May/June 2017

What apparatus is used to record how long a $10\,\text{cm}^3$ block of ice takes to melt in a laboratory at room temperature?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The diagrams depict athletes training while stretching springs. All of the springs have the same stiffness. Which athlete does the greatest amount of work?

Energy, work and power

The diagram depicts a conical vessel that is completely filled with water. The pressure at point $X$ caused by the water is $p$. Point $Q$ is located a distance $h$ above point $X$. Which graph shows how the pressure caused by the water at $Q$ changes as distance $h$ varies?

Pressure

In diagram 1, a manometer filled with mercury (Hg) is linked to a gas tap. The tap is off, so the mercury levels on the two sides are equal. When the gas supply is switched on, the mercury in the tube joined to the supply drops by $40\,\text{mm}$ and the mercury in the tube open to the atmosphere rises by $40\,\text{mm}$, as shown in diagram 2. What pressure does the gas in the gas supply have?

Pressure

Brownian motion can be seen by using a microscope to observe smoke particles in air. What makes the smoke particles move randomly?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Which change is meant by evaporation?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A glass bottle is sealed with a metal cap. The cap is very tight and hard to take off. The cap and the neck of the bottle are placed in a bowl of hot water. After this, the cap can be taken off more easily. What occurs to make it easier to remove the cap from the bottle?

Thermal properties and temperature

Two liquids of different types but equal mass are each poured into identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$, while liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$ using heaters with the same power. Both liquids experience the same increase in temperature. Which statement is correct?

Thermal properties and temperature

A copper bar and a wooden bar are connected together. A strip of paper is wrapped closely around the point where they meet. The centre of the bar is heated very strongly for a brief period, and the paper turns brown on only one side. Which side turns brown, and what does this indicate about wood and copper?

Transfer of thermal energy

A glass of water is removed from a refrigerator. A few ice cubes are then added to the glass of water. The glass is afterwards left in the room for several hours. The graph illustrates how the temperature of the water in the glass changes from the moment it is taken out of the refrigerator. What does the temperature labelled $X$ indicate?

Thermal properties and temperature

A hollow aluminium cube contains very hot water. Face $X$ of the cube is opposite face $Y$ of the cube. Of these two faces, one is black and the other is white. A student places the back of one hand $5\,\text{cm}$ from face $X$, and then straight away places the back of the other hand $5\,\text{cm}$ from face $Y$. The hand near face $Y$ feels hotter than the hand near face $X$. Which row names the black face and correctly compares the rate at which thermal radiation is emitted from each face?

Transfer of thermal energy

A student measures the average speed of a bubble moving upward through a liquid at a constant speed. The stopwatch is started when the bubble is at point P. After $2.0\,\text{s}$, the bubble reaches point Q. What is the speed of the bubble from P to Q?

Motion

What makes light change direction when it moves from air into glass?

Light

Light enters a glass block. Which angle is the angle of refraction?

Light

Which diagram illustrates what occurs when a ray of white light passes through a prism?

Light

The diagrams illustrate four sources of waves. Which source generates longitudinal waves?

General properties of waves

The table lists various kinds of wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. In which region do all the waves move at the same speed?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A fire alarm does not sound loudly enough, and its pitch is too low. An engineer changes the alarm so that it gives out a louder sound with a higher pitch. What happens to the amplitude and to the frequency of the sound?

Sound

What is incorrect in this labelled diagram of a permanent magnet?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Which of the following statements about magnetism is correct?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

A student investigates the electrical conduction of four materials: aluminium, iron, plastic, silver. Which of these materials conduct electricity?

Electric circuits

The circuit diagram shows three resistors connected in series across a $6.0\,\text{V}$ supply. What is the potential difference (p.d.) across the $4.0\,\Omega$ resistor?

Electric circuits

The speed-time graph shows a motorcycle journey. In which section of the graph is the acceleration zero?

Motion

A thermistor is connected in series with a sensitive ammeter and a battery. Which alteration will produce a larger reading on the ammeter?

Electric circuits

Three ammeters measure the currents in separate parts of the circuit illustrated. The diagram shows the readings on the ammeters. How can we tell that at least one of the ammeters must be faulty?

Electric circuits

A student sets up a variable potential divider (potentiometer) circuit. What change is observed on the voltmeter reading when the sliding terminal T is shifted from R to S?

Electric circuits

The diagram represents an electric circuit. What is the potential difference (p.d.) across the LDR?

Electric circuits

A circuit-breaker is made to safeguard a circuit that normally carries a current of $2\,\text{A}$. The time needed to open the circuit depends on the current, as shown in the graph. What occurs when the current in the circuit is $2\,\text{A}$, and what occurs when the current is $18\,\text{A}$?

Electric circuits

What does a relay do?

