Exam-style questions by topic — AQA GCSE Physics
One verified question for each of 80 topics. These are written for this specification and checked by MasteryMind. They are not past-paper questions, and they are not from AQA.
Energy stores and systems
A current of 2 A flows through a heater for 30 s when the potential difference across it is 12 V. Calculate the energy transferred to the heater by the current.
Practise Energy stores and systemsChanges in energy
In the equation for gravitational potential energy, $E_p = m g h$, what is the standard unit for height, $h$?
Practise Changes in energyEnergy changes in systems
A 0.5 kg sample of a liquid is heated and stores 8400 J of thermal energy. The temperature of the liquid rises by 4 °C. Calculate the specific heat capacity of the liquid.
Practise Energy changes in systemsPower
Two motors each transfer 900 J of energy lifting identical loads. Motor P takes 6 s and motor Q takes 15 s. What is the power of motor P?
Practise PowerEnergy transfers in a system
A ball is dropped and falls to the ground. Which statement about the energy of the ball is correct?
Practise Energy transfers in a systemEfficiency
A device has an efficiency of 35%. It is supplied with 400 J of energy. Calculate the useful energy transferred by the device.
Practise EfficiencyNational and global energy resources
Which of the following is classified as a main energy resource available for use on Earth?
Practise National and global energy resourcesElectrical charge and current
A student builds a closed loop containing a lamp, a closed switch and connecting wires, but no cell or battery. The lamp does not light. Which statement explains why no charge flows in this circuit?
Practise Electrical charge and currentCurrent, resistance and potential difference
A fixed 24 V supply is connected to a variable resistor. The resistance is changed from 3 Ω to 12 Ω. By what factor does the current change, and why?
Practise Current, resistance and potential differenceResistors
A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is used in a circuit to monitor daylight. The LDR has a resistance of 500 Ω when measured at midday in bright sunlight. What is a likely value for the resistance of the LDR at midnight when it is completely dark?
Practise ResistorsSeries and parallel circuits
A circuit is constructed so that the current from a battery passes through a variable resistor and then splits to pass through either a motor or a buzzer before returning to the battery. Which statement correctly describes the arrangement of these components?
Practise Series and parallel circuitsDirect and alternating potential difference
A student says that the UK mains supply is a direct potential difference of about 230 V. Which statement corrects the student?
Practise Direct and alternating potential differenceMains electricity
Which wire in a three-core mains cable completes the circuit?
Practise Mains electricityEnergy transfers in everyday appliances
Two identical electric heaters are switched on. Heater A is switched on for 30 minutes and Heater B is switched on for 60 minutes. How does the energy transferred by the heaters compare?
Practise Energy transfers in everyday appliancesThe National Grid
In the National Grid, a step-up transformer is placed at the power station and a step-down transformer is placed near homes. What is the overall effect of this arrangement?
Practise The National GridStatic charge
A polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth and the rod gains electrons. What charge does the cloth have after the rubbing?
Practise Static chargeElectric fields
A charged metal sphere is placed on an insulating stand. A student measures the force on a small test charge at two distances from the sphere. Which result would be expected?
Practise Electric fieldsDensity of materials
A liquid and a solid are made of the same substance. Using the arrangement of particles, why is the liquid usually less dense than the solid?
Practise Density of materialsChanges of state
When a solid melts to form a liquid, what happens to the total mass of the substance?
Practise Changes of stateInternal energy
Which of the following is the correct definition of the internal energy of a system?
Practise Internal energyTemperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity
A 0.5 kg sample of a liquid is heated so that its temperature increases by 20 °C. The specific heat capacity of the liquid is 4200 J/kg °C. Using ∆E = m c ∆θ, what is the change in thermal energy of the sample?
Practise Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacityChanges of state and specific latent heat
The specific latent heat of fusion of ice is 334 000 J/kg. How much energy is required to melt 0.50 kg of ice at 0 °C?
Practise Changes of state and specific latent heatParticle motion in gases
Two identical sealed containers hold the same gas. Container A is at 300 K and container B is at 600 K. Which statement about the molecules in the two containers is correct?
Practise Particle motion in gasesPressure in gases (physics only)
A weather balloon expands as it rises higher into the atmosphere. Assuming the temperature remains constant, what causes this expansion?
Practise Pressure in gases (physics only)Increasing the pressure of a gas (physics only) (HT only)
A bicycle pump is used to inflate a tyre. The air inside the pump is compressed rapidly. Explain, in terms of work done and the kinetic energy of particles, why the air inside the pump becomes warmer.
Practise Increasing the pressure of a gas (physics only) (HT only)The structure of an atom
A helium atom has a basic structure common to all atoms. Which description correctly identifies the location of its subatomic particles?
Practise The structure of an atomMass number, atomic number and isotopes
Chlorine-35 and chlorine-37 are isotopes. In the conventional representation, what is different about these two isotopes?
Practise Mass number, atomic number and isotopesThe development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry)
What significant event in the development of the atomic model occurred about 20 years after the nucleus became an accepted scientific idea?
