Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions
Browse 35,704 questions from Cambridge O-Level & A-Level and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE & IAL exams. Click any question to practice.
The diagram shows an experiment which has been set up to demonstrate two-source interference. Microwaves of wavelength λ pass through two slits S₁ ...
Two oppositely-charged horizontal metal plates are placed in a vacuum. A positively-charged particle starts from rest and moves from one plate to t...
A battery of electromotive force (e.m.f.) V and negligible internal resistance is connected to a 1 kΩ resistor, as shown. [Figure 30.1] A student a...
A copper wire is to be replaced by an aluminium alloy wire of the same length and resistance. Copper has half the resistivity of the alloy. What is...
The diagram shows an electric pump for a garden fountain connected by an 18 m cable to a 230 V mains electrical supply. [Figure 32.1] The performan...
Cell X has an e.m.f. of 2.0 V and an internal resistance of 2.0 Ω. Cell Y has an e.m.f. of 1.6 V and an internal resistance of 1.2 Ω. These two cel...
In the circuit shown, a light-dependent resistor (LDR) is connected to two resistors R₁ and R₂. The potential difference (p.d.) across R₁ is V₁ and...
A power supply and a solar cell are compared using the potentiometer circuit shown. [Figure 35.1] The e.m.f. produced by the solar cell is measured...
In the circuit shown, all the resistors are identical. [Figure 36.1] The reading on voltmeter V₁ is 8.0 V and the reading on voltmeter V₂ is 1.0 V....
The diagram shows a light-dependent resistor (LDR) and a thermistor forming a potential divider. [Figure 37.1] Under which set of conditions will t...
A nucleus X decays into a nucleus Y by emitting an alpha particle followed by two beta particles. Which statement about this nuclear decay is correct?
A slow-moving neutron collides with a nucleus of uranium-235. This results in a nuclear reaction that is represented by the following nuclear equat...
The first artificial radioactive substance was made by bombarding aluminium, ²⁷₁₃Al, with α-particles. This produced an unstable isotope of phospho...
Which definition is correct and uses only quantities rather than units?
The average kinetic energy E of a gas molecule is given by the equation E = k T where T is the absolute (kelvin) temperature. What are the SI base ...
An analogue ammeter has a pointer which moves over a scale. Following prolonged use, the pointer does not return fully to zero when the current is ...
The arrow represents the vector R. Which diagram does not represent R as two perpendicular components?
A power supply of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 50V and negligible internal resistance is connected in series with resistors of resistance 100Ω and ...
A single sheet of aluminium foil is folded twice to produce a stack of four sheets. The total thickness of the stack of sheets is measured to be (0...
In an experiment to determine the acceleration of free fall g, a ball bearing is held by an electromagnet. When the current to the electromagnet is...
A stone is thrown horizontally from the top of a cliff. Air resistance is negligible. Which graph shows the variation with time of the vertical com...
A sprinter runs a 100 m race in a straight line. He accelerates from the starting block at a constant acceleration of 2.5 m s⁻² to reach his maximu...
A firework rocket is fired vertically upwards. The fuel burns and produces a constant upwards force on the rocket. After 5 seconds there is no fuel...
Trolley X, moving along a horizontal frictionless track, collides with a stationary trolley Y. The two trolleys become attached and move off togeth...
An astronaut throws a stone with a horizontal velocity near to the Moon's surface. Which row describes the horizontal and vertical forces acting on...
Newton's third law of motion is often summarised as 'Every action (force) has an equal and opposite reaction.' A book rests on a table. If the weig...
A uniform solid block has weight 500 N, width 0.4 m and height 0.6 m. The block rests on the edge of a step of depth 0.8 m, as shown. [Figure showi...
The diagram shows a hydroelectric power station. [Figure showing a reservoir, a pipe (penstock) leading down to a turbine house, and points X (in r...
A fisherman lifts a fish of mass 250 g from rest through a vertical height of 1.8 m. The fish gains a speed of 1.1 m s⁻¹. What is the energy gained...
Water from a reservoir is fed to the turbine of a hydroelectric system at a rate of 500 kg s⁻¹. The reservoir is 300 m above the level of the turbi...
Which row correctly describes the ordering and motion of the molecules in liquid water and in ice when both are at a temperature of 0 °C?
The maximum pressure that granite rock can withstand is 2.0 × 10⁸ N m⁻². Above this pressure, the rock begins to flow like a liquid. The density of...
To determine the Young modulus of a wire, several measurements are taken. In which row can the measurement not be taken directly with the stated ap...
A long, thin metal wire is suspended from a fixed support and hangs vertically. Masses are suspended from its lower end. The load on the lower end ...
The diagram represents a steel tube with wall thickness w which is small in comparison with the diameter of the tube. [Figure showing a tube under ...
Two light waves of the same frequency are represented by the diagram. [Figure showing two sinusoidal displacement-phase angle graphs. Both start at...
A sound wave has a speed of 330 m s⁻¹ and a frequency of 50 Hz. What is a possible distance between two points on the wave that have a phase differ...
What is not an essential condition for an observable interference pattern to occur between the waves from two sources?
Source S emits microwaves with a constant amplitude. The microwaves hit a metal screen P and are reflected. A stationary wave is formed between S a...
A pattern of waves was observed without being able to view the source of the waves. The pattern is represented in the diagram. [Figure showing a se...
A positive charge and a negative charge of equal magnitude are placed a short distance apart. Which diagram best represents the associated electric...
A charged oil drop of mass m, with n excess electrons, is held stationary in the uniform electric field between two horizontal plates separated by ...
Which unit is not used in either the definition of the coulomb or the definition of the volt?
When a thin metal wire is stretched, it becomes longer and thinner. This causes a change in the resistance of the wire. The volume of the wire rema...
Which statement is not valid?
A cell of e.m.f. E delivers a charge Q to an external circuit. Which statement is correct?
A potential divider circuit consists of fixed resistors of resistance 2.0 Ω and 4.0 Ω connected in series with a 3.0 Ω resistor fitted with a slidi...
A cell of e.m.f. 2.0 V and negligible internal resistance is connected to a network of resistors as shown. [Figure showing a 2.0V cell connected to...
An experiment in which α-particles were deflected by a gold foil produced new insights into the structure of the atom. Which conclusion can be draw...
A radioactive substance contains a number of identical nuclei that emit β-particles. Which property of these nuclei remains unaltered by the emission?