Question 1
Topic – 1.1 Physical quantities and measurement techniques
A student uses a metre ruler to measure the length of six identical table-tennis balls placed between two wooden blocks.
What is the diameter of one ball?
A) 4 cm
B) 5 cm
C) 6 cm
D) 8 cm
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 2
Topic – 1.2 Motion
A train is on a straight track. The graph shows how a quantity y varies with time.
Which statements can be true?
1. The train is stationary and y represents the distance from the last station.
2. The train is moving and y represents the distance from the last station.
3. The train is stationary and y represents the speed of the train.
4. The train is moving and y represents the speed of the train.
A) 1 and 2
B) 1 and 4
C) 2 and 3
D) 3 and 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 3
Topic – 1.3 Mass and weight
A vehicle sent to explore the surface of Mars has a mass of 200 kg.
The acceleration of free fall on Mars is 3.7 m / \(s^{2}\).
What is the weight of the vehicle on Mars?
A) 20 N
B) 54 N
C) 740 N
D) 2000 N
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 4
Topic – 1.3 Mass and weight
A student writes about mass and weight.
Which statement is correct?
A) A ship which is floating has mass but no weight.
B) Mass is a scientific word that means the same as weight.
C) Mass is measured in newtons.
D) The mass of an astronaut is the same on the Moon as on the Earth.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 5
Topic – 1.4 Density
A student carries out an experiment to determine the density of an irregularly shaped solid. The solid is placed on a balance and a reading is taken. The solid is then immersed in a liquid in a measuring cylinder.
Which values should be used in the calculation?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 6
Topic – 1.5.2 Turning effect of forces
A uniform rod rests on a pivot at its centre. The rod is not attached to the pivot. Forces are then applied to the rod in four different ways, as shown. The weight of the rod can be ignored.
Which diagram shows the rod in equilibrium?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 7
Topic – 1.5.2 Turning effect of forces
The diagram shows a beam balanced on a pivot. Two forces, X and Y, are acting on the beam.
Which calculation gives the moment of the force Y about the pivot?
A) Y × (a + b)
B) \( \frac{Y}{a + b}\)
C) Y × b
D) \( \frac{Y}{b}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 8
Topic – 1.7.1 Energy
A mass bounces up and down on a steel spring. The diagram shows the mass and the spring at different points during the motion.
At which point is the least energy in the gravitational potential store of the mass and at which point is the most energy in the elastic store of the spring?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 9
Topic – 1.7.3 Energy resources
Electrical power is generated from different resources. Some of these resources are listed.
- chemical energy stored in biofuels
- chemical energy stored in fossil fuels
- energy stored in tides
- geothermal resources
- hydroelectric resources
- light from the Sun
- nuclear fuel
How many of the resources listed are classified as renewable?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 10
Topic – 1.7.4 Power
A microwave oven is rated at 900 watts.
Which statement correctly describes the meaning of this value?
A) 900 joules are transferred every second.
B) 900 amperes are transferred every second.
C) 900 volts are transferred every second.
D) 900 ohms are transferred every second.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 11
Topic – 1.8 Pressure
Why is it easier to push a sharp nail, rather than a blunt nail, into a piece of wood?
A) The sharp nail exerts a larger force on the wood.
B) The sharp nail exerts a smaller force on the wood.
C) The sharp nail exerts a larger pressure on the wood.
D) The sharp nail exerts a smaller pressure on the wood.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 12
Topic – 2.1.2 Particle model
A sealed bottle of constant volume contains air.
The air in the bottle is heated by the Sun.
What is the effect on the average speed of the air particles in the bottle and the average distance between them?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 13
Topic – 2.1.3 Gases and the absolute scale of temperature
Which graph shows the relationship between the pressure p of a fixed mass of gas and its volume V at a constant temperature?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 14
Topic – 2.2.1 Thermal expansion of solids, liquids and gases
What happens when a metal block is heated?
A) Its width, height and length all increase.
B) Its width increases only.
C) Its height increases only.
D) Its length increases only.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 15
Topic – 2.2.3 Melting, boiling and evaporation
Which statement about the temperature of the solid describes what happens when a solid is melting?
A) The temperature increases and there is an input of energy.
B) The temperature increases and there is no input of energy.
C) The temperature remains constant and there is an input of energy.
D) The temperature remains constant and there is no input of energy.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 16
Topic – 2.3.2 Convection
A cupboard is placed in front of a heater. Air can move through a gap under the cupboard.
Which row describes the temperature and the direction of movement of the air in the gap?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 17
Topic – 3.1 General properties of waves
Which statement about waves is correct?
A) All waves can travel through a vacuum.
B) All waves travel at the same speed.
C) Seismic S-waves can be modelled as longitudinal waves.
D) Waves transfer energy without transferring matter.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 18
Topic – 3.1 General properties of waves
The diagram shows a transverse wave.
Which row identifies the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 19
Topic – 3.2.4 Dispersion of light
A beam of light from the Sun strikes a prism.
The dispersed beam is incident on a white wall between X and Y.
Which colours are seen at X, Z and Y?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 20
Topic – 3.2.1 Reflection of light
The diagram shows a ray of light incident on a plane mirror.
