Turn over You must have:
• the Data Sheet (for GCSE Physics A)
• a ruler (cm/mm) You may use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You may use an HB pencil for graphs and diagrams.
• Complete the boxes above with your name, centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all the questions.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. If additional space is
required, use the lined page(s) at the end of this booklet. The question number(s) must be clearly shown.
• Do not write in the barcodes.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended responses will be assessed in the question marked with an asterisk (*).
Last name First name
Candidate number Centre
number
SECTION A Answer all the questions.
1 Which of the following is a contact force?
A Electrostatic
B Friction
C Gravity
D Magnetism
Your answer [1]
2 Which is the correct definition for density?
A Mass divided by area
B Mass divided by volume
C Weight divided by mass
D Weight divided by volume
Your answer [1]
3 Which of the following is a vector quantity?
A Displacement
B Distance
C Mass
D Speed
Your answer [1]
Turn over 4 Which correctly describes an electrical current?
A Rate of flow of charge B Rate of flow of coulombs C Rate of flow of energy
D Rate of flow of potential difference
Your answer [1]
5 New scientific theories, such as JJ Thomson’s model of the atom, can take time to be accepted.
Which is not important for a new theory to become widely accepted?
A No outliers
B Peer review
C Publishing results
D Reproducibility
Your answer [1]
6 Which diagram shows the correct field lines for a bar magnet?
N A
S S
B
N
N C
S S
D
N
Your answer [1]
7 Which situation provides 10 W of power?
Situation Energy (J) Time (s)
P 1200 120
Q 600 60
A Neither P nor Q
B Situation P only
C Situation Q only
D Situations P and Q
Your answer [1]
8 The graph shows four journeys.
Q A
B C D Distance
Time Which journey has the highest average speed at time Q?
Your answer [1]
Turn over 9 A student builds a step-up transformer. The transformer has 20 turns on the primary coil and 40
turns on the secondary coil.
The input voltage is 10 V d.c.
Why does the transformer not produce the expected 20 V output voltage?
A The input voltage is d.c.
B The input voltage is too high.
C The input voltage is too low.
D The ratio of coils is incorrect.
Your answer [1]
10 Which statement describes the simple model of the Earth’s atmosphere?
A Density of the atmosphere increases with altitude.
B Temperature of the atmosphere remains constant with altitude.
C The atmosphere is a single layer of gases of uniform density.
D The atmosphere is thick compared to the size of the Earth.
Your answer [1]
11 A student investigates the extension of pairs of identical springs.
A
5 N
B
10 N
C
5 N 10 N
D
Which pair will have the same extension as one spring pulled with a force of 5 N?
Your answer [1]
12 Two forces act on an object at right angles to each other.
This is a scale diagram of the two forces.
4 N
3 N
What is the resultant force?
A 5.0 N
B 7.0 N
C 12 N D 25 N
Your answer [1]
Turn over 13 The graphs show the journey of four cyclists.
3
2 Velocity
(m / s)
Time (s) 1
2 4 6 8
0 A
3
2 Velocity
(m / s)
Time (s) 1
2 4 6 8
0 B
3
2 Velocity
(m / s)
Time (s) 1
2 4 6 8
0 C
3
2 Velocity
(m / s)
Time (s) 1
2 4 6 8
0 D
Which cyclist travels the furthest?
Your answer [1]
14 A boy swims in a lake at a depth of 1.0 m.
What is the change in pressure if he swims at a depth of 2.0 m?
Assume that g = 10 N / kg and density of water = 1000 kg / m3.
A 100 Pa
B 200 Pa
C 10 000 Pa
D 20 000 Pa
Your answer [1]
15 A loaded trolley with a mass of 10 kg travels at 10 m / s.
What happens to the kinetic energy (KE) of the trolley if the speed doubles and the mass halves?
A KE doubles
B KE halves
C KE quadruples
D KE stays the same
Your answer [1]
Turn over SECTION B
Answer all the questions.
16 A student investigates electrostatics.
(a) (i) Describe the charges in a neutral atom.
...
...
...
... [2]
(ii) Use the idea of electric fields to explain why two charged objects experience an electrostatic force between them.
...
...
...
...
... [3]
(iii) Suggest one simple demonstration to show electrostatic force in action.
...
... [1]
(b) In a toy train, a charge of 6 C flows for sixty seconds.
Calculate the current.
Use the formula: charge flow = current × time
Answer = ... A [2]
17 (a) A student investigates the average speed of a trolley rolling down a ramp.
Look at the table of results.
