1.

The order of magnitude of the weight of an apple is

A. 10–4 N.

B. 10–2 N.

C. 1 N.

D. 102 N.
(Total 1 mark)

M
2. The density of a metal cube is given by the expression ρ  where M is the mass and V is the
V
volume of the cube. The percentage uncertainties in M and V are as shown below.

M 12 

V 4.0 

The percentage uncertainty in the calculated value of the density is

A. 3.0 .

B. 8.0 .

C. 16 .

D. 48 .
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 1
3. A ball is thrown vertically upwards from the ground. The graph shows the variation with time t
of the vertical displacement d of the ball.

Which of the following gives the final displacement after time T and the average speed between
time t = 0 and time t = T?

Displacement Average speed

A. 0 0

0 2D
B.
T

2D 2D
C.
T

D. 2D 0

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 2
4. A general expression for Newton’s second law of motion is

p
F .
t

What condition is applied so that the law may be expressed in the form F = ma?

A. The mass m is constant.

B. The acceleration a is constant.

C. The force F is constant.

D. The direction of the force F is constant.

(Total 1 mark)

5. Mandy stands on a weighing scale inside a lift (elevator) that accelerates vertically upwards as
shown in the diagram below. The forces on Mandy are her weight W and the reaction force from
the scale R.

The reading of the scale is

A. R + W.

B. W.

C. R.

D. R – W.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 3
6. Two spheres of masses m1 and m2 are moving towards each other along the same straight-line
with speeds v1 and v2 as shown.

The spheres collide. Which of the following gives the total change in linear momentum of the
spheres as a result of the collision?

A. 0

B. m1v1 + m2v2

C. m1v1 − m2v2

D. m2v2 − m1v1
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 4
7. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing
simple harmonic motion.

Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 5
8. In the circuit below, the voltmeter has a resistance 100 k. The battery has negligible internal
resistance and emf 6 V.

The reading on the voltmeter is

A. 0 V.

B. 2 V.

C. 3 V.

D. 4 V.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 6
9. The two graphs show the variation with time of the individual displacements of two waves as
they pass through the same point.

The displacement of the resultant wave at the point at time T is equal to

A. x1 + x2 .

B. x1 – x2 .

C. A1 + A2.

D. A1 – A2.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 7
10. In the circuit shown below, the cell has negligible internal resistance.

Which of the following equations is correct?

A. I1 = 2I2

B. I1 = 2I3

C. I2 = 2I3

D. I3 = 2I1
(Total 1 mark)

11. The diagram below shows a pulse travelling along a rope from X to Y. The end Y of the rope is
tied to a fixed support.

When the pulse reaches end Y it will

A. disappear.

B. cause the end of the rope at Y to oscillate up and down.

C. be reflected and be inverted.

D. be reflected and not be inverted.

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 8
12. A spacecraft orbits Earth. An astronaut inside the spacecraft feels “weightless” because

A. the gravitational field in the spacecraft is negligible.

B. the Earth exerts equal forces on the spacecraft and the astronaut.

C. the spacecraft and the astronaut have the same acceleration towards the Earth.

D. the spacecraft and the astronaut exert equal and opposite forces on each other.
(Total 1 mark)

13. In the circuit below, the battery has negligible internal resistance. Three identical lamps L, M
and N of constant resistance are connected as shown.

The filament of lamp N breaks. Which of the following shows the subsequent changes to the
brightness of lamp L and lamp M?

Lamp L Lamp M

A. stays the same decreases

B. increases stays the same

C. increases decreases

D. decreases increases
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 9
14. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the velocity v of an object moving on a
straight-line.

Which of the graphs below best represents the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the
object?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 10
15. The variation with time of the vertical speed of a ball falling in air is shown below.

During the time from 0 to T, the ball gains kinetic energy and loses gravitational potential
energy Ep. Which of the following statements is true?

A. Ep is equal to the gain in kinetic energy.

B. Ep is greater than the gain in kinetic energy.

C. Ep is equal to the work done against air resistance.

D. Ep is less than the work done against air resistance.

(Total 1 mark)

16. Which of the following correctly describes the change, if any, in the speed, wavelength and
frequency of a light wave as it passes from air into glass?

Speed Wavelength Frequency

A. decreases decreases unchanged

B. decreases unchanged decreases

C. unchanged increases decreases

D. increases increases unchanged

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 11
17. A wooden block is at rest on a horizontal frictionless surface. A horizontal spring is attached
between the block and a rigid support.