Electric circuits

A coil made from four loops of wire is positioned in a magnetic field. When current flows, the coil feels a turning effect. More loops of wire are then added to the coil, while the current stays the same. How does this change the turning effect?

Electromagnetic effects

Which particle carries a negative charge?

The nuclear model of the atom

The diagram shows an atom’s nucleus, with the charged particles indicated. Which row states the proton number and the nucleon number for this nucleus?

The nuclear model of the atom

A sample containing a radioactive isotope is decaying. Which atoms’ nuclei will decay first?

Radioactivity

Which expression is used to determine gravitational field strength $g$?

Mass and weight

A radioactive isotope has a half-life of $4.0\,\text{years}$. One sample of this substance contains $24$ million radioactive nuclei. After $12$ years, how many of the radioactive nuclei will still be undecayed?

Radioactivity

A block of ice is taken out of a freezer. Part of the ice melts and forms water. Some of this water then evaporates. The initial mass of the ice is $p$. The mass of the ice that remains unmelted is $q$. The mass of the water is $r$. The mass of the water vapour is $s$. Which equation shows the relationship between $p$, $q$, $r$ and $s$?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The diagram shows the measuring cylinder’s mass readings before and after a quantity of liquid is poured into it. What is the density of the liquid?

Density

A car moves forwards on a straight horizontal road. The only forces acting on it horizontally are shown. Each arrow’s length shows the size of the force it represents. What effect do these forces have on the car’s motion?

Forces

The midpoint of a uniform metre rule is supported on a pivot. A load with weight $3.0\,\text{N}$ is positioned at the $70\,\text{cm}$ mark. An upward force $F$ is applied at the $80\,\text{cm}$ mark. The rule is in equilibrium. What is the magnitude of $F$?

Forces

An energy resource is used to produce electrical energy. Which energy resource depends on a transfer of gravitational potential energy to produce this electrical energy?

Energy, work and power

A candle burns at a constant rate. It is being used as a timer. The candle is lit and takes 2 hours to burn down to point $X$. After a further 30 minutes, to which labelled point will the candle have burned down?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The diagrams illustrate four different athletes as they train by performing pull-ups. Which athlete carries out the greatest amount of work?

Energy, work and power

A student presses a drawing pin (thumb tack) into a notice board using her thumb. The pin enters the board, but it does not go into her thumb. Which statement accounts for this?

Pressure

A cube made of solid material has edges measuring $0.50\,\text{m}$ and a mass of $120\,\text{kg}$. It is resting on the ground with one face in contact. What pressure is exerted by the cube on the ground?

Pressure

The diagram shows molecules of a gas in a sealed container with a fixed volume. What occurs to the molecules of the gas when the container is heated?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Brownian motion can be seen when a microscope is used to observe smoke particles in air. What makes the smoke particles move randomly?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The temperature of a bridge increases from $5\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ on a cold night to $25\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ at midday. What happens to the bridge?

Thermal properties and temperature

Two liquids with different identities but equal masses are placed in identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$ and liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$ using heaters with the same power. Both liquids experience the same increase in temperature. Which statement is correct?

Thermal properties and temperature

A solid material is warmed at a steady rate. It first turns into a liquid and then changes into a gas. The graph illustrates how the substance’s temperature varies. What are the melting point and the boiling point of the substance?

Thermal properties and temperature

A copper bar and a wooden bar are fixed together. A sheet of paper is wrapped closely around the junction. The bar is then heated strongly in the middle for a brief period, and the paper turns brown on only one side. Which side turns brown, and what does this indicate about wood and copper?

Transfer of thermal energy

Which forms of thermal energy transfer need a medium?

Transfer of thermal energy

A pendulum is oscillating. Five students each record the time for ten full swings. Three of the students obtain $17.2\,\text{s}$. A further student records $16.9\,\text{s}$, and the last student records $17.0\,\text{s}$. What is the mean period of the pendulum?

Motion

What makes light change direction as it passes from air into glass?

Light

Which diagram illustrates how a converging lens produces a real image of object O?

Light

Which diagram illustrates the effect when a ray of white light passes through a prism?

Light

The table displays the various kinds of wave in the electromagnetic spectrum. radio waves, micro-waves, infra-red waves, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays, gamma rays At what point do all the waves move at the same speed?

Electromagnetic spectrum

The diagrams depict four wave sources. Which source generates longitudinal waves?

General properties of waves

A fire alarm is not loud enough, and its pitch is too low. An engineer adjusts the alarm so that it gives a louder note with a higher pitch. What change does this cause to the amplitude and to the frequency of the sound?

Sound

Which materials are used to make the coil and the core of an electromagnet?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

How is a bar magnet similar to an electromagnet?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Which material conducts electricity?

