Physical quantities and units: past paper questions

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is an SI base quantity?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The table shows some physical quantities. Which row correctly identifies the quantities as scalars or vectors?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the SI base units for the moment of a force?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a reasonable estimate of the cross-sectional area of the wire in a paper clip?

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The surface area of one face of a cube is determined with an uncertainty of $\pm 1.0\mathrm{\%}$. This area is used to calculate the volume of the cube.

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Two quantities are measured. $$L=6.8\pm 0.1\text{ cm}$$ $$T=2.42\pm 0.08\text{ s}$$ $L$ and $T$ are related to $X$ by the equation shown. $$X=\frac{4{\pi }^{2}L}{T^2}$$ What is the calculated value and uncertainty of $X$?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which statement about vector quantities is correct?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantity is not an SI base quantity?

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• Question 3May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What represents a physical quantity?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the SI base units of the watt?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The density of the material of a rectangular block is determined by measuring the mass and linear dimensions of the block. The list shows the results obtained, together with their uncertainties.

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• Question 4May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows four forces acting on a small object. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows two forces of $6.0\text{ N}$ acting on an object. The angle between the lines of action of the two forces is ${60}^{\circ }$. What is the magnitude of the resultant force?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2024, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a reasonable estimate of the volume of one page from this examination paper?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 11Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  The diagram shows two coplanar forces, $P$ and $Q$, drawn to scale. Force $R$ is given by $R=Q-P$. Which diagram represents $R$?

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• Question 10May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  The mass of a fully grown African elephant is approximately four times the mass of an average car. The maximum speed of an African elephant is $40\text{ km}$ per hour. What is a reasonable estimate of the maximum momentum of a fully grown African elephant?

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• Question 15Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  A man of weight $600\text{ N}$ stands with both feet flat on the ground. What is a reasonable estimate of the pressure exerted on the ground by the weight of the man?

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• Question 16May/June 2026, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a unit for density?

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• Question 22Oct/Nov 2025, paper 11Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the SI base units of stress?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A physical quantity consists of a magnitude and a unit. Which row does not show a correct combination of a quantity and its unit?

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• Question 1May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  Which row correctly identifies scalar and vector quantities?

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• Question 1Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a reasonable estimate of the weight of an adult human?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which quantity is an SI base quantity?

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• Question 2May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What are the base units for intensity?

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• Question 2Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What describes a set of data with a high precision?

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• Question 3Oct/Nov 2025, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  Which physical quantity could have units of ${\text{N s}}^2{\text{m}}^{-1}$?

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• Question 12Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  A kite is in equilibrium at the end of a string, as shown. The kite has three forces acting on it: the weight $W$, the tension $T$ in the string, and the force $F$ from the wind. Which vector diagram represents the forces acting on the kite?

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• Question 4Oct/Nov 2023, paper 12Multiple choice1 markHas a diagram

  An aeroplane is moving at a constant speed in a straight line at an angle $\theta$ to the horizontal. Four forces act on the aeroplane: thrust force $T$, weight $W$, lift force $L$ and resistive force $R$. Which two equations must be correct?

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• Question 5May/June 2026, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  One object moves directly from P to R. In a shorter time, a second object moves from P to Q to R. Which statement about the two objects is correct for the journey from P to R?

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• Question 19Oct/Nov 2024, paper 12Multiple choice1 mark

  What is a unit for stress?

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