Cambridge IGCSE™

* 1 6 6 5 3 9 1 0 5 0 *

PHYSICS 0625/63
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical May/June 2022

1 hour

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 40.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (EF) 308975
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1 A student investigates the forces supporting a metre rule.

He uses the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1. The scale of the metre rule faces upwards.

clamp

newton meter P newton meter Q

stand

metre rule
0.0 cm mark

d
1.00 N load loop of thread
bench

Fig. 1.1

(a) The student ensures that the metre rule is horizontal.

Briefly describe how to check that the rule is horizontal. You may draw a diagram if it helps to
explain your answer.

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) (i) The student sets the distance d between the 0.0 cm mark and the 1.00 N load as shown
in Fig. 1.1. He moves the thread supporting the 1.00 N load so that it is at the mark on
the metre rule shown in Fig. 1.2.

thread
supporting
1.00 N load

14 15 16 17

Fig. 1.2

Record the distance d indicated on Fig. 1.2.

d = .................................................... cm [1]
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(ii) The readings on newton meter P and newton meter Q are shown in Fig. 1.3.

N N
0.0 0.0

0.5 0.5

1.0 1.0

1.5 1.5

2.0 2.0

2.5 2.5

newton meter P newton meter Q

Fig. 1.3

Record FP, the reading on newton meter P shown in Fig. 1.3.

Record FQ, the reading on newton meter Q shown in Fig. 1.3.

FP = ...............................................................

FQ = ...............................................................
[1]

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(c) The student moves the 1.00 N load to distances d = 25.0 cm, d = 35.0 cm, d = 45.0 cm,
d = 55.0 cm and d = 65.0 cm.

He reads the value FP on newton meter P and the value FQ on newton meter Q. His readings
are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

d / cm FP / N FQ / N
25.0 1.81 1.19
35.0 1.70 1.30
45.0 1.56 1.45
55.0 1.44 1.55
65.0 1.31 1.69

Using the values from Table 1.1, plot a graph of FP / N (y-axis) against d / cm (x-axis).
On the same axes, and using the same scales, plot a graph of FQ / N (y-axis) against d / cm
(x-axis).

Draw two best-fit lines, one for each set of plots. Show clearly on your graph which line is for
FP and which line is for FQ.

FP / N
FQ / N

[5]

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(d) From your graph, determine F0, the value of FP where the two best-fit lines cross.

F0 = ...............................................................

Calculate the weight WR of the metre rule, using the equation WR = (2 × F0) – k, where
k = 1.00 N.

WR = ...............................................................
[2]

(e) Another student does the experiment with the same equipment. He reads values of FP which
are the same as those in Table 1.1 but his values of FQ are all 0.10 N greater than those in
Table 1.1.

Suggest a reason for this difference. Assume that the values in Table 1.1 are correct.

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 11]

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2 A student investigates how the volume of water affects the rate at which water in a beaker cools.

She uses the apparatus shown in Fig. 2.1.

70
thermometer
stand

60
beaker

50
bench

40
30
20
10
0

Fig. 2.1

(a) (i) Record the room temperature θR shown on the thermometer in Fig. 2.1.

θR = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) Describe one precaution that can be taken to ensure that temperature readings in the
experiment are as accurate as possible.

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

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) The student pours a volume of 150 cm3 of hot water into the beaker and records the
temperature θ at time t = 0.
She records the temperature of the water in the beaker every 30 s.

She tips the water out and pours a volume of 50 cm3 of hot water into the beaker. The student
repeats the temperature measurements for this volume of water.

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Her readings are shown in Table 2.1.

Complete the headings in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1

beaker beaker
with 150 cm3 of hot water with 50 cm3 of hot water
t/ θ/ θ/
0 88.0 86.0
30 86.0 82.0
60 84.0 79.0
90 82.5 76.5
120 81.0 74.5
150 79.5 73.0
180 78.5 72.0
[1]

(c) Write a conclusion stating how the volume of water affects the rate of cooling of the water.
Justify your answer by reference to the results.

