IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 21, May/June 2026

A ball rolls down a slope. Which equipment is used to measure the time this takes? A a thermometer B a diverging lens C a protractor D a stopwatch

An object moves in a straight line. The energy in the kinetic store of the moving object is $90\text{ J}$. The momentum of the object is $60\text{ kg m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. Which quantities are vector quantities and what is the mass of the object?

A car is travelling at a velocity of $2.0\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. The car accelerates at a constant $0.20\text{ m}\mathrm{/}{\text{s}}^2$ for a time of $2.5\text{ minutes}$. What is the final velocity of the car? A $2.5\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ B $5.2\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ C $30\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ D $32\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$

The gravitational field strength at the surface of the Earth varies slightly from place to place. At the South Pole it is $9.86\text{ N}\mathrm{/}\text{kg}$ and in London it is $9.81\text{ N}\mathrm{/}\text{kg}$. An explorer collects a rock at the South Pole and moves it to London. How does moving the rock from the South Pole to London affect the mass and the weight of the rock?

The diagram shows a bird in flight. The bird is flying in a horizontal direction to the right. In which direction does air resistance act on the bird? A upwards B to the right C downwards D to the left

The diagram shows a uniform metre ruler of weight $Q$. Two additional weights, $P$ and $R$, act on the metre ruler. The ruler is balanced horizontally. Which equation is correct? A $Px=Qy+R(z+y)$ B $Px=Qy+Rz$ C $Px+Qy+Rz=0$ D $P=Q+R$

A mass of $4.0\text{ kg}$ is travelling at a velocity of $6.0\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. A force acts on the mass and its velocity increases to $20\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. Which impulse produces this change? A $3.5\text{ Ns}$ B $6.5\text{ Ns}$ C $56\text{ Ns}$ D $80\text{ Ns}$

Which pair of energy resources is derived from the process of nuclear fusion in the Sun? A fossil fuels and tidal B geothermal and nuclear fuel C nuclear fuel and tidal D fossil fuels and waves

An object is beneath the surface of a liquid. One factor that affects the pressure exerted on the object is the gravitational field strength. Which other factors affect the pressure due to the liquid? A the depth of the liquid and the density of the liquid only B the mass of the object and the density of the liquid only C the mass of the object and the depth of the liquid only D the mass of the object, the depth of the liquid and the density of the liquid

Which row describes the arrangement and the average separation of gas particles?

The same mass of a gas is trapped in four identical cylinders by a piston that can move. The diagrams show the samples of gas in different conditions of volume and temperature. Which list gives the pressure of the gas in order from lowest to highest? A $1\to 2\to 3\to 4$ B $1\to 3\to 2\to 4$ C $4\to 2\to 3\to 1$ D $4\to 3\to 2\to 1$

A fixed mass of gas has a volume $V_1$ at pressure $p_1$. Which expression gives the final pressure $p_2$ of the gas when it is compressed to a new volume $V_2$ at a constant temperature? A $\frac{p_1{V}_2}{V_1}$ B $\frac{p_1{V}_1}{V_2}$ C $\frac{V_1{V}_2}{p_1}$ D $\frac{p_1}{V_1{V}_2}$

The temperature of a copper block increases. Which energy store in the block must increase? A internal B elastic C gravitational potential D chemical

On a cold day, a shiny metal rod feels colder to the touch than a black plastic rod. Which statement explains this observation? A The metal rod is a better absorber of infrared radiation than the plastic rod. B The metal rod is a better thermal conductor than the plastic rod. C The metal rod is a worse absorber of infrared radiation than the plastic rod. D The metal rod is a worse thermal conductor than the plastic rod.

The diagram shows a coal fire heating a room. The arrows X, Y and Z represent three methods of thermal energy transfer. Which row matches a description of a method of thermal energy transfer to the arrow in the diagram representing this transfer?

Which thermal process can transfer energy through a vacuum? A conduction B convection C evaporation D radiation

Two students stand facing each other at position P and at position Q. The students hold the ends of a piece of rope. The student at P moves one end of the rope up and down to send a wave along the rope towards the student at Q. Which row shows what is transferred from P to Q by the wave and what is not transferred from P to Q by the wave?

When a person speaks, sound waves leave through the person's mouth and spread out in many directions. Which row states the physical process that causes the sound waves to spread out and the reason why this happens as the sound waves leave an open mouth?

A ray of light travels in air. The ray strikes a glass block. The angle between the ray and the block is ${60}^{\circ }$. The speed of light in air is $3.0\times {10}^8\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. The speed of light in glass is $2.0\times {10}^8\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$. What is the angle of refraction in the glass block? A ${19}^{\circ }$ B ${35}^{\circ }$ C ${40}^{\circ }$ D ${75}^{\circ }$

The diagram shows two rays of light from the same point on an object passing through a thin converging lens. Which statement describes the image of the object? A It is real and inverted on the left side of the lens. B It is real and upright on the right side of the lens. C It is virtual and inverted on the right side of the lens. D It is virtual and upright on the left side of the lens.

