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Paper Questions Level Past - Physics O: TOPIC-1 Measurement PAPER-1 Multiple Choice 1
Paper Questions Level Past - Physics O: TOPIC-1 Measurement PAPER-1 Multiple Choice 1
TOPIC-1 Measurement
1- Vernier calipers read to one tenth of a millimetre. Which reading shows this precision?
A 3.3 cm B 3.31 cm C 3.310 cm D 3.312 cm
[Nov-2002]
5- A student has been asked to determine, as accurately as possible, the volume of a piece of wire.The wire
is about 80 cm long and about 0.2 cm in diameter.
Which measuring instruments should the student use?
length diameter
A metre rule micrometer
B metre rule vernier callipers
C micrometer vernier callipers
D vernier callipers micrometer
[May-2004]
[Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-1 Measurement
7- Which instrument is used to measure the internal diameter of a pipe with a single measurement?
A manometer
B measuring cylinder
C micrometer
D vernier calipers [May-2005]
10- The diagram shows a strip of paper tape that has been pulled under a vibrating arm by an object
moving at constant speed. The arm was vibrating regularly, making 50 dots per second.
[May-2007]
[May-2008]
14- Which instrument is most easily used to measure the internal diameter of a pipe?
A manometer B measuring cylinder C micrometer D vernier calipers [May-2009]
15-A manufacturer needs to measure accurately the dimensions of a wooden floor tile. The approximate
dimensions of the tile are shown. Which instruments measure each of these dimensions accurately?
16- Vernier calipers read to one tenth of a millimetre. Which reading shows this precision?
17- Power is measured in watts. What is the correct symbol for millions of watts?
A mw B mW C Mw D MW [May-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Vernier calipers read to one tenth of a millimetre. Which reading shows this precision?
A 3.3 cm B 3.31 cm C 3.310 cm D 3.312 cm
[Nov-2002]
5- A student has been asked to determine, as accurately as possible, the volume of a piece of wire.The wire
is about 80 cm long and about 0.2 cm in diameter.
Which measuring instruments should the student use?
length Diameter
A metre rule Micrometer
B metre rule vernier callipers
C micrometer vernier callipers
D vernier callipers Micrometer
[May-2004]
[Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-1 Measurement
7- Which instrument is used to measure the internal diameter of a pipe with a single measurement?
A manometer
B measuring cylinder
C micrometer
D vernier calipers [May-2005]
10- The diagram shows a strip of paper tape that has been pulled under a vibrating arm by an object
moving at constant speed. The arm was vibrating regularly, making 50 dots per second.
[May-2007]
[May-2008]
14- Which instrument is most easily used to measure the internal diameter of a pipe?
A manometer B measuring cylinder C micrometer D vernier calipers [May-2009]
15-A manufacturer needs to measure accurately the dimensions of a wooden floor tile. The approximate
dimensions of the tile are shown. Which instruments measure each of these dimensions accurately?
16- Vernier calipers read to one tenth of a millimetre. Which reading shows this precision?
17- Power is measured in watts. What is the correct symbol for millions of watts?
A mw B mW C Mw D MW [May-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- In a laboratory on Earth, balances show that an object has a mass of 2 kg and a weight of 20 N.
The same balances and object are then taken to the Moon, where the gravitational field strength is
less than on the Earth.
Are the mass and weight of the object the same, or less, than before?
mass weight
A less less
B less same
C same less
D same same
5- Ten identical steel balls, each of mass 27 g, are immersed in a measuring cylinder containing
20 cm3 of water.The reading of the water level rises to 50 cm3.What is the density of the steel?
A 0.90 g/cm3 B 8.1 g/cm3 C 9.0 g/cm3 D 13.5 g/cm3 [May-2003]
8- A measuring cylinder containing some water stands on a scale pan. A solid ball is lowered into
the water.The water level rises from the 30 cm3 mark to the 40 cm3 mark.
The scale reading increases from 100 g to 180 g.
reading on reading
newtonmeter on scales
A different different
B different same
C same different
D same same
[Nov-2004]
10- Four blocks, each made from a different material, are placed on scales and balanced as shown in
the diagrams below.
In which diagram does the block have the greatest density? A [Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-1 Mass, Weight, Density and Volume
11- At a point on the surface of the Earth, the gravitational field strength is 9.8 N / kg.
Which pair of values for mass and weight are correct for an object placed at this point?
mass / kg weight / N
A 9.8 10
B 10 9.8
C 10 98
D 98 10
[May-2005]
12- Some students measure the masses and the volumes of different sized samples of a type of
wood.Which graph shows their results? B
13- An object that has a mass of 15 kg on the Earth is taken to the Moon.
The gravitational field strength on the Earth is 10 N / kg and on the Moon is 1.6 N / kg.
What are the mass and the weight of the object on the Moon?
mass / kg weight / N
A 15 24
B 15 150
C 24 15
D 150 24
[Nov-2005]
14- A student is trying to find the density of a stone, but he has mixed up the instruction cards.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-1 Mass, Weight, Density and Volume
A 5 → 3 → 6 → 2 → 1 → 4→ 7
B1→5→3→6→2→7→4
C5→6→3→2→1→7→4
D1→4→5→3→6→2→7 [Nov-2005]
15- The inertia of a body is its resistance to changes in motion.Which property is a measure of the body’s
inertia?
A its density B its mass C the height of its sides D the size of its base [May-2006]
What is the density of the material from which the object is made?
[May-2006]
17- Three objects are cut from the same sheet of steel. They are different shapes but they all have
the same mass.
18- A body of mass 10 kg falling freely in the gravitational field close to the Moon’s surface has an
acceleration of 1.6 m/s2. What is the gravitational field strength on the Moon?
A 0 N / kg B 1.6 N / kg C 10 N / kg D 16 N / kg [Nov-2007]
[May-2008]
20- A measuring cylinder contains 118 cm3 of water. When a small object is fully immersed in the water, the
reading goes up to 144cm3. The object has a mass of 42g. What is the density of the object?
A 42/26 g/cm3 B 26/42 g/cm3 C 118/42 g/cm3 D 42/144 g/cm3
[May-2009]
22- The mass of a measuring cylinder is measured before and after pouring a liquid into it.
23- A room measures 4.0 m × 3.0 m × 2.0 m. The density of the air in the room is 1.3 kg/m3. What is the
mass of air in the room?
A 0.054 kg B 18 kg C 24 kg D 31 kg [Nov-2009]
24- A passenger is sitting in an aeroplane, which takes off and climbs to 10 000m. During this time, what
happens to the mass and to the weight of the passenger?
mass weight
A decreases decreases
B increases increases
C unchanged decreases
D unchanged increases
[May-2010]
25- A person of weight 600 N at the bottom of a mountain climbs to the top. The gravitational field
strength changes from 10.00N/ kg at the bottom to 9.97N/ kg at the top. His mass is unchanged as he
climbs.
What are his mass and his weight at the top of the mountain?
mass at top of mountain/ kg weight at top of mountain/N
A 60.0 598
B 60.0 600
C 60.1 598
D 60.1 600
[Nov-2010]
26- A box has an internal volume of 1000 cm3. When a solid object is placed in the closed box, the volume
of air in the box is 520cm3. The density of the object is 8.00g/ cm3.
PAPER-2 Theory
1- A student measures the mass and the volume of four samples of rock A, B, C and D. The results are
shown in Fig. 2.1.
(a) (i) Describe in detail how a measuring cylinder is used to find the volume of rock A.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................ [2]
(ii) Explain why the volume of rock D cannot be found with an ordinary laboratory measuring cylinder.
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................ [1]
(c) Three of the rocks are made from the same material. State and explain which of the rocks is made
from a different material.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Nov-2007]
2-
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-1 Mass, Weight, Density and Volume
A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]
3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]
4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]
change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken
What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]
9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]
10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B
[May-2005]
11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.
What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]
A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A
[May-2006]
15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2
[May-2007]
16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D
[Nov-2007]
17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2008]
18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B
[May-2009]
19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.
20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2009]
21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]
23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.
[Nov-2010]
24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2010]
25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.
2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.
(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.
distance = .......................
(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]
4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.
(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2005]
5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.
(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.
[May-2006]
6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2006]
7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.
(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................
[May-2007]
8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.
at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................
at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Nov-2007]
9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.
(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.
The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.
(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.
(b)about pressure!!!
[Nov-2007]
10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.
(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]
The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
Determine
(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by
(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]
[May-2008]
11-
A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]
3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]
4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]
change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken
What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]
9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]
10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B
[May-2005]
11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.
What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]
A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A
[May-2006]
15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2
[May-2007]
16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D
[Nov-2007]
17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2008]
18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B
[May-2009]
19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.
20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2009]
21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]
23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.
[Nov-2010]
24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2010]
25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.
2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.
(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.
distance = .......................
(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]
4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.
(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2005]
5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.
(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.
[May-2006]
6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2006]
7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.
(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................
[May-2007]
8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.
at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................
at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Nov-2007]
9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.
(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.
The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.
(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.
(b)about pressure!!!
[Nov-2007]
10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.
(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]
The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
Determine
(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by
(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]
[May-2008]
11-
A 50 m B 65 m C 75 m D 90 m
[May-2009]
3- A car driver takes a total of two hours to make a journey of 75 km. She has a coffee break of half
an hour and spends a quarter of an hour stationary in a traffic jam.
At what average speed must she travel during the rest of the time if she wants to complete the
journey in the two hours?
A 38 km/ h B 50 km/ h C 60 km/ h D 75 km/ h [Nov-2002]
4- An object is falling under gravity with terminal velocity.What is happening to its speed?
A It is decreasing to a lower value. B It is decreasing to zero.
C It is increasing. D It is staying constant. [May-2003]
change in velocity change in speed change in distance change in distance in a �ixed direction
A– time taken
B– time taken
C– time taken
D– time taken
What was the distance travelled by the car while its speed was increasing?
A 10 m B 20 m C 100 m D 200 m [May-2004]
9-The diagrams show a parachutist in four positions after she jumps from a high balloon.
At which position does she have terminal velocity?
A not yet moving B accelerating C not accelerating D not moving [Nov-2004]
10- Which graph represents the motion of a body falling vertically that reaches a terminal velocity? B
[May-2005]
11- A car takes 1 hour to travel 100 km along a main road and then ½ hour to travel 20 km along a
side road.
What is the average speed of the car for the whole journey?
A 60 km / h B 70 km / h C 80 km / h D 100 km / h [May-2005] / [Nov-2008]
A area S
B area S + area T
C area T
D the gradient at point X [Nov-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
13- Which graph shows the motion of a heavy, steel ball falling from a height of 2 m? A
[May-2006]
15- A car is brought to rest in 5 s from a speed of 10 m / s.What is the average deceleration of the car?
A 0.5 m / s2 B 2 m / s2 C 15 m / s2 D 50 m / s2
[May-2007]
16- The speed-time graph for a falling skydiver is shown below. The skydiver alters his fall first by
spreading his arms and legs and then by using a parachute.
Which part of the graph shows the diver falling with terminal velocity? D
[Nov-2007]
17- A skier is travelling downhill. The acceleration on hard snow is 4m/s2 and on soft snow is 2m/s2.
Which graph shows the motion of the skier when moving from hard snow to soft snow? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2008]
18- A free-fall parachutist falls at a constant speed. He then opens his parachute and continues to fall to
Earth at a lower, constant speed. Which diagram shows how the distance fallen by the parachutist varies
with time? B
[May-2009]
19- The graph shows the speed of a car as it moves from rest.
20- Which speed-time graph shows an object moving with non-uniform acceleration?C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2009]
21- A student measures the speed of a trolley. At one instant, the speed of the trolley is 1.0m/ s and two
seconds later the speed is 4.0m/ s. What is the acceleration of the trolley?
A 1.5m/ s2 B 2.0m/ s2 C 2.5m/ s2 D 5.0m/ s2 [May-2010]
23- A student pulls a piece of tape through a ticker-tape timer. Every 0.02 s, the timer prints a dot on the
tape. First the tape is pulled quickly, then slowly, then quickly again.
[Nov-2010]
24- A small stone is dropped from the top of a ladder, falls and hits the ground. It does not rebound. Which
speed-time graph is correct? C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2010]
25- A car travels along a road. The driver stops the car by pushing his foot down on the brake pedal. What
does not change if he pushes harder on the brake pedal?
A the braking distance B the braking force C the stopping distance D the thinking distance
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Fig. 1.1 shows the speed-time graph for the first 125 s of the journey of a lorry.
2- Fig. 1.1 shows a car travelling at a uniform speed of 18 m/s. At time t = 0, the driver sees a
child run out in front of the car.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
At time t = 0.6 s the driver starts to apply the brakes. The car then decelerates uniformly,
taking a further 3.0 s to stop.
(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, draw a graph to show how the speed of the car varies with t.
(ii) Calculate the distance travelled in the first 0.6 s of the motion.
distance = .......................
(b) The braking distance is the distance travelled by the car after the driver starts to apply
the brakes. The braking distance is not the same each time that the car stops.
State two factors that could increase braking distance.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. .....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
3- Fig. 1.1 shows a simplified speed-time graph for a train that travels between two stations.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
distance = ……………………..
(c) Another train travels between the same two stations on a parallel track. This train travels
at a constant speed. It starts its journey at time t = 0 and finishes at t = 90 minutes.
On Fig. 1.1, draw the speed-time graph for this train. [Nov-2004]
4- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of Earth and the planet Venus around the Sun. The orbits shown
are circles.
(a) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the force exerted by the Sun on the Earth.
(b) Information about Earth and Venus is given in the table.
(i) Use the information in the table to show that Venus has a greater speed than Earth.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(ii) As Earth and Venus move in their orbits, the distance between them changes.Calculate the largest
possible distance between them.
distance = ..................... million km
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[May-2005]
5- A cyclist starts from rest. He accelerates and then travels at a constant speed. At 12 s, the cyclist applies
the brakes and slows down. Photographs are taken of the cyclist at 4 s intervals. Fig. 2.1 shows the results.
(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a possible position of the front wheel of the cycle at 16 s.
(b) On Fig. 2.2, plot a distance-time graph of the cyclist for the first 16 s.
[May-2006]
6- Fig. 1.1 represents the motion of a car along a straight road. As the car approaches a small town, it slows
down. The car travels at a constant speed from the start of the town to the end of the town. After passing
through the town, the car speeds up.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
[Nov-2006]
7- Two athletes, A and B, run a 100 m race. At time t = 0, a gun is fired to start the race.
Fig. 1.1 shows the distance-time graph for the two athletes.
(a) Describe the motion of athlete A during the first 8 s of the race.
.........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) State the distance between the two athletes as the winner passes the 100 m mark.
...................................................................................................................................
(c) Calculate the speed of athlete A between t = 4 s and t = 15 s.
speed = ..........................
[May-2007]
8- A parachutist jumps from an aircraft. Some time later, the parachute opens. Fig. 1.1 is a graph of the
vertical speed of the parachutist plotted against time t.
at 20 s ..............................................................................................................................
at 55 s ........................................................................................................................ [1]
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
(c) Explain, in terms of the forces acting, why the speed of the parachutist is constant between t = 25 s and
t = 55 s.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
.................................................................................................................................... [2]
[Nov-2007]
9- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces
the effect of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.
(a) In a test of the air-bag, a heavy ball is used instead of the passenger.
The car is travelling at 14 m / s when it hits a wall. The air-bag inflates and the ball takes 3.0 s to come to
rest. The ball has mass 5.0 kg.
(iii) Using ideas about acceleration, explain how the air-bag reduces the force on the ball during the test.
(b)about pressure!!!
[Nov-2007]
10- When a car driver sees an emergency ahead, he applies the brakes. During his reaction time the car
travels at a steady speed and covers a distance known as the thinking distance. The braking distance is the
distance travelled by the car after the brakes are applied.
(a) State the energy change that occurs as the car brakes. [2]
The driver sees the emergency at time t = 0. The total mass of the car is 800 kg.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-2 Kinematics
Determine
(c) Using ideas about friction and deceleration, state and explain how the braking distance is affected by
(i) using new tyres rather than badly worn tyres, [2]
[May-2008]
11-
3- When a block of wood of mass 2 kg is pushed along the horizontal flat surface of a bench, the
friction force measured is 4N.
When the block is pushed along the same bench with a force of 10 N, it moves with a constant
A speed of 3m/ s. B speed of 5m/ s.
C acceleration of 3m/ s .
2 D acceleration of 5m/ s2. [Nov-2002]/[Nov-2006]
4- When two forces are combined, the size of the resultant depends on the angle between the two
forces.Which of the following can not be the magnitude of the resultant when forces of magnitude 3N
and 4N are combined?
A 1N B 3N C 7N D 8N [Nov-2002]
6- The diagram shows a cyclist leaning over in order to cycle around a corner.
Which force is necessary to maintain the motion around the corner? [Nov-2003]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
[Nov-2003]
10- A car is travelling at constant speed along a road and drives over a large patch of oil. The driver
applies the brakes to stop the car.
Compared to braking on a dry road, what may happen?
A The car slows down more quickly because of the greater friction between the tyres and the
road.
B The car speeds up at first because of the reduced friction between the tyres and the road.
C The car takes longer to slow down because of the reduced friction between the tyres and the
road.
D The car takes longer to slow down because the thinking distance of the driver is greater. [May-2004]
12- Trolley X and trolley Y are joined by a stretched spring. Trolley X has twice the mass of trolley Y.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
When the trolleys are released, the acceleration of X is 2 m/s2 to the right.
What is the initial acceleration of trolley Y to the left?
A 1 m/s2 B 2 m/s2 C 3 m/s2 D 4 m/s2 [Nov-2004]
13- The wheel of a moving car is driven by the engine. The car is accelerating in the direction shown.
In which direction does the frictional force act on the wheel? D [Nov-2004]
15- An aircraft, flying at a constant height, is gaining speed. The four forces acting are
16- A body P moves in a circle around a point S. A force F keeps it moving in the circle.
magnitude direction
A 15N OQ
B 15N PR
C 21N OQ
D 21N PR
18- A force of 20 N pushes an object of mass 5.0 kg along a rough horizontal surface where the
frictional force is 5.0 N. What is the acceleration of the object?
A 1.0 m/s2 B 2.0 m/s2 C 3.0 m/s2 D 4.0 m/s2 [May-2006]
20- The diagram shows an aeroplane turning in a horizontal circle at constant speed.
22- Which of the following correctly lists one scalar and one vector quantity?
scalar quantity vector quantity
A displacement work
B energy force
C force acceleration
D velocity mass
[May-2007]
23- The propeller on a boat pushes water backwards with a force of 2000 N. The boat moves through
the water against a total resistive force of 1800 N.
According to Newton’s third law, what is the forward force on the propeller due to the water?
A 3800 N B 2000 N C 1800 N D 200 N [May-2007]
24- Forces of 30 N and 50 N act on the same body, but in different directions.
Which value could not be the resultant force on the body?
A 10 N B 30 N C 50 N D 70 N [Nov-2007]
27- Two forces F 1 and F 2 act on an object O in the directions shown. What is
the direction of the resultant force? D
[May-2008]
29- What keeps an electron moving in a circle around the nucleus of an atom?
31- How is the motion of a body affected by balanced and unbalanced forces acting on it?
32- The diagram represents the Moon in its orbit around the Earth. Which arrow represents the direction of
the resultant force acting on the Moon at the instant shown?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
34- A tractor pulls a trailer at a constant speed. The tractor exerts a forward force of 1600 N on the
trailer. What is the force exerted by the trailer on the tractor?
35- A turntable rotates at constant speed. A coin is placed on the turntable at P. The friction force
between the coin and the turntable keeps the coin in the same position on the turntable.
37- Two men jump out of an aeroplane at the same time. One of the men opens his parachute and
the other man remains in free-fall.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
PAPER-2 Theory
(b) The mass of the spacecraft is 65 kg. At one point the gravitational field strength of
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
Mars is 3.0 N/kg and the total upwards force on the spacecraft is 500 N.
Determine
(i) the weight of the spacecraft,
weight = ....................................
(ii) the resultant force on the spacecraft,
force = ......................................
(iii) the deceleration of the spacecraft.
deceleration = ...........................
[Nov-2003]
2- Fig. 1.1 shows a free-fall parachutist falling vertically downwards. Fig. 1.2 shows how the speed of the
parachutist varies with time.
(a) (i) State the name of the downward force acting on the parachutist.
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) State the name of one upward force acting on the parachutist.
..................................................................................................................................
(b) (i) State the initial value of the acceleration of the parachutist. Give the unit of your
answer.
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain why the acceleration decreases from A to B.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(iii) Explain why the parachutist falls at a constant speed after B.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................. [May-2004]
3- A train travels from one station to the next. It starts from rest at time t = 0 and accelerates uniformly for
the first 20 s. At t = 20 s it reaches its top speed of 25 m/s. It then travels at this speed for a further 30 s
before decelerating uniformly to rest. The total time for the journey is 60 s.
