Feb/March 2025

A student has been given the task of determining the volume of a small piece of rock with an irregular shape. The student has the apparatus listed below. Which apparatus should the student use to determine the volume of the small piece of rock?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Which equation links the work done $W$ on an object by a force $F$ when it moves through a distance $d$?

Energy, work and power

A boy has an average useful power output of $60\,\text{W}$ while he rides his bicycle for $2.0\,\text{minutes}$. What useful energy is transferred?

Energy, work and power

The diagram depicts a solid block placed on a bench, with its dimensions indicated. To give the bench the least pressure, on which labelled face should the block be placed?

Pressure

A skier is at rest on a level patch of snow. The skier’s total weight is $550\,\text{N}$. The combined area of the skis in contact with the ground is $0.015\,\text{m}^2$. What pressure does the skier exert on the ground?

Pressure

A force acting on an area creates a pressure. Which changes would give the same pressure?

Pressure

The diagram shows a cylinder that contains oxygen at high pressure. The temperature of both the cylinder and the oxygen falls. Which statement explains what happens to the pressure inside the cylinder and states the reason for the change in pressure?

Kinetic particle model of matter

Which statement explains what takes place during solidification?

Kinetic particle model of matter

When solids are heated, they expand the ......1...... and the mean distance between molecules becomes ......2...... . Which words complete the statement about how solids expand when compared with liquids and gases?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A girl inflates a party balloon by blowing air into it, then knots it to keep the air trapped inside. She places the sealed balloon above a hot convector heater. She notices that the balloon’s volume rises greatly. Which statement explains the reason for this increase in volume?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The graph illustrates how the density of a substance changes as its temperature varies with time. Which term names the change of state occurring at time $t_2$?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A digital stop-clock records time in minutes and seconds. When the stop-clock is started, it shows 00:50 (that is, 00 minutes 50 seconds). When it is stopped, it shows 02:10. What is the shortest possible time that could have elapsed between starting and stopping the stop-clock?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A candle is used to warm some water in a glass beaker. What is the main method of heat transfer through the glass and throughout the water?

Transfer of thermal energy

Which equation can be used to calculate the speed of a wave?

General properties of waves

As shown, a ray of light strikes the surface of a plane mirror. In which position is the reflected ray?

Light

The diagram illustrates a ray of light moving from glass into air. The dotted line marked ‘normal’ is drawn at right angles to the glass surface. What is the angle of refraction?

Light

The diagram illustrates how a converging lens produces an image of an object. Which statement correctly describes the image formed by the lens?

Light

Which row gives the description of the image seen in a plane mirror?

Light

The table shows the frequency ranges for three kinds of electromagnetic radiation. Which type of electromagnetic radiation has a frequency of $4 \times 10^{15}\,\text{Hz}$?

Electromagnetic spectrum

An athlete notices a puff of smoke from the starting pistol and then hears the pistol fire $1.5$ seconds later. The sound and the smoke are produced simultaneously. The starting pistol is $450\,\text{m}$ from the athlete. From this observation, what is the speed of sound?

Sound

A plotting compass is positioned near the pole of a magnet whose poles are labelled X and Y, with the N pole of the plotting compass facing pole X, as illustrated. Pole Y of the magnet is then brought near a second magnet with poles labelled P and Q, as shown. The magnets repel one another. Which row is correct?

Simple phenomena of magnetism

Why are electrical cables frequently made of copper?

Electrical quantities

Four students are told to determine the time taken for a ball bearing to drop through a vertical distance of $1.0\,\text{m}$. Each student carries out a different method. Which student carries out the correct method?

Motion

A resistor carries a current $I$. The potential difference (p.d.) across it is $V$. What quantity is given by the product $IV$?

Energy, work and power

Which circuit includes a thermistor and a heater?

Electric circuits

4 $2.0\,\text{V}$ cells are joined in series to make the battery shown. What is the total electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery?

