Questions 1
Topic -1.1 Physical quantities
Which pair of quantities are physical quantities?
A charge and ampere
B efficiency and kilogram
C pascal and strain
D period and potential difference
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 2
Topic -1.2 SI units
Which list of unit prefixes decreases in magnitude from left to right?
A centi, deci, milli
B deci, milli, centi
C pico, kilo, milli
D kilo, milli, pico
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 3
Topic -4 Forces, density and pressure
The drag coefficient \(C_d\) is a number with no units. It is used to compare the drag on different cars at different speeds. \(C_d\) is given by the equation
where F is the drag force on the car, \(\rho\) is the density of the air, A is the cross-sectional area of the car and v is the speed of the car. What is the value of n?
A 1
B 2
C 3
D 4
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 4
Topic – 1.3 Errors and uncertainties
A micrometer screw gauge is used to measure the diameter of a small uniform steel sphere. The measurement of the diameter is 5.00 mm \(\pm\) 0.01 mm. What is the percentage uncertainty in the calculated volume of the sphere, using these values?
A 0.2%
B 0.4%
C 0.6%
D 1.2%
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 5
Topic -1.1 Physical quantities
Forces of magnitudes 2N, 4 N and 7 N combine to produce a resultant force. The magnitudes of the three forces are fixed, but the forces may act in any direction in the same plane. What is not a possible magnitude of the resultant force?
A 0 N
B 5 N
C 8 N
D 13 N
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 6
Topic – 3.2 Non-uniform motion
Two projectiles, X and Y, are fired into the air from the same place on level ground and reach the same maximum height, as shown.
Projectile X is fired vertically upwards and projectile Y is fired at an angle to the horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. Which statement is correct?
A X and Y are at rest at their maximum heights.
B X and Y are fired with the same speed.
C X and Y take the same time to return to the ground.
D X and Y travel the same distance.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 7
Topic -15.3 Kinetic theory of gases
A small glider moves along a horizontal air track as shown.
At each end of the air track, the glider has a perfectly elastic collision with a fixed buffer. The glider moves at a constant speed between collisions. Which graph represents the variation with time t of the velocity v of the glider as it moves between the two buffers?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 8
Topic -3.3 Linear momentum and its conservation
A car accelerates from rest. The graph shows the variation of the momentum of the car with time.
What is the meaning of the gradient of the graph at a particular time?
A the kinetic energy of the car
B the rate of change of kinetic energy of the car
C the resultant force on the car
D the velocity of the car
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 9
Topic – 3.2 Non-uniform motion
A ball is dropped onto horizontal ground and bounces vertically upwards. When the ball is in contact with the ground, the following forces act:
● the weight W of the ball
● the contact force P exerted on the ground by the ball
● the contact force N exerted on the ball by the ground
When the ball is in contact with the ground, the ball is momentarily stationary. At this instant, which relationship is correct?
A N = P + W
B N > P + W
C N = W
D N > W
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 10
Topic – 2.1 Equations of motion
A person stands on the edge of a high cliff that is next to the sea. The person throws a stone vertically upwards. Air resistance acts on the stone. The stone eventually hits the sea. Which velocity–time graph best shows the motion of the stone from when it is released until it hits the sea?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 11
Topic -3.3 Linear momentum and its conservation
Skaters of masses 80 kg and 40 kg move directly towards each other and collide. Before the collision, the heavier skater is moving to the right at a speed of 2.0 \(ms^{–1}\) and the lighter skater is moving to the left at a speed of 1.0\(ms^{–1}\) . After the collision, the heavier skater moves to the right at a speed of 0.80 \(ms^{–1}\) . What is the relative speed of separation of the two skaters?
A 0.6 \(ms^{–1}\)
B 1.4 \(ms^{–1}\)
C 2.2 \(ms^{–1}\)
D 2.6 \(ms^{–1}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 12
Topic – 4 Forces, density and pressure
Which statement describes the two forces in a couple?
A They act in the same direction.
B They act through the same point.
C They produce zero resultant force.
D They produce zero resultant moment.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 13
Topic – 4.2 Equilibrium of forces
A street lamp is fixed to a wall by a metal rod and a cable.
Which vector triangle could represent the forces acting on the end of the rod at point P? 
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 14
Topic -3.1 Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion
An unknown mass and a 1.00 kg mass are fixed at opposite ends of a bar. The bar has negligible mass and a length of 30.0 cm. The bar balances when supported by a pivot placed 20.0 cm from the unknown mass, as shown
What is the unknown mass?