(a) (i) Sketch a speed-time graph for the motion of the train. Do not use graph paper. Put the speed of the
train on the y-axis and time along the x-axis.
(ii) Write down the equation, in words, that relates acceleration, time and change in
velocity. [1]
(iii) Explain what is meant by a uniform acceleration.
(iv) Use your graph to calculate the deceleration of the train as it comes to rest.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
(c) A second train has a non-uniform acceleration. Sketch a speed-time graph showing a non-uniform
acceleration. Do not use graph paper.
[May-2005]
4- Fig. 1.1 shows a 0.4 kg mass hanging at rest from a spring. (a) State what is meant by the mass of an
object.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(b) (i) On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow showing the direction and the line of action
for each of the two forces that act on the mass. Write the name of the force next
to each
arrow.
(ii) The gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg. Calculate the size of each of
the two forces acting on the mass.
(c) The mass is pulled downwards. State and explain what happens to the
upward force.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
[Nov-2005]
5- Fig. 2.1 shows apparatus that demonstrates how a coin and a piece of paper fall from rest.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
At the positions shown in Fig. 2.1, the coin and paper are falling through air in the tube. The forces on them
are shown in Fig. 2.2. The length of an arrow indicates the size of each force.
(a) State the initial value of the acceleration of the coin as it falls.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) Explain how Fig. 2.2 shows that
(i) the paper falls with constant speed,
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
(ii) the coin accelerates.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
(c) A vacuum pump is connected to A and the air in the tube is removed.The coin and paper fall differently
in a vacuum from the way they fall in air.State two of these differences.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
2. ..................................................................................................................................... [Nov-2006]
(a) Compare the sizes and directions of the two forces when the car is
(i) moving along a straight road at constant speed,
(ii) accelerating.
(b) Suggest the direction of the resultant force on the car when the car turns a corner at constant speed.
(c) Fig. 9.2 shows the speed-time graph for the first 24 s of the motion of the car along a straight road.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-3 Force, Vectors and Scalars
(i) During the motion there is a period of uniform acceleration. State both the start and finish times of
this period.
(ii) State the main energy changes that occur in the 24 s.
(iii) Calculate the acceleration of the car during the first 5 s. State clearly the equation that you use.
(iv) Determine the distance travelled in the first 5 s.
(d) The car is stopped by applying the brakes. Various factors can affect the distance travelled by
the car during the time that the brakes are applied. Apart from the force applied by the brakes,
state two of these factors.
[May-2007]
2- Which energy changes take place when a pedalling cyclist uses a generator (dynamo) to light his
bicycle lamp?
A chemical → kinetic → electrical → light B electrical → chemical → kinetic → light
C kinetic → chemical → light → electrical D light → electrical → kinetic → chemical [May-2003]
4- A student who weighs 500 N climbs up a flight of stairs 10 metres high in 5 seconds.
What power does she develop?
500 𝑥 10 500 𝑥 5 5
A 500 x 10 x 5 W B W C W D W [Nov-2003]
5 10 500 𝑥 10
7-When a 300 N force is applied to a box weighing 600 N, the box moves 3.0 m horizontally in 20 s.
8- The diagram shows a curved curtain rail that has a steel ball rolling on it. The ball is released at
point A.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
[May-2005]
1
A 2 × 3 × 108J B 2000 × 3 × 108 J C × 2 × (3 × 108)2J D 2 × (3 × 108)2J [May-2005]
2
A at position 1
B at position 2
C the first time at position 3
D the last time at position 3 [Nov-2005]
[Nov-2005]
12- In a hydroelectric power station, water from a reservoir falls down a long pipe before entering the
turbines. The turbines then turn the generator.
What is the overall energy conversion?
A electrical energy into kinetic energy B electrical energy into potential energy
C kinetic energy into chemical energy D potential energy into electrical energy [May-2006]
13- The input power to a motor is 300 W. In 20 s it lifts a load of 400 N through a height of 6.0 m.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
14- A young child holds a ball over the edge of a balcony. The ball has
gravitational potential energy.
The ball is then released. It falls onto a concrete path below, and bounces
back up.
Which sequence represents, in the correct order, the transformations of the
gravitational potential
energy after the ball is released?
A → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy → chemical potential energy
B → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy → gravitational potential
energy
C → kinetic energy → elastic potential energy → kinetic energy
D → kinetic energy → gravitational potential energy → kinetic energy
[Nov-2006]
15- The diagram shows a battery-operated motor lifting a block of wood at constant speed.
[May-2007]
16- Four students exercise in a gym.Which student does the most work?
[May-2007]
18- A 2 kg mass is moving at constant speed.The kinetic energy of the mass is 400 J.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
22- A workman rolls a barrel of weight 2000N up a plank of length 2.00m and on to a lorry. The back of the
lorry is 0.80m above the horizontal surface of the road.
23- Energy from petrol is used to operate an engine. The engine drives a generator, which produces
electrical energy.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
24- A crane lifts a load of 1000 N through a vertical height of 4.0 m in 10 s. The input power to the crane is
500J / s. What is the efficiency of the crane?
A 0.17 B 0.50 C 0.60 D 0.8 [May-2009]
25- The graph shows how the height above the ground of a bouncing ball changes with time.
Which statement explains why the height of each peak decreases with time?
A Kinetic energy is converted to potential energy at each bounce.
B Kinetic energy is converted to thermal energy at each bounce.
C The ball gains energy on impact with the floor.
D The ball is wearing out. [Nov-2008]
26- A crane lifts a weight of 1000N through a vertical height of 30m. It uses 60 000J of energy.
27- A rock climber of weight 600N climbs up a rock face of vertical height 300m in 3600s.
What is the average power she generates against gravity during this time?
A 0.020W B 50W C 1800W D 7200W [Nov-2008]
input energy useful output energy useful output energy wasted energy
A B C D
useful output energy input energy wasted energy input energy
[Nov-2009]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
29- A man weighs 600 N. He runs up a staircase of total height 4.0 metres in 3.0 seconds.
30- A parachutist has opened his parachute and is falling to Earth at constant speed. What is the principal
energy conversion taking place as he falls?
A kinetic energy → potential energy B kinetic energy → thermal energy (heat)
C potential energy → kinetic energy D potential energy → thermal energy (heat) [May-2010]
31- A small emergency generator supplies 432 000 000J of electrical energy in twenty-four hours. What is
the average power output of the generator?
A 5000W B 300 000W C 18 000 000W D 432 000 000W [May-2010]
32- The diagram shows a curved track. A ball is released from the position shown. At which point does the
ball have the maximum gravitational potential energy? A
33- When one radium nucleus decays, its mass decreases by 8.8 × 10–30kg.How much energy is equivalent
to this loss in mass? (speed of light c = 3.0 × 108m/s)
A 6.8 × 10–42J B 2.6 × 10–21J C 4.0 × 10–13J D 7.9 × 10–13J [Nov-2010]
34- The energy output of a generator depends on its efficiency and the energy input. Which set of values is
correct?
efficiency energy input /MJ energy output /MJ
A 0.1 50 25
B 0.2 30 6
C 0.4 120 30
D 0.6 60 24
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
steady speed. Fig. 9.2 shows the readings taken by the student.
load lifted /N distance moved/m time taken/s p.d. across motor/V current in motor/A
8.0 2.0 8.2 6.0 3.4
Fig. 9.2
(i) Calculate
1. the work done in lifting the load,
2. the electrical energy supplied to the motor,
3. the efficiency of the motor.
(ii) After the readings have been taken, the string breaks. State the major energy change
that occurs as the load falls. [Nov-2002]
2- Fig. 11.1 shows a children’s ride. A carriage containing children is pulled up the slope by a motor. The
carriage stops at A and then runs down through B, C and D without further input of energy. Between
D and E the carriage turns through a bend at constant speed, as shown in Fig. 11.2. At E, brakes are
applied and the carriage slows to a stop at F.
The height of the ride is 30 m at A and 10 m
at C.
The mass of the carriage and children is 500
kg.
Take the gravitational field strength as 10
N/kg.
(a) (i) Discuss the energy changes that occur
in the ride from A to D.
(ii) Calculate the maximum potential energy
of the carriage and children.
(iii) Assuming that there is no friction
between A and C, determine the kinetic
energy of the carriage and children at C.
Show your working.
(b)
Between D and E, the carriage goes round part of a horizontal circle at
constant speed.
During this time the velocity of the carriage changes.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
(i) Explain how the carriage can have a constant speed but a changing velocity.
(ii) State the direction of the force that acts on the carriage to make it move round the curve.
(c) Between E and F, a frictional force of 3000 N acts to slow the carriage. Calculate the deceleration of the
carriage.
[May-2004]
3- A pole-vaulter runs along a track, reaching a maximum speed of 8.4 m/s. At the end of the
track, he places a pole into the ground as shown in Fig. 3.1, and uses the pole to push
himself vertically upwards.
(a) When the pole-vaulter runs along the track, there is a constant forward force on him of
320N and a backwards resistive force that varies with his speed as shown in Fig. 3.2.
Explain why the maximum speed that he can reach is 8.4 m/s.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................
(b) The mass of the pole-vaulter is 60 kg.
(i) Calculate the maximum kinetic energy of the pole-vaulter as he runs along the track.
State clearly the formula that you use.
kinetic energy = ………………….
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
(ii) The pole is used to convert all this kinetic energy into gravitational potential energy.
Calculate the height through which the pole-vaulter rises. Give your answer to an
appropriate number of significant figures. The gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
height = ……………………….
[Nov-2004]
4- Fig. 4.1 shows a hydroelectric power station. Water from the lake is used to produce electricity in the
turbine house.
(a) State where the water in Fig. 4.1 has the least potential energy.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) In 30 minutes, the water loses 5.0 × 109 J of energy and 4.5 × 109 J of electrical energy is produced in the
turbine house.
(i) Calculate the efficiency of the energy conversion.
efficiency = .........................
(ii) Calculate, in watts, the electrical power output from the turbine house.
power = ........................... W
(c) Some power stations burn coal to produce the same electrical power output. State one advantage of the
hydroelectric power station.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................
(d) State one harmful effect that the hydroelectric power station may have on the environment.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................
[May-2005]
5- A student carries out an experiment to measure the power he produces. He runs up a flight of stairs, as
shown in Fig. 1.1.
The student takes readings to calculate his power.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-4 Work , Energy and Power
[May-2006]
6- Fig. 6.1 shows a device used to generate electricity. Water entering at the top turns the wheel. A
generator connected to the wheel produces electric current.
(a) State the two main energy changes that take place in this device as water starts to flow.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
2. ...............................................................................................................................
(b) The change in the potential energy of the water every second is 2000 J. The electrical energy output is
1200 J every second.Calculate the efficiency of the process.
efficiency = .......................
(c) State two ways in which the device wastes energy.
1. .....................................................................................................................................
2. ...............................................................................................................................
[Nov-2006]
7-
1- If a nut and bolt are difficult to undo, it may be easier to turn the nut by using a longer spanner.
This is because the longer spanner gives
A a larger turning moment. B a smaller turning moment.
C less friction. D more friction. [May-2006]
[May-2003]
3- A horizontal pole is attached to the side of a building. There is a pivot P at the wall and a chain is
connected from the end of the pole to a point higher up the wall.
[Nov-2004]
2004]
[May-2005]
7- The diagrams show the cross-sections of different glasses.Which one is the least stable when filled with a
liquid? B
[Nov-2005] D
10- Some containers are made from thin glass.Which empty container is the most stable? A [May-2006]
11- Forces are applied to a uniform beam pivoted at its centre. Which beam is balanced? D
[May-2007]
[Nov-2007]
13- A piece of uniform card is suspended freely from a horizontal pin. At which of the points shown is its
centre of gravity? C
[Nov-2008]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-5 Moments
15- Two blocks are placed on a beam which balances on a pivot at its centre. The weight of the beam is
negligible.
17- A wooden trapdoor is hinged along one side and, when closed, is supported on the other side by a
ledge.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-5 Moments
PAPER-2 Theory
1- (a) Fig. 2.1 shows the same vertical force of 200 N exerted by a cyclist on the pedal of a bicycle in three
different positions A, B and C.
State the position, A, B or C, in which the force exerts the largest moment about the pivot.
Give a reason for your answer.
.........................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-5 Moments
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) Fig. 2.2 shows a support for a leg in plaster and Fig. 2.3 shows a simplified diagram of
the forces acting on the leg.
[Nov-2003]
2- Fig. 9.1 shows a thin sheet of metal suspended from a hole in one corner at A. The weight of the metal is
0.10N and the centre of mass is at B. The diagram is drawn full scale.
(a) Describe in detail how you would experimentally determine the position of the centre of mass of the
sheet of metal.
(b) The sheet turns because of the moment of the weight about point A.
(i) Define what is meant by the moment of a force.
(ii) Using a distance measured on Fig. 9.1, calculate the moment of the weight about point A. State
clearly which distance you measured and give the unit of your final answer.
(c) Fig. 9.2 and Fig. 9.3 show a thick piece of wood with one corner on a table.
Fig. 9.4 shows the same piece of wood balanced on the table. B is the centre of mass.
(i) Explain why in Fig. 9.2 the piece of wood falls to the right and in Fig. 9.3 it falls to the left.
(ii) Explain why the piece of wood in Fig. 9.4 does not fall over.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-5 Moments
(iii) Suggest how the thickness of the wood in Fig. 9.4 affects its stability.
[Nov-2006]
3- Fig. 2.1 shows a device for punching holes in a piece of paper. A person applies a force F at the end of the
arm. Just before the hole is made in the paper, the arm is at rest.
(a) Just before the hole is made, the force upwards on the steel rod is 7.2 N.
F = ........................ [2]
(b) The steel rod pushes the paper into the hole in the metal base with a force of 7.2 N. The end of the
steel rod has an area of 2.8 × 10–5 m2.
Calculate the pressure exerted on the paper. State the formula that you use in your calculation.
(c) The force downwards on the paper due to the rod and the force upwards on the rod due
to the paper are related by Newton’s third law. State Newton’s third law.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
[May-2008]
4-
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-5 Moments
1- Which of the following does not affect the pressure beneath the surface of a liquid?
A area of the liquid surface B density of the liquid
C depth of the liquid D strength of the gravitational field [Nov-2002] /
[Nov-2005]
[May-2003]
5- The diagrams show, to the same scale, the vertical sections of a set of circular vessels, each
containing the same depth of water.
Which one of the following statements is correct?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
6- The diagram shows the levels X and Y in a liquid manometer when the gas tap is opened.
What is the pressure of the gas in the
cylinder?
A 18 cm of liquid below atmospheric
pressure
B 9 cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure
C 9 cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure
D 18 cm of liquid above atmospheric
pressure
[May-2004]
9- A small table weighing 40 N stands on four legs, each having an area of 0.001 m2.
What is the pressure of the table on the floor?
A 400 N/m2 B 1000 N/m2 C 10 000 N/m2 D 40 000 N/m2 [May-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
80 20 𝑥 10
A N/cm2 B N/cm2
20 𝑥 10 80
80 10 𝑥 5
C 5 𝑥 10 N/cm2 D N/cm2 [Nov-2005]
80
[Nov-2005]
[Nov-2006]
[Nov-2006]
15- A gas is trapped inside a cylinder by a movable piston. The length of the gas column is 50 cm and
the pressure inside the cylinder is p.
The piston is pushed in a distance of 30 cm, so that the length of the gas column is now 20 cm.The
temperature of the gas does not change.What is the new pressure of the gas?
A 0.4 p B 0.6 p C 1.5 p D 2.5 p [May-2007]
[Nov-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
18- An airtight container holds a fixed quantity of gas. Its pressure and volume are measured on four
occasions when the temperature is 20°C. The results are shown in the table. Which set of readings is
incorrect?
pressure/ kPa volume/ cm3
A 120 36
B 100 48
C 80 60
D 60 80
[May-2008]
19- A builder leaves two identical, heavy, stone tiles resting on soft earth. One is vertical and the other is
horizontal.
After a few hours, the vertical tile has started to sink into the soft earth, but the horizontal one has not.
Which row correctly compares the forces and the pressures that the tiles exert on the earth?
forces pressures
A different different
B different same
C same different
D same same
[May-2009]
20-A water manometer is connected to a gas supply. One end of the manometer is open to the atmosphere.
Side X is connected to a gas supply. Side Y is open to the atmosphere. What pressure is the length h used to
measure?
A the atmospheric pressure S
B the difference between the gas pressure R and the atmospheric pressure S
C the gas pressure R
D the sum of the gas pressure R and the atmospheric pressure S [Nov-2008]
The cross-sectional area of the master cylinder is 12.0 cm2 and the cross-sectional area of the
slave cylinder is 8.0 cm2. The force applied to the master piston is 60 N, producing a pressure of
5.0N/cm2. Which line in the table is correct?
pressure at slave cylinder force at slave cylinder
N/ cm2 N
A 3.3 40
B 3.3 90
C 5.0 40
D 5.0 90
[Nov-2008]
The mercury level in the tube falls, leaving a vacuum at the top. When the atmospheric pressure
falls, which length decreases?
A PQ B PS C QR D RS [Nov-2009]
24- Some gas is trapped in a large syringe by a piston. The atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa
25- Five blocks have the same mass but different base areas. They all rest on a horizontal table.
A graph is plotted to show the relationship between the pressure exerted on the table and the base area of
the block. Which graph shows this relationship? D
[May-2010]
26- The diagram shows the levels X and Y in a liquid manometer with the gas tap open.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
A 18cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure B 9cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure
C 9cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure D 18cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure
[May-2010]
27- The base for a statue rests on level ground. It is made from stone and is 2.0m long, 2.5m high and
0.80m wide. It has a weight of 96 000N.
PAPER-2 Theory
2- Fig. 2.1 shows a water manometer used to measure the pressure inside a gas pipe.
(a) State whether the pressure inside the gas pipe in Fig. 2.1 is larger than or smaller than atmospheric
pressure.
.....................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
(b) The manometers shown in Figs. 2.2 and 2.3 are connected to the same gas pipe at the same pressure as
shown in Fig. 2.1.On Figs. 2.2 and 2.3, draw the levels of the liquid in each manometer if
(i) the manometer in Fig. 2.2 contains water and has tubes with twice the diameter of
Fig. 2.1,
(ii) the manometer in Fig. 2.3 contains a liquid with density half that of
water.
(c) The manometer shown in Fig. 2.4 has its top end sealed.
Explain why the water levels are different in Figs. 2.4 and 2.1, even though the
pressure in the gas pipe is the same.
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
[Nov-2004]
(a) The gas in the cylinder exerts the same pressure on the piston as it does on the sealed end. The sealed
end has a smaller cross-sectional area.Use ideas about molecules to explain why the pressures are the same.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(b) The piston is pushed inwards and the temperature of the gas stays constant.
(i) The piston moves 0.10 m. The average force exerted on the piston to compress the gas is 23 N.
Calculate the work done. State the formula that you use.
work done = ........................
(ii) The gas in the cylinder starts at a pressure of 1.0 × 105 Pa and has a volume of 100 cm3. The volume
of the gas decreases to 80 cm3.Calculate the final pressure of the gas. State the formula that you use.
pressure = ..........................
[Nov-2005]
4- Fig.10.1 shows a section through a very old bicycle tyre that is made of solid rubber.
The table contains information about the tyre in Fig. 10.3 and Fig. 10.4.
(i) Calculate the volume V of the air in the tyre in Fig. 10.4. State one assumption that you make in your
calculation.
(ii) Another way to change the pressure in the tyre is to raise the temperature.
State what happens to the pressure in the tyre when the temperature rises and explain
your answer using ideas about molecules.
[May-2006]
5- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces the effect
of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.
(b) If there was no air-bag, a large pressure would be exerted on the ball at the point where it hits the dashboard.
(ii) The inflated air-bag reduces the pressure exerted on the ball. State two reasons why the pressure is reduced. [2]
(c) Compressed gas from a small cylinder inflates the air-bag. The cylinder contains a volume of 600 cm3 of gas at a
pressure of 1.4 × 107 Pa. The cylinder and the inflated air-bag have a volume of 30 000 cm3.
(i) Calculate the pressure of the gas in the inflated air-bag, assuming that the temperature is constant. [3]
(ii) The pressure inside the cylinder decreases as the air-bag is inflated. Explain, using ideas about molecules, why
the pressure decreases. [2]
[Nov-2007]
1- Which of the following does not affect the pressure beneath the surface of a liquid?
A area of the liquid surface B density of the liquid
C depth of the liquid D strength of the gravitational field [Nov-2002] /
[Nov-2005]
[May-2003]
5- The diagrams show, to the same scale, the vertical sections of a set of circular vessels, each
containing the same depth of water.
