Practice Paper 1 (Edexcel IGCSE Physics)

This question is about motion graphs.

A skateboarder is travelling along a flat road at constant speed. Her friend is standing by the side of the road.

The friend starts their stop watch once the skateboarder passes them.

On the axes below, sketch a graph of the skateboarder's distance from her friend against time on the stopwatch.

Ahead of the skateboarder, the flat road begins to slope downhill at a constant angle.

(i) The skateboarder reaches the start of the downhill section and begins accelerating. Give the name of the force causing this acceleration.

(ii) On the axes below, sketch a graph of the skateboarder's velocity starting from when she begins travelling downhill. Ignore the effects of friction and air resistance.

Just before reaching the downhill part of the road, the skateboarder's speed was 3 m/s. After travelling down the hill for 5 seconds, her speed is now 10 m/s.

Calculate the acceleration of the skateboarder in these 5 seconds.

A rabbit runs across the road in front of a car.

The driver applies the brakes.

State four factors that affect the chance of the rabbit escaping without being hit.

Airbags are one of the many safety devices used in cars to protect the driver if there is a crash. Airbags protect the driver by

A driver has a mass of 67 kg and drives at a velocity of 15 m/s.

(i) State the formula linking momentum, mass and velocity.

(ii) Calculate the momentum of the driver.

The car is involved in a crash. The driver is wearing a seatbelt and comes to rest in 0.36 s.

(i) State the equation linking force, change in momentum and time.

(ii) Show that the force on the driver is about 2800 N.

A passenger with the same mass as the driver is also in the car at the time of the crash.

They were not wearing a seatbelt and experienced an impact force that was 5 times greater than the force experienced by the driver.

Calculate the time taken by the passenger to come to a stop.

time taken = .............................................................. s

The diagram shows the apparatus used to investigate moments.

The 2 N weight is placed 60 cm from the pivot.

The newtonmeter is placed 10 cm from the pivot.

(i) State the equation linking moment, force and perpendicular distance from the pivot.

(ii) Calculate the reading on the newtonmeter.

Ignore the weight of the ruler.

reading = ............................................... N

The metre rule is replaced by an iron bar.

The iron bar is 1 m long and has a weight of 10 N.

The newtonmeter and the 2 N weight stay in their original position.

Explain how this change affects the reading on the newtonmeter.

A student is investigating the variation of resistance and temperature in a thermistor. The diagram shows part of the circuit the student intends to use.

Complete the circuit diagram to show how the student should connect the apparatus, including a voltmeter and an ammeter.

The student chooses a fixed resistor with a resistance of 5 kΩ. The reading on the ammeter is 0.8 mA.

(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.

(ii) Calculate the voltage across the 5 kΩ resistor.

Voltage = ............................... V

The manufacturer's guide states that the thermistor has a resistance of 12 kΩ at room temperature.

The student wants to confirm the accuracy of this value before starting the investigation.

At room temperature, the voltmeter shows a reading of 8 V.

Determine if this reading is consistent with the manufacturer's value of resistance.

A student investigates how the current in component X varies with the voltage across it. The diagram shows the circuit used for the investigation.

The student uses the variable resistor to vary the voltage across component X. The table gives the student's results.

(i) Plot a graph of the student's results.

(ii) Draw the curve of best fit.

(i) Give the name of component X.

(ii) Draw the circuit symbol for this component.

(i) State the formula linking resistance, voltage and current.

(ii) Describe how resistance changes as the current through this component changes. Use data from the table to support this.

(iii) When the voltmeter has a reading of 4.0 V, the variable resistor has a resistance of 5.0 Ω.

Calculate the voltage across the cell.

A washing machine has an electric motor and an electric heater.

The resistance of the heater is 22 Ω.

The mains voltage is 230 V.

(i) State the equation linking voltage, current and resistance.

(ii) Show that the current in the heater is about 10 A when it is working.

The washing machine is fitted with a fuse rated at 13 A.

(i) Explain why the washing machine is fitted with a fuse.

(ii) When the motor is working, the current in it is 1.74 A.

Explain why it would not be sensible to replace the 13 A fuse with a 2 A fuse.

The photograph shows a fuel delivery at a petrol station.

Source: Jefferson Siegel New York Daily News

Explain how a fuel tanker can become electrically charged while it is moving.

Pumping fuel from an electrically-charged tanker can be dangerous.

(i) Describe a possible danger of pumping fuel from an electrically-charged tanker.

(ii) The driver connects an earth wire to the fuel tanker before pumping fuel.

Explain how connecting the earth wire reduces the possible dangers.