorded at intervals of $1.0$ hour. The table lists the readings, with one entry replaced by $X$. Time / hours vs decay rate / $\text{decays s}^{-1}$: $0 \rightarrow 240$ $1.0 \rightarrow 170$ $2.0 \rightarrow 120$ $3.0 \rightarrow 85$ $4.0 \rightarrow X$ What is the most likely value of $X$?

Radioactivity

The diagrams illustrate an empty rectangular box and the same box after it has been filled with liquid. The empty box has a mass of $60\,\text{g}$. Once it is filled with liquid, the combined mass of the box and the liquid becomes $300\,\text{g}$. The liquid has a density of $1.2\,\text{g cm}^{-3}$. Calculate the volume of the liquid in the box.

Density

The diagrams depict four identical objects. Each object is influenced only by the forces illustrated. Which diagram shows an object in equilibrium?

Forces

A student carries out an investigation on a steel spring. First, he records the spring’s length, then he suspends different weights from it. For each weight, he measures the spring’s length. The table presents his results. A weight of $3.0\ \text{N}$ is hung from the spring. What is the extension of the spring?

Forces

The diagram depicts a plank resting in equilibrium on a pivot. Three forces $F$, $P$ and $Q$ are applied to the plank, as indicated. The force $F$ is made larger, but it still acts at the same distance from the pivot. The plank is then no longer in balance. Which alteration could restore equilibrium to the plank?

Forces

Which energy transfer occurs when petrol is burned?

Energy, work and power

The diagram shows two identical spheres positioned next to a ruler. What is the radius of one of the spheres?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Electricity may be produced from a range of energy resources. Which energy resource is used to generate electricity without requiring any moving parts?

Light

A child climbs a flight of stairs four times. The duration of each climb is noted. Which recorded time corresponds to the child’s greatest useful power?

Energy, work and power

The diagrams display the true sizes of the heels of four different shoes, viewed from beneath each shoe. Which heel is most likely to damage wooden floors?

Pressure

The diagram illustrates an instrument used for measuring gas pressure. What is this instrument called?

Pressure

Water may be present in three states: solid (ice), liquid and gas (steam). In which state, or states, is molecular motion limited to vibration only?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Which statement concerning evaporation is correct?

Kinetic particle model of matter

In a laboratory, there is a block of ice that is melting at $0\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ and a beaker containing water that is boiling. The laboratory temperature is $20\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. What is happening to the temperature of the melting ice, and what is happening to the temperature of the boiling water?

Thermal properties and temperature

A liquid-in-glass thermometer is being calibrated in degrees Celsius. At what position should the bulb of the thermometer be placed in order to establish a fixed point on the temperature scale?

Thermal properties and temperature

Aluminium foil is fixed to the walls of a warm room in a cold country. This lowers the rate at which thermal energy is lost from inside the warm room. Which method or methods of thermal energy transfer are reduced by the foil?

Transfer of thermal energy

On a day that is very cold, a boy places one hand on the metal handlebars of his bicycle and the other on the rubber hand grip. The metal seems colder than the rubber grip, even though both are at the same temperature. Why does this happen?

Transfer of thermal energy

The graph illustrates how the distance a vehicle travels varies with time. Which row gives the vehicle's speed in each part of the graph?

Motion

The box shows four kinds of wave: $\gamma$-rays, sound, ultraviolet, X-rays. How many waves in the list are transverse waves?

General properties of waves

For which wave is the amplitude half the wavelength?

General properties of waves

A student makes a card showing the letter R. The letter is drawn on one face, as shown. A plane mirror is fixed upright on a bench. The student puts the card on the bench so that the letter is upright and points towards the mirror. What will the image produced by the mirror look like to the student?

Light

A student produces four diagrams showing light travelling from air into a glass block and then returning to the air. The critical angle for the glass is $42^\circ$. Which diagram shows the light path through the glass block incorrectly?

Light

Which section of the electromagnetic spectrum is used for transmitting television signals from a satellite to Earth?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A girl observes that, if she calls out inside a cave, she can hear an echo. Which wave property is responsible for the echo?

General properties of waves

Which feature of a sound wave determines how loud the sound is?

Sound

In two different experiments, a magnet is moved close to an iron bar that has not been magnetised. As a result, the bar becomes magnetised. Which magnetic pole is induced at X and at Y?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

In the diagram, rod R is suspended by an insulating thread. When the positively charged rod Q is brought near rod R, rod R moves away from rod Q. Which conclusion can be drawn from this observation?

Electrical quantities

The diagram illustrates a lamp connected in a circuit. Which modification to the circuit would make the current in the lamp greater?