A 333 g
B 500 g
C 667 g
D 1000 g
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 15
Topic – 4.3 Density and pressure
A block of wood of density ρw has sides of length a. The block is immersed in a liquid of density ρL. The top surface of the block is at a depth h below the surface of the liquid.
The acceleration of free fall is g. What is the upthrust acting on the block from the liquid?
A \(\rho_L a^3g\)
B \(\rho_wa^3g\)
C \(\rho_Lhg\)
D \(\rho_Lag\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 16
Topic – 4.3 Density and pressure
A technical article about diesel engines expresses the energy available from diesel fuel both as \(41.8 MJ kg^{–1}\) and as \(34.9GJ m^{–3}\). What is the density of diesel fuel?
A \(8.35 \times 10^2 kg m^{–3}\)
B \(1.20 \times 10^3 kg m^{–3}\)
C \(8.35 \times 10^5 kg m^{–3}\)
D \(1.20 \times 10^6 kg m^{–3}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 17
Topic – 5.1 Energy conservation
What is meant by the efficiency of a system?
A the difference between the useful energy output from the system and the total energy input
B the difference between the useful energy output from the system and the wasted energy output
C the ratio of the useful energy output from the system to the total energy input
D the ratio of the useful energy output from the system to the wasted energy output
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 18
Topic – 5.1 Energy conservation
A car of weight 15 000N is travelling along a horizontal road.
At one instant, the thrust force acting on the car from the engine is 12000N and the resistive force acting on the car is 3000 N. The velocity of the car at this instant is 24 m s–1. What is the power output from the engine?
A 72 kW
B 220 kW
C 290 kW
D 360 kW
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 19
Topic -3.1 Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion
The diagram shows the variation of a quantity y with a quantity x for objects in a uniform gravitational field.
What could x and y represent? 
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 20
Topic – 6.1 Stress and strain
A steel wire has a length of 300 cm and a cross-sectional area of \(0.50 mm^2\). The Young modulus of steel is \(2.0 \times 10^{11}Pa\). One end of the wire is attached to a fixed point. A load of 10 N is hung from the other end. The wire obeys Hooke’s law. What is the extension of the wire?
A \(3.0 \times 10^{-7} m\)
B \(3.0 \times 10^{–5} m\)
C \(3.0 \times 10^{-4} m\)
D \(3.0 \times 10^{-2} m\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 21
Topic -4.1 Turning effects of forces
The extension of a copper wire is measured for different forces applied to the wire. A graph is plotted to show the variation of the force on the wire against extension. The maximum force is applied at point P.
Which statement must be correct?
A Point R is the limit of proportionality.
B The elastic potential energy of the wire at point S is given by the area under the graph between points T and S.
C There is no plastic deformation between points Q and P.
D The wire obeys Hooke’s law up to a point between R and Q.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 22
Topic -7.1 Progressive waves
The variation with distance x of the displacement y of a transverse wave on a rope is shown at time t = 0. The wave has a frequency of 0.5 Hz. A point P on the rope is marked. The diagram shows the original position of P and four new positions. What is the position of P at time t = 1 s?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 23
Topic – 7.1 Progressive waves
A cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) is connected to a microphone which detects sound of constant frequency. The trace on the screen of the CRO is shown.
Which property of the sound wave is measured using only information from the CRO?
A amplitude
B period
C speed
D wavelength
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 24
Topic -7.4 Electromagnetic spectrum
A transverse wave and a longitudinal wave both travel in the same direction down a long stretched spring. Which statement is not correct for these two forms of wave?
A The displacement measurements for the particles of the two waves are made at right angles to each other.
B The energy transferred by the two waves is in the same direction.
C The velocities of the two waves are in the same direction.
D The wavelength measurements for the two waves are made at right angles to each other.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 25
Topic -7.1 Progressive waves
A man standing next to a stationary train hears sound of frequency 400 Hz emitted from the train’s horn. The train then moves directly away from the man and sounds its horn when it has a speed of 50 m s⁻¹. The speed of sound in the air is 340 m s⁻¹. What is the difference in frequency of the sound heard by the man on the two occasions?
A 51Hz
B 69Hz
C 350Hz
D 470Hz
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 26
Topic -7.4 Electromagnetic spectrum
Which list of regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is in order of increasing wavelength from left to right?
A gamma-ray → ultraviolet → infrared
B infrared → microwave → ultraviolet
C microwave → X-ray → infrared
D X-ray → ultraviolet → gamma-ray
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 27
Topic – 7.1 Progressive waves
The principle of superposition states that a certain quantity is added when two or more waves meet at a point. What is this quantity?
