Oct/Nov 2019

Which term is used to name a scalar quantity?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

The Moon has no atmosphere. Two metal spheres that have the same volume but different masses are initially stationary at the same height above the Moon’s surface. They are released together. How do the spheres move after they are let go?

Motion

What expression gives the moment of a force about a pivot?

Turning effect of forces

A student is trying to balance a non-uniform object on a pivot. To make this happen, a weight is hung close to the left-hand end of the object, as shown. Where would the centre of mass of the object be?

Centre of gravity

A load L is supported by two springs connected in parallel. Each spring stretches by $x$. The springs are then reconfigured so that they hang in a vertical line, one beneath the other. In this new setup, what is the combined extension of the two springs?

Elastic deformation

Nail X is driven into wood. Nail Y is driven into the same wood using the same force. Which nail travels the greatest distance into the wood, and why?

Pressure

The list shows the symbols for several physical quantities. acceleration of free-fall $g$ atmospheric pressure $P$ density of water $\rho$ depth of water $h$ From the list, which quantities are needed to work out the total pressure at the bottom of a lake?

Pressure

Which graph represents the relationship between the pressure and the volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A heavy box with weight $W$ slides down a frictionless slope. What work is done by the weight $W$ as it moves from the top to the bottom?

Work

At what location is energy liberated when hydrogen nuclei fuse to make helium?

The Sun as a star

What alteration, by itself, increases the range of a liquid-in-glass thermometer?

Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

What is the magnitude of the resultant of the two forces shown in the diagram?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

A student has a thermometer that shows $1^\u0006\text{C}$ in pure melting ice and $101^\u0006\text{C}$ in pure boiling water. She uses it to find the temperature of some water before it is heated and again after heating. How does the temperature increase obtained from her readings compare with the correct value?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

What is the term for the change of state when a substance goes from a solid to a liquid?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

A metal rod is warmed. What changes occur in the rod?

Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

A diagram shows a glass flask containing water at $10^\text{C}$. A long glass tube runs through the bung and down into the water. The water level in the tube is at $X$. The flask is then put into hot water, and the water level in the tube eventually rises to $Y$. What causes the water level to rise?

Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases

A glass beaker is standing in a warm room and contains water. At the start, the water is at the same temperature as the room. Which alteration would not change the initial rate at which the water evaporates?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

In an experiment, the microwaves have a frequency of $3.0 \times 10^9\,\text{Hz}$. In air, their speed is $3.0 \times 10^8\,\text{m s}^{-1}$. Give one possible frequency and one possible speed in air for a radio wave?

Electromagnetic spectrum

The diagram illustrates a ray of light travelling in liquid and striking the boundary with air. Two further rays are seen. One remains in the liquid and the other lies in the air at the boundary. What is the angle of refraction?

Refraction of light

A beam of light is incident at $90^{\circ}$ on the surfaces of the two glass prisms P and Q. The critical angle for light travelling from glass into air is $42^{\circ}$. At which prism does total internal reflection occur?

Refraction of light

A person detects an echo once a sound wave reflects from a solid cliff face. What produces the echo?

Sound

What is a representative value for the speed of sound in air?

Sound

A copper pipe with a uniform cross-section, several metres in length, carries water to a tap. Measurements are made to determine the volume of copper in the pipe as accurately as possible. Which measuring instruments are needed?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Magnets $M_1$, $M_2$ and $M_3$ are connected using iron balls W, X and Y, as shown. Magnetic poles are induced in iron balls W and X, as illustrated. Which diagram shows the poles induced in ball Y?

Simple magnetism and magnetic fields

The cloud base carries a negative charge. The cloud is positioned above a metal mast, as shown. Which row states the charge induced at the top of the mast and explains how it is created?

Electrical charge

An aircraft travelling through the air acquires an electric charge. What is the reason for this?

Electrical charge

When an a.c. supply is connected to an oscilloscope, the trace shown below is produced. A diode is then added in series to the circuit, as illustrated. What trace now appears on the screen?

Uses of an oscilloscope

A power supply is used to connect resistors with different resistances in either a parallel circuit or a series circuit. Which statement is correct?

Series and parallel circuits

A power supply and three resistors are connected to an ammeter. Which arrangement of the resistors produces the greatest ammeter reading?

Series and parallel circuits

A lamp is linked to a mains plug. Where should the switch and the fuse be connected so that the lamp is safe to use?