Which one of the following statements is correct?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
6- The diagram shows the levels X and Y in a liquid manometer when the gas tap is opened.
What is the pressure of the gas in the
cylinder?
A 18 cm of liquid below atmospheric
pressure
B 9 cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure
C 9 cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure
D 18 cm of liquid above atmospheric
pressure
[May-2004]
9- A small table weighing 40 N stands on four legs, each having an area of 0.001 m2.
What is the pressure of the table on the floor?
A 400 N/m2 B 1000 N/m2 C 10 000 N/m2 D 40 000 N/m2 [May-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
80 20 𝑥 10
A N/cm2 B N/cm2
20 𝑥 10 80
80 10 𝑥 5
C 5 𝑥 10 N/cm2 D N/cm2 [Nov-2005]
80
[Nov-2005]
[Nov-2006]
[Nov-2006]
15- A gas is trapped inside a cylinder by a movable piston. The length of the gas column is 50 cm and
the pressure inside the cylinder is p.
The piston is pushed in a distance of 30 cm, so that the length of the gas column is now 20 cm.The
temperature of the gas does not change.What is the new pressure of the gas?
A 0.4 p B 0.6 p C 1.5 p D 2.5 p [May-2007]
[Nov-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
18- An airtight container holds a fixed quantity of gas. Its pressure and volume are measured on four
occasions when the temperature is 20°C. The results are shown in the table. Which set of readings is
incorrect?
pressure/ kPa volume/ cm3
A 120 36
B 100 48
C 80 60
D 60 80
[May-2008]
19- A builder leaves two identical, heavy, stone tiles resting on soft earth. One is vertical and the other is
horizontal.
After a few hours, the vertical tile has started to sink into the soft earth, but the horizontal one has not.
Which row correctly compares the forces and the pressures that the tiles exert on the earth?
forces pressures
A different different
B different same
C same different
D same same
[May-2009]
20-A water manometer is connected to a gas supply. One end of the manometer is open to the atmosphere.
Side X is connected to a gas supply. Side Y is open to the atmosphere. What pressure is the length h used to
measure?
A the atmospheric pressure S
B the difference between the gas pressure R and the atmospheric pressure S
C the gas pressure R
D the sum of the gas pressure R and the atmospheric pressure S [Nov-2008]
The cross-sectional area of the master cylinder is 12.0 cm2 and the cross-sectional area of the
slave cylinder is 8.0 cm2. The force applied to the master piston is 60 N, producing a pressure of
5.0N/cm2. Which line in the table is correct?
pressure at slave cylinder force at slave cylinder
N/ cm2 N
A 3.3 40
B 3.3 90
C 5.0 40
D 5.0 90
[Nov-2008]
The mercury level in the tube falls, leaving a vacuum at the top. When the atmospheric pressure
falls, which length decreases?
A PQ B PS C QR D RS [Nov-2009]
24- Some gas is trapped in a large syringe by a piston. The atmospheric pressure is 100 kPa
25- Five blocks have the same mass but different base areas. They all rest on a horizontal table.
A graph is plotted to show the relationship between the pressure exerted on the table and the base area of
the block. Which graph shows this relationship? D
[May-2010]
26- The diagram shows the levels X and Y in a liquid manometer with the gas tap open.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
A 18cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure B 9cm of liquid below atmospheric pressure
C 9cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure D 18cm of liquid above atmospheric pressure
[May-2010]
27- The base for a statue rests on level ground. It is made from stone and is 2.0m long, 2.5m high and
0.80m wide. It has a weight of 96 000N.
Which boy is more likely to sink into the soft ground and why?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
30. A student places his thumb firmly on the outlet of a bicycle pump, to stop the air coming
out.
What happens to the pressure and to the volume of the trapped air as the pump handle is
pushed in?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
PAPER-2 Theory
2- Fig. 2.1 shows a water manometer used to measure the pressure inside a gas pipe.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
(a) State whether the pressure inside the gas pipe in Fig. 2.1 is larger than or smaller than atmospheric
pressure.
.....................................................................................................................................
(b) The manometers shown in Figs. 2.2 and 2.3 are connected to the same gas pipe at the same pressure as
shown in Fig. 2.1.On Figs. 2.2 and 2.3, draw the levels of the liquid in each manometer if
(i) the manometer in Fig. 2.2 contains water and has tubes with twice the diameter of
Fig. 2.1,
(ii) the manometer in Fig. 2.3 contains a liquid with density half that of
water.
(c) The manometer shown in Fig. 2.4 has its top end sealed.
Explain why the water levels are different in Figs. 2.4 and 2.1, even though the
pressure in the gas pipe is the same.
.............................................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
[Nov-2004]
(a) The gas in the cylinder exerts the same pressure on the piston as it does on the sealed end. The sealed
end has a smaller cross-sectional area.Use ideas about molecules to explain why the pressures are the same.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(b) The piston is pushed inwards and the temperature of the gas stays constant.
(i) The piston moves 0.10 m. The average force exerted on the piston to compress the gas is 23 N.
Calculate the work done. State the formula that you use.
work done = ........................
(ii) The gas in the cylinder starts at a pressure of 1.0 × 10 Pa and has a volume of 100 cm3. The volume
5
of the gas decreases to 80 cm3.Calculate the final pressure of the gas. State the formula that you use.
pressure = ..........................
[Nov-2005]
4- Fig.10.1 shows a section through a very old bicycle tyre that is made of solid rubber.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
The table contains information about the tyre in Fig. 10.3 and Fig. 10.4.
(i) Calculate the volume V of the air in the tyre in Fig. 10.4. State one assumption that you make in your
calculation.
(ii) Another way to change the pressure in the tyre is to raise the temperature.
State what happens to the pressure in the tyre when the temperature rises and explain
your answer using ideas about molecules.
[May-2006]
5- Many cars are fitted with an air-bag, as shown in Fig. 9.1. In a collision, the air-bag inflates and reduces the effect
of the impact between the passenger and the dashboard.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Pressure
(b) If there was no air-bag, a large pressure would be exerted on the ball at the point where it hits the dashboard.
(ii) The inflated air-bag reduces the pressure exerted on the ball. State two reasons why the pressure is reduced. [2]
(c) Compressed gas from a small cylinder inflates the air-bag. The cylinder contains a volume of 600 cm3 of gas at a
pressure of 1.4 × 107 Pa. The cylinder and the inflated air-bag have a volume of 30 000 cm3.
(i) Calculate the pressure of the gas in the inflated air-bag, assuming that the temperature is constant. [3]
(ii) The pressure inside the cylinder decreases as the air-bag is inflated. Explain, using ideas about molecules, why
the pressure decreases. [2]
[Nov-2007]
3 - A glass jug is designed so that it does not break when boiling water is poured into it.What sort of glass
should be used?
thickness expansion
A thick expands greatly when heated
B thick expands little when heated
C thin expands greatly when heated
D thin expands little when heated [May-2003]
4- A new liquid is tested to decide whether it is suitable for use in a liquid-in-glass thermometer.
It is found that the liquid does not expand uniformly with temperature.
What will be the effect of this on the scale of the thermometer?
A It has a short range. B It is not linear.
C The markings are too close together. D The markings are too far apart. [Nov-2004]
5- A student is given a thermometer that reads 1 °C in pure melting ice and 101 °C in pure boiling
water. She uses it to measure the temperature of some water before and after it is heated.
The increase in temperature of the water calculated from her results is
A 1 °C too low. B correct. C 1 °C too high. D 2 °C too high. [Nov-2002]
high sensitivity.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-7 Temperature,Thermal Expansion
bulb bore
A thick glass narrow
B thick glass wide
C thin glass narrow
D thin glass wide
7- - A liquid-in-glass thermometer consists of a bulb containing a liquid. The liquid can expand into a
very thin capillary tube.
The liquid in the thermometer is replaced by another liquid that expands more for the same
temperature rise.
The new thermometer will have
A greater sensitivity and greater range.
B greater sensitivity but less range.
C the same sensitivity and the same range.
D the same sensitivity but greater range. [May-2004]
8- The fillings for a hole in a tooth should be made from a material that
A expands more than the hole in the tooth.
B expands by the same amount as the hole in the tooth.
C expands less than the hole in the tooth.
D does not expand when heated. [Nov-2004] / [May-2007]
10- A person cannot unscrew the lid of a pot of jam. He finds that the lid can be unscrewed after it has been
held under hot, running water for a few seconds.
Why is this?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-7 Temperature,Thermal Expansion
13- The diagrams show a bimetallic strip when it is at room temperature and after it has been cooled.
14- The sensitivity of a liquid-in-glass thermometer depends on the volume of liquid used and the
diameter of the bore of the thermometer.Which changes will produce the greatest increase in sensitivity?
15- A thermocouple thermometer uses a voltmeter to measure the e.m.f. generated between two
junctions. The junctions are at temperatures t 1 and t 2 . To calibrate the thermometer, fixed points
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-7 Temperature,Thermal Expansion
are needed.
What are the values of t1 and t2 when the thermometer is calibrated at the steam point?
t1 t2
A 0 ºC 0 ºC
B 0 ºC 100 ºC
C 25 ºC 0 ºC
D 25 ºC 125 ºC
[May-2007]
At 0 °C, the length of the liquid column is 2.0 cm. At 100 °C, the length of the liquid column is 22.0cm. What
is the length of the liquid column at 40°C?
A 6.0cm B 8.0cm C 8.8cm D 10.0cm [May-2008]
17- At regular intervals along a railway line there is a gap between the rail sections.
What is the reason for the gap between the rail sections?
A to allow for expansion of the rail sections during hot weather
B to allow for vibrations of the rail sections as the train passes over them
C to allow rain water to drain from the rail sections
D to keep the wheels of the train and carriages on the rail sections [May-2008]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-7 Temperature,Thermal Expansion
19- The table shows the increase in length of four metals when heated through the same temperature rise.
Each metal initially has the same length.
metal X metal Y
A aluminium platinum
B copper aluminium
C steel copper
D platinum steel
[Nov-2008]
20- To calibrate a thermometer, without using another thermometer, fixed points are required. Which
statement is correct?
21- A bimetallic strip made from brass and iron is used as a thermostat.
[May-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
Small gaps are left in railway lines and in bridges, as shown in Fig. 3.1.
(a) Explain in detail why the gaps are needed.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................
(b) State one other problem caused by thermal expansion and explain how it can be solved.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
[May-2004]
[May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-7 Temperature,Thermal Expansion
1- Assuming the temperature remains constant, which combination correctly describes the volume
and the shape of a gas or liquid?
3- A substance consists of particles that are close together and moving past each other at
random. The average speed of the particles is gradually increasing.
What best describes the substance?
A a liquid being boiled to form a gas
B a liquid being heated
C a solid being heated
D a solid being melted to form a liquid [May-2004]
4- A student has three sealed plastic bags. One bag is full of gas, one of liquid and one of solid.
The student squeezes each bag to see if it changes shape, and warms each bag to see if it
expands.Which bag contains gas?
A the one that changes shape easily and expands the least when heated
B the one that changes shape easily and expands the most when heated
C the one that is fixed in shape and expands the least when heated
D the one that is fixed in shape and expands the most when heated [Nov-2004]
7- Which graph shows the relationship between the pressure and volume of a fixed mass of gas at
constant temperature? [Nov-2003]
8- A gas cylinder is left outside on a sunny day. The Sun heats the gas inside the cylinder.What happens to the gas
molecules?
A- They collide less often. B - They expand.
C - They move closer together. D - They move more rapidly.
9- Some air is trapped inside a small balloon. The average kinetic energy of the air molecules in the balloon is
increased. What remains the same?
A the density of the air in the balloon B the mass of the air in the balloon
C the temperature of the air in the balloon D the volume of the air in the balloon
10- Which of the following correctly compares the forces between the molecules in steam, water and
ice?
weakest forces ------------------- strongest forces
A ice steam water
B ice water steam
C steam water ice
D water steam ice
11- A quantity of gas is trapped in a container by a piston exerting a force F. The temperature of the gas is
raised while F remains unchanged.
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Fig. 7.1 shows a syringe that contains gas at the same pressure as the air outside. The
piston moves freely along the cylinder without any friction. No gas escapes.
As the syringe is heated from 20 °C to 100 °C, the piston moves outwards. It stops moving
when the temperature is steady. State how the value of each of the following quantities
compares at 100 °C, after the piston stops, with its value at 20 °C.
For each quantity you should write greater, the same or less.
2- A thin-walled plastic bottle is sealed and contains dry air at atmospheric pressure.(a) Explain how the
molecules of air inside the bottle exert a pressure on the walls.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................
(b) Ice is placed inside the bottle, and the bottle is then sealed again. The temperature of the air inside the
bottle falls and the bottle becomes partially crushed. Explain, in terms of the molecules of air inside and
outside the bottle, why this happens.
.........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................... [Nov-2003]
3-Fig. 3.1 shows a weather balloon. The balloon is shown partly filled with gas from a cylinder.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-6 Kinetic Theory
The balloon contains no gas initially. When it is connected to the cylinder, gas enters the balloon. The
pressure in the cylinder decreases.
(a) Explain why the molecules inside the cylinder
(i) exert a large pressure initially,
.................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................
(ii) exert a smaller pressure in the cylinder when the balloon is filled.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(b) The volume of the cylinder is 0.0020m3. The pressure inside the cylinder is initially 200 atmospheres.
When the cylinder is connected to the balloon, the final pressure in the cylinder and the balloon is 1.0
atmosphere.
The temperature of the gas remains constant.Calculate the final volume of gas in the balloon. State the
equation that you use.
volume = .....................
[May-2005]
2- In an experiment to find the specific heat capacity of a metal, it is found that 5200 J is needed to raise the
temperature of a 2 kg block by 20 °C. What value for the specific heat capacity is given by these results?
A 130 J / (kg °C) B 52000 J / (kg °C)
C 520 kJ /(kg °C) D 104000 kJ / (kg °C) [May-2005]
3- A 2 kg mass of copper of specific heat capacity of 400 Jkg-1K-1 is heated for 80s by a heater of power
50W.What is the rise in the temperature?
A- 5 K B -160 K C-100 K D - 16 K
4- A cup of tea at 80oC is left to cool to 20oC.If the heat capacity of cup and tea is 4.0 kJ K-1,how much heat is
released during the cooling?
5- When heat is supplied to a metallic sphere, which of the following changes will occur?
A- The mass of the sphere increases B - The volume of the sphere decreases.
C- The density of the sphere increases. D- The internal energy of the sphere increases.
6- Using an electric kettle, 100 g of water at 100 °C is converted into steam at 100 °C in 300 seconds. The
specific latent heat of steam is 2250 J / g. What is the average electrical power used?
9- A 2 kg mass of copper is heated for 40 s by a heater that produces 100 J / s.The specific heat capacity of
copper is 400 J / (kg K).What is the rise in temperature?
A 5K B 10K C 20K D 50K [Nov-2003]
10- Heat energy is supplied at the same rate to 100 g of paraffin and to 100 g of water in similar containers.
Why does the temperature of the paraffin rise more quickly?
A The paraffin has a larger specific heat capacity than water.
B The paraffin has a smaller specific heat capacity than water.
C The paraffin is less dense than water.
D The paraffin is more dense than water. [Nov-2004]
11- A block of metal has a mass of 2.0 kg. Its specific heat capacity is 800 J / (kg °C). The block is supplied
with 2400 J of energy. What is the rise in temperature?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-8 Heat Capacity
12-
PAPER-2 Theory
2- A plastic ice tray has 16 sections filled with water. When placed in the ice box, the water freezes to form
ice cubes. Each section contains a mass of 20 g of water that is initially completely liquid at a temperature of
0 °C. The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 330 J/g.
(i) Calculate the amount of energy that must be taken from the tray of water to enable all the water in the
tray to become ice at 0 °C.
(ii) State why the heat capacity of the plastic tray does not affect the answer to (i).
(iii) The ice box takes energy from the water at a rate of 30W. Estimate the time taken for all the water in the
tray to become ice.
3- Fig. 3.1 illustrates the arrangement of the molecules of a substance in its solid, liquid and
gaseous states.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-8 Heat Capacity
(a) State which arrangement, A, B or C, contains molecules with the most energy.
(b) Explain, in terms of the forces between the molecules and their separation, why
(i) gases are easier to compress than liquids,
(ii) latent heat is needed to change the substance from solid to liquid.
(c) Define the term specific heat capacity of a substance.
1- When a solid is melting, the temperature remains constant even though heat is being supplied because
A- The heat is being used to break up the intermolecular bonds.
B-The solid is not absorbing any heat.
C-The molecules are moving faster.
D-The molecules are further apart.
2- Ice is taken from a freezer and left in a room. The ice melts and eventually the water reaches room
temperature. Which energy transfers take place?
energy transfer energy transfer after
during melting melting
A from ice to room from water to room
B from ice to room from room to water
C from room to ice from room to water
D from room to ice from water to room
???? / [May-2008]
How many of these changes, if any, would alter the rate at which evaporation occurs?
A0 B1 C2 D 3 [May-2008]
5- A swimmer climbs out of a swimming pool on a warm, dry day. Almost immediately he begins to feel
cold. Why is this?
A The water allows a convection current to remove heat from his skin.
B The water takes latent heat from his body in order to evaporate.
C The water on his skin is a good conductor of heat.
D The water prevents infra-red radiation from reaching his body. [May-2003]
8- Some of the more energetic molecules in a liquid leave the surface, leaving the rest of the liquid slightly
cooler. What is the name given to this process?
A – boiling B – condensation C – evaporation D – freezing [May-2006]
9- A substance consists of particles that are close together and moving past each other at random. The
average speed of the particles is gradually increasing. What best describes the substance?
A - boiling B – condensing
C - melting D – solidifying [Nov-2002]
11- Ice at –10 °C is heated at a constant rate until it is water at +10 ° C. Which graph shows how the
temperature changes with time? B
[May-2003]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
12- When a liquid changes into a gas at a constant temperature, the temperature is known as its
13- Given that the specific latent heat of vaporization of oxygen is 214 kJ kg-1, how much heat will be
absorbed when 3 kg of oxygen is boiled off at its boiling point?
A- 64 kJ B- 140 kJ C- 14 kJ D- 642 kJ
14- When ice melts to become water, which force must be overcome?
A the attraction between electrons and the nucleus
B the attraction between the atoms in a molecule
C the force between molecules
D the force of gravity [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2008]
15- The diagram shows a cross-section through a rain-water puddle formed in a shallow hole in a
road surface.
Over a period of time, air temperature, wind speed and wind direction remain constant.
What happens to the rate of evaporation of water from the puddle?
A It decreases, because the surface area decreases.
B It increases, because the puddle gets shallower.
C It increases, because the surface area decreases.
D It remains constant. [Nov-2004] / [Nov-2009]
16- What will not affect the rate of evaporation from the surface of a liquid?
A depth of the liquid B draughts above the surface of the liquid
C surface area of the liquid D temperature of the liquid [Nov-2005]
18- A substance consists of particles that are close together and moving past each other at random.
The average speed of the particles is gradually increasing. What best describes the substance?
A a gas being heated B a liquid being heated
C a solid being heated D a solid being melted [May-2006]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
19- Some ice cubes are taken from a deep-freeze and placed in a metal container. The container is heated at
a constant rate and readings of temperature and time are taken. The results are recorded on a graph.
Which temperature corresponds to 0 °C? C
[May-2006]
20- What conditions of temperature and surface area would produce the most rapid evaporation from
a pool of water on a road surface?
temperature surface area
A high large
B high small
C low large
D low small
[Nov-2006]
21-The energy required to change liquid water into water vapour at the same temperature is called
latent heat of vaporisation.
What does this energy do?
A increases the average separation of the water molecules
B increases the average speed of the water molecules
C raises the temperature of the air near the water
D splits the water molecules into their separate atoms [Nov-2006]
22- A 2 kW kettle containing boiling water is placed on a balance. It is left there and continues to boil
for 5 minutes. The balance reading changes by 0.2 kg.
What does this information give as a value for the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water?
A 2000 J / kg B 3000 J / kg C 50 000 J / kg D 3 000 000 J / kg [Nov-2006]
24- The liquid in a puddle evaporates and this causes its temperature to change. How does the temperature
of the liquid change and why?
change reason
A decreases less energetic molecules leave the liquid
B decreases more energetic molecules leave the liquid
C increases less energetic molecules leave the liquid
D increases more energetic molecules leave the liquid
[May-2010]
25- An ice-cube has a mass of 7.50g. The ice-cube is at 0°C.Heat from the surroundings reaches the ice-cube
at an average rate of 1.25 J/s. How long does it take for all of the ice to melt?
(specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 333 J/g)
A 35.5s B 55.5s C 2000s D 3120s [May-2010]
26- A hot liquid is poured into a beaker. The graph shows how its temperature changes as it cools towards
room temperature.