A amplitude
B displacement
C intensity
D wavelength
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 28
Topic -7.4 Electromagnetic spectrum
A stationary sound wave is formed in a gas-filled tube of length L, which is closed at one end by a piston. The length of the tube can be altered by moving the piston. The length of the tube and the frequency of the sound are varied so that the stationary wave always has two antinodes and two nodes, as shown.
The graph shows the variation of the frequency f of the stationary sound wave with the length L of the tube.
What is the speed of sound in the gas in the tube?
A 150 \(m s^{–1}\)
B 230 \(m s^{–1}\)
C 300 \(m s^{–1}\)
D 340 \(m s^{–1}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans C
Questions 29
Topic -8.2 Diffraction
The diagrams show the diffraction of water waves in a ripple tank as they pass through a gap between two barriers. Which diagram is correct?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 30
Topic – 8.3 Interference
A beam of light from a laser is incident normally on a double slit. Interference fringes are seen on a screen placed parallel to the double slit. The separation of the two slits is a. The distance between the slits and the screen is D. The distance between the centres of two adjacent bright fringes is x. D and a are both halved. What is the distance between the centres of two adjacent bright fringes after these changes?
A\(\frac{x}{2}\)
B x
C 2x
D 4x
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 31
Topic -7.1 Progressive waves
A beam of light of wavelength 400 nm is incident normally on a diffraction grating that has 300 lines per millimetre. The light passes through the grating and produces a series of maxima which are observed on a semicircular screen, as shown.
What is the total number of maxima observed on the screen?
A 8
B 9
C 16
D 17
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 32
Topic -11.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation
Two wires, X and Y, are made from the same metal. The diameter of wire Y is twice that of wire X. Wire X, wire Y and a battery are connected in series. What is the ratio \(\frac{average \; drift \; speed \;of\; free\; electrons\; in\; wire \;X}{average\; drift \;speed\; of\; free\; electrons\; in\; wire\; Y}\)?
A\(\frac{1}{4}\)
B\(\frac{1}{2}\)
C\(\frac{2}{1}\)
D\(\frac{4}{1}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 33
Topic – 9.2 Potential difference and power
A resistor has resistance R. When the potential difference (p.d.) across the resistor is V, the current in the resistor is I. The power dissipated in the resistor is P. Work W is done when charge Q flows through the resistor. What is not a valid relationship between these variables?
A \(I =\frac{P}{V}\)
B \(Q =\frac{W}{V}\)
C \(R =\frac{P}{I^2}\)
D \(R =\frac{V}{P}\)
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 34
Topic -9.3 Resistance and resistivity
A fixed resistor and a filament lamp are connected in series to a power supply. The I–V characteristics for the two components are shown.
The current in the fixed resistor is 0.34A. What is the resistance of the filament lamp?
A 0.081Ω
B 12Ω
C 15Ω
D 18Ω
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 35
Topic -9.3 Resistance and resistivity
A piece of conducting putty (modelling clay) of constant resistivity is formed into a cylindrical shape. The resistance R between its flat ends (shaded) is measured.
The same volume of putty is re-formed into cylinders of different lengths L, and the resistance R between the flat ends is measured for each value of L. Which graph best shows the variation of R with L?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans D
Questions 36
Topic – 10.1 Practical circuits
The diagram shows the symbol for a component that may be used in an electrical circuit. 
Which component is represented by this circuit symbol?
A buzzer
B electric bell
C loudspeaker
D microphone
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 37
Topic -10.2 Kirchhoff’s laws
Which row correctly describes Kirchhoff’s laws?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A
Questions 38
Topic -9.2 Potential difference and power
A potential divider circuit is formed by connecting a battery of negligible internal resistance in series with two variable resistors, as shown.
The variable resistors have resistances \(R_X\) and \(R_Y\). \(V_X\) is the potential difference (p.d.) across the variable resistor with resistance \(R_X\). \(R_X\) and \(R_Y\) are both changed at the same time. Which combination of changes must cause \(V_X\) to increase? 
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 39
Topic -11.1 Atoms, nuclei and radiation
An actinium nucleus has a nucleon number of 227 and a proton number of 89. It decays to form a radium nucleus, emitting a β– particle and an α-particle in the process. What are the nucleon number and the proton number of this radium nucleus?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans B
Questions 40
Topic -11.2 Fundamental particles
Which statement is not correct?
A A meson consists of three quarks.
B A proton is a baryon.
C A quark is a fundamental particle.
D There are six flavours (types) of quark.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans A