Feb/March 2024

The diagram shows a pendulum oscillating between P and Q. Which method is used to determine the average period of oscillation of the pendulum?

Motion

At standard atmospheric pressure, what temperature does water boil at?

Thermal properties and temperature

Which row shows the way the volume and mass of liquid mercury change as it is heated?

Thermal properties and temperature

In which case does the water’s internal energy store rise?

Thermal properties and temperature

Which statement explains what occurs to particles as a liquid evaporates?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Which one of the following is not an instance of convection?

Transfer of thermal energy

A hollow aluminium cube is packed with very hot water. Side X of the cube lies opposite side Y. Of these two sides, one is black and the other is white. A student places the back of one hand 5 cm from side X, then straight away places the back of the other hand 5 cm from side Y. The hand near side Y is felt to be warmer than the hand near side X. Which row shows which side is black and also compares the rate at which thermal radiation is emitted from each side correctly?

Transfer of thermal energy

The diagram illustrates a ray of light moving from air into a glass block and bending so that it is nearer to the normal. What is this process called, and why does it occur?

Light

Which row provides an example of a longitudinal wave and states the direction in which the vibrations occur?

General properties of waves

Which of the following statements about total internal reflection is correct?

Light

A beam of green light travels through a glass prism, as illustrated. Which colours of light are refracted as shown in the table?

Light

A car travels a measured distance $s$ in a known time $t$. Which equation is correct for calculating the car’s average speed $v$?

Motion

What electromagnetic waves are used to sterilise medical equipment?

Electromagnetic spectrum

Which process makes a sound wave create an echo?

Sound

A student is 75 m away from a wall and creates a brief, loud sound by knocking two pieces of wood together. What is the approximate interval between producing the sound and the student hearing the echo that is returned?

Sound

Which statement is always true?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A polythene rod is given a charge by rubbing. The polythene rod ends up negatively charged. Which statement is correct?

Electrical quantities

Which unit is used for electromotive force (e.m.f.)?

Electrical quantities

The diagram represents a circuit with two identical lamps and three ammeters. Ammeter 1 reads $0.30\,\text{A}$. Which row shows possible values for the currents in ammeters 2 and 3?

Electric circuits

To switch a mains appliance on and off safely, into which wire should a switch be connected?

Electrical safety

Which device operates by using the magnetic effect of an electric current?

Electromagnetic effects

A transformer contains 200 turns on its primary coil and is connected to a $240\,\text{V}$ a.c. supply. Its output voltage is $60\,\text{V}$ a.c. How many turns are there on the transformer’s secondary coil?

Electromagnetic effects

On Mars, the acceleration of free fall is $3.7\,\text{m s}^{-2}$. Determine the weight of a $2.0\,\text{kg}$ mass on Mars?

Mass and weight

Which statement concerning an atom is correct?

The nuclear model of the atom

The table presents details for four nuclei. Which nuclei are isotopes of the same element?

The nuclear model of the atom

Which apparatus is used for measuring background radiation?

Radioactivity

Which row correctly states the type of each radioactive emission?

Radioactivity

A nucleus emits radiation on its own and changes into the nucleus of another element. What could the radiation emitted be?

Radioactivity

The diagram shows a lead-lined box that is used to keep a radioactive source. Why is the box lined on the inside with lead?

Radioactivity

A student sketches a basic diagram of the Sun together with the different motions of the Moon and the Earth. Which arrow shows a movement that takes 365 days to finish?

The Earth and the Solar System

The table shows information about four planets in our Solar System. Two of the planets are gaseous and two are rocky. Which two planets are rocky?

The Earth and the Solar System

Which row gives the elements that occur most abundantly in the Sun and the parts of the electromagnetic spectrum where most of the Sun’s energy is emitted?

Stars and the Universe

What does the term light-year mean?

Stars and the Universe

A rocket is moving straight up. It is acted on by three vertical forces. The thrust acts upwards and has a magnitude of $100\,000\,\text{N}$. The weight acts downwards and has a magnitude of $80\,000\,\text{N}$. What is the air resistance force on the rocket while it is moving upwards at a constant speed?

Forces

Approximately what is the diameter of the Milky Way?

Stars and the Universe

An irregular plane object is hung freely from point O. It is moved aside and then let go. After swinging a few times, it comes to rest as shown. Where is the centre of gravity of the object?

Mass and weight

Three situations are given. 1 a person inflating a party balloon by blowing air into it 2 a crane raising a block of concrete 3 a stack of books at rest on a shelf. In which situations is work being done?