PAPER-2 Theory
Inside the pipes in the ice-box, a liquid boils and takes in latent heat.
The gas condenses in the pipes at the back of the refrigerator and
thermal energy (heat) leaves through the black metal fins.
(a)
(i) State one similarity and one difference between boiling and
evaporation.
(ii) Explain, in terms of the molecules involved, why latent heat
is needed to boil the liquid.
(b)
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
(i) Explain how the ice box at the top of the refrigerator keeps the whole of the food compartment cool.
2- a) The table below describes the conditions of the molecules of a substance in each of the
three states of matter, solid, liquid and gas.
In the right-hand column, write the state of the substance that is described in the lefthand
column.
(b) (i) What is the state of matter just before a substance boils?
(ii) Describe what happens to the molecules during boiling.
(c) (i) What is the state of matter just before a substance melts?
(ii) Aluminium melts at 660 °C. At what temperature does it freeze?
(i) State what happens to the bar between t = 600 s and 1000 s.
(ii) Explain what effect the energy supplied to the bar has on its molecules between t = 0
and 1000 s.
(iii) The mass of the bar is 0.030 kg and the specific heat capacity of aluminum is 880 J/(kg °C).
Calculate the energy supplied to the bar between t = 0 and 600 s.
(iv) Between t = 600 s and 1000 s the furnace supplies 30 joules of energy per second to the
bar. Calculate the specific latent heat of fusion of aluminum.
[May-2004]
5- Liquid air contains a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The boiling point of nitrogen is –196 °C and the
boiling point of oxygen is –183 °C.A sample of liquid air in a beaker is allowed to warm up slowly.
Fig. 4.1 shows how the reading of a thermometer in the beaker varies with time t.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
6- The graph shows how the temperature of a benzene varies with the time as it is being heated at a
constant rate. At the point E all the benzene is in the gas state. The mass of the benzene is 0.20kg.
a) At which of the three points B,C or D do the benzene molecules have the greatest energy? Give a reason
for your answer.
c) Calculate the change in the internal energy of the benzene between C and D? c ben =1710
J/(kg.K)
7- During a marathon race, the runner shown in Fig. 3.1 is very hot.
At the end of the race, evaporation and convection cool the runner.
(a) (i) Explain how evaporation helps the runner to lose energy. Use ideas about molecules
in your answer.
(ii) Explain why hot air rises around the runner at the end of the race.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
(b) At the end of the race, the runner is given a shiny foil blanket, as shown in Fig.
3.2.Wearing the blanket stops the runner from cooling too quickly. Explain how the shiny
foil blanket helps to reduce energy losses.
Use ideas about conduction, convection and radiation in your answer.
[May-2008]
8- A student has an open tank for storing water outside her house. The tank is black and is in direct
sunlight.
She notices that the level of water inside the tank
slowly decreases as water evaporates.
Change-1:
Change-2:
Change-3:
Change-4:
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-9 Latent Heat
(b) She notices that the water level in the tank falls by 0.05 m in 25 hours. The cross-sectional area of the
tank is 1.0m2. The density of water is 1000 kg/m3.The specific latent heat of vaporization of water is 2.2 ×
106 J/kg.
Calculate
(i) the volume of water that evaporates,
(iv) the average rate at which energy is used to evaporate the water. [May-2006]
9- A student investigates the evaporation of water. He pours 100 cm3 of water into measuring cylinder A
and 100 cm3 of water into measuring cylinder B. Measuring cylinder A is kept at 40 °C and B is kept at 80
°C in the same part of the laboratory. Fig. 2.1 shows the two measuring cylinders after 3 days.
(a) (i) Using ideas about molecules, explain why more water evaporates when the water is kept at 80 °C.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.......
(ii) Apart from an increase in temperature, state one change that causes water to evaporate faster.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................
(b) The specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2300 J / g and the density of water is 1.0 g / cm3.
During the three days, the water level in B drops from the 100 cm3 mark to the level shown in Fig. 2.1.
Calculate the energy used to evaporate water from B during the three days.
energy = ................................................
[May-2007]
1- Density changes are responsible for which method of thermal energy transfer?
A conduction only B convection only
C radiation only D conduction, convection and radiation [May-2006]
2- The heat from the hot water in a metal radiator passes through the metal and then spreads around the
room. What are the main processes by which the heat is transferred through the radiator and then spread
around the room?
[Nov-2002]
4- The diagram shows a thick copper plate that is very hot. One side is
black, the other is shiny. A student places her hands the same distance
from each side as shown. Her left hand feels warmer than her right
hand. Which statement is the correct conclusion from the experiment?
[May-2005]
6- How does thermal energy (heat energy) travel through the vacuum between the Earth and the
Sun?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
7- Water at the top of a hot-water tank is heated and the water becomes hot. No
water enters or leaves the tank. Water at the bottom of the tank stays cold for
some time. Why is this?
[Nov-2005]
[Nov-2005]
10- A teacher has a large tank of water in which he wants to set up a convection
current. Which of the following arrangements would do this?
12- The diagram shows four similar cans. Each can contains the same volume of water initially at
80 °C. After five minutes, which can will contain the coolest water?
13- A double-glazed window has two sheets of glass separated by a layer of air.
Thermal energy is conducted and convected through the layer of air. The amount of conduction
and convection varies with the thickness of the layer of air, as shown in the graph.
Which thickness of air produces the smallest energy transfer, and why?
A 0.5 cm because there is little convection
B 1.0 cm because the total thermal energy transfer is least
C 1.5 cm because the total thermal energy transfer is small and conduction is low
D 2.0 cm because there is little conduction [May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
15- The diagrams show four cans in a cool room. They are painted as shown. One pair is filled with hot
water and left to cool down. The other pair is filled with cold water and placed near infra-red heaters.
The hot water in the black can cools more quickly than the hot water in the white can. The cold water in the
black can heats up more quickly than the cold water in the white can. Which row shows the reasons for
this?
16- When a refrigerator is switched on for the first time, the air surrounding the ice-box is cooled.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
What happens to the density of this air and to its position inside the
refrigerator?
17- The tubes inside solar heating panels use the Sun’s radiation to warm water. Why are the tubes painted
black?
A Black surfaces absorb radiation well. B Black surfaces conduct heat well.
C Black surfaces emit radiation well. D Black surfaces reflect radiation well. [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
Explain how the layer of fibreglass helps to keep the room warm when it is cold outside. [May-2004]
(iii) Fitting carpets on the floor reduces energy loss. Explain how a carpet reduces energy
loss.
(b) The table gives information about three methods of reducing energy loss.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
(a) End X of the block is heated. Energy is conducted to end Y, which becomes warm.
(i) Explain how heat is conducted from X to Y by the atoms.
(ii) Explain why the solid block expands when it is heated.
(b) The block is heated and becomes a liquid. Describe the changes that occur to the arrangement and the
motion of the atoms.
[Nov-2007]
(b) Two metal teapots are identical except that one is black on the outside and the other is white on the
outside, as shown in Fig. 3.2.
The teapots each contain the same amount of hot water.
State and explain which teapot will cool down more quickly.
[Nov-2006]
(a)
(i) Describe how molecules in the copper conduct
energy to the alcohol.
(ii) Explain how boiling and condensation within
the heat pipe cause the transfer of energy.
(iii) Explain why the heat pipe is able to transfer
energy at a fast rate.
(c) Black surfaces absorb and emit infra-red radiation better than white surfaces.
(i) Describe an experiment that shows black surfaces absorb radiation better than white surfaces.
(ii) Describe an experiment that shows black surfaces emit radiation better than white surfaces at the same
temperature.
[Nov-2004]
7- Fig. 4.1 shows equipment placed on top of a house that uses solar energy to produce hot
water.
(a) Explain why the solar collector has a black base.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
(b) State and explain why the hot water in the solar collector travels to the hot-water tank.
(c) Fig. 4.1 does not show any insulation.
(i) Explain why it is important to insulate the hot-water tank.
(ii) Explain how the hot-water tank is insulated.
[Nov-2007]
(a) (i) State the name of the renewable energy source shown in Fig. 3.1.
............................................................................................................................ [1]
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-10 Transfer of Heat
............................................................................................................................ [1]
(b) 1000 kg of cold water at a temperature of 20 °C is pumped down to the hot rocks. 100 kg of water
returns as steam and 900 kg as hot water, both at a temperature of 100 °C. The specific heat capacity of
water is 4200 J / (kg °C) and the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water is 2.3 × 106 J / kg.
Calculate
(i) the energy needed to heat 1000 kg of water from 20 °C to 100 °C,
(ii) the energy needed to produce 100 kg of steam from water that is already at 100 °C.
[Nov-2007]
9-
1- Which line in the table correctly shows examples of transverse and longitudinal waves?
transverse wave longitudinal wave
A light water ripples
B radio sound
C sound light
D water ripples radio
[May-2003]
A - P and R B - Q and S
A - both the frequency and the speed decrease. B - both the frequency and the speed increase.
C - only the frequency increases. D - only the speed decreases. [May-2004]
4- The diagram shows part of a spring that is shaken from side to side to produce a wave. The distance
between successive peaks is 0.60 m and the frequency is 2.5 Hz. How long does it take for a wave to
5- Waves are sent along two long springs X and Y as shown. How should the wave motions in X and Y be
described?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
spring X spring Y
A longitudinal longitudinal
B longitudinal transverse
C transverse longitudinal
D transverse transverse
6- A wave transfers :
A- molecules B- energy C- matter D- force
[May-2006] / [Nov-2002]
9- Which line in the table correctly shows examples of transverse and longitudinal waves?
transverse longitudinal
A gamma-rays sound
B infra-red water waves
C radio light
D sound X-rays [Nov-2002]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
[Nov-2008]
10- The diagrams show different views of a water wave in a ripple tank.
[Nov-2006]
[May-2010]
17- The dipper in a ripple tank vibrates at a frequency of 4.0 Hz and the
resulting wave pattern is photographed. The distance between the two
crests shown is 20 cm.
What is the speed of the wave?
A 4 cm / s B 5 cm / s C 16 cm / s D 20 cm / s
[Nov-2005]
20- Which diagram correctly shows water waves travelling through deep water to shallower water? A
[Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
22- Radio waves, visible light and X-rays are all part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is the correct order of increasing wavelength?
shortest longest
A radio waves visible light X-rays
B radio waves X-rays visible light
C X-rays radio waves visible light
D X-rays visible light radio waves [Nov-2002]
24- Waves pass from deep water to shallow water and refraction occurs.
[May-2006]
C Q X
D Q Y [May-2005]
29- Which type of wave is used to send telephone signals to and from a satellite?
A infra-red waves B light waves C microwaves D sound waves [May-2007]
30- The diagrams show different views of a water wave in a ripple tank.
Waves in deep water have a wavelength of 1.2 cm and a speed of 9.6 cm/ s. The wavelength of the waves in
shallow water is 0.8cm. What is the speed of the waves in the shallow water?
A 6.4cm/s B 8.0cm/s C 9.6cm/s D 14.4cm/s [May-2008]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
Which diagram shows the movement of the ball as the wave passes? D
[Nov-2009]
33- A hospital needs to sterilise medical equipment. Which electromagnetic waves could be used?
A infra-red B microwaves C radiowaves D ultraviolet [May-2010]
34- Which pair of emissions travels with the same speed in air?
A alpha-particles and gamma-rays B gamma-rays and infra-red waves
C infra-red waves and sound waves D sound waves and alpha-particles [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
The log is 6.0 m long and 5 complete waves take 10 seconds to pass point A.
Determine
(i) the wavelength of the water waves,
(ii) the frequency of the water waves,
(iii) the speed of the water waves. [May-2008]
2- (a) Each object in the table below emits one main type of electromagnetic wave.
Complete the table by writing in the name of the type of wave.One line has been written for you.
Object Main type of electromagnetic wave emitted
radio transmitter radio wave
remote control for a television
radioactive source
(b) X-rays are used in hospitals to produce images of bones and to show whether bones are broken.
(i) State what is used to detect X-rays.
(ii) Explain the properties of X-rays that enable an image of a bone to be produced.
4- Fig. 4.1 shows an incorrect electromagnetic spectrum drawn by a student. The parts of the spectrum
and the wavelengths are in the wrong order. The values of the wavelengths do not match the correct parts
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
of the spectrum.
(a) On Fig. 4.2, complete the table of the electromagnetic spectrum. Radio waves and their correct
wavelength have been inserted for you.
5- Fig. 5.1 shows part of a long, thin spring used to demonstrate a transverse wave.
(c) State what must be done to double the wavelength of the wave on the spring.
[Nov-2004]
(b) Microwaves are sometimes used to send telephone messages over long distances.
They are sent from large dish aerials on top of high buildings or towers.
There are often several repeater or booster stations placed between the transmitter and
the receiver, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1.
State why
(i) the aerials are placed on top of high buildings or towers,
(ii) repeater or booster stations are necessary. [Nov-2002]
(b) State what happens to each of the following quantities as the wavefronts change
direction.
(i) wavelength ...............................................................................................................
[Nov-2005]
8- X-rays, microwaves, ultra-violet rays and infra-red rays are different types of radiation in the
electromagnetic spectrum.
(a) Write the name of one of these types of radiation in each of the boxes, placing them in
order of increasing wavelength.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-11 Waves
9- (a) Each object in the table below emits one main type of electromagnetic wave. Complete the table by
writing in the name of the type of wave. One line has been written for you.
(b) X-rays are used in hospitals to produce images of bones and to show whether bones
are broken.
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) Explain the properties of X-rays that enable an image of a bone to be produced.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
2- A ray of light is incident on one side of a rectangular glass block. Its path is plotted through the
block and out through another side. Which path is not possible? C [May-2003]
angles distances
A w=y dO = d I
B w=z d O is greater than d I
C x=y dO = d I
D x=z d O is greater than d I
[May-2004]
[Nov-2002] / [May-2005]
5- Which colour, red or blue, has the higher frequency and which has the longer wavelength?
higher frequency longer wavelength
A blue blue
B blue red
C red blue
D red red
????/ [May-2008]
6- An eye views an object O by reflection in a plane mirror.Which is the correct ray diagram?
[Nov-2008]
A 30 ° B 60 °
C 90 ° D 120 °
In which position are the colours green, red and yellow seen? [Nov-2002]
1 2 3
A green red yellow
B green yellow red
C red green yellow
D red yellow green
11- A ray of red light enters a semi-circular glass block normal to the curved surface.Which of the following
correctly shows the partial reflection and refraction of the ray? [Nov-2003]/ [May-2008]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
12- The diagram shows two divergent rays of light from an object O being reflected from a plane
mirror. At which position will the image be formed? [Nov-2003]
13- A ray of light enters a glass block at an angle of incidence i producing an angle of refraction r in
the glass.Several different values of i and r are measured, and a graph is drawn of sin i against sin r.
[Nov-2008]
14- Which diagram correctly shows the dispersion of white light by a glass prism? C [May-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
15- A pin is placed in front of, and to the right of, a plane mirror as shown.
Where is the image of the pin? C
[Nov-2004]
16- The diagram shows the spectrum produced when white light is dispersed by a glass prism.
[May-2005]
19- Three students stand 2 m apart in front of a plane mirror which is 3 m long.
Student Y is standing opposite the mid-point of the mirror.How many students can see the images of the
other two?
A0 B1 C2 D3 [Nov-2006]
Which diagram shows a correctly drawn ray of light from the object?
[May-2007]
21- The diagram shows four rays of light from a lamp below the surface of some water. What is the critical
angle for light in water? B
[May-2009]
22-When white light is dispersed by a prism, compared with blue light, the red light is
A slowed down less and refracted less. B slowed down less and refracted more.
C slowed down more and refracted less. D slowed down more and refracted more.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
[May-2009]
23- The diagram shows a ray of light from one point on a lamp striking a plane mirror.
24- The diagram shows the passage of a ray of light through a triangular glass block. What is the critical
angle of light in glass? D
[Nov-2009]
25- A student holds a sheet of paper with letters on it facing a plane mirror. The letters on the paper are
shown.
[May-2010]
26- A semi-circular block is made from a plastic. A ray of light passes through it at the angles shown.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
27- A ray of light strikes the surface of a glass block at an angle of incidence of 45°. The refractive index of
the glass is 1.5. What is the angle of refraction inside the block?
A 28° B 30° C 45° D 67° [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Figure shows a ray of light PQR passing along a simple optical fibre to its end at R.
(a) (i) Explain why the ray PQ does not leave the optical fibre at Q.
(ii) Explain why the ray QR changes direction at R.
(b) The refractive index of glass is 1.5. The ray QR makes an angle of 15° with the normal
to the glass surface at R. Calculate the angle x, shown on Figure.
angle x = ..........................
(c) State one advantage of optical fibers rather than copper wires for carrying telephone
communications. [Nov-2002]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
3- Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 4.2 show rays of light passing through the same semi-circular block of plastic.
4- (a) Fig. 4.1 shows a ray of light incident on a mirror at X. The incident ray makes an angle of 50° with the
surface of the mirror.
(i) Complete Fig. 4.1 to show the normal and the reflected ray at X.
(b) Describe with the help of a diagram how you would find the position of the image produced by a plane
mirror.
[Nov-2006]
5- The diagram below shows a beam of light incident on a triangular glass prism.
a) Draw the lines that the beam of light would
follow as it passes trough and out of the prism.
b) Mark the place where total internal reflection
occurs and label it as Q.
c) Explain why total internal reflection occurs at the
point you show.
c) Mark the angles of incidence and reflection made by the ray with the mirror and label them i and r.
8- Fig. 6.1 shows a ray of white light from a ray-box passing into a glass prism. A spectrum is formed
between P and Q on the screen.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) State whether the value of each of these properties for blue light is greater than, equal
to or less than the value for red light.
(i) speed in a vacuum .............................................................................................
(ii) wavelength .........................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
(c) Fig. 6.2 shows the ray passing through a red filter before it reaches the prism.
Complete Fig. 6.2 to show the ray of red light passing through and emerging from the
prism.
9- (a) Fig. 11.1 shows a ray of light passing through the edge of a converging lens.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-12 Light,Reflection,Refraction
(i) Describe what happens to the direction of the ray of light as it enters and leaves the lens.
(ii) State what happens to the speed, frequency and wavelength of the light as it enters the lens.
(iii) Calculate the refractive index of the glass used in the lens.
(b) The focal length of the lens is 20 cm. An object is placed 50 cm from the lens and an image is formed on
a screen.
(i) Explain what is meant by the focal length of a lens. You may draw a diagram if you wish.
(ii) Draw a ray diagram to scale to show the formation of the image.
(iii) The image is real. State two other properties of the image.
[Nov-2007]
10- Fig. 4.1 shows an air bubble in water. The rays of light are incident on the air bubble.
The angle of incidence of ray 1 on the air bubble is greater than the critical angle.
The angle of incidence of ray 2 on the air bubble is less than the critical angle.
Ray 3 is perpendicular to the surface of the bubble.
The angle of incidence of ray 2 on the air bubble is 27° and the angle of refraction of ray 2
inside the air bubble is 37°.
(a) On Fig. 4.1, at the point where ray 1 meets the air bubble, mark
(i) the normal to the surface,
(ii) the angle of incidence.
(b) Complete Fig. 4.1 to show how all three rays continue after they meet the air bubble.
[Nov-2004]
[May-2007]
A - They are inverted. B - They are on the same side of the lens as the object.
C - They can never be shown on a screen. D - They cannot be seen by the human eye.
3- An object 5.0 cm high is placed 2.0 cm from a converging (convex) lens which is being used as a
magnifying glass. The image produced is 6.0 cm from the lens and is 15 cm high.
5- A parallel beam of light falls on a converging lens. Which diagram shows what happens to the
beam of light?
A B C D
6- The diagram shows an object O placed 3 cm away from a converging lens of focal length 6 cm. What type
of image is produced?
How can the image be made sharp and in focus on the screen?
A by moving the object away from the lens and screen
B by moving the screen away from the lens and object
C by using a brighter object at the same position
D by using a lens of longer focal length at the same position [Nov-2002] / [May-2006]
8- The human eye has a converging lens system that produces an image at the back of the eye.
If the eye views a distant object, which type of image is produced?
A real, erect, same size B real, inverted, diminished
C virtual, erect, diminished D virtual, inverted, magnified [Nov-2003] / [Nov-2006]
9- A student starts to draw a ray diagram for an object at O, near a thin convex lens, but is not sure
whether the image is formed at X or at F.
10- An object 5.0 cm high is placed 2.0 cm from a converging (convex) lens which is being used as a
magnifying glass. The image produced is 6.0cm from the lens and is 15cm high.
11- A man is short-sighted. Which ray diagram shows what happens when he looks at a distant object?