Electric circuits

A stone is released from rest at the top of a cliff and falls vertically under gravity. Air resistance can be neglected. Which graph represents how the stone’s acceleration changes with time during the fall?

Motion

A battery is connected in series with an ammeter and an $18\,\Omega$ resistor. The ammeter reads $0.50\,\text{A}$. What is the battery's electromotive force (e.m.f.)?

Electric circuits

A source that provides a steady electromotive force (e.m.f.) is connected across a light-dependent resistor (LDR). An electric current flows through the LDR. The brightness of the light incident on the LDR is decreased. Which row indicates how the resistance of the LDR changes and how the current changes?

Electrical quantities

The diagram depicts an electric circuit. If the switch is open, which lamp or lamps do not light?

Electric circuits

In which circuit is the ammeter reading $2.0\,\text{A}$?

Electric circuits

An electric kettle has a metal outer casing. The kettle’s cable includes a wire linked to the earth pin of the plug. Which hazard does this protect against?

Electrical safety

A transformer has an input voltage of $240\,\text{V}$ and an output voltage of $12\,\text{V}$. What could be one possible pair of values for the number of turns in the primary coil and the number of turns in the secondary coil?

Electromagnetic effects

An electric current may create both a heating effect and a magnetic effect. Which row identifies the effect used by a relay and gives one use of a relay?

Electromagnetic effects

The nuclide symbol for sodium is $^{{23}}_{{11}}\text{Na}$. Which row shows the numbers of particles in a neutral sodium atom?

The nuclear model of the atom

Which precaution is the most effective way to lower the risk when a radioactive source that emits $\gamma$-rays is being handled, stored or used?

Radioactivity

Radioactive source $S$ produces $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays. A detector is set up $5\,\text{cm}$ from $S$. A thin sheet of paper is positioned as in the diagram. Which emissions from the source are able to be detected?

Radioactivity

A student is discussing mass and weight. Which statement is correct?

Mass and weight

A radioactive source has a half-life of $3.0\,\text{days}$. It emits radiation at a rate of $1200$ particles per minute. What was its radiation emission rate $6.0\,\text{days}$ earlier?

Radioactivity

A student uses a measuring cylinder and a balance to determine the density of oil. The diagram shows the setup used. Which calculation finds the density of the oil?

Density

Each diagram illustrates the forces acting on an object in full. In which diagram is the object in equilibrium?

Forces

The diagrams display a spring and a graph showing the spring’s length plotted against the load on it. What is the extension of the spring when a load of $40\,\text{N}$ is applied to it?

Forces

A force is exerted on a long crowbar in order to shift a large rock. Which labelled arrow shows the smallest force needed to move the rock?

Forces

What is the principal energy change occurring in the battery of a mobile phone (cell phone) while it is charging but not in use?

Energy, work and power

Diagram 1 shows a measuring cylinder that contains some water. Diagram 2 shows the same measuring cylinder after a piece of rock has been lowered slowly into the water. What is the volume of the piece of rock?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Cars $P$ and $Q$ each have a different engine. The power input from the fuel is identical for both engines. The engine in car $P$ has a higher efficiency than the engine in car $Q$. Which statement about the cars or their engines has to be true?

Energy, work and power

A child climbs a staircase four times. The duration of each climb is measured. For which time is the child’s useful power the largest?

Energy, work and power

The diagrams display the real dimensions of the heels of four different shoes, viewed from below the shoe. Which heel is most likely to damage wooden floors?

Pressure

The diagram illustrates an instrument used for measuring gas pressure. What is this instrument known as?

Pressure

Which diagram most accurately shows the movement of a smoke particle undergoing Brownian motion?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A cylinder holding air that is trapped is placed inside a freezer. As the air becomes cooler, the piston shifts to the left, as illustrated. In what way has the air changed?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A lump of ice that is melting at $0^\circ\text{C}$ and a beaker containing water that is boiling are both placed in a laboratory. The laboratory temperature is $20^\circ\text{C}$. What is happening to the temperature of the melting ice, and what is happening to the temperature of the boiling water?

Thermal properties and temperature

A liquid-in-glass thermometer operates because the liquid undergoes a change in

Thermal properties and temperature

Which description is correct for infra-red radiation?

Electromagnetic spectrum

The diagram presents the temperature-time graph for hot water as it cools in an uninsulated beaker. The beaker is then insulated. The same volume of hot water, starting at the same initial temperature as before, is placed in the insulated beaker. The beaker remains in the same room as before. Which graph now shows the water’s temperature-time relationship as it cools?