The angle between the ray and the mirror is 35°.
The ray is reflected by the mirror.
What is the angle of reflection?
A) 35°
B) 55°
C) 70°
D) 110°
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 21
Topic – 3.2.3 Thin lenses
A thin converging lens in a camera produces a real image on a photo-sensitive surface, as shown.
At which position is the image of the top of the object formed?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 22
Topic – 3.3 Electromagnetic spectrum
The diagram shows the electromagnetic spectrum.
Which types of wave are E, F and G?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 23
Topic – 3.4 Sound
A sound is produced and an echo is heard after the sound reflects off a wall.
How do the properties of the echo compare to the original sound wave?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 24
Topic – 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism
Which metal can be attracted by a magnet?
A) zinc
B) lead
C) iron
D) copper
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 25
Topic – 4.2.2 Electric current
A student uses an ammeter to measure the current in a resistor. He considers three different circuits, as shown.
In which of the circuits does the ammeter measure the current in the resistor?
A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 and 2 only
C) 1 only
D) 3 only
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 26
Topic – 4.2.2 Electric current
Which substances both contain large concentrations of free electrons?
A) aluminium and glass
B) copper and water
C) copper and nylon
D) silver and gold
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 27
Topic – 4.2.4 Resistance
What is the unit of resistance?
A) ampere
B) ohm
C) volt
D) watt
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 28
Topic – 4.2.1 Electric charge
A teacher wishes to show the production of electrostatic charges.
She holds a rod and rubs it with a cotton cloth. A copper rod, a glass rod, a plastic rod and a steel rod are available.
Which two rods would both be suitable to use?
A) a copper rod and a glass rod
B) a glass rod and a plastic rod
C) a plastic rod and a copper rod
D) a plastic rod and a steel rod
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 29
Topic – 4.3.2 Series and parallel circuits
Resistors of resistance 2.0 Ω and 3.0 Ω are connected in two different circuits.
What is the total resistance in each circuit?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 30
Topic – 4.4 Electrical safety
The current in an electrical heater is 5.0 A.
The heater is connected to the mains by a flexible cable that can carry a current of up to 15 A.
The mains circuit can carry a current of up to 30 A.
Different fuses are available to protect the heater’s cable.
Which fuse is the most suitable?
A) 4.0 A
B) 10 A
C) 20 A
D) 40 A
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 31
Topic – 4.5.1 Electromagnetic induction
A generator uses the principle of electromagnetic induction.
Which change would increase the induced electromotive force (e.m.f.) in the coil?
A) increasing the number of turns in the coil
B) placing the magnets further apart
C) using a coil made from steel wire
D) reversing one of the magnets
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 32
Topic – 4.5.4 Force on a current-carrying conductor
A current passes along a wire placed between the poles of a permanent magnet.
The wire experiences a force due to the magnetic field.
What will change the direction of this force?
A) increasing the current
B) reversing the current
C) increasing the strength of the magnetic field
D) using an electromagnet with the same polarity as the permanent magnet
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 33
Topic – 4.5.6 The transformer
What is a transformer used for?
A) changing a direct current into an alternating current
B) changing the magnitude of an alternating voltage
C) reducing the frequency of an alternating current
D) switching off the current in a circuit when there is a fault
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 34
Topic – 5.1.1 The atom
What are the relative charges on a proton, a neutron and an electron?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 35
Topic – 5.2.4 Half-life
The half-life of carbon-14 is 5700 years.
An object containing carbon-14 has a count rate of 100 counts / minute when it is first formed. The graph shows how the count rate decreases over time.
Which point on the graph corresponds to a time 11 400 years after the formation of the object?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D
Question 36
Topic – 5.2.3 Radioactive decay
Which type of radioactive decay causes the nucleus of one element to change into the nucleus of another element?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 37
Topic – 5.2.5 Safety precautions
A scientist needs to use a source of γ-rays as safely as possible.
Which action will not reduce the total radiation that reaches the scientist?
A) keeping the distance between the source and the scientist as large as possible
B) keeping the temperature of the source as low as possible
C) keeping the time for which the scientist uses the source as small as possible
D) placing a lead screen between the scientist and the source
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: B
Question 38
Topic – 6.1.1 The Earth
Which time period is approximately equal to 24 hours?
A) the time for the Earth to complete one rotation on its axis
B) the time for the Earth to orbit the Sun
C) the time for the Moon to orbit the Earth
D) the time for the Sun to orbit the Earth
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: A
Question 39
Topic – 6.2.3 The Universe
The nearest star to the Sun is about four light-years away from the Earth.
A student makes three statements about the star.
- Light from the star takes about four years to reach the Earth.
- Light from the Sun takes about four years to travel to the star and back to the Earth.
- The star is outside our galaxy.
Which statements are correct?
A) 1, 2 and 3
B) 1 and 3 only
C) 1 only
D) 2 and 3 only
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: C
Question 40
Topic – 6.2.1 The Sun as a star
The table shows some elements and some regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Which row shows one of the most common elements in the Sun and one of the regions in which the Sun radiates most of its energy?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans: D