Electrical quantities

A positively charged isolated metal sphere is moved near a separate isolated metal sphere that has no net charge. What occurs to the charges on the neutral sphere as the positively charged sphere is brought nearer?

Electrical quantities

A car headlamp has a potential difference (p.d.) of 12 V across it. The current through the lamp is 2.5 A. How much energy is transferred by the lamp in 1.0 hour?

Electrical quantities

A copper wire is placed in a uniform magnetic field. What change produces an induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) in the wire?

Electromagnetic effects

A chemical element contains two isotopes. Which row shows a comparison of the nucleus in one atom of each isotope?

The nuclear model of the atom

In a laboratory, a radiation detector is linked to a counter that gives a reading for the count rate caused by background radiation. In what unit is count rate measured?

Radioactivity

Which statement correctly describes alpha, beta and gamma emissions?

Radioactivity

What is one effect that ionising nuclear radiation has on living things?

Radioactivity

The graph illustrates the motion of a car over a 5-second period. Which row gives a time when the car is stationary and a time when it is travelling at a constant speed?

Motion

The diagram illustrates the Earth moving around the Sun. Which row correctly names and explains the season in the northern hemisphere when the Earth is at position 1?

The Earth and the Solar System

Which property of an object is defined by the gravitational force acting on its mass?

Mass and weight

A stone has a weight of $5.7\,\text{N}$. The gravitational field strength $g$ is $9.8\,\text{N}\,\text{kg}^{-1}$. What is the mass of the stone?

Mass and weight

Which equation is the correct one?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

What does the term moment of a force mean?

Forces

A mass of $20\,\text{kg}$ is kept at rest by a rope that goes over a frictionless pulley. What is the force $T$ in the rope?

Mass and weight

The diagram illustrates three forces acting on an object. What is the magnitude of the resultant force on the object?

Forces

Which resource does not have the Sun as its main source of energy?

Energy, work and power

An experiment is carried out to compare how quickly thermal energy is conducted through metal and plastic spoons. An ice cube is put on one end of each spoon, while the other end is heated gently. Which row gives the correct prediction together with the correct explanation?

Transfer of thermal energy

Four students work out the efficiency of four different electrical devices. The teacher knows that one student has made an error in the calculation. Which efficiency value is incorrect?

Energy, work and power

A sample of gas is enclosed in a container with a fixed volume. Its temperature is raised. Which statement accounts for the increase in the gas pressure?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A student carries out an experiment to find the specific heat capacity of a metal block. She notes the following measurements: energy supplied $=12\,\text{kJ}$, initial temperature $=20\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, final temperature $=45\,^{\circ}\text{C}$, mass of metal block $=600\,\text{g}$. What is the specific heat capacity of the metal block?

Thermal properties and temperature

A metal block is kept overnight in a cool, shaded room. The next morning, the metal block is placed in a warm environment. Which statement about the metal block is correct in the morning?

Thermal properties and temperature

A fixed mass of gas is enclosed in a sealed syringe at a pressure of $100\,\text{kPa}$. The plunger is then pushed in slowly until the pressure becomes $80\,\text{kPa}$. At that point, the gas has a volume of $50\,\text{cm}^3$. The temperature of the gas remains unchanged. What was the gas volume before the plunger was moved?

Kinetic particle model of matter

The diagram illustrates more energetic water molecules leaving the surface of liquid water. What is this process known as?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A hot object gives out thermal radiation. Which row shows two alterations that both lower the rate at which radiation is emitted?

Transfer of thermal energy

The frequency of a wave is doubled while its speed remains unchanged. What change occurs to the wavelength of the wave?

General properties of waves

Which row gives the definitions of speed and velocity?

Motion

Which statement concerning ultrasound is correct?

Sound

Which statement concerning the image formed by a plane mirror is false?

Light

A light ray falls on the interface between air and water. Under what conditions will the ray of light undergo total internal reflection?

Light

A converging lens is employed to form an image on a screen. What type of image appears on the screen?

