Physics 0625 · IGCSE
Physical quantities and measurement techniques
100 practice questions on Physical quantities and measurement techniques, with worked solutions and instant marking.
A student wants to determine the volume of a small stone with an irregular shape. A ruler and a measuring cylinder partly filled with water are available. Which apparatus is required?
Feb/March 2016
Which quantities are expressed in the same unit?
Feb/March 2016
The diameter of a copper wire is estimated to be about $0.3\,\text{mm}$. Which instrument ought to be used to measure the diameter of the wire more accurately?
Feb/March 2016
What is the value of a vector quantity?
Feb/March 2016
The diagram illustrates the height of a stack made of identical coins. What is the thickness of a single coin?
Feb/March 2017
When a thermometer is calibrated, the fixed points are indicated. What does the term fixed points mean?
Feb/March 2017
The diagram shows the height of a stack made up of identical coins. How thick is one coin?
Feb/March 2017
A student needs to determine the volume of a small piece of rock with an irregular shape. He has the following apparatus at his disposal. Which apparatus should the student use to determine the volume of the small piece of rock?
Feb/March 2018
Which of the statements is correct?
Feb/March 2018
What instrument is used to measure the diameter of a thin metal wire accurately?
Feb/March 2018
A tap lets water drip into a measuring cylinder. The table gives the amount of water in the cylinder at each minute during four minutes: time $/ \text{minutes}$: $0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0$ volume of water $/ \text{cm}^3$: $0, 27, 57, 83, 112$ What is the mean volume of water gathered in the cylinder per minute?
Feb/March 2019
Which row indicates the most suitable measuring instruments for obtaining accurate readings for the distances shown?
Feb/March 2019
The diagram depicts a rectangular metal sheet placed near two rulers. What is the area of the metal sheet?
Feb/March 2020
The diagram shows a rectangular metal sheet positioned near two rulers. What is the area of the metal sheet?
Feb/March 2020
Calculate the average thickness of a single coin.
Feb/March 2020
A student is given a measuring cylinder that contains water, together with a balance. Which of these could she use to determine the volume of a small metal sphere? She has no other apparatus.
Feb/March 2021
A student has a measuring cylinder partly filled with water and a balance. Which of these could she use to determine the volume of a small metal sphere? She has no other apparatus.
Feb/March 2021
A measuring cylinder is filled with water. The diagrams show the measuring cylinder before and after some water is transferred into a beaker. What volume of water has been poured into the beaker?
Feb/March 2023
Which list includes two scalar quantities and two vector quantities?
Feb/March 2023
Which statement is always true?
Feb/March 2024
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.
Feb/March 2024
Which row includes one scalar quantity and one vector quantity?
Feb/March 2024
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?
Feb/March 2025
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?
Feb/March 2025
Which equation is the correct one?
Feb/March 2025
The diagram presents a magnified sketch of the end of a metre rule. It is being used to measure a small feather. How long is the feather?
May/June 2016
The diagram gives a magnified view of the end of a metre rule. It is used to measure the length of a small feather. What length does the feather have?
May/June 2016
The diagram presents a magnified sketch of the end of a metre rule. It is used to measure how long a small feather is. What is the length of the feather?
May/June 2016
The diagram presents a magnified view of the end of a metre rule. It is being used to find the length of a small feather. What is the length of the feather?
May/June 2016
A scalar quantity possesses
May/June 2016
The diagram presents a magnified drawing of the end of a metre rule. It is being used to measure the length of a small feather. What is the length of the feather?
May/June 2016
The diagram shows a magnified view of the end of a metre rule. It is being used to measure the length of a small feather. What is the length of the feather?
May/June 2016
Which list includes only vector quantities?
May/June 2016
A student examines water dripping from a tap (faucet). Fig. 1.1 depicts the dripping tap, with a rule placed beside a container that is gathering the drops of water.