Electrical safety

A transformer has an input voltage of $24\ \text{V a.c.}$ and an output voltage of $6.0\ \text{V}$. The input coil has $720$ turns. How many turns are there on the output coil?

The transformer

A student proposes four conditions for producing a continuous stream of electrons from a metal filament. Which of these four conditions are necessary?

Electrical current

The oscilloscope screen trace is shown when it is linked to a d.c. supply that is being turned on and off. The Y-gain control setting and the time base control setting are given. The supply voltage is $v$. The supply is turned on $f$ times each second. What are the values of $v$ and $f$?

Uses of an oscilloscope

Which unit is the appropriate one for the quantity displayed?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A thin beam of radiation from a radioactive source passes out of the page through point $X$. A magnet is positioned with its poles on opposite sides of the beam. Radiation is then observed at both $X$ and $Z$. Which types of radiation are contained in the beam?

The three types of emission

The graph illustrates the way the speed of a car changes with time. Which statement about the car’s acceleration between $10\,\text{s}$ and $20\,\text{s}$ is correct?

Motion

A car is speeding up on a straight, level road. The diagram shows the forces acting on the car. Which forces are balanced?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

One force acts on a body. Which result is impossible?

Turning effect of forces

The Earth moves with constant speed along a circular path around the Sun. Which arrows indicate the direction of the Earth’s acceleration and the direction of the Earth’s velocity?

Circular motion

A body slides down a slope with no friction, as shown. As the body exerts a force on the surface, the surface exerts a reaction force on the body. In what direction does this reaction force act on the body?

Forces

Which term is the name of a vector quantity?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A student is balancing a non-uniform object on a pivot. To do this, a weight is hung close to the left-hand end of the object, as shown. Where is the centre of mass of the object?

Centre of gravity

A load $L$ is supported by two springs connected in parallel. Each spring has an extension of $x$. The springs are then set up one beneath the other in a vertical line. With this new arrangement, what is the combined extension of the two springs?

Elastic deformation

The diagram illustrates three tubes P, Q and R. In each tube, air is trapped by a column of water. Which statement is correct?

Pressure

Which graph represents the link between pressure and volume for a fixed mass of gas at constant temperature?

Particle model

Body $X$ has mass $m$ and speed $v$. A second body, $Y$, has mass $2m$ and speed $2v$. Determine the ratio $\frac{\text{kinetic energy of }Y}{\text{kinetic energy of }X}$.

Energy

At what location is energy released when hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium?

The Sun as a star

A student uses a newton meter to pull an object horizontally across a flat surface through a distance $d$ in a time of $t$. The reading on the newton meter is $F$. What quantity is represented by $(F \times d) / t$?

Power

A student is provided with a thermometer that shows $1\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ in pure melting ice and $101\,^{\circ}\text{C}$ in pure boiling water. She uses it to find the temperature of some water before and after heating. How does the increase in the water’s temperature, worked out from her readings, compare with the true value?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A student gives four statements about evaporation and boiling. Which two statements are correct?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

What is the definition of specific latent heat?

Melting, boiling and evaporation

What is the magnitude of the resultant force produced by the two forces in the diagram?

Balanced and unbalanced forces

A syringe that holds air is closed at one end, and the piston can move freely. The air is then heated. What happens to the average separation between the air molecules and to the density of the air?

Kinetic particle model of matter

A metal disc is warmed to $600^\circ\text{C}$ and then placed into a beaker of water. What effect does this have on the mass of the metal disc and on the mass of the water in the beaker?

Mass and weight

Which description best defines the amplitude of a water wave in a ripple tank?

General properties of waves

Consider these four statements about wavefronts. 1. Wavefronts produced by a point source are straight lines. 2. Wavefronts produced by a point source are circular. 3. Wavefronts run parallel to the direction of energy movement. 4. Wavefronts are at right angles to the direction of energy movement. Which two statements are correct?

General properties of waves

An object O stands in front of a plane mirror. I is the image produced. A ray from the top of the object strikes the mirror at X. What happens to this ray?

Reflection of light

The diagram illustrates light travelling from glass into air. What is the name of angle $P$?

Refraction of light

An object stands in front of a converging lens with focal length $4.0\,\text{cm}$. The image height is $6.0\,\text{cm}$. The setup is illustrated on the scale diagram. What is the linear magnification produced by the lens?

Thin lenses

Which row gives the speed of sound in air ($c_a$), liquid ($c_L$) and solid ($c_S$), arranged from the slowest to the fastest?