Light

A negatively charged rod is moved close to a metal sphere. A positive charge appears on the part of the metal sphere nearest the negatively charged rod. Why does this happen?

Electrical quantities

In terms of which quantities is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell defined?

Electrical quantities

A resistor with resistance $R$ is connected to a battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $V$. A current $I$ flows through the resistor. The resistor dissipates power $P$. Over a time $t$, the energy transferred is $E$. Which expression is the correct one?

Electric circuits

A copper wire measuring $80\,\text{cm}$ in length and having a cross-sectional area of $0.20\,\text{mm}^2$ is found to have resistance $R$. For a copper wire with cross-sectional area $0.40\,\text{mm}^2$, what length gives resistance $R$?

Electrical quantities

Four identical resistors are arranged with a battery as illustrated. Each resistor has a resistance of $120\,\Omega$. Resistor $R_4$ is taken out. What effect does the removal of this resistor have on the circuit’s effective resistance?

Electric circuits

The resistors in the circuit diagram are all identical. Voltmeter $V_2$ shows a reading of $1.5\,\text{V}$. Ammeter $A_2$ has a reading of $0.50\,\text{A}$. Ammeter $A_3$ has a reading of $0.25\,\text{A}$. What are the readings shown by ammeter $A_1$ and voltmeter $V_1$?

Electric circuits

The graph illustrates the journey of a motorcyclist. Which part of the graph indicates the period when the motorcyclist is stopped at some traffic lights?

Motion

A wire is moved within the space between the poles of a magnet. A current is induced in the wire. In which direction is the wire moved?

Electromagnetic effects

A fixed resistor is attached to the secondary coil of a step-down transformer. The transformer is 100% efficient. The variable resistor is altered so that the current in the fixed resistor falls by $0.25\,\text{A}$. What is the change in the current in the primary circuit?

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 the name of this device?

Electromagnetic effects

An a.c. generator is arranged with its coil of wire perpendicular to the magnetic field. The coil of wire is then turned slowly to produce an alternating electromotive force (e.m.f.). As the coil rotates, a graph of induced e.m.f. against time is drawn. Which part of the graph shows a rotation of three-quarters of a turn?

Electromagnetic effects

A uranium nucleus $^{{238}}_{{92}}\text{U}$ undergoes decay to produce thorium by releasing an $\alpha$-particle. Thorium then decays into protactinium by releasing a $\beta$-particle. Which row shows the atomic number and mass number for this isotope of protactinium?

Radioactivity

Which row indicates what occurs when a nucleus decays by releasing a $\beta$-particle?

Radioactivity

Which precaution does not necessarily lower a scientist’s exposure when handling sources of ionising radiation?

Radioactivity

A detector is positioned close to a radioactive isotope and registers a count rate of $700\ \text{counts/min}$. The isotope has a half-life of $8\ \text{min}$. The mean background count rate is $60\ \text{counts/min}$. What count rate does the detector record after $16\ \text{min}$?

Radioactivity

A nucleus of the nitrogen isotope, N, captures a neutron. It then changes into a carbon isotope, C, and gives out $x$. $^{{1}}_{{0}}\text{n} + ^{{14}}_{{7}}\text{N} \rightarrow ^{{14}}_{{6}}\text{C} + x$. What is $x$?

Radioactivity

The graph illustrates how the strength of the Earth’s gravitational field changes as the distance above the Earth’s surface increases. Which row describes the effect this has on an object’s mass and its weight as it moves farther from the Earth’s surface?

Mass and weight

The acceleration of free fall on the Moon is one sixth of that on the Earth. On the Earth, an astronaut’s mass is measured to be $60\,\text{kg}$. Which row shows the astronaut’s mass and weight on the Earth and on the Moon?

Mass and weight

A student draws a graph showing the speed of different galaxies moving away from the Earth plotted against their distance from the Earth. From the best straight line on the graph, what is the value of the Hubble constant $H_0$?

Stars and the Universe

A load-extension graph for a material is shown. Which point shows the limit of proportionality?