Attempt Time taken (s)
1 2.9
2 3.0
3 2.7
4 2.9
5 2.1
Mean 2.72
(i) The student has made two errors when calculating the mean.
Identify the two errors and calculate the mean.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... [4]
(ii) Calculate the speed of the trolley rolling down the 2.0 m ramp.
Answer = ... m / s [3]
Turn over (b) The student now changes the angle of the ramp.
Look at the graph of the results.
10
0 20 30 40 60
Angle of ramp (°)
50 70 80
Average speed
(m / s) 2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
0
(i) Describe the pattern shown by the results.
...
...
... [2]
(ii) Use the graph to estimate the speed of the trolley when the ramp is at 70°.
Answer = ... m/s [1]
18 Objects have different weights on different planets.
(a) Write down the definition of weight.
...
... [1]
(b) The table shows some data about five planets.
Planet Value of ‘g’ (N / kg) Diameter (km)
Mercury 3.6 4900
Earth 9.8 13 000
Neptune 12 49 000
Saturn 10 120 000
Jupiter 26 140 000
(i) Calculate the weight of a 20 kg mass on Mercury.
Answer = ... N [3]
(ii) Describe the pattern between the diameter of a planet and the value of ‘g’.
...
...
...
... [3]
Turn over (iii) A 20 kg object is lifted upwards on Jupiter and gains 7.5 kJ of potential energy.
How high was the object lifted?
Answer = ... m [4]
19 John thinks that mass is conserved during evaporation and condensation.
He sets up some apparatus.
Liquid
Heat Round-bottomed
flask
Condenser Cold water in
Beaker
(a)* Describe and explain how this apparatus could be used to show that mass is conserved during evaporation and condensation.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... [6]
(b) Calculate the energy needed to change 2.5 kg of water into steam.
The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2.26 × 106 J / kg.
Answer = ... J [2]
Turn over 20 (a) A scientist climbs Mount Everest. He carries a packet of crisps with him to the top of the
mountain. At the top of the mountain the crisp packet has expanded.
Explain why.
...
...
...
...
...
...
... [4]
(b) A student uses a bicycle pump to inflate a tyre. The temperature of the gas increases as the tyre is inflated.
Explain why.
...
...
... [2]
21 A student builds a circuit to investigate the resistance of an unknown resistor.
He uses a voltmeter, ammeter, cell and a resistor.
(a) Draw a circuit diagram for this experiment.
[4]
(b) The student changes the potential difference across the resistor and records the current in the circuit.
Look at the results of the experiment.
Potential Difference (V) Current (mA)
2.0 4.0
4.0 7.0
6.0 10.0
8.0 14.0
Plot the results on the graph below and draw a line of best fit.
2
0 4 6 8 12
Current (mA)
10 14
Potential difference
(V)
8
6
4
2
0
[3]
Turn over (c) Use the gradient of the graph to calculate the resistance of the unknown resistor.
Answer = ... F [3]
(d) The actual value of the resistor is 550 F.
Is the calculated answer within the 5% manufacturing error (tolerance)?
Explain your answer.
...
...
...
...
... [3]
22 A group of students investigated terminal velocity.
They dropped a 100 g mass from a height of 3.0 m using 3 different shapes of parachute.
The students recorded the time taken for each metre of the descent using a stop watch.
Shape of Parachute Time of fall (s)
1st metre 2nd metre 3rd metre
Round 2.75 2.05 2.04
Square 2.90 2.55 2.20
Rectangular 2.85 2.10 2.11
(a) The students are not sure that all of the parachutes reached terminal velocity.
Explain why.
...
...
... [2]
(b) Some students are concerned that their method does not give conclusive data for their experiment.
Suggest why.
...
...
... [2]
(c) How could the experiment be improved to increase the accuracy of their data?
...
...
... [2]
Turn over (d) The rectangular parachute hits the ground at 0.47 m / s.
Calculate the change in momentum when the rectangular parachute hits the ground and comes to a rest.
Use the formula: momentum = mass × velocity
Answer = ... kg m / s [2]
(e) Draw a free body force diagram for the 100 g mass with the square parachute during the second metre of its fall.
[2]
23 Many devices use an electric motor.
A simple electric motor can be made by placing a wire loop in a magnetic field.
Wire loop Axis
Magnet
Cell
S N
(a) Explain how rotation is caused when a cell is connected to the wire loop.
...
...
...
...
... [3]
(b) What happens to the size of the force turning the motor if:
1: A second identical cell was connected in series with the first?
...
2: The number of turns was doubled?
...
3: The number of turns was doubled and the magnetic field strength was halved?
...
[3]
(c) Coils of wire are also used in a transformer.
