11 markmedium
The diagram shows a 12 V battery connected to an ammeter and two resistors.
What is the reading on the ammeter?
Choose your answer
0.60 A
1.2 A
2.4 A
60 A
Combined Science — Physics
Practice Paper 1 (Cambridge International IGCSE Science)
Exam code:065328 questions · 62 marks · ≈ 62 min · spans 14 of 14 topics
Assembled from the topic question banks — not an official Cambridge International paper21 markmedium
An electric heater and an electric motor are connected to a mains power supply.
The power of the heater is 3.0 kW and the power of the motor is 1.0 kW.
The cost of electricity is $0.20 per kWh.
What is the total cost of using the heater and the motor for 5.0 hours?
Choose your answer
$0.12
$0.16
$3.00
$4.00
31 markmedium
A car of mass 800 kg is travelling in a straight line at a constant speed of 12 m/s. A constant resultant force then acts on the car causing the speed to increase.
After 5.0 s, the speed of the car is 20 m/s.
What is the size of the resultant force acting on the car?
Choose your answer
0 N
500 N
1280 N
3200 N
42 marksmedium
(b)
Fig. 7.2 shows a wind turbine used to generate electricity from the power of the wind.
Fig. 7.2
A wind turbine produces electrical power of 2200 W at a voltage of 240 V.
Calculate the energy transferred by the wind turbine in 15 seconds.
513 marksmedium
5 marks
A student determines the density of the material used to make a metre rule.
Fig. 4.1 shows the metre rule (not drawn to scale).
Fig. 4.1 (not to scale)
(i) On Fig. 4.1, draw a double-headed arrow (↔) to show the length L of the metre rule.
(1 mark)
(ii) Fig. 4.2 shows the actual size of the end of the metre rule.
Fig. 4.2 (actual size)
Use a ruler to measure width w and thickness t of the metre rule in Fig. 4.2.
Record each measurement to the nearest 0.1 cm.
(2 marks)
(iii) The measurements in (a)(ii) are recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm.
State why it is not appropriate to record the measurements to the nearest 0.01 cm.
(1 mark)
(iv) The length L of the metre rule is 100.0 cm.
Calculate the volume V of the metre rule.
Use your answers to (a)(ii) and the equation shown.
(1 mark)
3 marks
The student determines the mass M of the metre rule using a balancing method.
Procedure
The student:
step 1 places a pivot directly under the 60.0 cm mark on the metre rule.
Fig. 4.3 shows the distance d = 60.0 cm.
Fig. 4.3 (not to scale)
step 2 places a load on the metre rule and adjusts the position of the load so that the rule balances
step 3 records that the centre of the load is directly above the 67.1 cm mark on the metre rule.
(i) Calculate the distance from the centre of the load to the pivot.
(1 mark)
step 4 moves the pivot so that distance d = 70.0 cm
step 5 adjusts the position of the load so that the metre rule balances
step 6 records that the centre of the load is directly above the 84.2 cm mark on the metre rule
(ii) Calculate the distance from the centre of the load to the pivot.
(1 mark)
(iii) Use the results for (b)(i) and (b)(ii) to calculate the mass M of the metre rule.
Use the equation shown.
M = 5 \left(\right. x_{1} + x_{2} \left.\right)
(1 mark)
2 marks
Fig. 4.4 shows apparatus used for measuring mass.
Fig. 4.4
(i) State the name of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4.4.
(1 mark)
(ii) The apparatus in Fig. 4.4 is showing an error.
State the type of error shown in Fig. 4.4.
(1 mark)
3 marks
(d)
Use your answers to (a)(iv) and (b)(iii) to calculate the density ρ of the material used to make the metre rule.
Use the equation shown.
Give your answer to two significant figures.
Give the unit for your answer.
61 markeasy
A rock has a mass of 20 kg. The rock is at rest at a height of 5.0 m above the ground.
It then falls to the ground.
What is the speed of the rock just before it hits the ground?
Choose your answer
7.0 m/s
9.9 m/s
44 m/s
98 m/s
71 markmedium
(b)
The Earth orbits the Sun as part of the Solar System.
State the name of the planet that orbits closest to the Sun.
81 markmedium
Which sequence is part of the life cycle of a small star (about the same size as the Sun)?
Choose your answer
red giant → planetary nebula + white dwarf
red giant → supernova → black hole
red supergiant → planetary nebula + black hole
red supergiant → supernova → white dwarf
92 marksmedium
(c)
Fig. 9.1 shows the arrangements of particles in ethanol and sulfur at a temperature of 25 °C.
Fig. 9.1
Use Fig. 9.1 and information from Table 9.1 to state which diagram, X or Y, shows the structure of ethanol and of sulfur at 25°C.
Explain your answer in terms of particles.
ethanol: ..................
sulfur: ..................
explanation: ..................
101 markmedium
A tank is full of a warm liquid. A student wants to place a cooling unit inside the tank to cool all the liquid as quickly as possible. There are two possible positions for the cooling unit, P and Q. The positions are shown in the diagram.
How does cooling affect the density of the liquid and what is the best position for the cooling unit?
| effect of cooling | best position for cooling unit | |
|---|---|---|
| A | decreases density | P |
| B | decreases density | Q |
| C | increases density | P |
| D | increases density | Q |
Choose your answer
112 marksmedium
Solar power can also be used to generate electricity.
(i) Visible light from the Sun contains all the colours of the visible spectrum.
State the colour with the longest wavelength.
(1 mark)
(ii) Most of the energy from the Sun is radiated in three regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
One of these regions is visible light.
State the name of one of the other two regions.
(1 mark)
121 markmedium
A wave has a frequency of 6.0 kHz and travels at a speed of 300 m/s.
