Cambridge & Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions

What is the unit of power in SI base units?

In an experiment to demonstrate Brownian motion, smoke particles in a container are illuminated by a strong light source and observed through a mic...

A horizontal plate of area 0.036 m² is beneath the surface of a liquid of density 930 kg m⁻³. The force on the plate due to the pressure of the liq...

The graph shows the relationship between stress and strain for three wires of the same linear dimensions but made from different materials. [Figure...

The graph shows the effect of applying a force of up to 5 N to a spring. [Figure 22.1] What is the total increase in length produced by a 7 N force...

The following force-extension graphs are drawn to the same scale. Which graph represents the deformed object with the greatest amount of elastic po...

A wave that can be polarised must be

Which statement about electromagnetic radiation is correct?

The diagram shows two sinusoidal waveforms. [Figure 26.1] At time t = 0 the waves are in phase. At the dotted line, t = 18s. At which time is the p...

A sound wave is set up in a long tube, closed at one end. The length of the tube is adjusted until the sound from the tube is loudest. What is the ...

Two light sources produce visible interference fringes only in certain circumstances. Which condition enables visible interference fringes to be fo...

The diagram shows a pair of parallel metal plates 4.0 mm apart connected to a 9.0 V battery. [Figure 29.1] What is the electric field strength betw...

Which path shows a possible movement of an electron in the electric field shown? [Figure 30.1]

The diagram shows a non-uniform electric field near a positively charged and a negatively charged sphere. Four electrons, A, B, C and D, are shown ...

A charge of 8.0 C passes through a resistor of resistance 30 Ω at a constant rate in a time of 20 s. What is the potential difference across the re...

The graph shows the variation with potential difference (p.d.) of the current in a lamp filament. [Figure 33.1] Which statement explains the shape ...

Two electrically-conducting cylinders X and Y are made from the same material. Their dimensions are as shown. [Figure 34.1] What is the ratio resis...

A power supply of electromotive force (e.m.f.) 12 V and internal resistance 2 Ω is connected in series with a load resistor. The value of the load ...

Each of Kirchhoff's laws is linked to the conservation of a physical quantity. Which physical quantities are assumed to be conserved in the formula...

The diagram shows a potential divider circuit which, by adjustment of the contact X, can be used to provide a variable potential difference between...

A constant 60 V d.c. supply is connected across two resistors of resistance 400 kΩ and 200 kΩ. [Figure 38.1] What is the reading on a voltmeter, al...

Which statement concerning α-particles is correct?

A nucleus of the nuclide ²⁴¹Pu decays by emission of a β-particle followed by the emission of an α-particle. ⁹⁴ Which nucleus is formed?

Which quantity has the same base units as momentum?

Vectors P and Q are drawn to scale. [Figure showing vectors P and Q] Which diagram represents the vector (P + Q)?

What is the approximate kinetic energy of an Olympic athlete when running at maximum speed during a 100 m race?

Physical quantities can be classed as vectors or as scalars. Which pair of quantities are both vectors?

A student is given a reel of wire of diameter less than 0.2 mm and is asked to find the density of the metal. Which pair of instruments would be mo...

Variables x and y are related by the equation y = p – qx where p and q are constants. Values of x and y are measured experimentally. The results co...

The speed of a car is calculated from measurements of the distance travelled and the time taken. The distance is measured as 200m, with an uncertai...

A science museum designs an experiment to show the fall of a feather in a vertical glass vacuum tube. The time of fall from rest is to be close to ...

The graph of velocity against time for an object moving in a straight line is shown. [Figure showing velocity-time graph] What is the corresponding...

The dotted line shows the path of a competitor in a ski-jumping competition. [Figure showing ski-jumper's path] Ignoring air resistance, which grap...

The velocity of a car changes as shown. [Figure showing velocity-time graph] What is the acceleration of the car?

A ball of mass 0.5kg is thrown against a wall at a speed of 12ms⁻¹. It bounces back with a speed of 8 ms⁻¹. The collision lasts for 0.10s. [Figure ...

Two identical, perfectly elastic spheres have the same mass m. They travel towards each other with the same speed v along a horizontal frictionless...

A 1.2kg mass is supported by a person's hand and two newton-meters as shown. [Figure showing mass supported by hand and two newton-meters] When the...

A lorry of mass 20 000 kg has a constant resultant force F acting on it. It accelerates from 6.0 ms⁻¹ to 30.0 ms⁻¹ in a time of 300 s. What is the ...

A stationary body floats in water. [Figure showing a block floating in water] Which statement about the forces acting on the body is correct?

A rigid uniform beam is pivoted horizontally at its midpoint. Different vertical forces are applied to different positions on the beam. In which di...

A picture on a wall is supported by a wire looped over a nail. [Figure showing a picture supported by a wire over a nail] The mass of the picture i...

A piston in a gas supply pump has an area of 500 cm² and it moves a distance of 30 cm during one stroke. The pump moves the gas against a fixed pre...

Trains supply coal to a power station. The table below gives quantities describing the operation of the power station. [Table with symbol and unit ...

Which row correctly describes the spacing and motion of the molecules in water and in ice when both are at a temperature of 0 °C? [Table with spaci...

Which row gives the correct description for the arrangement of atoms in the four types of material? [Table with column headers: 'atoms have no long...

What leads to the conclusion that the movement of molecules is random?

The diagram shows the force-extension graphs for two materials, of the same dimensions, loaded to fracture. [Figure showing force-extension graphs]...

Two wires, X and Y, are made from different metals and have different dimensions. The Young modulus of wire X is twice that of wire Y. The diameter...

The diagram shows two identical loudspeakers driven in phase by a common audio-frequency source. [Figure showing two loudspeakers and regions of lo...

A horizontal glass tube, closed at one end, has a layer of dust laid inside it on its lower side. Sound is emitted from a loudspeaker that is place...