Sound

A man is positioned $80\,\text{m}$ in front of a cliff face. He produces a loud bang and waits for the echo. He produces a loud bang every second. He hears an echo exactly halfway between the bang that produced it and the following bang. What is the speed of sound?

Sound

The diagram illustrates two magnetic field lines in the field surrounding two bar magnets. Which row identifies the magnetic poles at end P and end Q of the two magnets?

Simple magnetism and magnetic fields

Which unit is correct for the quantity shown?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

A metal plate X is connected to earth via a battery. The plate carries a positive charge. A second metal plate Y is at first uncharged and linked to earth. It is arranged parallel to X. What occurs as Y is moved nearer to X?

Electrical charge

The diagram illustrates a copper lightning conductor fixed to a building. What is the reason that the lightning conductor is made of copper?

Electrical safety

Which symbol does not indicate a power source?

Circuit diagrams and circuit components

Resistors with different resistance values are connected to a power supply in either a parallel circuit or a series circuit. Which statement is correct?

Series and parallel circuits

The circuit contains an ammeter, three resistors and a power supply. Which resistor arrangement produces the largest ammeter reading?

Series and parallel circuits

A hotplate on an electric cooker contains two identical resistors. The switch can be set to three positions. position 1: The two resistors are joined in series to the mains supply. position 2: The two resistors are joined in parallel to the mains supply. position 3: Only one resistor is joined to the mains supply. Which positions match the low, medium and high power settings?

Series and parallel circuits

A mains electric circuit has a circuit breaker installed instead of a fuse. Where is the circuit breaker placed, and what occurs when the current becomes too large?

Electrical safety

Transformers are employed to pass electrical energy from power stations into transmission cables, as illustrated. What role does the transformer shown in the diagram play?

The transformer

As the current in a thermistor increases, it becomes warmer. Which graph indicates how the voltage $V$ across the thermistor varies as the current $I$ through it is increased?

Resistance

In medical examinations, radioactive substances are employed as tracers. A liquid tracer is injected into a patient. A detector $20\ \text{cm}$ above the patient indicates where the radioactive substance is located in the body. Which radioactive substance is most suitable to use?

The three types of emission

Water is delivered to a tap through a copper pipe that has a uniform cross-section and is several metres in length. Measurements are made to find the volume of copper in the pipe as accurately as possible. Which instruments are used?

Physical quantities and measurement techniques

Lead isotope $^{{212}}_{{82}}\text{Pb}$ is radioactive. Following three decays, two beta-particles and one alpha-particle are emitted. A different radioactive lead isotope is then produced. What is the mass number (nucleon number) of this new isotope of lead?

Radioactive decay

A section of a speed-time graph for two runners is shown. They are moving along the same track. Which statement has to be correct?

Motion

The graph illustrates how the car’s speed changes with time. Which statement correctly describes the car’s acceleration between $10\,\text{s}$ and $20\,\text{s}$?

Motion

During which type of descent is the acceleration equal to the acceleration of free fall $g$ throughout?

Motion

A body moves down a frictionless slope, as shown. As the body is in contact with the surface, the surface exerts a force on the body. In which direction is this force acting?

Forces

The Earth moves with constant speed along a circular path around the Sun. Which arrows indicate the direction of the Earth's acceleration and the direction of the Earth's velocity?

Circular motion

Fig. 1.1 illustrates a tube filled with mercury turned upside down in a dish containing mercury. At first, a small piece of glass seals the open end of the tube. Fig. 1.2 shows the tube after the piece of glass has been removed. The labels in Fig. 1.1 are: tube, mercury, piece of glass, dish. Fig. 1.2 includes point X.

Pressure

Visible light forms one part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Thin lenses

A small coin with mass $m$ starts from rest. It is released from a height $h$ above the ground. Its speed is $v$ when it reaches the ground. The gravitational field strength $g$ is $10\,\text{N kg}^{-1}$.

Energy

A beaker of water is set on an electric hotplate and heated until it boils. While boiling, the water changes from a liquid to a gas.

Melting, boiling and evaporation

Fig. 4.1 shows the electromagnetic spectrum. The shaded band in the centre marks visible light. From left to right, the diagram labels are: gamma rays, X-rays, A, (visible light), B, C, radio waves.

Electromagnetic spectrum

An electronic balance is set up to indicate the weight of any object placed on its upper plate. Fig. 5.1 shows the balance with an empty measuring cylinder on the upper plate. Fig. 5.2 illustrates how the balance reading changes as the volume of oil in the measuring cylinder increases.