Electrical quantities

The circuit in the diagram includes two resistors with resistances of $1.0\,\Omega$ and $2.0\,\Omega$. A voltmeter is joined across the $1.0\,\Omega$ resistor by connecting P to X. The voltmeter shows a reading of $6.0\,\text{V}$. P is then shifted to point Y in the circuit. What reading will the voltmeter now show?

Electric circuits

The speed-time graph shows a motorcycle journey. In which section of the graph is the acceleration equal to zero?

Motion

The circuit diagram shows a straightforward circuit containing a battery with electromotive force (e.m.f.) $6.0\,\text{V}$ and two bulbs, each having resistance $2.0\,\Omega$. Which row shows the ammeter readings?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates three identical heating elements attached to a power supply. Which switch arrangement results in the greatest power being used?

Electric circuits

A student sets up a variable potential divider (potentiometer) circuit. What occurs to the voltmeter reading as the sliding terminal T is shifted from R to S?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates a circuit that is used to construct a light detector. A component is connected between X and Y. Which component makes the ammeter reading rise as the light becomes brighter?

Electric circuits

A circuit-breaker is intended to protect a circuit that normally carries a current of $2\,\text{A}$. The length of time needed to break the circuit varies with the current, as the graph shows. What occurs when the current in the circuit is $2\,\text{A}$ and what occurs when the current is $18\,\text{A}$?

Electrical safety

A wire is moving in the direction indicated between the poles of a magnet. Which alteration would increase the size of the induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) across the ends of the wire?

Electromagnetic effects

What is the function of a relay?

Electric circuits

Which statement gives the correct description of a neutral copper atom?

The nuclear model of the atom

An iodine nuclide is written as $^{131}_{53}\text{I}$. How many neutrons are present in one nucleus of this nuclide?

The nuclear model of the atom

A sample that contains a radioactive isotope is decaying. Which atoms have nuclei that will decay first?

Radioactivity

A shopkeeper places rice into a dish suspended from a spring balance and notes the reading. Later, a customer purchases some pasta. The shopkeeper sees that the spring balance reading, with only pasta in the dish, matches the reading obtained when only rice was in the dish. Which quantity has to be the same for the rice and the pasta?

Mass and weight

The diagram illustrates a decay curve for a radioactive substance. From the curve shown, what is the background radiation count?

Radioactivity

The combined weight of four identical steel blocks is $120\,\text{N}$. Take the gravitational field strength $g$ as $10\,\text{N kg}^{-1}$. What is the mass of a single steel block?

Mass and weight

A steel ball bearing has a mass of $24\,\text{g}$ and a density of $8.0\,\text{g cm}^{-3}$. It is placed into a measuring cylinder that already contains $12\,\text{cm}^3$ of water. What will the new water level be in the cylinder?

Density

The diagram shows an object that is being acted on by two forces. What is the magnitude of the resultant force on the object?

Forces

A student is required to investigate the extension of a spring with the apparatus illustrated in the diagram. Which additional piece of equipment is required?

Forces

At which type of power station are atoms from one element converted into atoms of different, lighter elements?

Radioactivity

Which method would give the most accurate and precise measurement of a coin’s thickness?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A box with mass $m$ moves down a slope of length $l$ and vertical height $d$ while opposing a frictional force $F$. As the box travels down the slope, it loses gravitational potential energy and does work against friction. Which row gives the decrease in gravitational potential energy and the work done against friction?

Energy, work and power

The diagram shows the energy transfers in a device. The device has an efficiency of $50\%$. Which equation is correct?

Energy, work and power

A student performs a few simple exercises. In which exercise is the greatest amount of work done?

Energy, work and power

Four distinct liquids are poured into four containers. The diagrams indicate the depth and density of the liquid in each container. In which container is the pressure at the base the greatest?

Pressure

Brownian motion can be seen with a microscope when smoke particles are viewed in air. What makes the smoke particles move randomly?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Pressure is produced on the wall when gas molecules hit the inside surface of a container. Which statement explains this?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Two equal masses of two different liquids are placed into identical beakers. Liquid 1 is heated for $100\,\text{s}$, and liquid 2 is heated for $200\,\text{s}$, using heaters with the same power. The temperature increase for each liquid is the same. Which statement is correct?

Thermal properties and temperature

A $100\,\text{g}$ sample of water at $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ is turned into steam while staying at $100\,^{\circ}\text{C}$. The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is $2300\,\text{J g}^{-1}$. How much thermal energy does the water absorb?

Thermal properties and temperature

A copper bar and a wooden bar are connected together. A strip of paper is wrapped tightly around the point where they join. The middle of the bar is then heated strongly for a short period, and the paper turns brown on only one side. Which side turns brown, and what does this indicate about wood and copper?

Transfer of thermal energy

Waves of different wavelengths encounter barriers that have gaps of different widths. Diffraction will occur. In which diagram does the wave spreading become the largest?

