International GCSE

Physics

Sample Examination Paper

Paper 1

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 Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

1 (a) An ammeter is used to measure what quantity in a circuit?

(1)

A current

B voltage

C power

D charge

(b) Which of the following symbols represents a variable resistor?

(1)

(c) The units of resistance are

(1)

A volts

B amps

C ohms

D watts

(Total for Question 1 = 3 marks)

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2 A student is taking her first trip home from university. The train travels 15 km from station A to
station B. It takes 20 minutes.

(a) State the equation linking average speed, distance and time.

distance = time x average speed

average speed = distance / time

(b) Calculate the average speed of the train and give the relevant unit.

(3)

15km = 15 000 m

20minutes = 1200 s

AS = 15000/ 1200 = 12.5 m/s

average speed = ………………………………

(c) The train continues on its journey from station B to station C. The graph below shows how
the journey continues.

Calculate the ACceleration, in m/s2, of the train in the last 100 seconds of the train’s
journey into station C.

(3)

A = change in Y / change in X

= 25 / 100

ACceleration = 0.25 m/s2

(d) Using the graph, calculate the distance travelled in metres by the train over the 400
seconds.
(3)

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…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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distance = ……………………………… m

(Total for Question 2 = 10 marks)

3 The picture shows a cyclist riding her bike to work. The weight of the bike and cyclist
combined is 800 N.

Each tyre is in contact with the road. The area of the tyres in contact with the road is 0.08 m 2.

(a) (i) State the equation linking pressure, force and area. (1)

Pressure = force / area

(ii) Calculate the pressure exerted on the road by the tyres.

Give the unit. (3)

Pressure = 800 / 0.08 = 10 000 Pa

(b) Use the idea of particles to explain how the air inside the tyres creates pressure. (3)

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The cyclist is told if they increase the pressure in the tyres they will travel faster. The cyclist adds
more air into the tyres.

(c) Use ideas about molecules to explain why this increases the temperature and pressure inside
the tyres. (3)

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(Total for Question 3 = 10 marks)

4 The Bloodhound SSC has a mass of 7000 kg and is attempting the land speed record in the
near future.

It has a series of jet engines which the team hopes will help it reach its top speed of 469 m/s.

(a) State the equation linking force, mass and acceleration.

(1)

F=mxa

(b) One of the jet engines, EJ200, provides a forward thrust force of 90 kN. Calculate the
maximum acceleration of the Bloodhound when using this engine.

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 (3)

a = f / m = 90 000 / 7000 = 12.86 m/s2

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The engine provides a constant forward force on the vehicle.

(c) State the equation linking work done, force and distance moved. (1)

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(d) Calculate the work done on the car if it travels for 1 km and has a forward thrust from the
engines of 90 kN. (4)

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The engines of the bloodhound are said to be around 45% efficient.

(e) State the equation linking efficiency, useful energy and total energy supplied. (1)

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(f) Using your answer to part (d), calculate the total energy supplied to the engines. (3)

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At the end of the run, the Bloodhound SSC requires the use of parachutes to slow it down.

(g) Explain what would happen to the stopping distance of the Bloodhound if the parachutes do not
open. (2)

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(Total for Question 4 = 15 marks)

5 A student is asked to investigate how the resistance of a filament bulb changes with the
voltage across it.

(a) Complete the table below indicating which apparatus the student might need to carry out
the investigation. The first item has been done for you.

(2)
Item Cross if
needed

ammeter

battery of cells

diode

filament bulb ×

leads

retort stand

thermistor

variable resistor

voltmeter

(b) Draw a circuit diagram to show how the student should connect the circuit.

(3)

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 (c) Describe what the student should do to obtain a set of results for her investigation.

(4)

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(d) On the axes provided, sketch what you would anticipate an I–V gra
filament bulb.

(3)

(e) Explain what your sketch shows about the resistance within a filament bulb.

(2)

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 (Total for Question 5 = 14 marks)

6 The diagram shows a water wave.

(a) Label the amplitude and the wavelength of the wave.