The block is displaced to the right by an amount X and is then released. The period of
oscillations is T and the total energy of the system is E.

X
For an initial displacement of which of the following shows the best estimate for the period
2
of oscillations and the total energy of the system?

Period Total energy

E
A. T
2
E
B. T
4
T E
C.
2 2
T E
D.
2 4
(Total 1 mark)

18. A frictionless trolley of mass m moves down a slope with a constant acceleration a. A second
similar frictionless trolley has mass 2m. The acceleration of the second trolley as it moves down
the slope is

1
A. a.
2

B. a.

C. 2a.

D. 4a.
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 12
19. Unpolarized light of intensity I0 is incident on a polarizer. The transmitted light is then incident
on a second polarizer. The axis of the second polarizer makes an angle of 60 to the axis of the
first polarizer.

1
The cosine of 60 is . The intensity of the light transmitted through the second polarizer is
2

A. I0 .

I0
B. .
2

I0
C. .
4

I0
D. .
8
(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 13
20. This question is about throwing a stone from a cliff.

Antonia stands at the edge of a vertical cliff and throws a stone vertically upwards.

The stone leaves Antonia’s hand with a speed v =8.0 m s–1. Ignore air resistance, the
acceleration of free fall g is 10 m s–2 and all distance measurements are taken from the point
where the stone leaves Antonia’s hand.

(a) Determine,

(i) the maximum height reached by the stone.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) the time taken by the stone to reach its maximum height.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Physics 14
 (b) The time between the stone leaving Antonia’s hand and hitting the sea is 3.0 s. Determine
the height of the cliff.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 6 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 15
21. The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x of a particle undergoing
simple harmonic motion.

Which graph correctly shows the variation with time t of the acceleration a of the particle?

(Total 1 mark)

IB Questionbank Physics 16
22. This question is about the electrical power available from a wind turbine.

The maximum electrical power generated by a wind turbine, Pout, was measured over a range of
incident wind speeds, vin.

The graph below shows the variation with vin of Pout. Uncertainties for the data are not shown.

(a) It is suggested that Pout is proportional to vin .

(i) Draw the line of best-fit for the data points.

(1)

(ii) State one reason why the line you have drawn does not support this hypothesis.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) The uncertainty in the power at 15 m s–1 is 5 . Draw an error bar on the graph to
represent this uncertainty.
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 17
 (b) The theoretical relationship between the available power in the wind, Pin, and incident
wind speed is shown in the graph below.

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000
Pm / kW

1500

1000

500

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Vm / ms–1

Using both graphs,

(i) determine the efficiency of the turbine for an incident wind speed of 14 m s–1.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(3)

IB Questionbank Physics 18
 (ii) suggest, without calculation, how the efficiency of the turbine changes with
increasing wind speed.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(3)

(c) Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of using wind turbines to generate electrical
energy.

Advantage: ...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................

Disadvantage: ...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................

...................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 12 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 19
23. This question is about an electric circuit.

A particular filament lamp is rated at 12 V, 6.0 mA. It just lights when the potential difference
across the filament is 6.0 V.

A student sets up an electric circuit to measure the I-V characteristic of the filament lamp.

In the circuit, shown below, the student has connected the voltmeter and the ammeter into the
circuit incorrectly.

The battery has emf 12 V and negligible internal resistance. The ammeter has negligible
resistance and the resistance of the voltmeter is 100 k. The maximum resistance of the
variable resistor is 15.

(a) Explain, without doing any calculations, whether there is a position of the slide S at
which the lamp will be lit.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) Estimate the maximum reading of the ammeter.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 20
 (c) Complete the circuit diagram below showing the correct position of the voltmeter and of
the ammeter in order to determine the I-V characteristic of the filament lamp.

(2)
(Total 7 marks)

24. Mechanical power

(a) Define power.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) A car is travelling with constant speed v along a horizontal straight road. There is a total
resistive force F acting on the car.

Deduce that the power P to overcome the force F is P = Fv.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 21
 (c) A car drives up a straight incline that is 4.8 km long. The total height of the incline is 0.30
km.

The car moves up the incline at a steady speed of 16 m s–1. During the climb, the average
friction force acting on the car is 5.0  102 N. The total weight of the car and the driver is
1.2  104 N.

(i) Determine the time it takes the car to travel from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Determine the work done against the gravitational force in travelling from the
bottom to the top of the incline.