Look at the table.
Transformer Primary Coil Turns Secondary Coil Turns
A 600 3600
B 750 6000
C 850 6000
D 950 6000
The input voltage is 25 V.
Which transformer would produce an output voltage closest to 170 V?
Answer = ... [3]
Turn over You must have:
• a ruler (cm/mm)
• the Data Sheet for GCSE Physics A You may use:
• a scientific or graphical calculator
• an HB pencil
INSTRUCTIONS
• Use black ink. You may use an HB pencil for graphs and diagrams.
• Complete the boxes above with your name, centre number and candidate number.
• Answer all the questions.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided. Additional paper may be used if required but you must clearly show your candidate number, centre number and question number(s).
• Do not write in the barcodes.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 90.
• The marks for each question are shown in brackets [ ].
• Quality of extended responses will be assessed in the questions marked with an asterisk (*).
• This document consists of 24 pages.
Last name First name
Candidate number Centre
number
SECTION A Answer all the questions.
1 Which sentence about electromagnetic waves is true?
A They are longitudinal waves, transmitted through space with the same velocity.
B They are transverse waves, transmitted through air with the same velocity.
C They are transverse waves, transmitted through space with different velocities.
D They are transverse waves, transmitted through space with the same velocity.
Your answer [1]
2 Light from other galaxies can be red-shifted.
Which sentence about red-shift is true?
A Light from galaxies moving away from us undergoes red-shift.
B Light from galaxies moving towards us undergoes red-shift.
C Nearby galaxies show more red-shift than distant galaxies.
D Stationary galaxies undergo red-shift.
Your answer [1]
3 Which row in the table about nuclear fission is true?
A Uranium-235 Hit by neutron Splits into smaller nuclei and more neutrons B Uranium-235 Hit by proton Creates larger nuclei and fewer neutrons C Uranium-235 Hit by electron Splits into smaller nuclei and more neutrons D Uranium-235 Hit by neutron Creates larger nuclei and more neutrons
Your answer [1]
Turn over 4 Which wave has the longest wavelength and is used in radiotherapy for cancer treatment?
A Gamma-ray
B Infrared
C Ultraviolet
D X-ray
Your answer [1]
5 A student wants to calculate the kinetic energy (KE) of a toy car.
Which equation does she use?
A KE =
2
1 × mass × velocity
B KE =
2
1 × mass × velocity × 2
C KE =
2
1 × (mass × velocity)2
D KE =
2
1 × mass × (velocity)2
Your answer [1]
6 Which ray diagram shows the action of a strong concave lens?
A
B
C
D
Your answer [1]
Turn over 7 Which sentence about the nuclear fusion of hydrogen is true?
A When hydrogen atomic nuclei join to make a large nucleus, energy is absorbed.
B When hydrogen atomic nuclei join to make a large nucleus, energy is emitted.
C When hydrogen atomic nuclei split to make a large nucleus, energy is emitted.
D When hydrogen atomic nuclei split to make a large nucleus, energy is absorbed.
Your answer [1]
8 A lorry accelerates from 0 km / h to 100 km / h in about 25 s.
Estimate the acceleration of the lorry.
A 1 m / s2 B 3 m / s2 C 6 m / s2
D 10 m / s2
Your answer [1]
9 Which statement describes Newton’s 3rd law of motion?
A Energy can be neither created or destroyed B Every action has an equal and opposite reaction C Force = mass × acceleration
D Objects with balanced forces acting on them will stay at rest, or in constant motion
Your answer [1]
10 Which formula is correct?
A Pressure (N) = force normal to a surface (N) / area of that surface (m3) B Pressure (Pa) = force normal to a surface (kg) / area of that surface (m2) C Pressure (Pa) = force normal to a surface (N) / area of that surface (m) D Pressure (Pa) = force normal to a surface (N) / area of that surface (m2)
Your answer [1]
11 Which sentence about pressure in liquids is correct?
A Pressure causes a net force at all angles to any surface.
B Pressure causes a net force at right angles to any surface.
C Pressure causes a net force downwards to any surface.
D Pressure causes a net force upwards on any surface.
Your answer [1]
12 A radio wave has a frequency of 3 × 106 Hz and a velocity of 3 × 108 m / s.
What is the wavelength of this radio wave?
A 1 m
B 10 m
C 100 m
D 1000 m
Your answer [1]
13 A moving rocket has a velocity of 20 m / s and a momentum of 24 000 kgm / s.
Calculate the mass of the rocket.