General properties of waves

On Earth, a ball is released and, in a vacuum, it descends $2.0\,\text{m}$. When the ball is at $1.0\,\text{m}$, its acceleration is $10\,\text{m s}^{-2}$. Determine the acceleration of the ball at $0.5\,\text{m}$?

Motion

A converging lens serves as a magnifying glass for examining an object. Which statement is correct?

Light

Which diagram illustrates what occurs when a ray of white light passes through a prism?

Light

Light moves through a vacuum and then passes into a glass block. In the glass block, the speed of the light is $2.0 \times 10^{8}\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. Which statement about the speed of light is correct?

Light

A fire alarm does not make enough noise and its pitch is too low. An engineer alters the alarm so that it gives out a louder sound with a higher pitch. How are the amplitude and the frequency of the sound affected?

Sound

In one child’s toy, metal fish are removed from a model pond by means of a metal rod. The fish are magnetically attracted to the tip of the rod. No magnetic force acts between the fish themselves. What materials could the fish and the rod be made from?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Which method is the most effective for demagnetising a bar magnet?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

A magnet placed close to a coil of wire is pulled towards the coil only if a current flows in the coil. Which statement accounts for this force of attraction?

Electromagnetic effects

A student strokes a plastic rod using a cloth. The rod ends up with a positive charge. What has occurred to the rod?

Electrical quantities

Which physical quantity is measured in coulombs?

Electrical quantities

A cylinder made from conducting putty has length $l$, diameter $d$ and resistance $R$. The putty is then reshaped into a cylinder with diameter $2d$ while keeping the same volume. By which factor does the resistance of the putty cylinder decrease?

Electrical quantities

A skydiver has reached terminal velocity. He then opens his parachute. What occurs to the skydiver as the parachute opens?

Forces

During a lightning discharge between a cloud and the ground, the mean current is $1.5 \times 10^4\,\text{A}$. The lightning transfers $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{J}$ of energy and has a duration of $2.0 \times 10^{-4}\,\text{s}$. What is the mean electromotive force (e.m.f.) between the cloud and the ground?

Electrical quantities

A student sets up a variable potential divider (potentiometer) circuit. What happens to the voltmeter reading as the sliding terminal $T$ is moved from $R$ to $S$?

Electric circuits

The circuit diagram depicts a circuit containing an a.c. supply, a diode and a resistor. Which diagram shows how the current $I$ in the resistor changes with time $t$?

Electric circuits

A light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a resistor $R$ are arranged in a series circuit. Light is incident on the LDR. The intensity of the light reaching the LDR decreases. What happens to the resistance of the LDR, and what happens to the reading on the ammeter?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates a logic gate. Which combinations of inputs at $P$ and $Q$ produce an output of $0$ at $R$?

Electric circuits

A simple d.c. electric motor has a coil that rotates inside a magnetic field. A commutator links the power supply to the coil. What is the function of the commutator?

Electromagnetic effects

What is the function of a relay?

Electric circuits

Which table row shows the relative charge of an electron, a neutron and a proton?

The nuclear model of the atom

A nuclide of element X undergoes $\beta$-decay. Which statement is correct?

Radioactivity

A sample containing a radioactive isotope is undergoing decay. Which atoms’ nuclei decay first?

Radioactivity

A steel sample is transported from the Earth to the Moon for an experiment. The gravitational field strength on the Moon is lower than that on the Earth. Which statement about the steel sample is correct?

Mass and weight

A detector of ionising radiation records a background count rate of $20$ counts/minute. A radioactive isotope whose half-life is $2.0$ days is placed near the detector. The detector reading rises to $100$ counts/minute. How long is it before the detector reading falls to $40$ counts/minute?

Radioactivity

A measuring cylinder that contains water only is put on an electronic balance. A small stone with an irregular shape is then fully immersed in the water. The diagrams display the apparatus before the stone is immersed and after it has been immersed. What is the density of the stone’s material?

Density

A boat moves in a straight line over the surface of a lake at constant speed. Which statement about the boat is correct?

Motion

A ball weighing $1.2\,\text{N}$ is falling through the air at terminal velocity. A sudden gust of wind applies a horizontal force of $0.5\,\text{N}$ to the ball from the left. Which diagram illustrates the resultant force on the ball while the wind is blowing?

Forces

The diagram depicts a uniform bridge that is $4.0\,\text{m}$ in length and has a weight of $10\,000\,\text{N}$. The bridge is pivoted at one end. At the other end, a force is increased slowly until the bridge just starts to rise. What is the lifting force when the bridge begins to move upwards?

Forces

A bullet of mass $0.10\,\text{kg}$ moves horizontally at a speed of $600\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. It hits a stationary wooden block of mass $1.90\,\text{kg}$ on a frictionless, horizontal surface. The bullet remains in the block. What is the speed of the bullet and the block immediately after the collision?

Momentum