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii) Using your answers to (c)(i) and (c)(ii), calculate a value for the minimum power
output of the car engine needed to move the car from the bottom to the top of the
incline.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(4)

IB Questionbank Physics 22
 (d) From the top of the incline, the road continues downwards in a straight line. At the point
where the road starts to go downwards, the driver of the car in (c), stops the car to look at
the view. In continuing his journey, the driver decides to save fuel. He switches off the
engine and allows the car to move freely down the hill. The car descends a height of 0.30
km in a distance of 6.4 km before levelling out.

The average resistive force acting on the car is 5.0  102 N.

Estimate

(i) the acceleration of the car down the incline.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(5)

(ii) the speed of the car at the bottom of the incline.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 23
 (e) In fact, for the last few hundred metres of its journey down the hill, the car travels at
constant speed. State the value of the frictional force acting on the car whilst it is moving
at constant speed.

...................................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 18 marks)

25. This question is about interference and diffraction.

Light from a laser is incident on two slits of equal width. After passing through the slits, the
light is incident on a screen. The diagram below shows the intensity distribution of the light on
the screen.

(a) The wavelength of the light from the laser is 633 nm and the angular separation of the
bright fringes on the screen is 4.00  10–4 rad. Calculate the separation of the slits.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b) Light from the laser is incident on many slits of the same width as the widths of the slits
above. Draw, on the above diagram, a possible new intensity distribution of the light on
the screen.
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 24
 (c) The laser is replaced by a source of white light. Describe, if any, the changes to the
fringes on the screen.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

26. Simple harmonic motion and the greenhouse effect

(a) A body is displaced from equilibrium. State the two conditions necessary for the body to
execute simple harmonic motion.

1. .........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

2. .........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 25
 (b) In a simple model of a methane molecule, a hydrogen atom and the carbon atom can be
regarded as two masses attached by a spring. A hydrogen atom is much less massive than
the carbon atom such that any displacement of the carbon atom may be ignored.

The graph below shows the variation with time t of the displacement x from its
equilibrium position of a hydrogen atom in a molecule of methane.

The mass of hydrogen atom is 1.7  10–27 kg. Use data from the graph above

(i) to determine its amplitude of oscillation.

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) to show that the frequency of its oscillation is 9.1  1013 Hz.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 26
 (iii) to show that the maximum kinetic energy of the hydrogen atom is 6.2  10–18 J.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(c) On the grid below, sketch a graph to show the variation with time t of the velocity v of the
hydrogen atom for one period of oscillation starting at t = 0. (There is no need to add
values to the velocity axis.)

(3)

(d) Assuming that the motion of the hydrogen atom is simple harmonic, its frequency of
oscillation f is given by the expression

1 k
f ,
2 mp

where k is the force per unit displacement between a hydrogen atom and the carbon atom
and mp is the mass of a proton.

(i) Show that the value of k is approximately 560 N m–1.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

IB Questionbank Physics 27
 (ii) Estimate, using your answer to (d)(i), the maximum acceleration of the hydrogen
atom.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(e) Methane is classified as a greenhouse gas.

(i) Describe what is meant by a greenhouse gas.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii) Electromagnetic radiation of frequency 9.1  1013 Hz is in the infrared region of

the electromagnetic spectrum. Suggest, based on the information given in (b)(ii),
why methane is classified as a greenhouse gas.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 17 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 28
27. This question is about a wedge film.

In an experiment to measure the thickness d of a piece of adhesive tape, the tape is used to
separate two flat plates of glass as shown below. This forms a wedge shaped air film.

A beam of monochromatic light is incident on the wedge film. The light that is reflected at right
angles to the wedge, is viewed using the microscope. A system of parallel fringes of equal
spacing is observed in the field of view of the microscope.

(a) Outline how the fringe system is formed.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 29
 (b) The spacing between the fringes is 1.2  10–4 m. The distance from where the two plates
of glass touch and the edge of the adhesive tape is 5.0  10–2 m. The wavelength of the
light is 480 nm. Estimate the thickness d of the adhesive tape.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

28. This question is about polarization.

(a) State what is meant by polarized light.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b) Polarized light of intensity I0 is incident on an analyser. The transmission axis of the
analyser makes an angle  with the direction of the electric field of the light.

(i) Calculate, in terms of I0, the intensity of light transmitted through the analyser
when  = 60.

.........................................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii) On the axes below, sketch a graph to show the variation with angle  of the
intensity of the transmitted light.

(2)

IB Questionbank Physics 30
 (c) Outline how polarizing sunglasses reduce glare from a reflecting surface.

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 7 marks)

IB Questionbank Physics 31