Practise The development of the model of the atom (common content with chemistry)Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation
Which statement correctly describes what happens inside the nucleus when a beta particle is emitted?
Practise Radioactive decay and nuclear radiationNuclear equations
A nucleus of uranium-238 emits an alpha particle to form thorium. The incomplete equation is ²³⁸₉₂U → Th + ⁴₂He. What are the mass number and atomic number of the thorium nucleus?
Practise Nuclear equationsHalf-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay
A sample initially contains 6.4 × 10²⁰ undecayed nuclei of a radioactive isotope. After 20 years, there are 4.0 × 10¹⁹ undecayed nuclei remaining. What is the half-life of the isotope?
Practise Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decayRadioactive contamination
Which statement best describes radioactive contamination?
Practise Radioactive contaminationBackground radiation
Which of these workers is most likely to receive a higher radiation dose because of their occupation?
Practise Background radiationDifferent half-lives of radioactive isotopes
Which statement correctly describes the half-lives of different radioactive isotopes?
Practise Different half-lives of radioactive isotopesNuclear fission
When a nucleus undergoes fission, what happens to the nucleus?
Practise Nuclear fissionNuclear fusion
In a fusion reaction, two light nuclei join to form a heavier nucleus. The total mass of the nuclei before the reaction is 5.000 × 10⁻²⁷ kg and the total mass after the reaction is 4.996 × 10⁻²⁷ kg. Which statement explains why energy is released in this reaction?
Practise Nuclear fusionScalar and vector quantities
A pupil lists four quantities: energy, force, temperature and acceleration. How many of these are scalar quantities?
Practise Scalar and vector quantitiesContact and non-contact forces
A student says that when a magnet attracts a steel paperclip, only the magnet exerts a force. Which statement corrects this?
Practise Contact and non-contact forcesGravity
A probe of mass 250 kg is sent from the Earth's surface, where g = 9.8 N/kg, to a point in space where g = 3.2 N/kg. A student says the probe's weight halves. Use calculations to decide whether the student is correct.
Practise GravityResultant forces
A single force of 100 N acts on a box. It is resolved into a horizontal component of 80 N and a vertical component of 60 N. What is the resultant of these two component forces?
Practise Resultant forcesForces and elasticity
Two springs are joined so that the same force acts on each. Spring A has a spring constant of 40 N/m and spring B has a spring constant of 80 N/m. When a force is applied, spring A extends by 6 cm. What is the extension of spring B?
Practise Forces and elasticityMoments, levers and gears (physics only)
A uniform metre ruler is balanced on a pivot at the 50 cm mark. A 6.0 N weight hangs at the 30 cm mark on the left. What weight must hang at the 90 cm mark on the right to balance the ruler?
Practise Moments, levers and gears (physics only)Pressure in a fluid 1
A rectangular window in a submarine has a length of 0.60 m and a width of 0.40 m. Calculate the area of the window in m².
Practise Pressure in a fluid 1Pressure in a fluid 2 (HT only)
A rectangular block is submerged in water. The water pressure on its top face is 1500 Pa and on its bottom face is 2200 Pa. The area of each face is 0.04 m². Calculate the resultant upward force on the block due to the pressure difference.
Practise Pressure in a fluid 2 (HT only)Atmospheric pressure
A hiker walks from the bottom of a valley up to the top of a hill. How does the amount of air above the hiker change during the climb?
Practise Atmospheric pressureDistance and displacement
A walker moves 6 km east from a start point to a finish point. Which quantity is 6 km east?
Practise Distance and displacementSpeed
A runner completes a 400 m race. The average speed is calculated as 8 m/s, but the runner's speed at the finish line is 10 m/s. Which statement explains this difference?
Practise SpeedAcceleration
A cyclist travelling at 3 m/s accelerates steadily at 2 m/s² over a distance of 10 m. Using final velocity ² − initial velocity ² = 2 × acceleration × distance, what is the final velocity of the cyclist?
Practise AccelerationNewton's First Law
A spacecraft is moving through deep space at a constant velocity with no resultant force acting on it. Which statement explains why the spacecraft continues to move?
Practise Newton's First LawNewton's Second Law
What is the standard unit for acceleration, a, in the equation for Newton's Second Law?
Practise Newton's Second LawNewton's Third Law
Two students, A and B, pull on opposite ends of a rope in a tug-of-war. Neither student is moving. Student A pulls the rope to the left with a force of 400 N. Which statement correctly describes the force the rope exerts on Student A and the resultant force on Student A?
Practise Newton's Third LawStopping distance
Two identical cars, A and B, apply the same braking force on the same road. Car A is travelling at 15 m/s and Car B is travelling at 30 m/s. Which car will have the greater stopping distance and why?
Practise Stopping distanceReaction time
Which of the following factors would increase a driver's reaction time?
Practise Reaction timeFactors affecting braking distance 1
A car has worn brake pads and is driven on a wet road. Explain why the braking distance is greater than for the same car with new brake pads on a dry road.
Practise Factors affecting braking distance 1Factors affecting braking distance 2
A car is moving along a road. The driver presses the brake pedal, so a friction force acts between the brakes and the wheels. What happens to the kinetic energy of the car and to the temperature of the brakes?
