Practice Paper 2 (Edexcel IGCSE Physics)

Define the Doppler effect.

State the two properties which are observed to have changed due to the Doppler effect.

An object is moving away from a stationary observer whilst emitting a steady sound wave.

(i) State the property of the sound wave which increases.

(ii) State the property of the sound wave which decreases.

(iii) State the property of the sound wave which remains constant.

The following passage is about the Doppler effect.

Complete the following sentences by circling the correct words:

When a source starts to move away from / towards the observer, the wavelength of the wave broadens.

For sound waves, sound therefore appears at a higher / lower frequency to the observer.

For light waves, the light shifts towards the blue / red end of the electromagnetic spectrum due to its lower / higher frequency.

When a source starts to move away from / towards the observer, the wavelength of the wave shortens.

For sound waves, sound therefore appears at a higher / lower frequency to the observer.

For light waves, the light shifts towards the blue / red end of the electromagnetic spectrum due to its lower / higher frequency.

This is because blue / red light has a longer wavelength than blue / red light.

The diagram shows four planets, P, Q, R and S, orbiting a star.

Planet Q has a moon.

On the diagram, draw the orbit of this moon.

On the diagram from part (a), draw the orbit of a comet.

Planets nearer to the star take less time to orbit the star.

Suggest why.

As the planets orbit the star, the distances between the planets change.

Planet P is 200 million km from the star and planet R is 50 million km from the star.

(i) Calculate the maximum distance between planet P and planet R.

maximum distance = ........................................... million km

(ii) Calculate the minimum distance between planet P and planet R.

maximum distance = ........................................... million km

The colour of visible light a star emits tells us how hot or cold it is.

The table contains the colour classifications of the visible light emitted from stars.

Place a number from 1 − 7 in each box to put them in order from hottest (1) to coolest (7).

(i) Identify and explain the coolest stage of a star's life cycle.

(ii) Identify and explain the final stage and colour in the life cycle of a star similar in size to the Sun.

Explain how stars like the Sun are formed.

A student investigates how to produce a voltage. He hangs a magnet from a spring, above a coil that is connected to a data logger.

The student pulls the magnet through the coil to X and then releases it. The magnet moves up and down through the coil. The data logger produces this graph of voltage against time.

(i) Explain why the data logger records a varying voltage.

(ii) Which feature of the graph shows that the voltage is alternating?

(iii) Suggest why the voltage changes as shown by the graph.

The student repeats the experiment using two magnets taped together.

Compared to one magnet, these two magnets take a longer time to move up and down. The dotted line on the grid shows the original graph for one magnet.

On the same grid, sketch the graph that would be produced using two magnets.

The photograph shows a small electric motor.

Explain why the coil starts to spin when the switch is closed.

(i) Suggest how to make the coil spin in the opposite direction.

(ii) Suggest how to make the coil spin more slowly.

In a different motor, the magnets are curved and there is a piece of iron inside the coil. The iron increases the strength of the magnetic field through the coil.

Suggest how the curved magnets and the piece of iron improve the performance of the electric motor.

Which of the following statements about nuclear power is incorrect?

Which of the following statements about nuclear fusion is incorrect?

Energy and mass can be converted using the equation:

$change in energy=change in mass\times speed of light^{2}$

$ΔE=Δmc^{2}$

Fusion and fission are examples of when this conversion process occurs.

A particular fusion reaction that can occur is:

In this reaction:

• Mass of reactants m_R = mass of helium−3 + mass of helium−4
• Mass of product m_P = mass of beryllium−7
• Energy is released

State and explain which quantity is greater, m_R or m_P.

The difference in mass of the reactants and products was found to be 2.8 × 10^–30 kg.

The speed of light is 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s.

Calculate the amount of energy released. Give the unit.

The table shows the nature of alpha and beta particles.

Explain why alpha particles and beta particles have different penetrating powers.

The diagram shows a machine which makes aluminium foil.

The machine uses a radioactive source to measure the thickness of the foil.

The radioactive source emits beta particles. The output from the detector indicates the thickness of the foil.

Explain why beta particles are used, rather than alpha particles or gamma rays.

The diagram shows a syringe which contains air.

The piston is pushed in. The volume and pressure in the syringe change.

How do the volume and pressure of the air change when the piston is pushed in?

The passage below is about kinetic theory.

Complete the sentences.

Molecules in a gas are in constant random motion at ............... speeds.

Random motion means that the molecules do not travel in a specific path and undergo sudden changes in their motion if they collide with the ............... of its container or with other ................. .

The random motion of tiny particles in a fluid is known as .................. motion.

(i) State what is meant by the term absolute zero.

(ii) State the value of absolute zero including a unit.

absolute zero = ...................... unit ...............

A student plans to measure the refractive index of glass.

She traces a ray of light through a glass block as shown in the diagram.

Which letter represents the angle of refraction?

A microphone is connected to a data logger, which displays each sound wave as a graph. The diagrams show the graphs for two different sound waves.

The amplitude of sound wave Q is

The diagram shows a water wave.

What is the wavelength of the wave?

The Big Bang theory attempts to explain the origin of the Universe.

Describe the main ideas of the Big Bang theory.

State and explain the two pieces of evidence which support the Big Bang Theory of the origin of the Universe.

State and explain what type of electromagnetic radiation the CMBR will change into over the next few billion years.

Explain why our understanding of the beginning of the universe is just a theory.