What is the wavelength of the wave?
Choose your answer
0.020 m
0.050 m
20 m
50 m
131 markmedium
White light passes through a glass prism and produces a spectrum.
Which diagram shows the paths of the red light and the violet light?
Choose your answer
141 markeasy
What is the frequency range of ultrasound?
Choose your answer
all frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz
all frequencies higher than 20 kHz
all frequencies lower than 20 Hz
all frequencies lower than 20 Hz and all frequencies higher than 20 kHz
151 markmedium
The diagram shows a battery that is connected to three LEDs, P, Q and R.
Which of the LEDs are lit?
Choose your answer
P only
P and Q only
Q and R only
none of them
161 markmedium
(a)
Table 9.1 gives some data about five substances.
Table 9.1
| aluminium | ethanol | poly(ethene | sulfur | water | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| density in g / cm3 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| state at 25 °C | solid | liquid | solid | solid | liquid |
| electrical property | conductor | insulator | insulator | insulator |
State the electrical property of poly(ethene)
Give a reason for your answer.
electrical property: ..................
reason: ..................
171 markmedium
The diagram shows a force of 200 N pulling an object up a slope. The object moves 5.0 m along the slope.
The object moves 3.0 m vertically upwards and 4.0 m horizontally.
How much work is done by the 200 N force?
Choose your answer
600 J
800 J
1000 J
1400 J
181 markmedium
A solid block has a density of 1.1 g/cm3.
The block is lowered into three liquids, X, Y and Z, with different densities.
The densities of the liquids are:
liquid X: 1.0 g/cm3
liquid Y: 1.2 g/cm3
liquid Z: 1.3 g/cm3
In which of the liquids does the block float?
Choose your answer
in liquid X only
in liquids Y and Z only
in liquids X, Y and Z
in none of the liquids
195 marksmedium
Fig. 7.1 shows a speed–time graph for a student walking to school.
Fig. 7.1
(i) Determine the time taken by the student to reach maximum speed.
(1 mark)
(ii) On Fig. 7.1, write an X at a point on the graph when the student is decelerating.
(1 mark)
(iii) Determine the distance the student walks at constant speed.
(3 marks)
201 markhard
A planet orbits the Sun with an orbital speed of 48 km/s. The radius of the orbit is 5.7 × 107 km.
What is the orbital period of the planet?
Choose your answer
3.7 × 10⁶ s
7.5 × 10⁶ s
8.6 × 10⁹ s
1.7 × 10¹⁰ s
211 markeasy
What is a light-year?
Choose your answer
the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in 1 year
the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in 100 000 years
the time taken for light to travel across the Universe
the time taken for light to travel across the Milky Way galaxy
221 markeasy
A sample of a substance has a definite shape and a definite volume.
The substance changes state. The sample now has no definite shape but still has a definite volume.
What is the name of the change of state?
Choose your answer
condensation
evaporation
freezing
melting
231 markeasy
Which statement about thermal radiation is correct?
Choose your answer
It can travel through a vacuum.
It is absorbed more quickly by shiny surfaces than by dull surfaces.
It is emitted more quickly by shiny surfaces than by dull surfaces.
It is mainly ultraviolet radiation.
243 marksmedium
Earthquakes produce seismic P-waves (primary) and seismic S-waves (secondary). P-waves are longitudinal and S-waves are transverse.
(i) State one other type of longitudinal wave.
(1 mark)
(ii) Describe the difference between transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
(2 marks)
251 markeasy
A teacher wants to connect an electric heater to the mains supply.
The safety label on the heater states that the heater is double-insulated.
What does the teacher know from reading this label?
Choose your answer
The outer casing of the heater does not need to be earthed.
The outer casing of the heater must be earthed.
The heater needs two fuses.
The heater needs two trip switches.
261 markeasy
A quantity is defined as 'the electrical work done by a source in moving a unit charge around a complete circuit'.
What is the quantity?
Choose your answer
electric current
electromotive force (e.m.f.)
potential difference (p.d.)
resistance
279 marksmedium
4 marks
Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit used in a toy car.
Fig. 9.1
(i) The resistance of component T is . The resistance of component U is .
Calculate the combined resistance of components T and U.
(1 mark)
(ii) The current in component R is 2.7 A. The current in component T is 2.5 A.
Determine the current in component S and component U.
(2 marks)
(iii) State the name of component S.
(1 mark)
5 marks
Component U is an electric motor. When the motor is switched on, the toy car moves.
(i) Complete Fig. 9.2 to show one energy transfer that occurs.
Fig. 9.2
(2 marks)
(ii) The toy car moves for 10 s.
The power input to the motor is 3.6 W.
The useful energy output by the motor is 32 J.
Show that the efficiency of the motor is 89 \%.
(3 marks)
286 marksmedium
2 marks
(b)
A ball made of poly(ethene) has a density of 0.9 g/cm³.
Predict what happens to the ball when placed in a beaker of water and in a beaker of ethanol.
Use the data in Table 9.1 to explain your answer.
water: ..................
ethanol: ..................
explanation: ..................
4 marks
(d)
A thin, flat piece of aluminium is used as a mirror.
(i) The piece of aluminium has a mass of 9.0 g.
Use information from Table 9.1 to calculate the volume of the piece of aluminium.
(2 marks)
(ii) Fig. 9.2 shows a person’s eye looking at the reflection of an object placed in front of the aluminium mirror.
Fig. 9.2
On Fig. 9.2:
- draw the normal line and label the angle of incidence of the incident ray with the letter i.
- draw the reflected ray to show how the eye is able to see the reflected image of the object.
(2 marks)