Practise Factors affecting braking distance 2Momentum is a property of moving objects
A lorry of mass 12000 kg is moving at a velocity of 18 m/s. A second lorry has a mass of 9000 kg and is moving at a velocity of 24 m/s. Calculate the difference in momentum between the two lorries.
Practise Momentum is a property of moving objectsConservation of momentum
A 1400 kg car moving at 12 m/s collides head-on with a 600 kg car moving at 18 m/s in the opposite direction. The cars stick together. What is the velocity of the combined wreckage?
Practise Conservation of momentumChanges in momentum (physics only)
A child falls onto a cushioned playground surface instead of concrete. The child has the same change in momentum in both cases. Explain, in terms of force and time, why the cushioned surface is safer.
Practise Changes in momentum (physics only)Transverse and longitudinal waves
A student drops a stone into a tank of water and watches a cork floating on the surface. The cork rises and falls as the ripples pass but does not move towards the tank wall. Which statement best explains this observation?
Practise Transverse and longitudinal wavesProperties of waves
A wave travels at 10 m/s and has a wavelength of 2.5 m. Use the wave speed equation to find the period of this wave.
Practise Properties of wavesReflection of waves (physics only)
A light wave travelling through air meets a dark, opaque surface. The wave does not bounce back and does not pass through the material. Instead, its energy is taken in by the surface. What name is given to this process?
Practise Reflection of waves (physics only)Sound waves (physics only) (HT only)
A hearing test shows that a person cannot detect a 22 000 Hz sound but can detect a 2 000 Hz sound. Explain why this result is expected from the way sound is converted into vibrations in the ear.
Practise Sound waves (physics only) (HT only)Properties of electromagnetic waves 1
In a required practical, a student places a thermometer in a black can and an identical thermometer in a shiny silver can. Both cans contain the same volume of hot water at the same starting temperature. After 10 minutes, which thermometer shows the lower temperature and why?
Practise Properties of electromagnetic waves 1Properties of electromagnetic waves 2
A radio wave with a frequency of 200 kHz is absorbed by a receiving aerial. What is produced in the electrical circuit connected to the aerial?
Practise Properties of electromagnetic waves 2Lenses (physics only)
In a lens experiment, an object is 4.0 cm tall and its image is 25 mm tall. What is the image height expressed in cm, so that it matches the unit of the object height?
Practise Lenses (physics only)Emission and absorption of infrared radiation
What happens to radiation that reaches the surface of a black body?
Practise Emission and absorption of infrared radiationPerfect black bodies and radiation
Which statement describes the radiation emitted by every object?
Practise Perfect black bodies and radiationPoles of a magnet
A student places a plotting compass near a steel bar magnet. The compass needle turns to point in different directions as it is moved around the magnet. Which statement explains why the compass needle turns?
Practise Poles of a magnetMagnetic fields
A student holds a bar magnet near four different objects and records whether each object is pulled towards the magnet. Which object is a magnetic material that the magnet can attract?
Practise Magnetic fieldsElectromagnetism
What happens to the magnetic field of a solenoid when an iron core is placed inside it?
Practise ElectromagnetismFleming's left-hand rule (HT only)
A straight wire carrying a current is placed at right angles to a uniform magnetic field. Which change would increase the size of the force acting on the wire?
Practise Fleming's left-hand rule (HT only)Electric motors (HT only)
A vertical rectangular coil carrying a current is placed in a uniform horizontal magnetic field. The coil is free to rotate about a vertical axis. Explain why the coil tends to rotate and why it would not rotate continuously without a commutator.
Practise Electric motors (HT only)Loudspeakers (physics only) (HT only)
A loudspeaker is connected to an electrical circuit. The current in the circuit varies in size and direction. Explain how these variations in current produce pressure variations in the air.
Practise Loudspeakers (physics only) (HT only)Induced potential (HT only)
A stationary coil of copper wire is connected to a sensitive voltmeter. An electromagnet is positioned near the coil. Which of the following actions will induce a potential difference across the ends of the stationary coil?
Practise Induced potential (HT only)Microphones (HT only)
A moving-coil microphone changes the pressure variations of a sound wave into which quantity in the circuit?
Practise Microphones (HT only)Transformers (HT only)
A transformer has an input p.d. of 230 V and an output p.d. of 11.5 V. The primary coil has 800 turns. How many turns are on the secondary coil?
Practise Transformers (HT only)Our solar system
A star is in equilibrium. Which change would happen if the rate of fusion in the core increased?
Practise Our solar systemThe life cycle of a star
Which process occurring in stars is responsible for producing all of the naturally occurring elements?
Practise The life cycle of a starOrbital motion, natural and artificial satellites
A satellite is moved to a circular orbit with a smaller radius. What happens to its speed and the gravitational force on it?
Practise Orbital motion, natural and artificial satellitesRed-shift (physics only)
Light from a distant galaxy is red-shifted more than light from a nearby galaxy. What does this observation suggest about the expansion of the universe?
Practise Red-shift (physics only)
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