Energy, work and power

Which row identifies an advantage and a disadvantage of wind turbines?

Energy, work and power

A cuboid metal block has dimensions $2.5\,\text{cm} \times 3.0\,\text{cm} \times 4.5\,\text{cm}$. It is lying on the ground. The pressure exerted by the block on the ground is $0.23\,\text{N cm}^{-2}$. What is the weight of the metal block?

Pressure

Which row gives the correct description of particle movement in solids and liquids?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A student is using a balance and a measuring cylinder that contains water. Which of the following could she use to determine the volume of a small metal sphere? She has no other apparatus.

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The diagram illustrates a pan for cooking food. Which row correctly shows the materials used for the base of the pan and the handle of the pan?

Transfer of thermal energy

Solar heating panels contain pipes through which water flows, and these pipes absorb radiation from the Sun. What surface texture and colour should the pipes have so that the water temperature increases at the fastest rate?

Transfer of thermal energy

When pollen grains suspended in water are observed under a microscope, they can be seen moving continuously, quickly and at random. What makes a pollen grain move like this?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A circular dish with a flat base contains $100\,\text{cm}^3$ of water. The students are asked to suggest ways to make the water evaporate more quickly. Their ideas are given below. Student 1: Transfer the water into a flat-bottomed dish with a greater diameter. Student 2: Reduce the temperature of the dish and the water. Student 3: Use a fan to set up an air current above the dish. Which of these suggestions would raise the evaporation rate?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Matter is made up of extremely small particles that are constantly moving. Which row shows how the particles behave in a liquid?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The diagram illustrates the apparatus used for an experiment investigating the heating of aluminium. The table lists the experimental results: mass of block = 0.80\,\text{kg}, voltmeter reading = 12\,\text{V}, ammeter reading = 5.0\,\text{A}, time = 300\,\text{s}. The specific heat capacity of aluminium is 900\,\text{J kg}^{-1}\,\degree\text{C}^{-1}. What is the maximum possible temperature increase in the block?

Thermal properties and temperature

The diagram illustrates a wave. Which measurements are used to describe the wave’s properties?

General properties of waves

Which row gives some characteristics of an image produced by a plane mirror?

Light

Elephants hear frequencies from $10\,\text{Hz}$ to $12000\,\text{Hz}$, whereas horses hear frequencies from $55\,\text{Hz}$ to $33000\,\text{Hz}$. Which statement correctly describes the range of audible frequencies for a healthy human ear?

Sound

An object is positioned in front of a plane mirror. The ray diagram illustrates how one light ray from the object is reflected by the mirror. At what location does the mirror produce the image of the object?

Light

The diagram illustrates a solid object resting on a horizontal surface, with two forces acting on it. What is the resultant force on the object?

Forces

When light passes from air into glass, it is refracted, as shown. Which expression has the same value as the refractive index of glass?

Light

Light moving at a speed of $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{m s}^{-1}$ is incident on the surface of a glass block and is refracted as it enters the block. The diagram shows a ray of this light before it enters the block and after it has entered the block. What is the speed of light in the glass?

Light

Which table row concerning converging lenses and diverging lenses is correct?

Light

A charged rod X is set on a balance, and a second rod Y is moved near it, as illustrated. Which pair of charges would produce the change in the balance reading shown?

Electrical quantities

State the unit of potential difference (p.d.).

Electrical quantities

The diagram illustrates a transformer. What output voltage is produced?

Electromagnetic effects

The diagrams illustrate two configurations of a pair of identical bar magnets. Three points, P, Q and R, are marked. At which point is the magnetic field produced by the magnets the weakest, and at which point is it the strongest?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Nichrome wire P is $1.0\,\text{m}$ long and has a diameter of $1.0\,\text{mm}$. Nichrome wire Q is $2.0\,\text{m}$ long and has a diameter of $2.0\,\text{mm}$. Which statement gives the correct comparison of the resistance of Q with the resistance of P?

Electrical quantities

A student is working with two resistors. One of them has a resistance of $2.0\,\Omega$, while the other has a resistance of $40\,\text{k}\Omega$. Which statement is correct?

Electrical quantities

In which circuit do both lamps come on?

Electric circuits

A ball is dropping toward the ground. Which transfer between energy stores is occurring?

Energy, work and power

A strontium isotope is represented by the nuclide notation $^{84}_{38}\text{Sr}$. In the nucleus of this isotope, how many protons and how many neutrons are present?

