May/June 2018

A piece of cotton is measured from one mark to another on a ruler. If the cotton is wrapped tightly around a pen, it makes six complete turns. What is the distance for one complete turn around the pen?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The diagram illustrates the energy transferred by a lamp in 1 second. Which form of wasted energy is produced by the lamp?

Energy, work and power

Which energy resource cannot be replenished naturally?

Energy, work and power

A student performs work by dragging a box across a level floor. She then drags a second box over the same floor. Which row shows that she is now doing twice the amount of work?

Energy, work and power

Four identical beakers are each filled to the same volume with liquids P or Q, as shown. Liquid P has a greater density than liquid Q. At which point is the pressure smallest?

Pressure

A woman’s weight is $600\,\text{N}$. She is standing on a flat floor. The area of contact between her feet and the floor is $0.050\,\text{m}^2$. What pressure does she apply to the floor?

Pressure

When the weather is warm, a carton of fresh milk is wrapped in a wet cloth. Why does this help to lower the milk's temperature?

Transfer of thermal energy

Air is enclosed in a cylinder by a piston. The piston is then driven inwards, so the volume of the air decreases. The temperature of the enclosed air stays constant. Which row shows how the average speed of the air molecules and the average distance between them change?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A wooden wheel can be made stronger by placing a tight iron ring around it. Which action would make it easier to slide the ring onto the wood?

Thermal properties and temperature

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer on a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. Which values should she choose for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

Thermal properties and temperature

Which row shows the correct name for each change of state illustrated?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A car travels on a straight, level road with a constant acceleration. Which graph represents the car’s motion?

Motion

On a cold day, a metal front-door knob X and a similar plastic knob Y are both at the same temperature. Why does X seem colder when touched than Y?

Transfer of thermal energy

When a liquid is warmed, it expands. In what way does this result in the formation of a convection current?

Transfer of thermal energy

Which arrow on the graph indicates the wave’s amplitude?

General properties of waves

In which situation does the wave’s wavelength change?

General properties of waves

Scout P wants to signal to scout Q on the opposite side of a valley by using a mirror to reflect the Sun’s light. At which mirror position will the reflected Sun’s light reach scout Q?

Light

The diagram illustrates the electromagnetic spectrum. The figures show the approximate wavelength at the borders between the different regions of the spectrum. For a device to use electromagnetic radiation, it must have an aerial with roughly the same size as the radiation it is intended to receive. Which statement is correct?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A dolphin can detect audible frequencies from $150\,\text{Hz}-150\,\text{kHz}$. Which range of frequencies is audible to both humans with good hearing and dolphins?

Sound

A permanent magnet is positioned near a bar of soft iron. What polarities do end P and end Q have?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

What metal is used in the core of an electromagnet?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

The diagram depicts a cell linked to three resistors $R_1$, $R_2$ and $R_3$. A student places an ammeter at position 1 first, then at positions 2, 3 and 4 one after another. At which positions does the ammeter read the current in $R_1$?

Electric circuits

A car travels along a road that is $20\,\text{km}$ long in $15$ minutes. What is the average speed of the car?

Motion

A plastic rod is rubbed using a cloth. The rod ends up with a positive charge. What occurs to the plastic rod, and what charge does the cloth have?

Electrical quantities

A student measures the potential difference across a device and the current through it. Which calculation would determine the device’s resistance?

Electrical quantities

The circuit diagram contains a battery, three ammeters and three identical resistors, all connected together. In order from the smallest reading to the largest, what are the magnitudes of the ammeter readings?

Electric circuits

A student assembles this circuit. What is the function of the circuit?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates two voltmeters P and Q attached to a potential divider. The sliding contact at point X is shifted upwards towards the top of the diagram. What change occurs to the reading on P and to the reading on Q?

Electric circuits

Which of the following statements about electromagnetic induction is correct?

Electromagnetic effects

An electrical device alters the voltage of an electrical supply from $240\ \text{V a.c.}$ to $20\ \text{V a.c.}$. What is this device called?

Electromagnetic effects

In the atomic model, an atom is made up of a central body, with much smaller particles moving around it. What are the names of the central body and the particles that orbit it?

