IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 23, May/June 2025

Which quantity can be measured using a ruler? A the distance travelled by a toy train in one second B the temperature of a toy train C the time taken for a toy train to travel one metre D the volume of a toy train

A car is driven from one town to another town along a road that is not straight. The driver of the car divides the total distance travelled by the total time taken. Which quantity does the driver calculate? A the acceleration of the car B the average speed of the car C the kinetic energy of the car D the velocity of the car

Which quantity can be determined from the area under a speed–time graph? A acceleration B distance C speed D velocity

Students are asked for a statement about the weight of an object. Three of the statements are listed. 1 The weight is the quantity of matter in the object. 2 The weight is the effect of a gravitational field on the object. 3 The weight is the force of attraction between the object and the Earth. Which statements describe the weight of the object? A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Samples of three different liquids have equal masses. The volumes of the samples are $190{\text{ cm}}^3$, $200{\text{ cm}}^3$ and $235{\text{ cm}}^3$. The liquids are poured into a large measuring cylinder and the liquids form three separate layers because they do not mix. What are the readings on the measuring cylinder at the two boundaries between the samples? A $190{\text{ cm}}^3$ and $390{\text{ cm}}^3$ B $190{\text{ cm}}^3$ and $425{\text{ cm}}^3$ C $235{\text{ cm}}^3$ and $425{\text{ cm}}^3$ D $235{\text{ cm}}^3$ and $435{\text{ cm}}^3$

A car moves along a level road. The diagram shows all of the horizontal forces acting on the car. Which statement is correct? A The car is slowing down. B The car is speeding up. C The car is moving at a constant speed. D The car is moving backwards.

A car is travelling around a circular track at a constant speed, as shown. In which direction is the resultant force on the car?

A railway truck of mass $8000\text{ kg}$ moves with a velocity of $1.0\text{ m / s}$ to the right. It collides with a railway truck of mass $12000\text{ kg}$ moving at $2.0\text{ m / s}$ to the left. The two trucks become joined to each other when they collide and move off together. What is the velocity of the two trucks after the collision? A $1.6\text{ m / s}$ to the left B $0.80\text{ m / s}$ to the left C $0.80\text{ m / s}$ to the right D $1.6\text{ m / s}$ to the right

A stone is dropped from a bridge which is $22\text{ m}$ above a river. What is the speed of the stone when it hits the water? A $15\text{ m / s}$ B $21\text{ m / s}$ C $220\text{ m / s}$ D $430\text{ m / s}$

Which row describes the particle structure of a gas?

The particles of a gas in a container of fixed volume gain energy in the kinetic store. Which effect does this have on the gas? A Both the pressure and the temperature of the gas increase. B Only the temperature of the gas increases. C Neither the pressure nor the temperature of the gas increases. D Only the pressure of the gas increases.

Gas particles exert a pressure when they collide with the walls of a container. Which statement about the gas particles is correct? A They experience a change in force, which results in a pressure equal to $\text{momentum}\times \text{area}$. B They experience a change in force, which results in a pressure equal to $\frac{\text{momentum}}{\text{area}}$. C They experience a change in momentum, which results in a pressure equal to $\text{force}\times \text{area}$. D They experience a change in momentum, which results in a pressure equal to $\frac{\text{force}}{\text{area}}$.

A solid changes into a liquid. Which term describes this change in state? A boiling B condensation C freezing D melting

The diagram shows some of the apparatus used to determine the specific heat capacity of a metal block. Which additional pieces of apparatus are required to find the specific heat capacity? A stop-watch, voltmeter and balance B resistor, stop-watch and ruler C ruler, balance and force meter D voltmeter, thermistor and insulation

Four different surfaces are at the same high temperature. Which surface emits thermal radiation at the slowest rate?

An object has a constant temperature. Which statement is correct? A There is no energy transfer to or from the object. B The rate at which the object receives energy is the same as the rate at which it transfers energy away. C The rate at which the object receives energy is smaller than the rate at which it transfers energy away. D The rate at which the object receives energy is greater than the rate at which it transfers energy away.

Which row correctly describes light waves?

A narrow beam of light consists of two waves of different wavelengths. The beam of light hits a sharp edge. Which effect will be seen beyond the sharp edge? A Both waves continue along the same straight line as before. B Both waves bend sharply and continue along a new straight line. C The wave of longer wavelength bends round the sharp edge more than the wave of shorter wavelength. D The wave of shorter wavelength bends round the sharp edge more than the wave of longer wavelength.

An object is placed $30\text{ cm}$ in front of a plane mirror. Which statement describes the image of the object? A The image is the same size as the object and $30\text{ cm}$ from the object. B The image is the same size as the object and $60\text{ cm}$ from the object. C The image is smaller than the object and $30\text{ cm}$ from the object. D The image is smaller than the object and $60\text{ cm}$ from the object.