A 48 000 kg
B 24 000 kg
C 12 000 kg
D 1200 kg
Your answer [1]
Turn over 14 A lunar lander weighs 24 500 N on the moon and has a mass of 15 100 kg.
Calculate the gravitational field strength (g) on the surface of the moon.
A 0.616 m / s2 B 1.62 m / s2 C 10.00 m / s2 D 3.70 × 108 m / s2
Your answer [1]
15 A power supply provides 48 000 C of charge which transfers 24 000 J of energy to a circuit.
Calculate the voltage of the power supply.
A 0.5 V
B 2 V
C 12 V
D 1.152 MV
Your answer [1]
SECTION B Answer all the questions.
16 Students in a class investigate stopping distances using bicycles.
They compare the stopping distances for one student riding a bicycle at different speeds.
Look at the results they collected.
Speed (m / s)
Thinking distance (m)
Braking distance (m)
Stopping distance (m)
2 1.6 1.2 2.8
4 3.2 4.8 8.0
6 4.8 10.8 15.6
8
(a) Describe how halving the speed affects the thinking distance.
...
... [1]
(b) Describe how tripling (×3) the speed affects the braking distance.
...
... [1]
(c) The student travels at a new speed. He has to brake suddenly.
The reaction time for the student is 0.8 s and the thinking distance is 7.2 m.
Use the formula: distance = speed × time Calculate the initial speed of the student.
Answer = ... m / s [2]
(d) The student now travels at 8 m / s.
Calculate the stopping distance at this new speed.
Answer = ... m [3]
Turn over (e) Five other students in the class measure their reaction time.
Look at their results.
Student Reaction time (s)
A 0.82
B 0.77
C 0.78
D 0.83
E
The average reaction time for the students is 0.81 m / s.
Calculate the reaction time of student E.
Answer = ... s [2]
(f) It is difficult to measure the thinking distance for the student on the bicycle.
Suggest why.
...
... [1]
(g) Name two different factors that may increase reaction time when riding a bicycle.
1 ...
2 ...
[2]
(h) Name two different factors that may increase braking distance when riding a bicycle.
1 ...
2 ...
[2]
17 Our Sun formed from a large cloud of dust and gas in space.
Explain how this dust and gas changed to produce a star that is now in a long stable period of energy production.
...
...
...
...
...
... [4]
Turn over 18 A rollercoaster car at A is lifted up the slope by an electric motor. It is lifted up the slope until it
reaches B.
A D
C
E B
G
F H
Pool of water Rollercoaster car
At B, the electric motor is switched off. The rollercoaster car rolls down the slope past C.
It continues its journey until it is slowed by the pool of water at H.
(a) Explain what happens to the energy stored by the rollercoaster car when it reaches the pool of water at H.
...
...
... [3]
(b) The highest part of the rollercoaster ride is B. Part G is lower than part E.
Explain why the height of the slope must reduce along the rollercoaster ride.
Use ideas about the conservation of energy in your answer.
...
...
...
...
... [4]
(c) The rollercoaster car has a mass of 1200 kg. It gains 240 kJ of energy when lifted to B.
Calculate the height of the slope in metres (m).
The acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m / s2.
Answer = ... m [4]
BLANK PAGE
Turn over 19 This question is about radioactivity.
(a) Radon (Rn) is a radioactive element. It decays by emitting an alpha particle to form polonium (Po). The polonium decays to lead (Pb) and then bismuth (Bi).
Complete the four spaces in the decay series.
220
86 84
Rn 4
2G 4
2G
Po
... 212
82 Pb
0
–1 ...
Bi ...
...
[4]
(b) Carbon is an element. It has 6 protons in its nucleus.
Carbon-12, carbon-13 and carbon-14 are isotopes of carbon.
Complete the six spaces to show the differences between these isotopes of carbon.
carbon-12 carbon-13 carbon-14
... ... ...
C C C
... ... ...
[2]
(c)* Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope produced in the atmosphere by cosmic rays.
It is taken in by trees as they grow. When the trees die they stop taking in carbon-14.
The carbon-14 already in the trees decays.
Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5.73 × 103 years and is used to find the age of ancient trees.
Two scientists collect information about living and ancient trees. They examine the same size samples from each tree.
Tree Type of tree Mass of carbon-14 in sample
(g)
Age of tree since death
(years)
A Living tree 1.95 0
B Ancient tree 0.06
C Ancient tree 0.12
They have different conclusions about the data.
Scientist one – Tree C is the oldest as there is more carbon-14 left.
Scientist two – Tree B is the oldest. It is twice the age of tree C.