The nuclear model of the atom

A neutral atom of argon-40 $\left(^{40}_{18}\text{A}\right)$ is compared with a neutral atom of potassium-39 $\left(^{39}_{19}\text{K}\right)$. Which atom contains more electrons, and which atom contains more protons?

The nuclear model of the atom

Which statement concerning $\alpha$-particles and $\beta$-particles is correct?

Radioactivity

Diagram 1 illustrates a beam balance. A beaker fitted with a wire loop is in equilibrium with the standard masses. The beaker is then taken off and suspended from a spring. The spring stretches by $5.0\,\text{cm}$, as shown in diagram 2. The investigation is carried out again using the same apparatus on the Moon, where the acceleration of free fall is smaller than on Earth. Which statement describes what occurs on the Moon?

Mass and weight

An explosion at a nuclear reactor dispersed the isotope caesium-137 over a wide region. Ninety years after the explosion, the amount of caesium-137 remaining will be $12.5\%$ of its initial level. What is the half-life of caesium-137?

Radioactivity

An empty beaker is set on a top-pan balance. Water is then added to the beaker. What is the weight of the water?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Three liquids P, Q and R have different densities and are immiscible. The liquids are poured into a measuring cylinder and left to settle. A small block is then dropped into the measuring cylinder and ends up at rest, as shown. Which statement about the block’s density is correct?

Density

The diagram illustrates a quantity of liquid in a measuring cylinder. The liquid has a mass of $16\,\text{g}$. What is the liquid's density?

Density

A car is travelling in a straight line along a level road. The engine exerts a forward force on the car. A second force of the same magnitude acts on the car because of resistive forces. Which statement describes what happens?

Forces

A hole is made in a square tile. The diagram shows the tile suspended from a nail. Where is the tile’s centre of mass?

Forces

A piece of cotton is measured between two marks on a ruler. When the cotton is wrapped tightly around a pen, it makes six complete turns. What is the distance for one complete turn around the pen?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Which energy source counts as renewable?

Energy, work and power

A student carries out work by dragging a box across a level floor. She then drags a second box across the same floor. Which row shows that the student is now doing twice the amount of work?

Energy, work and power

A thread of mercury seals air inside a closed tube. The mercury thread measures $100\ \text{mm}$ in length. The tube is positioned as shown. Atmospheric pressure is $770\ \text{mm Hg}$. What is the pressure of the trapped air?

Pressure

Brownian motion is the irregular movement of particles caused by collisions with molecules. In which states of matter is Brownian motion seen?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The diagram illustrates the relative number of molecules in a liquid with a particular kinetic energy. The graph is split into sections so that each section contains the same number of molecules. From which section does the largest number of molecules escape from the liquid per unit time?

Kinetic particle model of matter

An electric kettle is used to warm some water. It is then used to warm another liquid. The temperature of the liquid increases more quickly than the temperature of the water. What could explain this difference?

Thermal properties and temperature

A wooden wheel can be reinforced by placing a tight iron ring around it. Which action would make it simpler to put the ring onto the wood?

Thermal properties and temperature

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer using a ^{\circ}C scale. Which values should she select for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

Thermal properties and temperature

Four thermometers, each with its bulb painted a different colour, are positioned at the same distance from a radiant heater. Which thermometer has the slowest increase in temperature when the heater is switched on for the first time?

Transfer of thermal energy

A tank is filled with water. Ripples form on the water’s surface. What causes the ripples to refract?

General properties of waves

A ball is released inside an evacuated tube. Photographs are then captured at equal time intervals starting from the moment of release. A second ball, the same size but with twice the mass, is also released in the same evacuated tube and photographed. Which diagram represents the motion of the heavier ball?

Motion

The diagrams illustrate a wave on the water surface in a tank at times $1.0\ \text{s}$ apart. The wave is generated at P and moves to the right. Which row gives the frequency and the speed of this water wave?

General properties of waves

A ray of light travels from glass into air. Which diagram represents a ray of light striking the air-glass boundary at the critical angle?

Light

Scout P sends a signal to scout Q, who is on the opposite side of a valley, by using a mirror to reflect sunlight. Which mirror orientation will let the Sun’s light be reflected to scout Q?

Light

The table shows white light passing through a prism and producing a spectrum. Which row is correct?

Light

In which medium do all types of electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed?