C [May-2008]
12- Convex lenses are used in cameras and as magnifying glasses. Which types of image are formed?
type of image in camera type of image in magnifying glass
A real real
B real virtual
C virtual real
D virtual virtual
[May-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- The ray diagram in Fig. 11.1 shows a lens forming an image II′ of an object OO′.
(a) State:
(i) which of the marked points is a principal focus of the lens, .......................................
(ii) which distance is the focal length of the lens............................................................
(b) Which of the following words describe the image?
Tick all that are correct.
Real virtual
Inverted upright
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Converging Lenses
Enlarged diminished
(c) On Fig. 11.1, draw one other ray that goes from O′, the top of the object, to the image.
2- A collector views a postage stamp of height 2.0cm through a hand lens placed 2.8cm
from the stamp. The image he sees appears to be magnified 3 times.
b) The collector views the letter on the stamp, shown full size below. In the space to the right,
draw the full size the magnified image that will be seen using the hand lens.
object image
c) In the diagram below, the horizontal line represents the principal axis of the hand lens. The lens
and the stamp are represented by vertical lines.
i) Remembering that the image is upright and has a magnification of 3 calculate the
height of the image.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Converging Lenses
ii) Draw a line which represents the image with proper position and height,
remembering that the extension of the light ray from the top of the object to the centre of the lens
will pass through the top of the image. [3]
iii) By using your drawing find the distance of the image from the lens and the focal
length of the lens.
Image distance=………..[2]
Focal length=………..[2]
3- (a) Fig. 11.1 shows a ray of light passing through the edge of a converging lens.
(i) Describe what happens to the direction of
the ray of light as it enters and leaves the lens.
4- Fig. 3.1 shows words seen through a lens. Fig. 3.2 shows the same words without the lens.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Converging Lenses
[Nov-2003]
5- Fig. 2.1 shows the lens of a simple camera being used to photograph an object.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................
(c) Complete Fig. 2.2 to show how white light is split into a spectrum when it passes through a glass prism.
[May-2005]
6- Fig. 5.1 is drawn full scale. The focal length of the lens is 3.0 cm.
(a) On Fig. 5.1, draw two rays from the top of the object O that meet at the image.
(b) (i) Define the term linear magnification.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Determine the magnification produced by the lens in Fig. 5.1.
magnification = ................................................
(c) Fig. 5.2 shows a normal eye viewing an object close to it. Fig. 5.3 is a long-sighted eye viewing an object
at the same distance.
Complete Fig. 5.3 to show the rays travelling through the eye.
[May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Converging Lenses
2- Astronauts in space need to communicate with each other by radio links because
A- The sound waves are distorted in space. B- Some sounds are absorbed by the space suits. C- Sound
waves travel very slow in space. D-Sound waves cannot travel in space.
direction of travel of sound wave How does a particle of air move as the sound wave passes?
A moves to the right and stays there
B moves left and right
C moves up and stays there
D moves up and down
4- A girl, standing 150 m in front of tall building, fires a shot using a starting pistol. A boy, standing 350 m
from the girl, hears two bangs 1 s apart.
5- The graph shows, at one instant, the pressure variation along a sound wave. Which point on the
diagram represents a rarefaction and what is the wavelength of the sound wave, respectively?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 Sound
6- The diagram shows a loudspeaker that is producing a continuous sound wave of frequency
200 Hz in air.
[May-2004]
7- A boy strikes a rigid metal fence with a stick to create a sound along the fence. A girl listens with
her ear against the fence. One second after the fence is struck, the girl hears a sound through the
How long will it take for the sound to reach the girl through the fence?
8- The diagrams show oscilloscope traces of sounds picked up by microphones. The oscilloscope
controls are set in the same position for all the traces. Which trace shows the sound that is both loud and
low-pitched? A [Nov-2006]
11- Wave forms are shown on an oscilloscope for a flute and a bassoon playing the same note. The
oscilloscope settings are the same for both wave forms.
12- The sounds produced by two musical instruments are directed towards a microphone connected
to an oscilloscope (cro). The waveforms produced on the screen are shown.
The waveforms show that the sounds produced have a different property.What is the property?
A frequency B speed C timbre (quality) D wavelength
13- An ultrasonic tape-measure is used to find the distance to a wall. It sends out an ultrasonic pulse and
times how long it takes for the reflected pulse to return from the wall. The ultrasound has a frequency, a
wavelength and a speed.
Which pair of values is needed to find the distance to the wall?
A frequency and wavelength B frequency and time taken for the pulse to return
C speed and time taken for the pulse to return D wavelength and time taken for the pulse to return
[May-2009]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 Sound
14- The sounds produced are shown on a cathode-ray oscilloscope for a flute and a guitar playing the same
note. The oscilloscope settings are the same for both waveforms.
15- The diagram shows the trace produced on a cathode-ray oscilloscope (c.r.o.) by a sound.
Which trace is produced when both the loudness and the pitch of the sound are increased?
[Nov-2009]
16- A flash of lightning and the corresponding sound of the thunder are detected 6 s apart. A student
calculates that the lightning struck about 1800m away. On which assumption is the calculation based?
A Light reaches us almost instantaneously, but sound travels at 300m/ s.
B Light travels 300m/ s faster than sound.
C Light travels 300 times faster than sound.
D The sound of the thunder was emitted 6s after the flash. [May-2010]
17- During a thunderstorm, there is an interval of 1.70s between an observer seeing the lightning and
hearing the thunder. The speed of sound is 340m/ s. What is the distance between the observer and the
storm?
A 100m B 200m C 578m D 1160m [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Figure shows a student clapping in front of a vertical wall. The wall reflects the sound.
The student changes the number of claps made in 1 minute until the reflection of each clap
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 Sound
returns to her at exactly the same time as she makes the next clap.
The speed of sound in air is 330 m/s.
[May-2004]
(ii) Calculate the longest wavelength of sound that a human can hear. The speed of sound in air is
340 m /s.
wavelength = ...........................
[Nov-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 Sound
(i) Draw a distance-time graph from the results given in Fig. 11.2.
(ii) Using your graph, calculate the speed of sound in air.
(c) Fig. 11.3 shows the trace observed when the signals from the microphones are fed to the two
inputs of a cathode-ray oscilloscope.
[Nov-2003]
5- This question is about the sound produced by a mobile phone and the energy changes while it is
operating.
(a) The sound produced by a ringing phone consists of two notes, one after the other.Fig. 5.1 shows the
trace on an oscilloscope screen produced by the first of the notes.
6-
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 Sound
2- A perspex rod can be charged positively by rubbing it with a woolen cloth.How does the rod gain its
charge?
A The rod gains electrons. B The rod gains protons.
C The rod loses electrons. D The rod loses protons.
[May-2007]
4- On a stormy day, a large, positively-charged cloud is above a tree. An electrical charge is induced on the
tree as charged particles flow through it.
What is the charge induced on the tree and how do the charged particles move?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Static Electricity
[May-2004]
[Nov-2003]
first → last
A P Q R S
B P R S Q
C R P Q S
D R S P Q [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2005]
8- How could the unit of potential difference, the volt, also be written? [Nov-2003]
A A/s B C/A C C/J D J/C
9- The diagram shows a positively charged acetate strip and a negatively charged polythene strip
10- In an electrostatics experiment, a plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth. The cloth becomes negatively
charged. Which diagram shows the charge on the rod, and describes the movement of charge? A
[May-2006]
11- A negatively-charged balloon is brought towards a wall. Which statement explains what happen
A Negative charges on the balloon attract the negative charges in the wall.
B Negative charges on the balloon have no effect on the charges in the wall.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Static Electricity
C Negative charges on the balloon repel the negative charges in the wall.
D Negative charges on the balloon repel the positive charges in the wall.
[May-2009]
12- A negatively-charged rod is brought close to an isolated T-shaped piece of metal. Initially, the metal is
uncharged. Which diagram shows the induced charge on the metal? A
[Nov-2009]
13- Two metal spheres P and Q are mounted on insulating stands and are touching each other. They are
uncharged. A positively-charged metal sphere on an insulating handle is brought close to P but does not
touch it. This induces charges on P and Q.
14- A negatively-charged sphere X is brought up to an identical uncharged sphere Y. The spheres do not
touch.
Sphere Y is ‘earthed’ by touching it with a finger, which is then removed. Sphere X is then moved away
from sphere Y. What is the final charge, if any, on sphere Y? B
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Static Electricity
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
(b) An uncharged metal-coated sphere hangs from an insulating thread. The sphere is brought
near to the rod. The sphere is attracted to the rod, as shown in Fig. 11.1.
(ii) Describe and explain what happens to the free electrons in the metal-coated sphere as it is earthed.
(iii) Draw a diagram to show how the charge is now distributed on the sphere.
(d) Describe one device where electrostatic charging is used. In your answer include a diagram and explain
how and why the charge is produced.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Static Electricity
[May-2007]
3- Fig. 5.1 shows the boiler of a coal-fired power station. Hot gases rise and thermal energy
warms the water inside the metal pipes.
(b) Fig. 5.2 shows an electrostatic precipitator that stops dust and ash emerging from the chimney.
Explain how the precipitator works. [Nov-2002]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Static Electricity
(a) A negatively charged rod is brought near the sphere, as shown in Fig.
6.2.
(c) The wire connected to earth is removed. Then the negatively charged rod is also
removed, as shown in Fig. 6.4.On Fig. 6.4, draw the charges on the metal sphere.
(c) A metal wire is used to connect the two spheres together. In a time of 2.0 × 10–3 s, a charge of 1.8 × 10–13
C passes through the wire.Calculate the current in the wire.
current = .......................
[May-2006]
1- A wire has a resistance of 8 Ω. A second wire, made of the same material, has half the length and twice
the cross-sectional area. What is the resistance of the second wire?
A 1Ω B2Ω C 8 Ω D 16 Ω [Nov-2006]
3- When there is an electric current in a metal wire, what flows through the wire?
A atoms B electrons C neutrons D protons
5- A cell is connected to a resistor. What is the e.m.f. of the cell equal to?
A The potential difference across the resistor for each unit of current.
B The power produced in the circuit for each unit of charge that passes.
C The work done in the circuit for each unit of charge that passes.
D The work done in the circuit for each unit of current. [May-2005]
voltmeter ammeter
A 2V 6A
B 2V 0.5A
C 12V 0.5A
D 12V 2A [May-2003]
8- An electrical quantity is defined as ‘the energy converted by a source in driving a unit charge round a
complete circuit.’
What is this quantity called?
A current B electromotive force C potential difference D power [May-2003] / [May-2006]
9- How could the unit of potential difference, the volt, also be written?
A A / s B C/A C C / J D J / C
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
10- A 3.0Ω resistor and a 2.0Ω resistor are connected in series across a 15V d.c. supply. What is the current
in the circuit?
A 0.25A B 3.0A C 6.0A D 12A
11- Which graph best represents how current I varies with voltage V in a component in which the
resistance increases as the current increases. B
[May-2007]
[May-2004]
14- The current in an electric heater is 5 A. It is switched on for 5 minutes. How much charge flows through
the heater?
A 0.5 C B2C C 1500 C D 3000 C
15- The diagram shows a voltmeter adapted to measure a range from 0–100mV. The voltmeter is measuring
the potential difference in a circuit.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
16- The diagram shows the current I / voltage V graph for a length of resistance wire.
Where can Ohm’s law be applied to the wire?
17- X and Y are lamps with filaments made from the same material.The filament of lamp X is thicker and
shorter than that of lamp Y.When connected to the mains and switched on, which is the brighter lamp and
which lamp has the larger resistance?
brighter lamp larger resistance
A X X
B X Y
C Y X
D Y Y
[Nov-2003]
18- A variable potential divider has a sliding contact S that can be moved between end P and end Q.
19- Why can birds stand on an overhead high voltage transmission line without suffering any harm?
A Their bodies have a very high resistance.
B Their feet are very good insulators.
C The spaces between their feathers act as insulators.
D They are not connected to earth. [Nov-2005]
20- When a filament lamp is switched on, there is a current in the lamp. As the temperature of the filament
rises, its resistance changes. Which pair of graphs shows how the resistance R of the filament and the
current I vary with time after the lamp is switched on? B
D [May-2009]
22- Ohm’s law states that the current in a conductor is proportional to the potential difference across
it, provided that a certain quantity remains constant. What is this quantity?
A length B pressure C temperature D thickness [Nov-2009]
23- Two resistors of 6 Ω and 12 Ω are arranged in parallel. A potential difference is connected across
the terminals X and Y. The current in the 6 Ω resistor is 4 A.
Four separate changes are made to the wire. Which change will not
reduce the value of the resistance of the wire?
A It is covered in an insulating sleeve. B Its cross-sectional area is increased.
C Its length is decreased. D Its temperature is decreased. [May-2010]
26- Sets of voltage-current readings are obtained for different electrical components. Which set of readings
is for a 100Ω resistor? B
[May-2010]
28- A battery is used to light a 24W electric lamp. The battery provides a charge of 120C in 60s.
Which row describes the charge on an electron and the direction of electron
flow through the resistor?
charge on an electron direction of electron flow
A negative − to +
B negative + to −
C positive − to +
D positive + to −
[Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- Two conducting spheres are rubbed and become charged, as shown in Fig. 5.1.
(a) The spheres are uncharged before they are rubbed.
Explain, in terms of the movement of electrons, how they
become charged.
(b) On Fig. 5.1, draw the electric field pattern between the
spheres. Show the direction of the field lines.
(c) A metal wire is used to connect the two spheres together.
In a time of 2.0 × 10–3 s, a charge of 1.8 × 10–13 C passes
through the wire. Calculate the current in the wire.
current = ...................
resistance = .................
(b) The lamp is connected to a 240 V supply and switched on at time t = 0.
Fig. 6.1 shows the variation with t of the resistance of
the lamp.
Describe how the current in the lamp varies with t.
.........................................................................................
[May-2008]
(b) (i) Calculate the current in the 12Ω resistor. State the formula that you use.
current = …………………
(ii) Calculate the p.d. between A and B in Fig. 6.1.
p.d. = ………………….
[May-2004]
4- Fig. 9.1 shows the main parts of an electric grill. An electric current in the heating element causes
it to become red hot and to emit visible light and infra-red radiation.
The infra-red radiation is used
to cook food.
(a) Infra-red radiation has a longer wavelength than visible light.
Both are parts of the
electromagnetic spectrum.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
(i) Draw a diagram of the electromagnetic spectrum that shows visible light, infra-red and
three other parts of the spectrum. Your diagram should put the parts of the spectrum in
order of increasing wavelength.
(ii) Explain why the grill has a layer of shiny material between the heating element and the
outer case.
(b) For safety, the electric grill is fitted with an earth wire. State where the earth wire is connected
to the electric grill and explain how it acts as a safety device.
(c) The current in the heating element is 8.3 A when it is connected to the 230 V mains supply.
(i) State the equation that links current, power and voltage.
(ii) Calculate the power rating of the heating element when it is working correctly. Give your
answer to an appropriate number of significant figures.
(iii) A student thinks that if the heating element is connected to a mains supply of 115 V then
the power produced is halved. Explain why the student is wrong.
[May-2004]
5- Three cells are connected in series making a battery, as shown in Fig. 8.1. The e.m.f. of each cell is 1.5 V.
A resistance of 15Ω is connected to the battery.
current = .............................
(c) A battery can be made from cells connected in parallel, as shown in Fig. 8.2.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
The belt carries negative charge to the dome, making the dome negatively charged.
(a) Before a spark is produced, the discharge ball becomes positively charged.
(i) Describe and explain the movement of electrons in the discharge ball and in the rod as the ball
becomes charged.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................
(ii) On Fig. 6.1, mark with an X where there is the most positive charge on the discharge ball.
(b) A spark jumps between the dome and the discharge ball when there is enough negative charge on the
dome.
A charge of 0.00016C flows in the spark in a time of 0.012 s.Calculate the average current in the spark. State
the equation that you use.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
current = .........
[Nov-2005]
7- Fig. 11.1 shows how the currents in a lamp L and in a wire W vary with the potential difference (p.d.)
applied.
(a) (i) Draw a diagram of the circuit that you would use to take the readings of current and p.d. for the
lamp. State the range you would choose for the voltmeter.
(ii) Describe how the resistance of the lamp L varies as the p.d. increases.
(b) (i) Fig. 11.2 shows the lamp L and the wire W connected in series. The current in the circuit is 0.8 A.
[Nov-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-13 Electric Current
(a) The switch S is open and the ammeter reading is zero.State the value of the potential difference across
the 6Ω resistor.
potential difference = ....................
(b) Switch S is now closed.
(i) State the value of the total resistance of the circuit.
resistance = ............................................
(ii) Calculate the current in the ammeter. State clearly the formula that you use.
current = .......................
(iii) Calculate the potential difference across the 6Ω resistor.
p.d. = ......................
[Nov-2006]
9- (a) Describe an experiment to show the difference between an electrical insulator and an
electrical conductor. Name one example of each. [4]
(b) Fig. 10.1 is a sketch graph of the current in a component P against the potential difference
(p.d.) across it.
(ii) State how the resistance of P varies with the p.d. across it. [1]
(iv) Explain why the resistance of P varies with the p.d. across it. [2]
[Nov-2007]
10-
Colour
Code 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
23. (a)State what does each band of resistor indicates in 3 band resistor colour coding
procedure
(b) Describe the resistance of following resistors with colour coding scheme.
1-Which combination of identical resistors gives the lowest total resistance? [Nov-2002]
4- Which two resistor combinations have the same resistance between X and Y?
[Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 DC Circuits
[May-2005]
7- In the circuit shown, the battery lights up all four lamps. When one
of the lamp filaments melts, the other three lamps stay on.
Which lamp filament melts? B
[Nov-2005]
8- Two resistors of 6 Ω and 12 Ω are arranged in parallel. A p.d. is connected across the terminals X
and Y. The current through the 6 Ω resistor is 4 A.
[Nov-2006]
[May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 DC Circuits
10- The following circuit is set up. What is the reading on the ammeter?
A 0.33 A B 0.50 A C 0.67 A D 1.0 A
The ammeter reading is 0.5 A and the voltmeter reading is 3.0V. A second identical resistor is now
connected in parallel with the first resistor, as shown in diagram 2. What are the ammeter and voltmeter
readings in the circuit shown in diagram 2?
ammeter reading/A voltmeter reading/V
A 0.5 3.0
B 0.5 6.0
C 1.0 1.5
D 1.0 3.0
[Nov-2003] / [May-2006]
[May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 DC Circuits
14- A student sets up the circuit shown. The currents measured with the
ammeters are shown.
Which equation is correct?
A I1 = I2 + I3 + I4 B I1 = I2 = I3 = I4
C I2 + I3 = I4 + I1 D I4 = I3 + I2 + I1
15- A 1.0Ω resistor and a 2.0Ω resistor are connected in series across a 12V d.c. supply.What is the current
in the circuit?
A 0.25A B 4.0A C 6.0A D 12A [Nov-2003]
16- A student has a chain of 20 lamps. These are wired in series and connected to the mains. One lamp
blows and all the others go out. The student wants to find the faulty lamp and replace it. Where should the
student begin?
A anywhere, because the current was the same in each lamp
B at the live end of the chain, because the current was greatest there
C at the middle of the chain, because the current was greatest there
D at the neutral end of the chain, because the current was least there [May-2009]
18- A student tests the circuit of a press-button telephone with a lamp and a battery.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 DC Circuits
19- When three identical resistors are connected in series, their combined resistance is 6Ω.
PAPER-2 Theory
(b) (i) Calculate the current in the 12Ω resistor. State the formula that you use.
current = ………………
(c) The two lamps in Fig. 11.1 are connected in parallel. When wiring the circuit in a house, an
electrician makes a mistake and connects the two lamps in series to the mains supply. He switches them on.
(i) Draw a circuit diagram showing the two lamps connected in series to the mains supply.
(ii) State whether the current in the two lamps is larger than, the same as, or smaller than
the currents you have calculated in (b). Explain your answer.
(d) Another lamp is made using the same material for the filament as lamp A.
The filament in this new lamp has the same length as the filament in lamp A but has half the cross-sectional
area.State the resistance of the new lamp.
5- Fig. 7.1 shows an electrical circuit containing a 12 V power supply and a number of resistors.
(a) Calculate the combined resistance of:
[May-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-14 DC Circuits
current = ..................
(iii) Calculate the potential difference across the 6Ω resistor.
p.d. =........................
1- Which of the following would cost the least if operated from the same voltage supply?
A a 5000 W electric cooker used for 1 minute B a 1000 W electric fire used for 10 minutes
C a 500 W electric iron used for 1 hour D a 100 W lamp used for 1 day
[Nov-2006]
2- The diagram shows the circuit for a hair-dryer. The fan has a power rating of 0.1 kW and the heaters each
have a rating of 0.5 kW. The cost of electricity is 5 cents/kW h. What is the cost of running the dryer for two
hours with switches P and Q closed and switch R open?