Three statements about red light are listed. 1 Red light is one of the traditional seven colours that make up the visible spectrum. 2 Red light has the highest frequency in the visible spectrum. 3 Red light has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum. Which statements are correct? A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 2 only C 1 and 3 only D 2 and 3 only

Two rays of light are different colours. Which row is correct?

A person is speaking. The sound the person makes can be transmitted as a signal rather than as a longitudinal wave. Which statement about the transmission of the sound as a signal is correct? A The sound is originally analogue but can be transmitted as a digital signal. B The sound is originally digital but can be transmitted as an analogue signal. C The sound is originally analogue and can only be transmitted as an analogue signal. D The sound is originally digital and can only be transmitted as a digital signal.

Which value is closest to the speed of sound in air? A $30\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ B $300\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ C $300000\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ D $300000000\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$

What is meant by induced magnetism? A the force of attraction between the N pole of one magnet and the S pole of a different magnet B the force of repulsion between the N poles of two magnets C when a material placed in a magnetic field becomes a permanent magnet D when a material placed in a magnetic field becomes a temporary magnet

A magnetic field does not exert a force on a stationary electric charge. A magnetic field exerts a force on a moving electric charge. Which statement explains this? A A moving charge has an electric field. B A moving charge has a gravitational field. C A moving charge has a magnetic field. D A moving charge has kinetic energy.

A smoke detector is connected to a $9.0\text{ V}$ cell. The cell transfers energy at a rate of $1.0\times {10}^{-4}\text{ W}$. How much charge passes through the smoke detector in one day? A $0.040\text{ C}$ B $0.96\text{ C}$ C $78\text{ C}$ D $7.8\times {10}^9\text{ C}$

A student connects a resistor of resistance $R$ in parallel with a cell of electromotive force (e.m.f.) $V$. Which calculation gives the current $I$ in the resistor? A $\frac{R}{V}$ B $R\times V$ C $\frac{V}{R}$ D $V+R$

A light-emitting diode (LED) is connected to a battery and glows. The LED is then connected to the battery the other way round. Which statement is correct? A The LED will not glow. B The LED will still glow but less brightly. C The LED will glow more brightly. D The current in the LED will be too large.

The diagram shows a battery connected to four resistors. The resistances of the resistors are as labelled. At which point in the circuit is the current the lowest? A B C D

The circuit shown can be completed by inserting components at X and at Y. The completed circuit is a potential divider in which the potential difference (p.d.) across component Y increases when the temperature increases. Which row shows the components X and Y?

A student investigates the magnetic field caused by a current of $2\text{ A}$ in a straight wire. The student measures the magnetic field strength at different distances from the straight wire. The student then repeats the experiment using a current of $4\text{ A}$ in the same wire. Which graph represents the pattern in the student's data? A B C D

Which feature is not part of a d.c. motor? A a coil of wire B a pair of slip rings C a magnetic field D a split-ring commutator

When a beam of positively charged alpha particles is directed towards a thin sheet of gold in a vacuum, the following observations are made. 1 Most of the alpha particles pass straight through the sheet of gold. 2 A small number of alpha particles are deflected through angles greater than $4^{\circ }$. Which row links each observation to its appropriate conclusion?

In which process does a large nucleus split into two smaller nuclei, each about half the size of the original nucleus? A alpha-particle scattering B nuclear fission C nuclear fusion D radioactive decay

The diagram shows a beam of beta particles entering a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is into the page. In which direction is the beam of beta particles deflected? A downwards towards the bottom of the page B into the page C out of the page D upwards towards the top of the page

The equation shows the decay of radon to form polonium. ${}_{86}^{222}\text{Rn}\to {}_{84}^{218}\text{Po}+\text{X}$ What is X? A an $\alpha$-particle B a $\beta$-particle C a neutron D a proton

A student is doing an experiment with radioactive materials. Which piece of advice is not useful? A Do not spend too long doing the experiment. B Keep any material not being used at a distance. C Take frequent sips of water. D Wear gloves.

The planet Mercury orbits the Sun at an average distance of $5.8\times {10}^{10}\text{ m}$ from the Sun. Mercury takes 88 days to orbit the Sun. What is Mercury's average orbital speed? A $2.1\times {10}^{-5}\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ B $7600\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ C $48000\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$ D $2.8\times {10}^{18}\text{ m}\mathrm{/}\text{s}$

In approximately five billion years, our Sun will run out of hydrogen fuel in its core. Which row shows two later stages in its life cycle?