Electromagnetic spectrum

A siren is producing a sound. As time goes by, the sound grows louder and its pitch rises. What happens to the amplitude and the frequency of the sound wave being emitted?

Sound

A permanent magnet is positioned near a bar of soft iron. What polarities do end P and end Q have?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

The diagrams illustrate three ammeters. Which ammeters indicate the same current value?

Electric circuits

A student measures the potential difference across a device and the current through the device. Which calculation gives the device’s resistance?

Electrical quantities

A lamp is first connected across one cell, and then across two cells. In each arrangement, the potential difference (p.d.) across the lamp and the current through it are measured. How does the lamp’s resistance change when the number of cells is increased from one to two?

Electrical quantities

A car needs $15$ minutes to cover a road that is $20\ \text{km}$ in length. What is the average speed of the car?

Motion

An electrical heater passes thermal energy to the surroundings. The graph indicates how the quantity of thermal energy transferred changes with time. The heater keeps transferring energy at the same rate. How much thermal energy is transferred by the heater in $5.0$ minutes?

Energy, work and power

Which electrical component is shown by the symbol?

Electric circuits

A student assembles this circuit. What is the circuit intended to do?

Electric circuits

In the diagram, voltmeters P and Q are connected to a potential divider. The sliding connection at point X is moved nearer to the top of the diagram. What change occurs in the reading on P and in the reading on Q?

Electric circuits

A simple electric generator produces an electromotive force (e.m.f.). Which change would make the induced e.m.f. larger?

Electromagnetic effects

For a transformer, the primary coil contains $N_p$ turns and the secondary coil contains $N_s$ turns. Which row shows the values of $N_p$ and $N_s$ for a transformer that increases a voltage of $1200\,\text{V}$ to $36\,000\,\text{V}$?

Electromagnetic effects

A straight wire stands at right angles to the page. The current flows into the page. What magnetic field pattern is produced around the wire, and in which direction does it act nearby?

Electromagnetic effects

In the atomic model, an atom is made up of a central mass, with much smaller particles moving around it. What are the names of the central mass and the orbiting particles?

The nuclear model of the atom

The table presents the composition of three different nuclei. Which of these nuclei are isotopes of one another?

The nuclear model of the atom

The table shows a comparison between the penetrating power and ionising effect of $\alpha$-radiation and $\gamma$-radiation. Which row is correct?

Radioactivity

Which of the following statements about an object's mass and weight is correct?

Mass and weight

Radioactive materials have to be handled in a safe manner. Which of these is not a safety procedure?

Radioactivity

Two objects P and Q are put into a beaker of liquid. Object P stays afloat in the liquid, while object Q goes to the bottom. Which row could show the densities of object P, object Q and the liquid?

Density

The diagram depicts a quantity of liquid in a measuring cylinder. The liquid has a mass of $16\ \text{g}$. What is the liquid's density?

Density

A spacecraft is moving through space with zero resultant force and zero resultant moment acting on it. Which statement about the spacecraft is correct?

Motion

A man is holding a short ladder in four different positions. The ladder’s weight produces a moment about the man’s shoulder. For which position is the moment the largest?

Forces

A hole is made in a square tile. The diagram shows the tile suspended freely from a nail. Where is the centre of mass of the tile?

Mass and weight

A piece of cotton is measured using a ruler between two marked points. When the cotton is wrapped tightly around a pen, it makes six complete turns. What is the distance for one turn around the pen?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A simple barometer contains a mercury column. Which characteristic of this mercury column is used to measure atmospheric pressure?

Pressure

The diagram depicts liquid in a measuring cylinder. The liquid has a mass of $16\text{ g}$. What is the liquid’s density?

Density

Brownian motion of particles is observed. Which statements describe how the particles move?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A pure liquid is placed in an open beaker, and some of its molecules leave the liquid by evaporation. Which statement about this process is correct?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A wooden wheel may be reinforced by fitting a tight iron ring around it. Which action would help the ring go on more easily?

Thermal properties and temperature

A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer with a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. What values should she choose for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?

Thermal properties and temperature

Which diagram illustrates how the thermal capacity of a silver object varies with its mass?

Thermal properties and temperature

The diagram shows a pan that is used to cook food. Which row gives the correct materials for the pan’s base and its handle?