Forces

A body of mass $4.0\,\text{kg}$ travels along a straight line at $3.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. What momentum does the body have?

Momentum

A tall cylinder contains two immiscible liquids, partly filling it. These liquids have different densities. A student measures the pressure produced by the liquids at various depths. Which graph shows the way liquid pressure changes between positions P and Q?

Pressure

A tennis ball has momentum $2.3\,\text{kg m s}^{-1}$ and is hit by a tennis racket. As a result, the racket makes the ball reverse its direction of motion. During the collision, the racket exerts an average force of $1500\,\text{N}$ on the ball for $0.0024\,\text{s}$. What is the magnitude of the momentum of the ball when it leaves the tennis racket?

Momentum

A car is moving at $8.0\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. Its kinetic energy is $32\,000\,\text{J}$. What is the kinetic energy of the car when its speed rises to $16\,\text{m s}^{-1}$?

Energy, work and power

Fig. 1.1 presents the speed-time graph of a ball falling through the air.

Motion

Fig. 10.1 illustrates the equipment a student uses to show electromagnetic induction.

Electromagnetic effects

Table 11.1 provides details about the particles found in an atom.

Radioactivity

Fig. 12.1 shows the Earth travelling in its orbit around the Sun.

The Earth and the Solar System

Describe the method the student uses to determine the density of the liquid with the equipment.

Density

Fig. 3.1 presents a central cross-section of a solid cone alongside a central cross-section of a solid cuboid. In Fig. 3.1, the cone and the cuboid are shown resting on the ground. The solid cone is the more stable object. The symbol x marks the location of the centre of gravity for each object.

Forces

A power station burns biofuels to produce electrical power.

Energy, work and power

An electric motor is used to raise a load, as illustrated in Fig. 5.1.

Energy, work and power

A student heats some water in a metal container using an electric heater, as illustrated in Fig. 6.1.

Transfer of thermal energy

On Fig. 7.1, sketch the route taken by the red-light ray as it passes through the glass block and emerges into air.

Electromagnetic spectrum

A student taps a tuning fork against a wooden block. The tuning fork is kept close to the students’ ear, as shown in Fig. 8.1.

Sound

A student assembled the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 9.1.

Electric circuits

Fig. 1.1 presents a force-extension graph for a spring.

Forces

Fig. 10.1 illustrates the route followed by the Earth as it travels around the Sun. X marks a place on the Earth from which scientists track the Sun’s apparent motion over the course of the year.

The Earth and the Solar System

Trolley A and trolley B are positioned on a horizontal bench with no friction. Trolley A travels to the right at a steady velocity $u = 0.44\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. Trolley B is at rest. Fig. 2.1 shows trolley A just before it hits trolley B.

Momentum

Fig. 3.1 depicts a mains electric heater that is used to heat a small room, and the diagram labels a shiny metal surface together with heating elements.

Electric circuits

A train can travel at a top speed of $200\,\text{km h}^{-1}$. From rest, it speeds up with a constant acceleration of $0.70\,\text{m s}^{-2}$.

Motion

A light-dependent resistor (LDR) has a low resistance when the light intensity is high and a high resistance in darkness.

Electric circuits

Fig. 6.1 illustrates an object O that is $5.0\,\text{cm}$ from the centre of a thin converging lens L. Lens L has a focal length of $3.0\,\text{cm}$. Fig. 6.1 is drawn to full scale.

Light

Fig. 7.1 shows a scale drawing of light waves moving towards a narrow slit. SCALE $1.0\,\text{cm} : 4.0 \times 10^{-7}\,\text{m}$. The diagram marks the direction of propagation of light, the crests of 3 successive wavefronts, and a barrier containing a narrow slit.

General properties of waves

Fig. 8.1 shows a metal rod hanging in the magnetic field created by two permanent magnets. The rod is linked to a cell, so a current flows through it.

Electromagnetic effects

Strontium-90 ($^{90}_{38}\text{Sr}$) refers to a radioactive isotope of strontium.

Radioactivity