5054/12 · May/June 2023
Download PDFIn an experiment, a ball is rolled down a curved track that is about half a metre long. Which measuring device is used to measure the length accurately? A metre rule B micrometer C stop-watch D tape measure

Which row describes acceleration, displacement, distance and speed?
| acceleration | displacement | distance | speed | |
| A | scalar | scalar | vector | scalar |
| B | scalar | vector | scalar | vector |
| C | vector | scalar | vector | vector |
| D | vector | vector | scalar | scalar |
What is the size of the resultant of the two forces shown? A B C D

The curved line on the distance–time graph shows the motion of a toy car. The straight line is the tangent to the curve at . What is the speed of the toy car at ? A B C D

The diagrams show four balances, W, X, Y and Z. The scales of all the balances are calibrated on the Earth to measure mass. Which balances also measure mass correctly when used on the Moon? A W and X B W and Z C X and Y D Y and Z



A spacecraft carries a probe to Mars where the gravitational field strength is . The weight of the probe on Mars is . The gravitational field strength on Earth is . What are the mass and the weight of the probe on Earth?
| mass / kg | weight / N | |
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C | ||
| D |
A student determines the density of a liquid. Which equipment does the student use? A a balance and a ruler B a balance and a measuring cylinder C a beaker and a measuring cylinder D a ruler and a beaker
Newton’s third law describes a pair of forces. Which row shows whether the two forces are of the same type and whether they act on the same object?
| A | different | different |
| B | different | same |
| C | same | different |
| D | same | same |
The stopping distance of a car is the sum of the thinking distance and the braking distance. Which factors affect the braking distance?
| key | ||||
| A | x | x | ||
| B | ||||
| C | x | |||
| D | x |
A load–extension graph for a spring is shown. Which point is the limit of proportionality for the spring and what is the spring constant of the spring equal to?
| A | Q | the gradient of PQ |
| B | Q | the gradient of QR |
| C | R | the gradient of PQ |
| D | R | the gradient of QR |


A uniform beam is pivoted at its midpoint. An object weighing is placed on the beam to the left of the pivot as shown. Which force and position balances the system? A acting downwards, to the right of the pivot B acting upwards, to the right of the pivot C acting downwards, to the left of the pivot D acting upwards, to the left of the pivot

A worker pulls a rope with a force through a distance in the direction of the force as shown. This causes a block of weight to move vertically upwards through a height . How much work is done by the worker? A B C D

A battery is connected in a circuit to light a lamp. What is the energy store in the battery? A chemical B electrostatic C gravitational D kinetic
What is a property of both liquids and gases? A They always fill their containers. B They are incompressible. C They can flow. D They have particles in fixed positions.
In an experiment, the volume of a gas in a cylinder is measured as the pressure of the gas is increased. The values obtained are shown.
What is a possible explanation for these results? A After the pressure is doubled, gas starts leaking into the cylinder. B After the pressure is doubled, gas starts leaking out of the cylinder. C The temperature of the gas is constant. D The temperature of the gas is increasing.


The diagrams show examples of thermal expansion. In which diagrams is the thermal expansion useful? A P, Q and R B P and Q only C P only D Q and R only



Which statement about copper explains why it is a better thermal conductor than glass? A Atomic vibration is passed on to neighbouring copper atoms slowly. B Atoms move through the copper and pass on kinetic energy. C There are density changes within the copper. D There are free electrons in the copper.
Which statement describes the transfer of thermal energy in a liquid by convection? A A decrease in its density causes the heated liquid to rise. B Free electrons carry energy large distances through the liquid. C Infrared radiation passes through the liquid and transfers energy. D Particles of the liquid vibrate and pass energy to neighbouring particles.
Which characteristics describe the image formed by a vertical plane mirror? A real and upside down B virtual and upright C real and larger than the object D virtual and smaller than the object
A ray of light passes into a block of transparent material as shown. What is the refractive index of the transparent material? A 0.66 B 1.15 C 1.64 D 1.83

The diagrams show light incident on the straight edge of a semi-circular glass block after passing through it. Which diagram shows refraction and an angle equal to the critical angle of the glass?