May/June 2016
A student carries out an investigation into water dripping from a tap (faucet). Fig. 1.1 depicts the dripping tap, with a rule placed beside a container that gathers the drops of water.
May/June 2016
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?
May/June 2017
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 $s$?
May/June 2017
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?
May/June 2017
Which method would give the most accurate and precise measurement of a coin’s thickness?
May/June 2017
Which method would measure the thickness of a coin most accurately and precisely?
May/June 2017
What does the symbol shown indicate?
May/June 2017
Which method would measure the thickness of a coin most accurately and precisely?
May/June 2017
A pendulum is oscillating. Five students each record the time taken for ten complete swings. Three students obtain a time of $17.2\,\text{s}$. A fourth student records $16.9\,\text{s}$, while the fifth student records $17.0\,\text{s}$. What is the mean period of the pendulum?
May/June 2017
What units are used for mass, pressure and velocity?
May/June 2017
Water drips from a pipe into a glass jar that is empty at the start. A student measures how rapidly the water level climbs in the jar. Fig. 1.1 illustrates the setup. Fig. 1.1 shows a pipe with a water drip above a glass jar. Water is collected at the bottom of the glass jar. The labels on the diagram are: pipe, water drip, glass jar, water.
May/June 2017
A student is measuring a book.
May/June 2017
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?
May/June 2018
An empty beaker is set on a top-pan balance. Water is then added to the beaker. What is the weight of the water?
May/June 2018
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?
May/June 2018
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?
May/June 2018
A piece of cotton is measured from one point to another 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?
May/June 2018
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?
May/June 2018
Which statement is incorrect?
May/June 2018
A piece of cotton is measured between two points 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?
May/June 2018
A student wants to calibrate a mercury-in-glass thermometer using a $^\circ\text{C}$ scale. Which values should she choose for the lower fixed point and the upper fixed point?
May/June 2018
A digital stop-clock is used to record time in minutes and seconds. When the stop-clock is started, its display shows 00:50 (that is, 00 minutes 50 seconds). It is then stopped when the display shows 02:10. What is the minimum possible time that could have passed between starting and stopping the stop-clock?
May/June 2019
Diagram 1 illustrates a measuring cylinder that contains water. A metal weight, with a cork fastened to it by a thread, is suspended above the water. Diagram 2 illustrates the apparatus once the weight has been lowered into the water. Diagram 3 illustrates the apparatus after both the weight and the cork have been submerged. Find the volume of the cork.
May/June 2019
The diagram depicts a measuring cylinder containing liquid. What volume reading does the liquid in the cylinder show?
May/June 2019
Which one of the statements below is correct?
May/June 2019
Which physical quantity can be measured directly with a micrometer screw gauge?
May/June 2019
What physical quantity is measured directly by a micrometer screw gauge?
May/June 2019
Which quantity is capable of being measured directly with a micrometer screw gauge?
May/June 2019
Which item of apparatus is best suited to measure the mass of a pencil sharpener?
May/June 2021
The diagram shows a plastic rod next to a ruler. What is the rod’s length?
May/June 2021
The diagram shows a stone with an irregular shape. Which property of the stone can be determined by placing it into a measuring cylinder that is half-filled with water?
May/June 2021
Which apparatus is most appropriate for measuring the mass of a pencil sharpener?
May/June 2021
The diagram shows a plastic rod next to a ruler. What is the rod’s length?
May/June 2021
Fig. 1.1 shows the transformer core, which is constructed from thin iron sheets.
May/June 2021
A piece of modelling clay is transferred from a small measuring cylinder into a large measuring cylinder whose diameter is twice as large. The reading on the small measuring cylinder decreases by $20\,\text{cm}^3$. By how much does the reading on the large cylinder increase?
May/June 2022
A piece of modelling clay is transferred from a small measuring cylinder into a large measuring cylinder whose diameter is twice as large. The level reading on the small measuring cylinder decreases by $20\,\text{cm}^3$. What increase is shown on the reading of the large cylinder?