(b) Write down the equation that connects wavelength, frequency and wave speed.

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wave speed = frequency × wavelength

(c) Using the diagram above, calculate the wave speed of the water wave if the frequency of
the wave is 0.5 Hz.

wave speed = 0.5 x 4 (ước lượng trên hình) = 2 (m/s)

Electromagnetic waves are a type of wave that we receive from the Sun. These include radio waves,
gamma rays and ultraviolet.

(d) State three properties of electromagnetic waves. (3)

travel at a speed of 300 000 000 m/s

can travel through a vacuum

can be reflected and refracted

contain electric and magnetic fields

(1)

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E, Gamma rays can be used to sterilise equipment in hospitals and used to treat cancers.
Why are gamma rays thought of as dangerous?

(2)

they are ionising radiation (1) which can damage humans cells / cause cancer / cause mutations

(Total for Question 6 = 12 marks)

7 The picture below shows a hydroelectric dam. The water is held in the top dam until electricity is
required. The water is then released from the top of the dam. It falls and turns a turbine, which
generates electricity.

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(a) State the law of the conservation of energy. (2)

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(b) Describe the energy changes that occur in this example. (2)

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The hydroelectric dam is 80 m tall. In 1 second, the mass of water that falls is 85 000 kg.

(c) (i) State the equation linking gravitational potential energy, mass, g, and height. (1)

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(c) (ii) Calculate the gravitational potential energy of the water at the top of the dam. (2)

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(d) (i) State the equation linking efficiency, useful energy output and total energy output. (1)

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(d) (ii) If the hydroelectric plant is 80% efficient at converting the gravitational potential energy to
electrical energy, how much useful energy is output? (2)

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(d) (iii) Suggest one reason why the useful energy output is less than the gravitational potential
energy.
(1)

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(Total for Question 7 = 11 marks)

8 This question is about astrophysics.

(a) Which of the following objects does not orbit the Sun?

(1)

A comet

B Moon

C planet

D Kuiper belt

(b) Objects are held in orbit around the Sun by

(1)

A electrostatic force

B gravitational force

C magnetic force

D nuclear force

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 (c) Which of the following is closest to Earth?

(1)

A the Sun

B the Moon

C a black hole

D the centre of the Universe

(d) State the two factors that will affect how brightly we see a star in the night’s sky. (2)

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(e) The Sun is a Main Sequence star. It is in a stable period.

Explain using the idea of forces, how our Sun remains stable during this time. (3)

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(Total for Question 8 = 8 marks)

9 (a) Background radiation is the low-level radiation that surrounds us all of the time.

Which type of radioactive substance is released from rocks?

(1)

A cosmic rays

B technetium-99

C radon gas

D x-rays
(b) Radon gas is an alpha emitter. What does an alpha particle consist of?

(1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(c) Alpha is said to be highly ionising. What does this statement mean?

(2)

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(d) Why might someone be concerned about handling alpha sources based on them being
highly ionising?

(2)

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(e) Suggest two ways in which alpha sources can be handled safely.

(2)

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(f) A science teacher demonstrates the penetrating power of alpha, beta and gamma
emitters using paper, aluminium and lead sheets of differing thickness and a Geiger
counter. Explain what you would expect to see for each of the radiations in the space
below.

(6)

Alpha ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Beta …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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Gamma ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

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(Total for Question 9 = 14 marks)

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10 The diagram below shows a uranium-235 nucleus which has absorbed a slow-moving neutron,
which then goes on to produce a number of products.

(a) Name the process shown in the diagram.

(1)

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(b) Explain how a chain reaction is established in the diagram.

(4)

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(c) The energy released from this reaction is then used to produce electricity. In what form is
the energy released.

(1)

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(d) Explain how this nuclear reaction is controlled and maintained at a critical level in the
reactor vessel.

(4)

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(Total for Question 10 = 10 marks)

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 107 MARKS

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