Transfer of thermal energy

The graph shows how the distance travelled by a vehicle varies with time. Which row describes the vehicle’s speed in each part of the graph?

Motion

A small plastic ball is floating on the top of deep water. A stone is released into the water at point X. A wave travels outward across the water surface, making the ball move. What kind of wave is made by the stone, and in what direction does the ball move?

General properties of waves

Waves move at a lower speed across the surface of shallow water than across the surface of deep water. Which diagram shows a wave moving from deep water into shallower water?

General properties of waves

A ray of light falls on a plane mirror and is reflected. The angle between the light ray and the mirror is $20^\circ$. What is the size of the angle of reflection?

Light

A student sketches a ray diagram to show the image formed by an object when it passes through a converging lens with focal length $f$. Three rays are drawn to determine where the image is formed. After the image position is established, a fourth ray is added. Which labelled ray must have been drawn only after the image position had been established?

Light

Which set lists four electromagnetic waves in sequence, from the greatest wavelength to the least?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A girl observes that, if she calls out inside a cave, the sound comes back as an echo. Which wave property produces the echo?

Sound

A man is positioned $110\,\text{m}$ away from a tall wall. He produces a brief, sharp sound and then detects an echo returned from the wall. The speed of sound in air is $330\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. How long after producing the sound does the man hear the echo?

Sound

For two different experiments, a magnet is placed close to an unmagnetised iron bar. As a result, the bar becomes magnetised. Which magnetic pole is induced at X and which at Y?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

A student is gripping a rod and rubbing it with a cloth. The rod becomes positively charged. What material might the rod be made from, and what movement of charge has taken place?

Electrical quantities

The diagram illustrates a lamp in a circuit. Which alteration to the circuit would make the current in the lamp increase?

Electric circuits

A stone is dropped freely from the top of a cliff. Air resistance can be neglected. Which graph shows how the stone’s acceleration changes with time as it falls?

Motion

An ammeter and an $18\,\Omega$ resistor are joined in series to a battery. The ammeter shows a current of $0.50\,\text{A}$. What is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery?

Electric circuits

In which circuit will the ammeter show the largest reading?

Electric circuits

A washing machine that is electrically powered is safeguarded by an earth wire. Which section of the washing machine should this earth wire be attached to?

Electrical safety

The diagram illustrates a potential divider. As brighter light shines on the light-dependent resistor (LDR), its resistance changes. What happens to the resistance of the LDR and what happens to the current through it?

Electric circuits

What is the purpose of a fuse in an electrical circuit?

Electrical safety

Which transformer is able to convert a $240\ \text{V a.c.}$ input into a $15\ \text{V a.c.}$ output?

Electromagnetic effects

An electric current can create a heating effect and a magnetic effect. Which row gives the effect used by a relay and one use of a relay?

Electromagnetic effects

A sodium nuclide may be shown as $^{23}_{11}\text{Na}$. Which row shows the numbers of particles in a neutral sodium atom?

The nuclear model of the atom

The four statements below refer to different isotopes of the same element. Which statement is necessarily true?

The nuclear model of the atom

A radioactive source $S$ produces $\alpha$-particles, $\beta$-particles and $\gamma$-rays. A detector is positioned $5\ \text{cm}$ from $S$. A thin sheet of paper is inserted as shown in the diagram. Which emissions from the source are able to be detected?

Radioactivity

Which statement concerning mass or weight is incorrect?

Mass and weight

A radioactive substance emits $\alpha$-particles. The table gives the emission rate of $\alpha$-particles from the substance at various times. What is the half-life of the substance, and what is the missing value at $8.0$ hours?

Radioactivity

The diagrams illustrate an empty container and the same container after it has been filled with liquid. The mass of the empty container is $120\ \text{g}$. After the liquid is added, the combined mass of the container and the liquid becomes $600\ \text{g}$. The volume of liquid in the container is $600\ \text{cm}^3$. What is the density of the liquid?

Density

The diagram illustrates all the horizontal forces acting on a truck. What is the magnitude of the resultant horizontal force on the truck?

Forces

Several loads are suspended from a spring. The diagram shows the spring’s length both with the loads attached and without them. What is the extension of the spring when the load is $400\,\text{N}$?

Forces

A bar of uniform density is supported on a pivot at its midpoint. What magnitude of force $F$ is required to keep the bar in equilibrium?

Forces

A ball starts from rest at point $X$ on a rough semicircular track. It is momentarily at rest at point $Y$. The gravitational potential energy of the ball at point $X$ is $E_X$. The gravitational potential energy of the ball at point $Y$ is $E_Y$. Which equation links the energy of the ball at point $X$ with its energy at point $Y$?

Energy, work and power