A 1.6 cents B 3.2 cents C 6.0 cents D 7.0 cents
3- The case of an electric fan is earthed. The plug to the fan contains a 5 A fuse. There is a current of 4 A
when the fan works normally. The cable to the fan becomes so worn that the live wire makes electrical
contact with the metal case. What happens?
A The current flows to earth and the fuse is not affected.
B The fuse melts and switches off the circuit.
C The metal case becomes live and dangerous.
D The metal case becomes very hot.
4- In an a.c. electric circuit in a house, the switch for any device is always connected to the ‘live’ lead.Why is
this? [Nov-2002]
A No current ever flows in the neutral lead of the device.
B The device will be shorted if the switch is in the earth lead.
C The device can never be switched off if the switch is in the neutral lead.
D The device can only be isolated (made safe) if the switch is in the live lead.
5- A house-owner replaced a failed fuse for the lights of the house. When the lights were switched on, the
new fuse also failed. The house-owner then used another fuse with a higher rating than the previous two.
Why was this not a sensible thing to do? [Nov-2002] / [Nov-2006]
A Fuses allow the circuit to work only if the rating is exactly right.
B The fuse has already melted because the rating was too high.
C Using a fuse with too high a rating would cause electric shocks.
D A fuse with a higher rating might allow the circuit to work, but the fault would not be corrected.
6- An electric heater consists of a heating element mounted on a metal reflector. The reflector is connected
to earth. Where should the switch for the heating element be connected?
A between the earth wire and the reflector B between the live wire and the heating element
C between the live wire and the neutral wire D between the neutral wire and the heating element
[May-2003]
7- The cable to an electric fan becomes so worn that the live wire makes electrical contact with the metal
case. The case is earthed. The plug to the fan contains a 5A fuse. There is a current of 4A when the fan
works normally. What will happen?
A The current will run to earth and the fuse will not be affected.
B The fuse will melt and switch off the circuit.
C The metal case will become live and dangerous.
D The metal case will become very hot. [Nov-2003]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Practical Electric Circuitry
[May-2004]
9- Which circuit shows how the heater in an electric iron and a fuse should be connected to a mains
electricity supply? D [Nov-2004]
10- An electric kettle is plugged in and switched on. The fuse in the plug blows immediately.
Which single fault could cause this?
A The earth wire is not connected to the kettle.
B The live wire and neutral wire connections in the plug are swapped around.
C The live wire touches the metal case of the kettle.
D The wires connected to the plug are too thin. [Nov-2005]
12- The diagram shows the components of a lighter for a gas cooker.
13- In each of the circuits below, a short circuit occurs.In which circuit would the fuse blow and make the
circuit safe to repair? A
[May-2005]
14- How much energy is converted in a resistor of 5.0 Ω carrying a current of 2.0 A for 10 seconds?
A 4.0 J B 25 J C 100 J D 200 J [May-2006]
15- A small heater operates at 12V, 3A.How much energy will it use when it is run for 5 minutes?
A 30 J B 120 J C 10800 J D 7200 J [Nov-2003]
16- Energy is represented by the letter E, current by I, power by P, charge by Q, p.d. by V and time by t.
Which pair of equations is correct?
A E = It and P = VIt B E = VQ / t and P = VI
C E = VIt and P = VI D E = VQ and P = VI / t
18- A 24Ω resistor is to be connected in series with a 12 V battery.What is the power loss in the resistor?
A 0.5W B 6W C 12 W D 24W [Nov-2002]
19- A combined bathroom unit of a heater and a lamp is controlled by one switch. The unit contains a
2 kW heater and a 100 W lamp. In one week, the lamp uses 1 kW h of electrical energy.
How much electrical energy is used by the heater alone?
A 2 kW h B 4 kW h C 10 kW h D 20 kW h [Nov-2005]
20- The diagram shows the circuit for a hair-dryer. The fan has a power rating of 0.1 kW and the heaters
each have a rating of 0.4 kW. The cost of electricity is 8 cents/kW h.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Practical Electric Circuitry
What is the cost of running the dryer for two hours with switches P
and Q closed and switch R
open?
[May-2007]
21- Which circuit shows the correct positions for the fuse and the switch in the lighting circuit of a
house? C
[May-2007]
22-An electric iron is marked 240V, 2500W. Four fuses are available with values of 5A, 10A, 13A and 30A.
Which fuse should be used?
A 5A B 10A C 13A D 30A [May-2009]
N E L
A blue brown green and yellow
B blue green and yellow brown
C brown green and yellow blue
D green and yellow brown blue
[Nov-2009]
25- Which costs the most if operated from the same mains supply?
A a 5000 W electric cooker used for 1 minute B a 1000 W electric fire used for 10 minutes
C a 500 W electric iron used for 1 hour D a 100 W lamp used for 1 day [Nov-2009]
27- The metal case of an electric heater is earthed. The plug to the heater contains a 5A fuse. There is a
current of 4A when the heater works normally. The cable to the heater becomes so worn that the live wire
makes electrical contact with the case.
What happens?
A The current flows to earth and the fuse is not affected. B The fuse melts and switches off the circuit.
C The metal case becomes live and dangerous. D The metal case becomes very hot.
[May-2010]
28- Many electrical appliances have metal cases. To prevent the case from becoming ‘live’, with the
possibility of an electric shock, the earth wire of the electric cable is attached to the case. How does the earth
wire prevent an electric shock?
A It allows a current to flow to earth, so that the appliance continues working.
B It allows a large current to flow to earth, blowing the fuse.
C It prevents the fuse from blowing.
D It reduces the current to a safe level. [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
Current I=………….
resistance R=…………
c)the cost of using 10 such lamps in paralel for 10 hours continuously at 4Rs per kWh unit?
Cost=…………….
2- Figure shows a mains extension lead. The six sockets allow several electrical appliances to be connected
to the mains supply through one cable.
(i) live,
(ii) neutral,
(iii) earth.
(b) Six powerful lamps are plugged into the sockets and switched on, one by one.
(i) State what happens in the cable as the lamps are switched on, one by one.
(ii) Describe why it can be dangerous when a fuse of the wrong value is used in the plug.
(c) Explain why your hands should be dry when you put a plug into a socket.
[May-2006]
4- The owner of a house records the details of the electricity use of all the appliances during a
day. The details are shown in Fig. 4.1.
appliance power rating /kW time switched on/ hours energy used/kWh
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-15 Practical Electric Circuitry
(a) Complete Fig. 4.1 by calculating the energy used by each appliance.
(b) State which appliance has cost the most to use during the day.
(c) The house has a meter to record the total electrical energy used. At the beginning of the day, the meter
reading was 6350.5kWh.Calculate the meter reading at the end of the day.
(a) Write the missing values in the empty spaces in the table.
(b) Why is more power needed for the water heater than for the television?
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.........................
(c) The water heater is connected to the mains supply. Explain why using a 3 A fuse would not be suitable.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
............................... [May-2005]
(a) The body of the kettle is plastic but the outside casing of the heating element is metal.
(i) Explain why a fuse is included in the circuit and explain what happens when the fuse blows.
(ii) Explain why the metal casing of the heating element is connected to earth.
(b) The electrical power input to the kettle is 2000W and the kettle is used for 6 minutes (0.1 hour).Calculate
(i) the electrical energy, in J, supplied to the kettle. State clearly the formula that relates power, energy
and time.
(ii) the electrical energy, in kW h, supplied to the kettle.
(iii) the cost of using the kettle if 1 kWh costs 8 cents.
(c) When the kettle is switched off, the water cools down. Explain, in molecular terms, how evaporation
causes a loss of energy from the water.
[Nov-2005]
8- Fig. 10.1 shows a cable containing three wires coloured brown, blue and yellow/green, and a mains plug
with the cover removed.
(a) Describe how to connect the cable and the three wires correctly and safely to the plug.
(b) The table lamp shown in Fig. 10.2 is made from plastic. It has only two wires in the cable to connect it to
the plug.
The lamp has a power rating of 100W and is used with a 230 V supply.
(i) Which wire, earth, live or neutral, is not needed in the cable for the lamp?
(ii) Explain why the lamp is safe to use even though it has only two wires in the cable.
(iii) Explain what is meant by a power rating of 100W.
(iv) Calculate the value of the fuse that should be used in the plug for this lamp.
(v) Calculate the electrical energy supplied to the lamp in 30 minutes.
[Nov-2006]
[Nov-2004]
2- Which of the following will prove that a metal bar is a permanent magnet?
A it attracts another magnet B it attracts both ends of a compass needle
C it conducts electricity D it repels another magnet [Nov-2003]
What happens?
A - P becomes a north pole.
B - P becomes a south pole.
C - PQ does not become magnetized.
D - The poles of the magnet are reversed.
6-A metal rod XY is placed near a magnet. End X is attracted when it is placed near to the north pole of the
How does end Y behave when it is placed, in turn, near to the two poles of the magnet?
X Y
A - attraction attraction
B – attraction repulsion
C - repulsion attraction
D - repulsion repulsion
7- Four metal rods are placed, in turn, inside a coil of copper wire.
number of paper clips picked up when there is number of paper clips still attached after the
a current in the coil current is switched off
A 1 0
B 20 2
C 35 0
D 35 30
[Nov-2003] / [May-2007]
8- A permanent magnet can be demagnetised by using a solenoid and switching the current on then
off.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
Which diagram shows the most effective method of producing demagnetisation? [Nov-2002]
M L S
A iron iron iron
B iron iron copper
C iron copper copper
D copper copper copper [May-2003]
11- Four plotting compasses are placed near a bar magnet. You may ignore any
effects of the Earth’s
magnetic field.
[May-2005]
13- The diagram shows a brass rod and an iron rod beside each other at the bottom of a rectangular
coil.
14- The diagrams show an iron nail in four different situations. In which diagram will the nail become an
induced magnet? A
[May-2006]
16- Each of the diagrams below is a cross-section through two parallel current-carrying conductors.
Which diagram correctly shows the magnetic field pattern formed by the currents in the two
conductors?
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
[May-2003]
17- X and Y are wires carrying electric currents at right angles to the page. P, Q and R are plotting
compasses. Any effect of the Earth’s magnetic field has been ignored.
What is true about the direction and size of the currents? [May-2005]
19- Which row describes the ease with which iron or steel can be magnetised
and demagnetised?
20-
PAPER-2 Theory
(a) On Fig. 5.1, draw an arrow in each compass to show the direction of the magnetic field at the two
positions.
(b) The magnet causes the nails to become magnetised by induction. Both ends of each nail become
magnetic poles.
On Fig. 5.1, mark an N or an S at each end of the two nails to show the magnetic
poles.
(c) When the magnet is removed, the nails are still magnetised.
Describe with the aid of a diagram how the nails can be demagnetised.
[Nov-2006]
2- Fig. 5.1 shows a piece of recording tape passing under the recording head of a tape recorder. An
alternating current is passed through the coil. The tape is coated with a magnetic material that becomes
magnetised.
(a) (i) Explain why the tape becomes magnetized.
......................................................................................................
............................
......................................................................................................
............................
......................................................................................................
............................
(ii) Fig. 5.1 shows that sections of the tape are magnetised
in opposite directions.
Explain why they become magnetised in opposite
directions.
......................................................................................................
............................
..................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
(iii) The tape is moved faster past the recording head. State how this changes the
pattern on the tape.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(b) (i) Explain why the coating on the tape must be of a permanent magnetic material.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(ii) State the name of a permanent magnetic material.
.................................................................................................................................. [May-2004]
3- Fig. 6.1 shows a small plotting compass placed above a copper wire. When there is no
current in the wire, the plotting compass points towards the
North.
(a) A large current is switched on in the wire. The direction of the
current is shown in
Fig. 6.1.
(i) State what happens to the compass needle.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(ii) State what happens if the compass is placed under the wire.
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(b) State and explain what is observed if there is a 50 Hz
alternating current in the wire.
.........................................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................................... [Nov-2003]
4- Fig. 5.1 shows a coil of wire wrapped around a plastic tube. Inside the tube are two pieces of soft iron.
When the switch is closed, the compass needles point in the direction of the magnetic field produced at
each position. You may ignore the magnetic field of the Earth in this question.
(a) On Fig. 5.1 mark arrows, in compasses A, B and C, to show the direction of the magnetic field at each
position after the switch has been closed.
(b) When the switch is closed, the two pieces of soft iron in the tube become magnets and move.
(i) On Fig. 5.1, mark the poles formed on each piece of soft iron.
(ii) State and explain how the pieces of iron move.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
(c) State the effect on the magnetic field of
(i) reversing the direction of the current,
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................
(ii) reducing the size of the current.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
.............................................................
[May-2005]
(a) Two iron rods are placed next to each other at the bottom of the tube. When the current is switched on,
the two rods repel each other. They move to the sides of the tube.Explain why the two iron rods repel.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................................................
(b) An iron rod and a similar copper rod are placed next to each other at the bottom of the tube. State and
explain what, if anything, happens to the rods when the current is switched on.
.........................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................[Nov-2005]
6- Fig. 6.1 shows a coil of wire wound on a cardboard tube.There is a d.c. current in the coil. The direction
of the current is shown in the key.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
(a) On Fig. 6.1, draw the magnetic field produced by the coil.
(b) Fig. 6.2 shows a simple loudspeaker that uses the coil shown in Fig. 6.1 attached to a paper cone.
The coil is connected to a signal generator.There is an alternating current of frequency 100 Hz in the coil.
(i) State what is meant by a frequency of 100 Hz.
...............................................................................................................................
7- Fig. 7.1 shows apparatus that can be used to make an electromagnet or a permanent magnet.
Four rods are available. They are made of aluminium, soft iron, steel and wood.
............................................................................................................................ [1]
..................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-16 Magnetism
............................................................................................................................ [1]
(b) A computer component is screened from external magnetic fields by placing it in a box, as shown in
Fig. 7.2.
There is a strong magnetic field outside the box. The magnetic field lines have not been drawn near the box.
(i) State the best choice for the material of the box.
............................................................................................................................ [1]
(ii) On Fig. 7.2, join the magnetic field lines on the left of the box to those on the right, showing the pattern
of the magnetic field. [2]
[Nov-2007]
8-
1-
[May-2005] / [May-2009]
When there is a current in the wire, in which direction does the wire
move?
5-The diagrams show the forces F between two wires carrying currents out of the page. The magnetic fields
close to the wires are also shown. Which diagram is correct? B [Nov-2004] / [May-2007]
6-
7-
8- The diagram shows a beam of electrons entering a magnetic field. The direction of the field is into
the page.
What will be the initial direction of the deflection of the electrons as the beam passes through the
field? [Nov-2002]
A into the page
B out of the page
C towards the bottom of the page
D towards the top of the page
9-
10- Which of the following has no effect on the size of the turning effect on the coil of an electric
motor?
A the size of the current in the coil
B the direction of the current in the coil
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
12-
[Nov-2005]
14- In a d.c. motor, the coil is wound on a soft iron cylinder. Why is soft iron used?
A - to increase the strength of the magnetic field
B - to increase the weight of the coil
C - to insulate the coil from the magnet
D - to prevent the coil from spinning too quickly [May-2007]
[May-2006]
[May-2006]
metal reason
A copper the metal carries the field lines
around the equipment
B copper the metal is non-magnetic
C iron the metal carries the field lines
around the equipment
D iron the metal is non-magnetic
[Nov-2006] / [Nov-2010]
The current in the wire can be reversed. The poles of the magnet can
also be changed over.
In how many of the four directions shown can the force act on the
wire?
A1 B2 C3 D4 [Nov-2006]
A - d.c. supply
B - slip rings
C - soft-iron core
D - split-ring commutator [Nov-2006]
An e.m.f. is induced in the conductor. No deflection is seen on the ammeter. What is the reason for this?
A The ammeter is not between the poles. B The conductor is moving too slowly.
C The conductor is not cutting field lines. D The poles are too close together. [May-2008]
21- A d.c. motor consists of a coil of many turns rotating in a fixed magnetic field. The coil is connected to a
d.c. supply through a split-ring commutator.
23- Each diagram shows a cross-section through two parallel conductors, each carrying an electric current.
In the conductor on the left, the current is into the page; on the right, it is out of the page. Which diagram
shows the directions of the forces on the two conductors? C
[Nov-2009]
24- A long flexible wire is wrapped round two wooden pegs. A large current is passed in the direction
shown.
[May-2010]
A to change the current direction in the coil as the coil passes the horizontal position B
to change the current direction in the coil as the coil passes the vertical position C to
change the current direction in the d.c. supply as the coil passes the horizontal position D to
change the current direction in the d.c. supply as the coil passes the vertical position
[May-2010]
26- Two parallel vertical wires P and Q are a small distance apart in air. There is a downwards electric
current in both wires. A force acts on Q owing to the current in P. This force is perpendicular to the wire Q.
27- What does not alter the size of the turning effect on the coil of an electric motor?
A the direction of the current in the coil B the number of turns in the coil
C the size of the current in the coil D the strength of the magnetic field [Nov-2010]
28- The diagram shows an a.c. generator connected to an electrical circuit (load resistor).
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
A The direction of the potential difference across the load resistor is always the same.
B The size of the induced e.m.f. depends on the number of turns in the coil.
C The size of the induced e.m.f. does not change as the coil turns.
D Winding the coil on a soft-iron cylinder makes no difference to the induced e.m.f. [Nov-2010]
29- The diagram shows a beam of electrons entering a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is
downwards, towards the bottom of the page.
C towards the bottom of the page D towards the top of the page [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
1- The diagram below shows a vertical circular coil carrying a current in the direction shown. A field
line is drawn through the centre of the coil as shown.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
i) Draw an arrow on this line to show the direction of the magnetic field.
ii) Draw on this diagram one field line which goes through A and one filed line which goes through B,
showing the shape of the magnetic field.
2- Fig. 7.1 shows a coil ABCD that can turn between the two poles of a magnet. Bare metal
paper clips support and pass current into and out of the coil.
(a) (i) State the direction of the force on the side AB.
.................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain the reason for your choice of direction.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
(b) A student turns the coil through 180° so that AB is close to the N pole of the magnet.
(i) State the direction of the force on side AB of the coil.
.................................................................................................................................
(ii) The student releases the coil. Explain why the coil does not rotate continuously.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
(c) With the coil as shown in Fig. 7.1, the top half of the wire from C to the paper clip
is coated with an insulator, as shown in Fig. 7.2. Explain why the coil can now rotate
continuously. [Nov-2003]
3- The north pole of a bar magnet is held on the left of the wire and the south pole of another bar
magnet is held on the right, as shown in Fig. 10.2.
(i) State the direction of the magnetic field at the wire due to these
two poles.
(ii) The wire is flexible. Describe the effect of this magnetic field on
the current-carrying wire.
(iii) The current in the wire is now reversed. State the effect of this
on the wire.
(iv) Describe how this effect is put to use in a d.c. motor.
[Nov-2008]
4- (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a straight wire between the poles of a magnet. The wire carries a current
into the page.
(i) State the direction of the magnetic field
between the poles of the magnet.
(i) On Fig. 7.2, draw the magnetic field due to the currents in the wires.
(ii) There is a force on each wire due to the current in the other wire.
On Fig. 7.2, draw an arrow on each wire to show these forces.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
[May-2008]
The gap between the two halves of the split-ring commutator is so wide that a carbon brush can
only touch one half of the split-ring at any time. This protects the circuit. It also means that
sometimes the motor will not start when switched on.
The coil is rotated by vertical forces that act downwards on side AB and upwards on side CD. The
current causes a constant force of 3.0N on each side. The moment created by these forces varies
as the coil turns. The moment is a maximum when the coil is horizontal.
The distances AD and BC are both 0.065m.
(a) Explain why
(i) the carbon brushes must not be allowed to touch both halves of the split-ring at the
same time,
(ii) sometimes the motor does not start when switched on, even if there is no friction.
(b) (i) Define the moment of a force.
(ii) Calculate the value of the maximum moment created on the coil.
(iii) Explain why the moment is a maximum when the coil is horizontal.
(iv) Sketch a graph to suggest how the moment acting on the coil varies with time as the coil
rotates at constant speed. Label each axis. On the time axis, mark clearly the time taken
for one revolution of the coil.
(c) (i) State the measurements you would make in order to find the electrical power input to the
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect
motor and state how your measurements are used to find the electrical power.
(ii) Draw a diagram of the circuit you would use to make these measurements.
[Nov-2004]
1- The e.m.f. induced in a conductor moving at right-angles to a magnetic field does not depend upon:
A - the length of the conductor.
B - the resistance of the conductor.
C - the speed of the conductor.
D - the strength of the magnetic field.
3- Which transformer arrangement produces an output voltage that is larger than the input voltage? B
[May-2008]
4- A student pushes the N-pole of a bar magnet into the end Q of a long solenoid and observes a deflection
to the right on the sensitive ammeter.