Which radioactive isotope can be used for measuring cracks or flaws in metal components? A americium-241, an alpha emitter with a half-life of 432 years B cobalt-60, a gamma emitter with a half-life of 5 years C radium-223, an alpha emitter with a half-life of 11 days D barium-137, a gamma emitter with a half-life of 3 minutes
Ultrasound is a type of sound wave that is not audible to a healthy human ear. Which range of frequencies contains only ultrasound? A – B – C – D –
What proves that a metal bar is a permanent magnet? A It attracts both ends of a compass needle. B It attracts one end of another magnet. C It conducts electricity. D It repels one end of another magnet.
The diagram shows a bar magnet and four labelled arrows. Which arrow shows the direction of the magnetic field at the point where the arrow is shown?

A shoe becomes positively charged by friction when it rubs against a carpet. What happens as the shoe becomes charged? A Negative electrons are transferred to the carpet. B Negative electrons are transferred to the shoe. C Positive electrons are transferred to the carpet. D Positive electrons are transferred to the shoe.
A metal conductor is connected between the positive and negative terminals of a battery. Which row gives the direction of movement of the particles that flow in the conductor and their name?
| direction of movement | name of particles | |
| A | protons | |
| B | electrons | |
| C | protons | |
| D | electrons |
Three identical cells are connected in parallel to a resistor. What is the advantage of using three cells in parallel rather than using a single cell? A Each cell produces more energy. B Each cell supplies more charge. C Each cell takes longer to discharge. D The e.m.f. is greater than that of a single cell.
A student has three resistors. She connects the resistors together in different arrangements. What is the minimum resistance and what is the maximum resistance of the arrangements that the student can produce?
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C | ||
| D |

The circuit diagram shows a variable resistor R connected in parallel to the lower section of a potential divider. The resistance of R increases. What happens to the two voltmeter readings and ?
| A | decreases | decreases |
| B | decreases | increases |
| C | increases | decreases |
| D | increases | increases |


The power consumption of a microwave oven is . The cost of of electrical energy is . What is the cost of using the microwave oven for ? A 6 cents B 36 cents C 60 cents D 360 cents
A coil of wire above a magnet is dropped. As the coil falls over the magnet, an e.m.f. is induced across the coil. What does not affect the magnitude of the e.m.f. induced across the coil? A changing the number of turns of wire in the coil B changing the height from which the coil is dropped C changing the direction of the magnet, so the north pole is at the bottom D changing the strength of the magnetic field from the magnet

The results of the alpha-particle scattering experiment give evidence for which of the following? A nuclear fusion B radioactive decay C the existence of isotopes D the size of the nucleus
A nucleus of an isotope of cobalt is represented by the symbol . What is the composition of this nucleus?
| A | ||
| B | ||
| C | ||
| D |
The only stable isotope of gold, Au, has 79 protons and 118 neutrons in a nucleus of an atom. How many elecrons are there in a neutral atom of this isotope? A 39 B 79 C 118 D 197
A sample of a radioactive isotope with a very long half-life is placed next to a detector. Sheets of different materials are inserted, one at a time, between the radioactive sample and the detector. The background count rate is subtracted from the readings on the detector and the corrected count rates are recorded in the table.
| type of material | |
| no sheet inserted | |
| thin aluminium sheet | |
| thin lead sheet | |
| thin paper sheet |
Which types of radiation are emitted by the radioactive sample? A alpha-particles and beta-particles only B alpha-particles only C beta-particles and gamma radiation only D gamma radiation only
In a fission reactor, which particle causes a uranium-235 nucleus to split? A alpha-particle B gamma ray C neutron D proton
What is the purpose of moderators in nuclear reactors? A to absorb all the neutrons in order to stop the chain reaction B to produce more neutrons in order to create a chain reaction C to remove thermal energy in order to control the chain reaction D to slow down neutrons in order to continue the chain reaction
In which region of the electromagnetic spectrum does the Sun radiate the most energy? A infrared region B microwave region C radio wave region D X-ray region
Four of the stages in the life cycle of a star, until it becomes a red giant, are shown. W Inward force of gravitational attraction is balanced by an outward force from its centre. X Internal gravitational collapse produces an increase in temperature. Y It expands. Z Most of the hydrogen has been converted to helium. In which order do these stages occur, starting with the earliest? A W X Y Z B W X Z Y C X W Y Z D X W Z Y