Turn over Use the data to evaluate the conclusions made by the two scientists and use the data to determine the ages since death of trees B and C.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
... [6]
20 This question is about energy generation in the UK.
(a) Power stations burn fuels to provide the kinetic energy needed to generate electricity.
(i) Look at the information about a coal power station.
Coal power station
3000 MJ heat lost through condensed steam.
This goes into cooling towers and is dumped into the river.
3500 MJ heat lost through
chimney
3500 MJ useful electrical
output 10 000 MJ
input from coal
Use the formula: efficiency = useful output energy transfer (J) ÷ input energy transfer (J) Calculate the % of energy wasted by the coal power station.
Answer = ... % [3]
Turn over (ii) Community power stations are more efficient.
Look at the information about a community power station.
Community power station
3900 MJ heat used to heat homes, hospitals, public
buildings and schools 2600 MJ heat
lost through chimney
3500 MJ useful electrical
output 10 000 MJ
input from coal
Using the data, show how the efficiency of a community power station is more than double the efficiency of a coal power station.
...
...
...
... [4]
(iii) Unfortunately, in the UK, there are very few community power stations.
Suggest why.
...
...
... [2]
(b) Power stations use transformers to change the potential difference (p.d.).
Look at the diagram of a transformer.
Secondary p.d. across the coils
= 400 000 V
Secondary coil Primary coil = 520 turns
Primary p.d. across the coils
= 20 000 V
Use the formula:
potential difference across primary coil number of turns in primary coil
=
potential difference across secondary coil number of turns in secondary coil Calculate the number of turns in the secondary coil.
Answer = ... [3]
(c) This transformer changes the p.d. across the coils from 20 000 V to 400 000 V.
The transformer is designed to work in ambient temperatures up to 50 °C and must be surrounded by oil.
(i) Suggest one reason why the transformer must be surrounded by oil.
...
... [1]
Turn over (ii) Suggest why the temperature of 50 °C cannot be exceeded.
...
...
... [2]
(d) The national grid has power lines.
Electricity is sent through national grid power lines A and B.
Power line Potential difference (V)
Current (A)
Resistance (F)
Power loss (W)
A 400 000 250 3
B 275 000 5 000 80
(i) Calculate the power loss for each power line.
Power line A
Answer = ... W Power line B
Answer = ... W [4]
(ii) Explain why power line A, with a potential difference of 400 000 V, is usually used in the national grid.
...
...
...
... [2]
21 Mains electricity is used in homes to power the heater in a metal hair dryer.
The three wires used in mains electricity are:
• Live wire
• Neutral wire
• Earth wire.
Look at the simple diagram including the circuit for a heater in a metal hair dryer.
Fuse Live wire Heater
Switch in the hair dryer
Earth wire connected to metal case of
heater Mains switch
in the plug socket
Neutral wire
If there is an electrical fault, the fuse and earth wire work together to keep the person using the metal hair dryer safe. Explain how.
...
...
... [3]
Turn over 22 A student uses energy from the Sun to heat cold water.
She puts cold water into a black teapot and measures the temperature of the water.
Infra-red waves from the Sun
Thermometer
Black teapot containing water Look at the results she gets.
200 Time (minutes)
0 45
20 Temperature (°C)
(a) State why the water gets hotter in the first 200 minutes.
...
... [1]
(b) Explain why the black teapot remains at a steady temperature after 200 minutes.
...
...
...
... [3]
23 A student puts a trolley on a horizontal surface.
The trolley is at rest and has a string attached which runs over a pulley.
A force supplied by the weight makes the trolley move in the direction of the arrow.
Look at the diagram.
String Trolley
Pulley
Weight Horizontal
surface
(a) Explain how the student could determine the acceleration of the trolley.
...
...
...
... [2]
Turn over (b) The student uses a 5 N weight (force) to pull the trolley.
He repeats the experiment a few times with trolleys of different masses and calculates the average acceleration of each trolley.
Look at his results.
Force on string (N)
Mass of trolley (kg)
Average acceleration (m / s2)
5 1.0 3.96
5 1.5 2.66
5 2.0 2.02
5 2.5 1.59
5 3.0 1.34
(i) Plot the five points for mass of trolley against average acceleration.
Mass of trolley (kg)
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0 Average acceleration
(m / s2)
[1]
(ii) Use the graph to estimate the acceleration of a 4 kg trolley.
Answer = ... m / s2 [1]
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(iii) The student wants to improve his results.
The acceleration seems to be much lower than he expects.
Suggest two ways of improving his results so the acceleration is higher.
Improvement 1 ...
...
Improvement 2 ...
...
[2]
END OF QUESTION PAPER