What will produce a deflection in the same direction?
A - pulling the N-pole out of end Q
B - pulling the S-pole out of end P
C - pushing the N-pole into end P
D - pushing the S-pole into end P
5-Why are high voltages and low currents used to transmit electrical energy over long distances?
A - to increase the electromagnetic radiation
B - to increase the speed at which electrons move
C - to reduce heat loss from the power line
D - to reduce the resistance of the power line
9- A girl turns the handle of a small a.c. generator four times each second. The generator produces a
maximum output voltage of 0.5 V.
Which of the following graphs best shows this? A [May-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
10- The diagram shows a trace on an oscilloscope set at 5 V/cm on the vertical axis.
What is the maximum value of the potential difference being measured? [Nov-2002]
A - 1.5V B - 3.0V C - 7.5V D - 15V
13- A small coil is connected to a galvanometer as shown below. When the magnet is allowed to fall
towards the coil, the galvanometer pointer gives a momentary
deflection to the right of the zero position.
The magnet moves through the coil and, as it falls away from the
coil, the galvanometer pointer
A gives a continuous reading to the left.
B gives a momentary deflection to the left.
C gives a momentary deflection to the right.
D gives a continuous reading to the right. [Nov-2003]
time as shown.
Which graph shows how the voltage varies with time when the generator rotates at twice the
original speed?
[Nov-2003]
15- Four different substances are tested by using each as the core of an
electromagnet.The number of paper clips each holds is recorded when there is a
current in the electromagnet and when the current is switched off.
Which substance is the best for making the core of a transformer?
[May-2004]
16- A student pushes the N-pole of a bar magnet into the end Q of a long solenoid and observes a
deflection to the right on the sensitive ammeter.
What will produce a deflection in the same direction?
The speed of the generator is doubled. Which graph best represents the new output? D
[May-2004] / [May-2007]
18- A step-down transformer changes 240 V a.c. to 12 V a.c. There are 600 turns on the primary coil.
How many turns are on the secondary coil?
A 20 B 30 C 600 D 12 000 [May-2004]
19- Why are high voltages and low currents used to transmit electrical energy over long distances?
A to increase the electromagnetic radiation
B to increase the speed at which electrons move
C to reduce heat loss from the power line
D to reduce the resistance of the power line [May-2004]
20-A small coil is connected to a sensitive ammeter. The ammeter needle can
move to either side of the zero position.When the magnet is allowed to fall
towards the coil, the ammeter needle moves quickly to the right of the zero
position.The magnet moves through the coil.
How does the ammeter needle move as the magnet falls away from the coil?
A It does not move.
B It gives a steady reading to the right.
C It moves quickly to the left of the zero position and then returns to zero.
D It moves quickly to the right of the zero position and then returns to zero. [Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
21-
23- Electrical energy is transmitted at high alternating voltages.What is not a valid reason for doing this?
A At high voltage, a.c. is safer than d.c.
B For a given power, there is a lower current with a higher voltage.
C There is a smaller power loss at higher voltage and lower current.
D The transmission lines can be thinner with a lower current. [May-2005]
25- Why is a transformer used to connect a generator in a power station to a long distance transmission
line?
A to decrease the voltage and decrease the current
B to decrease the voltage and increase the current
C to increase the voltage and decrease the current
D to increase the voltage and increase the current [May-2006] / [Nov-2009]
26- A transformer has more turns on the secondary coil than on the primary.
The graph shows how the input voltage varies with time. Which graph, drawn to the same scale as the
input graph, shows how the output voltage varies with time? A
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2006]
A 5 ms B 10 ms C 20 ms D 30 ms [Nov-2006]
30- A simple a.c. generator produces a voltage that varies with time as shown.
Which graph shows how the voltage varies with time when the generator rotates at twice the original
speed? D
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[May-2009]
32- A simple model of a d.c. motor is made. By mistake, the split-ring commutator is left out. The coil
can turn, but is always connected to the battery in the same way.
The coil starts in the horizontal position. What happens to the coil when the circuit is switched on?
A It does not move at all. B It moves upwards, out of the magnetic field.
C It turns to the vertical position and eventually stops there.
D It turns to the vertical position then comes back to the horizontal position. [Nov-2009]
33- The graph shows the output of an a.c. generator. The coil in the generator rotates 20 times in one
second. Which graph shows the output when the coil rotates 10 times in one second? D
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2009]
34- Which properties make materials suitable for use as a core in an electromagnet?
35- A magnet is pushed slowly into a coil and there is a current in the coil in the direction shown.
The magnet is then pulled out quickly from the same end of the coil.
direction size
A reversed decreased
B reversed increased
C unchanged decreased
D unchanged increased
[May-2010]
36- Electric power cables transmit electrical energy over large distances using a high voltage, alternating
current. What are the advantages of using a high voltage and of using an alternating current?
37- The diagram shows an alarm system in which the switch S is shown closed.
iron bell
A drops rings
B drops stops ringing
C moves up rings
D moves up stops ringing
[Nov-2010]
38-
PAPER-2 Theory
1- An electromagnet consisting of an iron core and a copper coil is connected to a DC supply as shown
in the diagram.When a small unmagnetised iron sphere is held near the iron core of the electromagnet
it becomes attached to it as shown in the diagram.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
ii) As the spring continues to unwind, it rotates more slowly.State and explain what effect,if any,this
would have on the current.
iii) List two advantages and one disadvantage of using such kind of device.
iv) List three factors which affect the potential produced by that device.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
4- The core of the transformer is cut in two and used as shown below as part of a design for a water
depth indicator. The bottom half of the core is fixed. The top half of the core is attached to a
i) (5 points) Explain why the voltmeter reading falls as the water depth decreases.
ii) (5 points) The 0.1V value is difficult to read reliably. State and explain two ways in which a larger
voltage could be obtained for the same water depth.
5- Fig. 8.1 shows a simple transformer used to light a lamp. The lamp is labelled 24V, 36W.
When the mains supply is switched on, the lamp is very dim.
(a) State two ways in which the potential difference across the lamp can be increased
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2003]
6- Fig. 7.1 shows high voltage cables used to transmit electrical energy.
(c) (i) Explain why high voltages are used to transmit electrical power.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(ii) Fig. 7.2 shows how the loss of thermal energy from a cable varies
with the thickness of the cable.
Explain why the loss of thermal energy is less if the cable is thicker.
....................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
[Nov-2004]
7-
8- Fig. 3.1 shows the construction of a simple a.c. generator. When the coil is rotated an e.m.f.
is induced in the coil
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[May-2006]
9- A farmer connects a house to the mains electricity. The house is a long way from the nearest 230 V
mains electricity supply.
Fig. 10.1 shows the mains supply connected to the house.
(a) The farmer uses 230 V lamps in the house but they do not light up at full brightness. Explain why the
lamps are dim.
(b) The farmer adds transformers, as shown in Fig. 10.2.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
As the wire is moved downwards between the magnetic poles, the needle of the ammeter deflects to the
right.
(a) State the name of this electrical effect.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) State what happens to the needle of the ammeter when the wire is moved upwards between the
magnetic poles.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................
(c) State and explain what happens when the wire is held stationary between the magnetic poles.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................
[Nov-2006]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
1- The e.m.f. induced in a conductor moving at right-angles to a magnetic field does not depend upon:
A - the length of the conductor.
B - the resistance of the conductor.
C - the speed of the conductor.
D - the strength of the magnetic field.
3- Which transformer arrangement produces an output voltage that is larger than the input voltage? B
[May-2008]
4- A student pushes the N-pole of a bar magnet into the end Q of a long solenoid and observes a deflection
to the right on the sensitive ammeter.
What will produce a deflection in the same direction?
A - pulling the N-pole out of end Q
B - pulling the S-pole out of end P
C - pushing the N-pole into end P
D - pushing the S-pole into end P
5-Why are high voltages and low currents used to transmit electrical energy over long distances?
A - to increase the electromagnetic radiation
B - to increase the speed at which electrons move
C - to reduce heat loss from the power line
D - to reduce the resistance of the power line
9- A girl turns the handle of a small a.c. generator four times each second. The generator produces a
maximum output voltage of 0.5 V.
Which of the following graphs best shows this? A [May-2005]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
10- The diagram shows a trace on an oscilloscope set at 5 V/cm on the vertical axis.
What is the maximum value of the potential difference being measured? [Nov-2002]
A - 1.5V B - 3.0V C - 7.5V D - 15V
13- A small coil is connected to a galvanometer as shown below. When the magnet is allowed to fall
towards the coil, the galvanometer pointer gives a momentary
deflection to the right of the zero position.
The magnet moves through the coil and, as it falls away from the
coil, the galvanometer pointer
A gives a continuous reading to the left.
B gives a momentary deflection to the left.
C gives a momentary deflection to the right.
D gives a continuous reading to the right. [Nov-2003]
time as shown.
Which graph shows how the voltage varies with time when the generator rotates at twice the
original speed?
[Nov-2003]
15- Four different substances are tested by using each as the core of an
electromagnet.The number of paper clips each holds is recorded when there is a
current in the electromagnet and when the current is switched off.
Which substance is the best for making the core of a transformer?
[May-2004]
16- A student pushes the N-pole of a bar magnet into the end Q of a long solenoid and observes a
deflection to the right on the sensitive ammeter.
What will produce a deflection in the same direction?
The speed of the generator is doubled. Which graph best represents the new output? D
[May-2004] / [May-2007]
18- A step-down transformer changes 240 V a.c. to 12 V a.c. There are 600 turns on the primary coil.
How many turns are on the secondary coil?
A 20 B 30 C 600 D 12 000 [May-2004]
19- Why are high voltages and low currents used to transmit electrical energy over long distances?
A to increase the electromagnetic radiation
B to increase the speed at which electrons move
C to reduce heat loss from the power line
D to reduce the resistance of the power line [May-2004]
20-A small coil is connected to a sensitive ammeter. The ammeter needle can
move to either side of the zero position.When the magnet is allowed to fall
towards the coil, the ammeter needle moves quickly to the right of the zero
position.The magnet moves through the coil.
How does the ammeter needle move as the magnet falls away from the coil?
A It does not move.
B It gives a steady reading to the right.
C It moves quickly to the left of the zero position and then returns to zero.
D It moves quickly to the right of the zero position and then returns to zero. [Nov-2004]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
21-
23- Electrical energy is transmitted at high alternating voltages.What is not a valid reason for doing this?
A At high voltage, a.c. is safer than d.c.
B For a given power, there is a lower current with a higher voltage.
C There is a smaller power loss at higher voltage and lower current.
D The transmission lines can be thinner with a lower current. [May-2005]
25- Why is a transformer used to connect a generator in a power station to a long distance transmission
line?
A to decrease the voltage and decrease the current
B to decrease the voltage and increase the current
C to increase the voltage and decrease the current
D to increase the voltage and increase the current [May-2006] / [Nov-2009]
26- A transformer has more turns on the secondary coil than on the primary.
The graph shows how the input voltage varies with time. Which graph, drawn to the same scale as the
input graph, shows how the output voltage varies with time? A
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2006]
A 5 ms B 10 ms C 20 ms D 30 ms [Nov-2006]
30- A simple a.c. generator produces a voltage that varies with time as shown.
Which graph shows how the voltage varies with time when the generator rotates at twice the original
speed? D
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[May-2009]
32- A simple model of a d.c. motor is made. By mistake, the split-ring commutator is left out. The coil
can turn, but is always connected to the battery in the same way.
The coil starts in the horizontal position. What happens to the coil when the circuit is switched on?
A It does not move at all. B It moves upwards, out of the magnetic field.
C It turns to the vertical position and eventually stops there.
D It turns to the vertical position then comes back to the horizontal position. [Nov-2009]
33- The graph shows the output of an a.c. generator. The coil in the generator rotates 20 times in one
second. Which graph shows the output when the coil rotates 10 times in one second? D
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2009]
34- Which properties make materials suitable for use as a core in an electromagnet?
35- A magnet is pushed slowly into a coil and there is a current in the coil in the direction shown.
The magnet is then pulled out quickly from the same end of the coil.
direction size
A reversed decreased
B reversed increased
C unchanged decreased
D unchanged increased
[May-2010]
36- Electric power cables transmit electrical energy over large distances using a high voltage, alternating
current. What are the advantages of using a high voltage and of using an alternating current?
37- The diagram shows an alarm system in which the switch S is shown closed.
iron bell
A drops rings
B drops stops ringing
C moves up rings
D moves up stops ringing
[Nov-2010]
38-
PAPER-2 Theory
1- An electromagnet consisting of an iron core and a copper coil is connected to a DC supply as shown
in the diagram.When a small unmagnetised iron sphere is held near the iron core of the electromagnet
it becomes attached to it as shown in the diagram.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
ii) As the spring continues to unwind, it rotates more slowly.State and explain what effect,if any,this
would have on the current.
iii) List two advantages and one disadvantage of using such kind of device.
iv) List three factors which affect the potential produced by that device.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
4- The core of the transformer is cut in two and used as shown below as part of a design for a water
depth indicator. The bottom half of the core is fixed. The top half of the core is attached to a
i) (5 points) Explain why the voltmeter reading falls as the water depth decreases.
ii) (5 points) The 0.1V value is difficult to read reliably. State and explain two ways in which a larger
voltage could be obtained for the same water depth.
5- Fig. 8.1 shows a simple transformer used to light a lamp. The lamp is labelled 24V, 36W.
When the mains supply is switched on, the lamp is very dim.
(a) State two ways in which the potential difference across the lamp can be increased
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[Nov-2003]
6- Fig. 7.1 shows high voltage cables used to transmit electrical energy.
(c) (i) Explain why high voltages are used to transmit electrical power.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(ii) Fig. 7.2 shows how the loss of thermal energy from a cable varies
with the thickness of the cable.
Explain why the loss of thermal energy is less if the cable is thicker.
....................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................
[Nov-2004]
7-
8- Fig. 3.1 shows the construction of a simple a.c. generator. When the coil is rotated an e.m.f.
is induced in the coil
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
[May-2006]
9- A farmer connects a house to the mains electricity. The house is a long way from the nearest 230 V
mains electricity supply.
Fig. 10.1 shows the mains supply connected to the house.
(a) The farmer uses 230 V lamps in the house but they do not light up at full brightness. Explain why the
lamps are dim.
(b) The farmer adds transformers, as shown in Fig. 10.2.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
As the wire is moved downwards between the magnetic poles, the needle of the ammeter deflects to the
right.
(a) State the name of this electrical effect.
...................................................................................................................................
(b) State what happens to the needle of the ammeter when the wire is moved upwards between the
magnetic poles.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................
(c) State and explain what happens when the wire is held stationary between the magnetic poles.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................
[Nov-2006]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-21 Electromagnetism
1-
????? /[May-2008]
[Nov-2003]
4- The diagram shows a circuit with a potential divider joined in series with a fixed resistor.
What are the minimum and maximum readings that can be obtained on the voltmeter when the
potential divider is adjusted? [Nov-2003]
if the battery is connected the right way round the radio works,
if the battery is connected the wrong way there is no current. Which diagram is correct? A
[Nov-2004]
7-In which circuit will a lamp glow more brightly when less light shines on a light-dependent
resistor? B [Nov-2004]
9- Which circuit contains a cell, a light-emitting diode and a fixed resistor? A [May-2005]
10- The diagram shows some of the important parts of the tube of a cathode-ray oscilloscope.
Which change in voltage results in the position of the spot on the screen moving towards the top?
11- A thermistor is connected in a circuit with a 6 V cell, a 3000 Ω resistor and a voltmeter, as shown.
The graph shows how the resistance of the thermistor varies with temperature.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics
12-
A 1 ms B 2 ms C 4 ms D 6 ms [May-2007]
15-A lamp is connected in series with a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a battery. The barrier shields
the LDR from the lamp.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics
When low intensity light falls on the LDR, the lamp glows dimly. If the light intensity on the LDR increases,
what happens to the lamp?
A It gets brighter. B It gets dimmer but does not go out.
C It goes out. D It stays the same.
[May-2009]
16-The circuit diagram shows a variable resistor R connected in parallel to the lower half of a potential
divider.
17- The diagram is a circuit designed to switch on a lamp when it gets dark.
[Nov-2009]
18- A thermistor is connected in a circuit with a 6 V battery, a 3000 Ω resistor and a voltmeter, as
shown. The graph shows how the resistance of the thermistor varies with temperature.
19- A cathode-ray oscilloscope is connected to an a.c. generator. A wave is seen on the screen of the
oscilloscope.
The speed of rotation of the generator is doubled. What is the effect on the wave?
PAPER-2 Theory
(a) On Fig. 7.1, draw an arrow at A to show the direction of flow of the electrons in the wire.
(a) On Fig. 7.1, draw the connections you would make to enable the C.R.O. to measure the potential
difference (p.d.) across the resistor.
(b) Fig. 7.2 shows the trace on the screen before and after the connections are made.
[May-2006]
4- EITHER
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics
The Y-plates of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) are connected to an alternating voltage of amplitude 4.0
V and frequency 25 Hz.
The Y-gain of the CRO is set at 2.0 V / division and the time-base is set at 0.01 s / division. On the grid
below, draw the trace on the screen of the CRO. Show your calculations beside the grid. [4]
OR
Fig. 8.1 shows a transistor used in the circuit of a simple moisture detector.
(a) Describe what happens when the water level in the beaker reaches the metal contacts.
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................... [3]
.................................................................................................................................... [1]
[Nov-2007]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-22 Electronics
5- Fig. 8.1 shows the part of a cathode-ray oscilloscope in which an electron beam is produced.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) State
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
(c) In each second, 8.0 × 1014 electrons pass through the hole in the anode. The charge on an electron is 1.6
× 10–19 C. Calculate the current in the electron beam.
6-
A - atom 2 B - atom 4
C - atom 5 D - impossible to tell
3-A detector is used to measure the count-rate near a radioactive source. The reading is 4000 counts per
minute. After 30 minutes the count-rate has fallen to 500 counts per minute.
What is the half-life of the radioactive source? You may ignore the effects of background
radiation. [May-2006]
A - 3 minutes B - 5 minutes
C - 6 minutes D - 10 minutes
5-A radioactive source is placed 3 cm from a Geiger-Müller tube in air. The average count rate is 742
counts / minute.
Then, in three experiments, measurements are taken with sheets of different materials placed
between the source and the tube. The results are recorded in the table.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
10- Which conclusion can be drawn from the Geiger-Marsden alpha-particle scattering experiment?
A A positive charge is spread throughout the atom.
B Electrons are arranged in orbits.
C Electrons are negatively charged.
D There is a dense nucleus in the atom. [May-2006]
11- Which of the following occurs in the decay of a radioactive nucleus? [Nov-2002]
A The nucleus absorbs another nucleus.
B The nucleus absorbs at least one form of radiation.
C The nucleus always splits into two equal fragments.
D The nucleus emits at least one form of radiation.
13- A pupil investigates the penetrating power of radiation from a radioactive source.
The table shows her results.
[Nov-2002]
count with source and paper absorber 630 counts per minute
17- The nucleus of a nitrogen atom can be represented as 147𝑁 . The nucleus of this atom consists of
A 7 protons and 7 electrons.
B 7 protons and 7 neutrons.
C 14 protons and 7 electrons.
D 14 protons and 7 neutrons. [Nov-2003]
18- Three nuclei P, Q and R have proton numbers (atomic numbers) and nucleon numbers (mass
numbers) as shown.
proton number nucleon number
P 43 93
Q 43 94
R 44 94
19-Two types of emission from a radioactive source are separated by passing them through a
magnetic field.
The deflections are shown in the diagram. What are the emissions P and Q?
emission P emission Q
A alpha-particles gamma-rays
B beta-particles gamma-rays
C gamma-rays alpha-particles
D gamma-rays beta-particles
[May-2004]
20- A narrow beam of alpha-particles is fired at a thin piece of gold foil.Which is the final direction of the
largest number of alpha-particles? A
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
From the half-life shown by the graph, which was the decaying radioactive nuclide?
A Ra B Rn C Po D Pb [May-2004]
22- Deuterium 21𝐻 and tritium 31𝐻 are two isotopes of hydrogen.
Compared to a deuterium atom, how many protons and neutrons does a tritium atom have?
protons neutrons
A more more
B more same
C same more
D same same
[Nov-2004]
23- Between 1909 and 1911, Geiger and Marsden carried out experiments in which alpha particles
were fired at metal foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with small deflections,
but some were deflected through a large angle.
These results suggest that
A atoms contain clouds of electrons through which some alpha particles cannot pass.
B atoms contain neutrons that alpha particles bounce off.
C atoms have positive and negative charges spread throughout their volume.
D atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume. [May-2005]
24- The diagram shows the apparatus used in an experiment in which barriers of various materials
are placed in turn between different radioactive sources and a detector.