Density

A $60\,\text{W}$ filament lamp is supplied from the $240\,\text{V}$ mains electricity supply.

Electrical quantities

Table 7.1 gives the make-up of four neutral atoms together with one atom that has been ionised. The five particles are named P, Q, R, S and T.

Radioactive decay

A small electric component in a circuit must be shielded from a strong external magnetic field. Describe how this is carried out and state any material used.

Electromagnetic induction

Fig. 9.1 shows the layout of a water cooler that provides cold water for workers in a hot office.

Transfer of thermal energy

There is no atmosphere on the Moon. An astronaut on the Moon releases a feather and a hammer from the same height at the same moment. Each one accelerates downward at $1.6\,\text{m s}^{-2}$, and they reach the surface together.

Motion

Every isotope of radon is radioactive.

Radioactive decay

A student is using a pump to fill a bicycle tyre with air. Fig. 2.1 illustrates the pump and the tyre. The diagram labels: handle, piston, pump, trapped air, valve, tyre.

Pressure

Solar panels are used to warm water.

Radiation

In many countries, solid salt is made by holding sea-water in large, shallow ponds and leaving the water to evaporate away. Fig. 4.1 illustrates salt being produced in this manner.

Melting, boiling and evaporation

Sound and ultrasound are both longitudinal waves.

Sound

An electric circuit is made up of a $700\,\Omega$ resistor together with a light-dependent resistor (LDR). Fig. 6.1 gives the circuit diagram. The battery has an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of $12\,\text{V}$. An oscilloscope is attached across the fixed resistor. Fig. 6.2 displays the oscilloscope, with the timebase and Y-gain control settings shown. Line Q indicates where the trace lies on the oscilloscope when switch S is open.

Uses of an oscilloscope

Fig. 7.1 illustrates a rectangular coil ABCD lying horizontally between an N-pole and an S-pole. A current flows through the coil. Side AB is acted on by an upward force F of magnitude $9.6 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{N}$.

Forces on a current-carrying conductor

Fig. 8.1 depicts an elastic rope (bungee). Its unstretched length is $0.80\,\text{m}$. A student fastens the hook at one end to a shelf and suspends an empty paint can of mass $0.70\,\text{kg}$ from the other end. The rope extends to $0.97\,\text{m}$, but it does not pass its limit of proportionality.

Elastic deformation

Fig. 9.1 shows a liquid boiling at its boiling point, enclosed in a cylinder by a piston. An electric heater is placed in the liquid and linked to a power supply. The thermal energy from the heater slowly changes the boiling liquid into a gas.

Melting, boiling and evaporation

A student wants to determine the focal length $f$ of a lens. An arrow-shaped slit cut in a card is used as the object, as shown in Fig. 1.1. The object is positioned at one end of a metre rule, and the lens is held a distance $u$ from the object, as illustrated in Fig. 1.2. The slit is lit from behind by a lamp. A screen is then set on the metre rule until a sharp, focused image of the arrow is produced. The distance $v$ from the lens to the screen is then measured.

Thin lenses

A student performs an experiment to determine the mass of a metre rule. She makes use of several identical metal rings and a pivot. Each ring has a mass of $3.3\,\text{g}$. The apparatus is arranged as shown in Fig. 2.1. The student positions the pivot beneath the $45.0\,\text{cm}$ mark on the metre rule. She then adds rings, one after another, at point A, $5.0\,\text{cm}$ from the end of the rule. She changes the number of rings until the rule is as nearly balanced as possible. She notes the number $N$ of rings needed to balance the rule.

Turning effect of forces

A student explores how the resistance of a filament lamp varies as the potential difference $V$ across it is changed. He uses the circuit shown in Fig. 3.1.

Resistance

A student has a thermometer with no temperature markings, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

Melting, boiling and evaporation

In a laboratory, a student explores how the spring length $l$ changes when different loads $L$ are placed on it. He arranges a spring in a clamp with a load of $1.0\,\text{N}$ hanging from its lower end, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Elastic deformation

A student carries out an experiment to determine the density of water.

Density

A student studies how the resistance changes for different lengths $l$ of a metal wire PQ, which has a total length of $1.000\,\text{m}$.

Resistance

A student studies how light is refracted by the right-angled glass prism WXY. He uses a ray box to send a beam of light towards side WY of the prism, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

Refraction of light