IGCSE Physics Structured Questions Revision (CIE)

IGCSE Physics Structured Questions

This document contains 20 structured questions covering various topics from the Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) syllabus. Use these questions for revision and to test your understanding of key concepts.

Question 1

A car starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2.0 m/s² for 10 seconds. Calculate the final velocity of the car.

Show your working.

...............................................................................................

Final velocity = .......................... m/s [2]

Question 2

Define density and state its SI unit.

Definition: ................................................................................................

SI Unit: ..................................................... [2]

Question 3

Explain the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector quantity, giving one example of each from physics.

...............................................................................................

............................................................................................... [3]

Question 4

State the principle of moments. Describe how it can be applied to balance a see-saw.

Principle: ................................................................................................

Application: ................................................................................................

............................................................................................... [3]

Question 5

A spring has an original length of 15 cm. When a 5.0 N load is hung from it, its length becomes 18 cm. Calculate the spring constant.

Show your working.

...............................................................................................

Spring constant = .......................... N/m [3]

Question 6

Describe two ways in which heat can be transferred, providing a simple example for each.

1. ................................................................................................

Example: ................................................................................................

2. ................................................................................................

Example: ................................................................................................ [4]

Question 7

State the formula for calculating specific heat capacity and explain the meaning of each symbol.

Formula: ................................................................................................

Symbols: ................................................................................................

............................................................................................... [3]

Question 8

Distinguish between boiling and evaporation in terms of temperature and location of bubble formation.

Boiling: ................................................................................................

Evaporation: ................................................................................................ [2]

Question 9

A ripple tank experiment shows water waves with a wavelength of 3.0 cm and a frequency of 5.0 Hz. Calculate the speed of these waves.

Show your working.

...............................................................................................

Speed = .......................... cm/s [2]

Question 10

Draw a ray diagram to show how a ray of light behaves when it passes from air into a rectangular glass block at an angle to the normal. Label the normal, incident ray, refracted ray, and angle of incidence.

[Diagram space would be here in a real exam paper] [4]

Question 11

Explain why sound waves cannot travel through a vacuum.

...............................................................................................

............................................................................................... [2]

Question 12

List three applications of ultraviolet radiation and one hazard associated with it.

Applications:

................................................................................................
................................................................................................
................................................................................................

Hazard: ................................................................................................ [4]

Question 13

State Ohm's Law and write down its formula. Explain what happens to the current in a circuit if the resistance is doubled while the voltage remains constant.

Ohm's Law: ................................................................................................

Formula: ................................................................................................

Effect of doubling resistance: ................................................................................................ [3]

Question 14

Two resistors, 4 Ω and 6 Ω, are connected in series. Calculate their total resistance. If they are then connected in parallel, calculate their combined resistance.

Series: ................................................................................................

Parallel: ................................................................................................ [3]

Question 15

Describe the magnetic field pattern around a straight current-carrying wire.

...............................................................................................

............................................................................................... [2]

Question 16

State the 'motor effect' and explain one practical application of it.

Motor effect: ................................................................................................

Application: ................................................................................................

............................................................................................... [3]

Question 17

Explain the principle of electromagnetic induction.

...............................................................................................

............................................................................................... [2]

Question 18

Define half-life of a radioactive isotope. If an isotope has a half-life of 5 days, what fraction of the original sample will remain after 15 days?

Definition: ................................................................................................

Fraction remaining: ................................................................................................ [3]

Question 19

State the differences between alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) radiation in terms of their penetrating power.

...............................................................................................

............................................................................................... [3]

Question 20

Explain how a step-up transformer works and state its primary function in power transmission.

How it works: ................................................................................................

Function: ................................................................................................ [2]

Answer Key

Question 1

v = u + at = 0 + (2.0)(10) = 20 m/s

Question 2

Definition: Mass per unit volume. SI Unit: kg/m³ or g/cm³ (kgm⁻³)

Question 3

Scalar quantities have magnitude only (e.g., speed, mass, distance). Vector quantities have both magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, force, displacement).

Question 4

Principle: For an object to be in equilibrium, the sum of the clockwise moments about any pivot must be equal to the sum of the anticlockwise moments about the same pivot. Application: To balance a see-saw, a heavier person needs to sit closer to the pivot (fulcrum) to create an equal but opposite moment to a lighter person sitting further away.

Question 5

Extension (x) = 18 cm - 15 cm = 3 cm = 0.03 m. Spring constant (k) = F/x = 5.0 N / 0.03 m = 166.7 N/m (approx 167 N/m)

Question 6

1. Conduction: Transfer of heat through direct contact, mainly in solids, due to vibration of particles (e.g., heating a metal spoon in hot soup).

2. Convection: Transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases) (e.g., heating water in a pot, warm air rising).

3. Radiation: Transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves, requires no medium (e.g., heat from the Sun, heat from a fire). (Any two of these)

Question 7

Formula: Q = mcΔT. Q = heat energy (Joules), m = mass (kg), c = specific heat capacity (J/kg°C), ΔT = change in temperature (°C or K).

Question 8

Boiling occurs at a specific temperature throughout the liquid, with bubbles forming within the liquid. Evaporation occurs at any temperature from the surface of the liquid only.

Question 9

Speed (v) = frequency (f) × wavelength (λ) = 5.0 Hz × 3.0 cm = 15 cm/s

Question 10

[Diagram should show an incident ray entering the glass block, bending towards the normal, and then emerging parallel to the incident ray but displaced laterally, bending away from the normal.]

Question 11

Sound waves are mechanical waves, requiring a medium (particles) to propagate. A vacuum lacks particles, so sound cannot be transmitted.

Question 12

Applications: Sterilisation of medical equipment, sunbeds, detecting forged banknotes. Hazard: Skin cancer, eye damage (cataracts).

Question 13

Ohm's Law: The current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference across it, provided its temperature and other physical conditions remain constant. Formula: V = IR. If resistance is doubled and voltage is constant, the current will be halved.

Question 14

Series: R_total = R1 + R2 = 4 Ω + 6 Ω = 10 Ω. Parallel: 1/R_total = 1/R1 + 1/R2 = 1/4 + 1/6 = 3/12 + 2/12 = 5/12. R_total = 12/5 = 2.4 Ω.

Question 15

The magnetic field lines are concentric circles around the wire, with the direction determined by the right-hand grip rule (thumb points in current direction, fingers show field direction).

Question 16

Motor effect: A current-carrying conductor placed in a magnetic field experiences a force. Application: Electric motors, where the force causes a coil to rotate, converting electrical energy into kinetic energy.

Question 17

Electromagnetic induction is the process where a changing magnetic field (or a conductor moving through a magnetic field) induces an electromotive force (e.m.f.) and thus an electric current in a conductor.

Question 18

Definition: The time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay. After 15 days (3 half-lives), 1/2 × 1/2 × 1/2 = 1/8 of the original sample will remain.

Question 19

Alpha (α) radiation has the lowest penetrating power (stopped by paper). Beta (β) radiation has medium penetrating power (stopped by a few mm of aluminium). Gamma (γ) radiation has the highest penetrating power (stopped by thick lead or concrete).

Question 20

A step-up transformer has more turns in its secondary coil than in its primary coil. It increases the voltage and decreases the current. Its primary function in power transmission is to increase the voltage of electricity before it is transmitted over long distances, which reduces current and thus minimises energy loss due to heating of cables (P=I²R).

#physics#igcse#cambridge#cie#structured questions#revision#exam prep#0625