The nuclear model of the atom

A student is investigating the count rate of a radioactive substance. How should he adjust his reading to allow for the background count?

Radioactivity

What happens in nuclear fusion?

The nuclear model of the atom

A beta-particle enters a uniform magnetic field that points into the plane of the page and is deflected downwards, as shown. In which direction would an electric field also make an electron move downwards?

Electromagnetic effects

The radioactive isotope radon, $^{222}_{86}\text{Rn}$, undergoes alpha $(\alpha)$ emission. As this decay occurs, an isotope of polonium, Po, is formed. How many neutrons are present in the nucleus of this polonium isotope?

Radioactivity

Which statement lists two safety precautions that should be followed when someone is working with ionising radiation?

Radioactivity

Which sequence correctly arranges the planets from the greatest to the least distance from the Sun?

The Earth and the Solar System

The Sun gives out most of its energy in three areas of the electromagnetic spectrum. In the pie chart, region 1 is infrared radiation and region 2 is visible radiation. What does region 3 represent?

Electromagnetic spectrum

The diagram illustrates a comet travelling round the Sun in an elliptical orbit. At which position is the comet moving at the greatest speed?

Motion

Nuclear reactions occurring in the Sun produce very large amounts of energy. Which statement about this process is correct?

The nuclear model of the atom

Which row includes one scalar quantity and one vector quantity?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The table shows information on four planets in our Solar System. Which planets are X and Y?

The Earth and the Solar System

The table shows information about four liquids, W, X, Y and Z. None of the liquids is miscible with any of the others. All four liquids are placed in the same container and then arrange themselves into four distinct layers. Which statement is correct?

Density

A beam of negligible weight is in equilibrium on a pivot, as illustrated. Forces P, Q and R are acting on the beam. Which equation is correct?

Forces

An object has a velocity of $+3.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. A force is applied to the object. Later, its velocity becomes $-4.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. The object's mass is $5.0\,\text{kg}$. What is the change in momentum of the object?

Momentum

The diagram represents a column of liquid. At the bottom of the liquid, the pressure produced by the liquid is $6000\,\text{N m}^{-2}$. Determine the density of the liquid.

Pressure

Which statement gives the correct description of a change of state?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Fig. 1.1 presents a distance-time graph for a student. The student leaves a classroom, pauses to chat with some friends, and then continues on to their next class.

Motion

Complete the particle labels for Fig. 10.1. Write the name of each particle on the dotted line.

Radioactivity

Fig. 11.1 shows the four planets that are nearest to the Sun.

The Earth and the Solar System

Calculate the volume of the piece of metal.

Density

In Fig. 3.1, a computer is shown resting on a desk surface.

Pressure

Fig. 4.1 shows a student operating a battery-powered device.

Energy, work and power

Fig. 5.1 shows a metal container for petrol storage. Some petrol gas is present above the liquid petrol inside the metal container.

Kinetic particle model of matter

Fig. 6.1 shows a transverse wave.

General properties of waves

Fig. 7.1 shows an object situated near a thin converging lens. The grid scale is indicated.

Light

Fig. 8.1 displays a permanent bar magnet.

Simple phenomena of magnetism

A student assembles the electrical circuit illustrated in Fig. 9.1.

Electric circuits

Fig. 1.1 shows a speed-time graph for the opening 5 minutes of a bus journey. Describe the motion during: 1. $t = 0.90\,\text{min}$ to $t = 2.9\,\text{min}$ 2. $t = 2.9\,\text{min}$ to $t = 3.5\,\text{min}$ 3. $t = 3.5\,\text{min}$ to $t = 4.5\,\text{min}$.

Motion

State one Moon position for which an observer on Earth sees: 1. a quarter Moon 2. a full Moon

The Earth and the Solar System

State the condition that allows a protostar to develop into a stable star.

Stars and the Universe

Define the term impulse.

Momentum

Calculate the pressure exerted on the road by the car’s weight.

Pressure

Define the term specific heat capacity.

Thermal properties and temperature

Fill in the second column of Table 5.1 with the electromagnetic spectrum region used for each application.

Electromagnetic spectrum

Fig. 6.1 presents a diagram drawn to full scale.

Light

Draw the circuit symbol that represents a potential divider.

Electric circuits

On Fig. 8.2, draw three magnetic field lines to show both the field direction and how the strength changes with distance from the wire.

Electromagnetic effects

Most of the alpha particles pass straight through the thin foil. State what this observation tells you about atoms.

Radioactivity