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

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

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

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

(d) (i) Using the results for 50 cm3 of water, calculate the average cooling rate x for the first 90 s
of the experiment. Use the readings from Table 2.1 and the equation

θ0 – θ90
x=
T
where T = 90 s and θ0 and θ90 are the temperatures at t = 0 and t = 90 s.
Include the unit for the cooling rate.

x = ......................................................... [2]

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(ii) Another student does this experiment with the same starting temperature but in a room
with a much higher room temperature than θR from (a)(i).

State how this affects his value of x in d(i).

Explain your answer by reference to the results in Table 2.1 for the beaker with 50 cm3 of
hot water.

statement ..........................................................................................................................

explanation ........................................................................................................................

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

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

(e) Some thermal energy is lost from the sides of the beaker.
The student wishes to find out how much this loss of thermal energy affects the cooling rate
of 50 cm3 of water.

Briefly describe an additional experiment that the student can carry out to investigate this.
Explain how the results can be used to determine how much this loss affects the cooling rate.

additional experiment ...............................................................................................................

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

use of results ............................................................................................................................

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

[Total: 11]

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3 Some students determine the focal length of a converging lens by different methods.

Method 1

One student uses the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.1.

mirror

illuminated triangle f1

lens
card
bench

Fig. 3.1

(a) The student sets the distance between the illuminated triangle and the mirror to 40 cm.
He moves the lens until he sees a sharp image of the triangle on the card, by the side of the
illuminated triangle.

(i) On Fig. 3.1, measure the distance f1 between the illuminated triangle and the lens.

f1 = ...............................................................

Fig. 3.1 is drawn to 1/5th scale.

Calculate the actual distance F1 between the illuminated triangle and the lens in this
experiment. This is a value for the focal length of the lens.

F1 = ...............................................................
[2]

(ii) Briefly describe a technique to obtain an image on the card that is as sharp as possible
in this experiment.

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

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

..................................................................................................................................... [1]

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Method 2

Another student sets up apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.2.

illuminated triangle U
screen
lens
card
bench

Fig. 3.2

(b) The student sets the distance between the illuminated triangle and the lens to U = 20.0 cm.

She moves the screen until a sharp image of the triangle appears on the screen.

(i) Measure hO, the height of the illuminated triangle as shown in Fig. 3.3.

hO = ...............................................................

Measure hI, the height of the image on the screen as shown in Fig. 3.4.

hI = ...............................................................
[1]

hI

hO

Fig. 3.3 Fig. 3.4

(ii) Describe one difficulty when measuring the height of the image in this type of experiment.
Suggest an improvement to overcome this difficulty.

difficulty .............................................................................................................................

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

improvement .....................................................................................................................

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

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hO
(iii) Calculate a value W using the equation W = .
hI

W = ...............................................................

Calculate a second value F2 for the focal length of the lens, using the equation
U
F2 = .
(W + 1)

F2 = ...............................................................
[2]

(c) A student suggests that F1 and F2 should be equal.

State whether the results support this suggestion.

Justify your statement with reference to the results.

statement ..................................................................................................................................

justification ................................................................................................................................

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

(d) Describe one precaution that can be taken to obtain reliable measurements of F1 and U in
the experiment.

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

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

[Total: 11]

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4 A student investigates the resistance of a light-dependent resistor (LDR).

The resistance of an LDR changes as the intensity of light falling on it varies.

V
The resistance R of the LDR is calculated using the equation R =
I
where V is the potential difference (p.d.) across the LDR and I is the current in the LDR.

Plan an experiment to investigate how the light intensity affects the resistance of an LDR.

The apparatus available includes:

an LDR
equipment to connect the circuit, part of which is shown in Fig. 4.1
a lamp with a power supply.

In your plan, you should:

• complete the circuit diagram in Fig. 4.1 to show a voltmeter connected to measure the
potential difference across the LDR

• state how the light intensity falling on the LDR will be varied and list any additional apparatus
needed

• explain briefly how to do the experiment, including any precautions taken to ensure reliable
results

• state one key variable to be kept constant

• draw a table, or tables, with column headings, to show how to display the readings (you are
not required to enter any readings in the table)

• explain how to use the readings to reach a conclusion.

power supply

LDR

Fig. 4.1

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............................................................................................................................................................ [7]

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© UCLES 2022 0625/63/M/J/22