Transfer of thermal energy

A saucepan of water is warmed from underneath on an electric hob. Five minutes later, the water close to the top of the saucepan is getting hot. What is the main process of heat transfer within the water?

Transfer of thermal energy

The diagram depicts a wave. Which row is correct?

General properties of waves

Four balls, each with a different mass, are released from the heights indicated. Air resistance can be neglected. Which ball has the largest average speed?

Motion

The diagram illustrates a ray of light travelling from glass into air, at the critical angle. Which angles are the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction?

Light

Scout P uses a mirror to signal scout Q across a valley by reflecting sunlight. Which mirror position would make the sunlight reflect to scout Q?

Light

A microwave signal needs $0.24$ seconds to go from a transmitting station on Earth to a satellite and then return to the station on Earth. Microwaves travel at $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. What is the distance between the transmitting station and the satellite?

Electromagnetic spectrum

The diagram illustrates the ranges of human hearing and ultrasound waves. The numbers on the diagram refer to which property of sound waves?

Sound

A permanent magnet is kept near a bar of soft iron. What are the polarities of end P and of end Q?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

The diagram depicts a permanent bar magnet resting on a wooden table. A student has drawn arrows to indicate the direction of the magnetic field at four positions. Which arrow indicates the direction of the magnetic field at that point?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Which of the following statements about electric charges is correct?

Electrical quantities

The diagrams display two measurements from the same ammeter. Reading 1 is obtained before the ammeter is linked into a circuit. Reading 2 gives the measurement when the ammeter is linked into a circuit. What is the current in the circuit?

Electrical quantities

A student measures the potential difference across a device and the current through the device. Which calculation will give the resistance of the device?

Electrical quantities

A battery is connected to a lamp in an electric circuit. Chemical energy in the battery is transferred into which other forms of energy?

Electric circuits

A car needs 15 minutes to cover a road 20 km in length. What is the car's average speed?

Motion

Which component does the symbol shown represent?

Electric circuits

A student assembles a circuit, which she names circuit 1. She measures the current $I_1$ and then determines the resistance $R_1$ of the circuit. Next, she adds an identical resistor in parallel with the first resistor. She names this circuit 2. She measures the current $I_2$ and then determines the total resistance $R_2$ of this circuit. Which row gives the correct comparison of the two currents and the two resistances in the circuits?

Electric circuits

A student assembles this circuit. What is the circuit intended to do?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates two voltmeters P and Q connected to a potential divider. The sliding connection at point X is then shifted towards the top of the diagram. What change occurs in the reading on P and in the reading on Q?

Electric circuits

The diagram illustrates a transformer. Which materials are best suited for the core and for the coils?

Electromagnetic effects

When a conductor carrying current is placed in a magnetic field, a force acts on it. Which changes cause the force to reverse direction?

Electromagnetic effects

A solenoid is connected to a battery. Which statement is correct about the magnetic field at the solenoid’s centre?

Electromagnetic effects

In the atomic model, an atom is made up of a central mass with much smaller particles moving around it. What is the name of the central mass and what are the orbiting particles called?

The nuclear model of the atom

A lead isotope is written using the nuclide symbol $^{214}_{82}\text{Pb}$. How many protons and how many neutrons are present in a single nucleus of this isotope?

The nuclear model of the atom

Three sources of background radiation are given. 1. cosmic rays 2. medical X-rays 3. radioactive emissions from radon gas from the ground Which of these sources occur naturally?

Radioactivity

A person stands on a bathroom scales. The bathroom scales shows both mass and weight. Which row gives the readings on the scales?

Mass and weight

The emission rates of four radioactive sources are recorded at intervals of $20$ minutes. The table gives the readings for each radioactive source in a separate row. Which source has the greatest half-life?

Radioactivity

Which characteristics of an object may be altered by a force?

Forces

A man supports a ladder in four different positions, with the ladder turning about his shoulder as a pivot. The ladder’s weight produces a moment about the man’s shoulder. In which position is the moment largest?

Forces

A hole is drilled through a square tile. The diagram shows the tile hanging freely from a nail. Where is the centre of mass of the tile?

Mass and weight

Which clothes-drying method has the smallest effect on the environment?

Energy, work and power

A student does work by pulling a box across a level floor. She then pulls a second box along the same floor. Which row shows that the student is now doing twice the amount of work?

Energy, work and power