May/June 2022
A lump of modelling clay is transferred from a small measuring cylinder into a large measuring cylinder with twice the diameter. The reading on the small measuring cylinder decreases by $20\,\text{cm}^3$. By how much does the reading on the large cylinder increase?
May/June 2022
Which instruments are most appropriate for measuring the length of a swimming pool and the thickness of aluminium foil?
May/June 2022
What quantity has very small values measured with a micrometer screw gauge?
May/June 2022
What does a micrometer screw gauge measure?
May/June 2022
Fig. 1.1 depicts a tap that is dripping and a measuring cylinder. Every water drop has the same volume, and the drops leave the tap at equal intervals of time.
May/June 2022
Which of the following statements is correct?
May/June 2023
Which single apparatus is used to determine the volume of a solid cube, and which single apparatus is used to determine the volume of an amount of liquid?
May/June 2023
Which apparatus is used to measure the length of a copper rod that is approximately $2\,\text{cm}$ long?
May/June 2023
The diagram shows a magnified illustration of the end of a metre ruler. It is being used to measure the length of a small feather. What is the length of the feather?
May/June 2024
A student wants to determine the volume of a small stone with an irregular shape. A ruler and a measuring cylinder that contains some water are available. Which apparatus is required?
May/June 2024
In which row are quantities classified correctly as scalar quantities and vector quantities?
May/June 2024
Owing to an issue with question 14, that question has been taken out of the question paper.
May/June 2024
A student wants to determine the volume of about $40\,\text{cm}^3$ of water as precisely as possible. She can choose between two measuring cylinders: one is larger and holds $100\,\text{cm}^3$, while the other is smaller and holds $50\,\text{cm}^3$. At the point where the water meets the glass, a meniscus is visible. Which measuring cylinder should the student select, and which level of the water should be read to obtain an accurate measurement?
May/June 2024
A student finds the volume of a small stone with an irregular shape. Which apparatus has to be used?
May/June 2024
Which quantity qualifies as a vector?
May/June 2024
A student arranges six masses of 100 g into a stack, as shown in Fig. 2.1.
May/June 2024
The diagram shows a measuring cylinder filled with liquid. What volume of liquid does the measuring cylinder contain?
May/June 2025
Which apparatus is used to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped solid?
May/June 2025
Which piece of apparatus is used to find the volume of a solid with an irregular shape?
May/June 2025
Which statement is incorrect?
May/June 2025
Which apparatus is best suited for finding the volume of a small stone with an irregular shape?
May/June 2025
Which statement is the correct one?
May/June 2025
What quantity can be measured with a ruler?
May/June 2025
A student is holding a can of oil. Which quantity can be measured using just a measuring cylinder?
Oct/Nov 2016
The diagram shows two identical spheres positioned next to a ruler. What is the radius of one of the spheres?
Oct/Nov 2016
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?
Oct/Nov 2016
Which list includes only scalar quantities?
Oct/Nov 2016
A student finds the volume of a cork. First, he pours some water into a measuring cylinder and then adds one glass ball. Next, he places the cork and then a second, identical glass ball into the water, as illustrated below. Diagram 1 shows the initial water level. Diagram 2 shows the water level after one glass ball has been added. Diagram 3 shows the water level after the cork and the second glass ball have been added. What is the volume of the cork?
Oct/Nov 2017
A student carries out an investigation into the rate at which oil flows through a funnel. The diagrams illustrate the setup and show the volume of oil in the measuring cylinder at the beginning of the experiment, and again after one minute. What is the rate of flow of oil through the funnel over the one minute?
Oct/Nov 2017
A measuring cylinder contains water. A small metal block is lowered slowly into the water and then taken out. Next, a piece of plastic is fixed to the metal block, and the block is once more lowered slowly into the water. The diagrams show the measuring cylinder at each stage of this process. What is the volume of the plastic piece?
Oct/Nov 2017