Which statement about total internal reflection at a glass–air boundary is correct? A The angle of incidence inside the glass must be equal to the critical angle. B The angle of incidence inside the glass must be less than the critical angle. C The critical angle is proportional to the refractive index of the glass. D The speed of light in glass must be less than the speed of light in air.

What is the speed of radio waves in a vacuum and what is the speed of gamma rays in a vacuum?

A student makes a sound in front of a large wall. She hears an echo at time $t$ after making the sound. The speed of sound in air is $v$. Which expression is used to calculate the distance between the student and the wall? A $v\times t$ B $v÷t$ C $(v\times t)÷2$ D $(v÷t)÷2$

What is a compression? A a point in a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are close together B a point in a longitudinal wave where the particles of the medium are far apart C a point in a transverse wave where the particles of the medium are close together D a point in a transverse wave where the particles of the medium are far apart

Which row describes the magnetic field around a weak magnet?

A $0.60\text{ m}$ length of resistance wire with a diameter of $0.25\text{ mm}$ has a resistance of $6.0\mathrm{\Omega }$. A second piece of resistance wire of the same material with a diameter of $0.50\text{ mm}$ also has a resistance of $6.0\mathrm{\Omega }$. What is the length of the second piece of wire? A $0.15\text{ m}$ B $0.30\text{ m}$ C $1.20\text{ m}$ D $2.40\text{ m}$

A circuit contains a cell with an electromotive force (e.m.f.) of $2.0\text{ V}$. The current in the circuit is $2.0\text{ A}$. How much energy is transferred by the cell in $2.0\text{ minutes}$? A $2.0\text{ J}$ B $4.0\text{ J}$ C $8.0\text{ J}$ D $480\text{ J}$

What is the electromotive force (e.m.f.) of a cell? A the charge that passes through the cell per unit time B the energy supplied per unit charge as charge passes through the cell C the total charge flowing through the cell D the total energy stored in the cell

Four lamps and four switches are connected to a power supply, as shown. When all the switches are closed, all the lamps are lit. When one of the switches is then opened, only one lamp goes out. Which switch is opened?

In which mains electric wires are the fuse and the switch placed?

The diagram shows a wire moving downwards in a magnetic field between two magnetic poles. There is an induced current in the wire because of the movement. The induced current produces a force on the wire. In which direction is this force?

When the generator shown rotates, there is an a.c. electromotive force (e.m.f.) across the resistor between points P and Q. Diagram 1 shows the position of the coil at time $t=0$. The coil rotates clockwise. At time $t_1$, the coil position is horizontal, as shown in diagram 2. The graph shows the output e.m.f. between points P and Q plotted against time. Which point shows the e.m.f. at time $t_1$?

What is the purpose of the split-ring commutator in an electric motor? A to ensure that the magnetic field in the motor changes direction every half rotation B to ensure that the magnetic field in the motor stays in the same direction at all times C to ensure that the turning effect on the motor changes direction every half rotation D to ensure that the turning effect on the motor stays in the same direction at all times

A beta particle has less mass than an alpha particle, but the speed of a beta particle emitted during radioactive decay is approximately 20 times greater than the speed of an alpha particle. Which statement correctly compares properties of these two particles? A Alpha particles are less penetrating because they have less kinetic energy than beta particles. B Alpha particles are more penetrating because they have less kinetic energy than beta particles. C Alpha particles are less ionising because they have more kinetic energy than beta particles. D Alpha particles are more ionising because they have more kinetic energy than beta particles.

Which observation provides evidence for the nuclear atom? A attraction of opposite charges B emission of $\gamma$-rays during the decay of a radioactive nuclide C scattering of $\alpha$-particles by a thin metal foil D scattering of $\gamma$-rays by a thin metal foil

Which effect on living things is not caused by ionising radiation? A cancer B cell death C infection D mutation

Isotope X is radioactive. Which statement about X must be correct? A A nucleus of X is unstable. B X emits $\alpha$-particles. C X emits $\beta$-particles. D X emits $\gamma$-radiation.

An experiment is done to measure the radiation from a radioactive source. The source has a half-life of 10 minutes. The source is placed close to a detector that is connected to a counter, as shown. The average background count rate is 20 counts / minute. At the start of the experiment, the count rate recorded by the counter is 1000 counts /minute. What is the count rate 10 minutes later? A 490 counts /minute B 500 counts /minute C 510 counts /minute D 530 counts /minute

In which direction does the Sun appear to move every day, when viewed from the Earth? A east to west B north to south C south to north D west to east

A distant galaxy is moving away from the Milky Way at $4400000\text{ m / s}$. What is the approximate distance between the Milky Way and this distant galaxy? A $2\times {10}^{12}\text{ m}$ B $5\times {10}^{11}\text{ m}$ C $2\times {10}^{24}\text{ m}$ D $5\times {10}^{23}\text{ m}$

The orbit of Mercury is closer to the Sun than the orbit of the Earth is to the Sun. How do the values of the gravitational field strength of the Sun near Mercury and the orbital speed of Mercury compare to those values for the Earth?