The table shows the count rates recorded by the detector for four sources.
Which source emits alpha-particles only?
[Nov-2005]
29- A student investigates the emission from an unknown radioactive source. The source is 10 cm in
front of a detector. A strong magnetic field between the source and the detector is then switched
on.
[May-2006]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
30- How much energy would be released if 1 × 10–20 kg of matter was entirely converted to energy?
(The speed of light is 3 × 108m / s.)
32- Which is the correct comparison of the penetrating power and ionising power of alpha-particles
and gamma radiation?
[Nov-2006]
34-Which statement is true for all three types of radioactive emission (alpha-particles, beta-particles
and gamma-rays)?
A They are completely absorbed by a thin aluminium sheet.
B They are deflected by electric fields.
C They emit light.
D They ionise gases. [May-2007]
37- The count-rate from a radioactive source falls from 400 to 50 in 3.0 minutes. What is the half-life?
A 0.75 minutes B 1.0 minutes C 2.7 minutes D 8.0 minutes [May-2009]
38-What are the numbers of neutrons, protons and electrons in a neutral atom of 235
92U ?
number of number of number of
neutrons protons electrons
A 92 143 143
B 92 235 235
C 143 92 92
D 235 92 92
[May-2009]
41- In the treatment of brain cancer, a patient’s head is enclosed in a helmet containing a number of
radioactive sources. The radiation from each source is directed towards the cancer. Which nuclide is the
most suitable for these sources?
nuclide radiation half-life
A caesium-137 gamma 30 years
B sodium-24 beta 15 hours
C strontium-90 beta 29 years
D californium-246 alpha 36 hours
[May-2008]
D 59 32
[May-2008]
43- The activity of a radioactive source is measured over a period of time. The graph shows the
decay curve.
44- A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 6000 years. How much time passes before the rate of emission
1
from a sample of this isotope falls to 16
of its
original value?
A 6000 years B 18 000 years C 24 000 years D 96 000 years
[Nov-2009]
46- In one radioactive decay, radium (Ra) gives rise to radon (Rn) as shown. 226
88𝑅𝑎 → 222
86𝑅𝑛
A an alpha-particle B a beta-particle C
both an alpha-particle and a beta-particle D no particle but only gamma-rays
[May-2010]
48- When a sample of a radioactive nuclide decays, the count rate falls from 1200 to 150 in three minutes.
What is the half-life of the radioactive nuclide?
49- Proton number is another name for atomic number. Nucleon number is another name for mass number.
What are isotopes?
50- A student investigates a radioactive source that emits only alpha-particles. Without any source nearby,
the detector shows a low reading. The source and thick cardboard are placed near the detector, as shown.
51- 15
7𝑁 is a nuclide of nitrogen. How many electrons are there in a neutral atom of 15
7𝑁 ?
A7 B8 C 15 D 22 [Nov-2010]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
PAPER-2 Theory
Determine the half-life of the radioactive isotope. On Fig. 8.1, show how you obtained your result.
half-life = ..................................
[May-2007]
2- Details of two radioactive sources used by a school are shown in Fig. 8.1.
source radioactive source type of radiation emitted half-life of source
A Co-60 gamma ray 5 years
B Sr-90 beta particle 28 years
Fig. 8.1
(a) On Fig. 8.2, the number of Co-60 atoms in source A and the number of Sr-90 atoms in
source B at time t = 0 has been plotted as ×.
(i) Plot accurately the number of Co-60 atoms in source A at t = 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. Draw the best
line through your points.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
(ii) Sketch how the number of Sr-90 atoms in source B changes from t = 0 to 20 years.
(b) A detector is placed near source A. It records 4000 counts in one minute from the
source when t = 0.
A piece of lead, which absorbs 99% of gamma rays, is immediately placed between the source and the
detector. Determine
(i) the counts in one minute that the detector now records from the source,
time = .................
3- The pie chart in Fig. 8.1 shows the relative contributions made by different sources to
background radiation.
[May-2004]
4- A doctor uses a radioactive isotope, iodine-131, to find the volume of blood in a patient’s body.
Information about iodine-131 is given in Fig. 10.1.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
131
53𝐼 ---- Xe + β
(i) State two reasons why different count rates are obtained from the nine samples.
(ii) Calculate the average value of the count rates from the last four samples.
This is the average count rate from a volume of 2.0 cm3 of blood.
(iii) Using your answer to (ii), determine the volume of blood in the patient’s body, which
has a total count rate of 144 000 per second.
(iv) Sample number 9 is kept.
The count rate is measured again after 16 days.
Estimate the value obtained, given that the half-life of iodine-131 is 8.0 days.
(d) Describe one precaution that the doctor must take when handling this radioactive source.
[Nov-2004]
5- (a) Some atoms that undergo radioactive decay have a half-life of 6 hours. The count rate near a
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
sample of these atoms is initially 838 counts/minute. Background radiation near the sample is 18
counts/minute.
(i) Describe the structure of an atom. It may help to draw a diagram.
(ii) Explain what is meant by radioactive decay. State clearly which part of the atom decays.
(iii) State what is meant by background radiation.
(iv) The equipment is left undisturbed for 12 hours. Calculate the count rate due to the sample of atoms
alone after this time.
(b) The table shows a radioactive series. Atom A emits a beta-particle and becomes atom B.Atom B then
emits a particle to become atom C.
(i) Calculate the proton number X of atom B and explain how you calculated it.
(ii) State the name of radiation Y and describe the changes that occur in the atom when this radiation is
emitted.
(iii) Using information from the table, explain why atoms A and C are not isotopes of the same element.
[May-2005]
6- Fig. 8.1 is a half-scale diagram of a radioactive source stored in a safe way.
(i) Explain why there is a measured count-rate before the food is treated.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(ii) Determine and explain whether the treated food becomes radioactive.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
[May-2006]
8- Stars that are being formed emit infra-red radiation. Some of this radiation is received by a telescope that
orbits the Earth. Microwave signals from the telescope are sent to the Earth’s surface, as shown in Fig. 11.1.
(a) (i) Microwaves travel at a speed of 300 000 km/s. The telescope is 600 km above the Earth’s surface.
Calculate the time for a microwave signal from the telescope to reach the Earth’s surface.
(ii) Infra-red and microwave radiation are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum.State two other
similarities and give one difference between infra-red and microwave radiation.
(b) As clouds of gas and dust come together to form a star, there is an energy change similar to the energy
change as a ball falls to the ground.
The temperature in the clouds of dust and gas becomes so high that nuclear fusion occurs.
In one such reaction, two isotopes of hydrogen, 21𝐻 and 31𝐻 , fuse together.
(i) Explain why the gas and dust come together.
(ii) State the energy change that causes the rise in temperature as the gas and dust come together.
(iii) Explain why high temperatures are needed for nuclear fusion to occur.
(iv) Describe the structure of a nucleus of 31𝐻 .
(v) State which element is created by the fusion of two hydrogen nuclei.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
[Nov-2006]
A - atom 2 B - atom 4
C - atom 5 D - impossible to tell
3-A detector is used to measure the count-rate near a radioactive source. The reading is 4000 counts per
minute. After 30 minutes the count-rate has fallen to 500 counts per minute.
What is the half-life of the radioactive source? You may ignore the effects of background
radiation. [May-2006]
A - 3 minutes B - 5 minutes
C - 6 minutes D - 10 minutes
5-A radioactive source is placed 3 cm from a Geiger-Müller tube in air. The average count rate is 742
counts / minute.
Then, in three experiments, measurements are taken with sheets of different materials placed
between the source and the tube. The results are recorded in the table.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
10- Which conclusion can be drawn from the Geiger-Marsden alpha-particle scattering experiment?
A A positive charge is spread throughout the atom.
B Electrons are arranged in orbits.
C Electrons are negatively charged.
D There is a dense nucleus in the atom. [May-2006]
11- Which of the following occurs in the decay of a radioactive nucleus? [Nov-2002]
A The nucleus absorbs another nucleus.
B The nucleus absorbs at least one form of radiation.
C The nucleus always splits into two equal fragments.
D The nucleus emits at least one form of radiation.
13- A pupil investigates the penetrating power of radiation from a radioactive source.
The table shows her results. [Nov-2002]
count with source and paper absorber 630 counts per minute
17- The nucleus of a nitrogen atom can be represented as 147𝑁 . The nucleus of this atom consists of
A 7 protons and 7 electrons.
B 7 protons and 7 neutrons.
C 14 protons and 7 electrons.
D 14 protons and 7 neutrons. [Nov-2003]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
18- Three nuclei P, Q and R have proton numbers (atomic numbers) and nucleon numbers (mass
numbers) as shown.
proton number nucleon number
P 43 93
Q 43 94
R 44 94
19-Two types of emission from a radioactive source are separated by passing them through a
magnetic field.
The deflections are shown in the diagram. What are the emissions P and Q?
emission P emission Q
A alpha-particles gamma-rays
B beta-particles gamma-rays
C gamma-rays alpha-particles
D gamma-rays beta-particles
[May-2004]
20- A narrow beam of alpha-particles is fired at a thin piece of gold foil.Which is the final direction of the
largest number of alpha-particles? A
From the half-life shown by the graph, which was the decaying radioactive nuclide?
A Ra B Rn C Po D Pb [May-2004]
22- Deuterium 21𝐻 and tritium 31𝐻 are two isotopes of hydrogen.
Compared to a deuterium atom, how many protons and neutrons does a tritium atom have?
protons neutrons
A more more
B more same
C same more
D same same
[Nov-2004]
23- Between 1909 and 1911, Geiger and Marsden carried out experiments in which alpha particles
were fired at metal foil. Most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with small deflections,
but some were deflected through a large angle.
These results suggest that
A atoms contain clouds of electrons through which some alpha particles cannot pass.
B atoms contain neutrons that alpha particles bounce off.
C atoms have positive and negative charges spread throughout their volume.
D atoms have positive charges concentrated in a small volume. [May-2005]
24- The diagram shows the apparatus used in an experiment in which barriers of various materials
are placed in turn between different radioactive sources and a detector.
The table shows the count rates recorded by the detector for four sources.
Which source emits alpha-particles only?
[Nov-2005]
29- A student investigates the emission from an unknown radioactive source. The source is 10 cm in
front of a detector. A strong magnetic field between the source and the detector is then switched
on.
[May-2006]
30- How much energy would be released if 1 × 10–20 kg of matter was entirely converted to energy?
(The speed of light is 3 × 108m / s.)
32- Which is the correct comparison of the penetrating power and ionising power of alpha-particles
and gamma radiation?
[Nov-2006]
34-Which statement is true for all three types of radioactive emission (alpha-particles, beta-particles
and gamma-rays)?
A They are completely absorbed by a thin aluminium sheet.
B They are deflected by electric fields.
C They emit light.
D They ionise gases. [May-2007]
number)
A 23 50
B 24 48
C 48 24
D 50 23
[May-2007]
37- The count-rate from a radioactive source falls from 400 to 50 in 3.0 minutes. What is the half-life?
A 0.75 minutes B 1.0 minutes C 2.7 minutes D 8.0 minutes [May-2009]
38-What are the numbers of neutrons, protons and electrons in a neutral atom of 235
92U ?
number of number of number of
neutrons protons electrons
A 92 143 143
B 92 235 235
C 143 92 92
D 235 92 92
[May-2009]
41- In the treatment of brain cancer, a patient’s head is enclosed in a helmet containing a number of
radioactive sources. The radiation from each source is directed towards the cancer. Which nuclide is the
most suitable for these sources?
nuclide radiation half-life
A caesium-137 gamma 30 years
B sodium-24 beta 15 hours
C strontium-90 beta 29 years
D californium-246 alpha 36 hours
[May-2008]
43- The activity of a radioactive source is measured over a period of time. The graph shows the
decay curve.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
44- A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 6000 years. How much time passes before the rate of emission
1
from a sample of this isotope falls to 16
of its
original value?
A 6000 years B 18 000 years C 24 000 years D 96 000 years
[Nov-2009]
46- In one radioactive decay, radium (Ra) gives rise to radon (Rn) as shown. 226
88𝑅𝑎 → 222
86𝑅𝑛
A an alpha-particle B a beta-particle C
both an alpha-particle and a beta-particle D no particle but only gamma-rays
[May-2010]
48- When a sample of a radioactive nuclide decays, the count rate falls from 1200 to 150 in three minutes.
What is the half-life of the radioactive nuclide?
49- Proton number is another name for atomic number. Nucleon number is another name for mass number.
What are isotopes?
50- A student investigates a radioactive source that emits only alpha-particles. Without any source nearby,
the detector shows a low reading. The source and thick cardboard are placed near the detector, as shown.
51- 15
7𝑁 is a nuclide of nitrogen. How many electrons are there in a neutral atom of 15
7𝑁 ?
A7 B8 C 15 D 22 [Nov-2010]
PAPER-2 Theory
Determine the half-life of the radioactive isotope. On Fig. 8.1, show how you obtained your result.
half-life = ..................................
[May-2007]
2- Details of two radioactive sources used by a school are shown in Fig. 8.1.
source radioactive source type of radiation emitted half-life of source
A Co-60 gamma ray 5 years
B Sr-90 beta particle 28 years
Fig. 8.1
(a) On Fig. 8.2, the number of Co-60 atoms in source A and the number of Sr-90 atoms in
source B at time t = 0 has been plotted as ×.
(i) Plot accurately the number of Co-60 atoms in source A at t = 5, 10, 15 and 20 years. Draw the best
line through your points.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
(ii) Sketch how the number of Sr-90 atoms in source B changes from t = 0 to 20 years.
(b) A detector is placed near source A. It records 4000 counts in one minute from the
source when t = 0.
A piece of lead, which absorbs 99% of gamma rays, is immediately placed between the source and the
detector. Determine
(i) the counts in one minute that the detector now records from the source,
time = .................
3- The pie chart in Fig. 8.1 shows the relative contributions made by different sources to
background radiation.
[May-2004]
4- A doctor uses a radioactive isotope, iodine-131, to find the volume of blood in a patient’s body.
Information about iodine-131 is given in Fig. 10.1.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
131
53𝐼 ---- Xe + β
(i) State two reasons why different count rates are obtained from the nine samples.
(ii) Calculate the average value of the count rates from the last four samples.
This is the average count rate from a volume of 2.0 cm3 of blood.
(iii) Using your answer to (ii), determine the volume of blood in the patient’s body, which
has a total count rate of 144 000 per second.
(iv) Sample number 9 is kept.
The count rate is measured again after 16 days.
Estimate the value obtained, given that the half-life of iodine-131 is 8.0 days.
(d) Describe one precaution that the doctor must take when handling this radioactive source.
[Nov-2004]
5- (a) Some atoms that undergo radioactive decay have a half-life of 6 hours. The count rate near a
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
sample of these atoms is initially 838 counts/minute. Background radiation near the sample is 18
counts/minute.
(i) Describe the structure of an atom. It may help to draw a diagram.
(ii) Explain what is meant by radioactive decay. State clearly which part of the atom decays.
(iii) State what is meant by background radiation.
(iv) The equipment is left undisturbed for 12 hours. Calculate the count rate due to the sample of atoms
alone after this time.
(b) The table shows a radioactive series. Atom A emits a beta-particle and becomes atom B.Atom B then
emits a particle to become atom C.
(i) Calculate the proton number X of atom B and explain how you calculated it.
(ii) State the name of radiation Y and describe the changes that occur in the atom when this radiation is
emitted.
(iii) Using information from the table, explain why atoms A and C are not isotopes of the same element.
[May-2005]
6- Fig. 8.1 is a half-scale diagram of a radioactive source stored in a safe way.
(i) Explain why there is a measured count-rate before the food is treated.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................
(ii) Determine and explain whether the treated food becomes radioactive.
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................................................................
[May-2006]
8- Stars that are being formed emit infra-red radiation. Some of this radiation is received by a telescope that
orbits the Earth. Microwave signals from the telescope are sent to the Earth’s surface, as shown in Fig. 11.1.
(a) (i) Microwaves travel at a speed of 300 000 km/s. The telescope is 600 km above the Earth’s surface.
Calculate the time for a microwave signal from the telescope to reach the Earth’s surface.
(ii) Infra-red and microwave radiation are both part of the electromagnetic spectrum.State two other
similarities and give one difference between infra-red and microwave radiation.
(b) As clouds of gas and dust come together to form a star, there is an energy change similar to the energy
change as a ball falls to the ground.
The temperature in the clouds of dust and gas becomes so high that nuclear fusion occurs.
In one such reaction, two isotopes of hydrogen, 21𝐻 and 31𝐻 , fuse together.
(i) Explain why the gas and dust come together.
(ii) State the energy change that causes the rise in temperature as the gas and dust come together.
(iii) Explain why high temperatures are needed for nuclear fusion to occur.
(iv) Describe the structure of a nucleus of 31𝐻 .
(v) State which element is created by the fusion of two hydrogen nuclei.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-23 Radioactivity
[Nov-2006]
1- An extension-load graph is plotted to show the result of increasing the load on a spring.
Which point marks the limit of proportionality for this spring?
2- The table shows how the extension of a spring varies with load.
load / N 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
extension / cm 0 3 6 9 12 15 20 27 38
Between which two loads would you find the limit of proportionality?
A 0 N and 2 N
B 8 N and 10 N
C 10 N and 12 N
D 14 N and 16 N [May-2005]
3- A metal wire, initially 1.000 m long, extends by 4 mm when a load of 2 N is added to it.
What will the length of the wire be if a further 3 N is added, assuming it does not extend beyond
its limit of proportionality?
A 1.060 m B 1.080 m C 1.010 m D 1.012 m [May-2006]
AO B OP CP D PQ
[Nov-2006]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-24 Elasticity
5- A steel spring is stretched by a load. The load is increased. At first the extension is proportional to the
load. The spring reaches its limit of proportionality at L.Which is the correct graph of the extension against
load for the spring? D
[May-2007]
8- The graph shows the extension of a piece of copper wire as the load on it is increased.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-24 Elasticity
9- A spring extends by 4 cm when 10 N is suspended from it. Two of these springs are used as
shown to carry a 30 N load.
10- A single spring is loaded with a 1 N weight. The load is then increased to 2 N and the extension
increases by 1.0cm, as shown.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-24 Elasticity
Two springs that are identical to the first one are put side by side. They are connected at both ends, and a
1N weight is hung on them. The load is then increased to 2N.
11- A load L is suspended from two springs that are in parallel. The extension of each spring is x. The
springs are then arranged to hang vertically, one below the other.
In this new arrangement, what is the total extension of the two springs?
1
A 2x B x C 2x D 4x [Nov-2009]
12- Which part of the graph shows the limit of proportionality for an elastic solid?
A O B OP C P D PQ [May-2010]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-24 Elasticity
PAPER-2 Theory
Which arrows show the direction of the conventional current when the capacitor is charging?
A 1 and 3 B 1 and 4 C 2 and 3 D 2 and 4 [May-2004]
2-
[May-2006]
7- An object is placed in front of a diverging lens as shown on the scale diagram. The principal focus F is
marked on each side of the lens. What is the position of the image formed by the lens? B
[Nov-2009]
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-25 others
8- An object is viewed through a concave (diverging) lens. What is the correct description of the image
formed?
THEORY
1- A student uses a mobile phone. He is concerned that the energy of the radio waves may cause a
temperature rise in his brain. To investigate this effect, he calculates and tries to measure the
heating effect of the phone on a nearby glass beaker of water.
The phone is used for 360 s when next to a glass beaker containing 50 g of water.
(a) Calculate
(i) the number of pulses of radio waves produced during the phone call,
(ii) the total energy of the radio waves emitted during the phone call,
(iii) the maximum temperature rise produced in 50 g of water if all of the energy calculated
in (ii) is absorbed by the water. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2 J/(g °C).
(b) The manufacturer gives the input power of the phone as 0.20W.
(i) Calculate the energy supplied by the battery when the phone is used for 360 s.
(ii) Calculate the fraction of the energy supplied by the battery that is converted into radio
wave energy during the phone call.
(c) The student uses the mercury-in-glass thermometer shown in Fig. 10.1.
He does not detect any temperature rise in the water in the beaker when the phone is used.
PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-25 others
(i) Describe how you would check the 0 °C and 100 °C points on the thermometer.
(ii) Explain why the thermometer is not sensitive enough to detect the temperature rise.
(iii) State and explain one change that will make a mercury-in-glass thermometer more
sensitive.
[Nov-2005]
Each of the other three boxes should contain one of the labels from the following list.
generator, motor, transformer, turbine, solar panel
(a) On Fig. 1.1, label the boxes using words from the list. [2]
(b) State one environmental problem caused by burning oil to produce electricity.
..........................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(c) Oil is a non-renewable energy source.
(i) State why oil is described as a non-renewable energy source.
..................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
(ii) State one renewable energy source.
..................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................. [1]
[May-2008]