Cambridge IGCSE™

* 1 1 4 4 0 8 4 6 4 5 *

PHYSICS 0625/62
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical February/March 2024

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 (PQ/JG) 331367/1
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1 A student determines the mass of a metre ruler by a balancing method.

He is using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.1.

a
load
b 50.0 cm mark
0.0 cm mark metre ruler

bench
pivot

Fig. 1.1

(a) The student places a circular load on the metre ruler shown in Fig. 1.2.

load metre ruler

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Fig. 1.2 (not to scale)

Determine the distance d of the centre of the load from the zero end of the ruler, as shown in
Fig. 1.2. Fig. 1.2 is not to scale.

d = ................................................... cm [1]

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(b) (i) The student adjusts the position of the metre ruler on the pivot until the metre ruler is as
near as possible to being balanced.

Describe a technique for ensuring that the ruler is as near as possible to being balanced.

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

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

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

(ii) The student finds that the ruler is as near as possible to being balanced when the pivot is
at the 47.6 cm mark.
Calculate the distance a of the centre of the load from the 50.0 cm mark, as shown in
Fig. 1.1.
Use your value of d from (a) and the equation a = (50.0 cm – d ).

a = ......................................................... cm

Calculate the distance b of the centre of the load from the pivot, as shown in Fig. 1.1.
Use your value of d from (a) and the equation b = (position of pivot – d ).

b = ......................................................... cm
[2]

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(c) The student moves the load so that its centre is above the 5.0 cm mark and balances the
metre ruler.
He repeats this procedure for the load at the 10.0 cm mark, 15.0 cm mark, 20.0 cm mark and
25.0 cm mark.
His results are shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1

position of load / cm a / cm b / cm
5.0 45.0 40.5
10.0 40.0 35.2
15.0 35.0 31.5
20.0 30.0 26.0
25.0 25.0 22.5

(i) Plot a graph of a / cm, (y-axis) against b / cm, (x-axis). Use the values in Table 1.1.
You do not need to start your axes at the origin (0,0).

Draw the best-fit straight line.

[4]

(ii) Determine the gradient G of the graph. Show clearly on the graph how you obtained the
necessary information.

G = ......................................................... [1]

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k
(d) Calculate the mass M of the metre ruler using the equation M = ,
(G –1)
where k = 25 g.

Give an appropriate unit.

M = ......................................................... [1]

(e) The accuracy of the result obtained by this procedure depends on the metre ruler, without a
load, balancing with the pivot at the 50.0 cm mark.
A student finds that this does not happen. She adds a small piece of modelling clay to one
end of the metre ruler to correct it.
Suggest if this is a suitable change for this experiment. Explain your answer.

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

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

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

[Total: 11]

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2 A student investigates a circuit containing different combinations of three resistors.

She first uses Circuit A, shown in Fig. 2.1.

Circuit A

P Q

Fig. 2.1

(a) On Fig. 2.1, draw a voltmeter connected to measure the potential difference (p.d.) V for
terminals P and Q. [1]

(b) The student measures the potential difference V for terminals P and Q and measures the
current I in the circuit. The meters are shown in Fig. 2.2 and Fig. 2.3.

2 3 0.4 0.6
1 4 0.2 0.8

0 5 0 1.0
V A

Fig. 2.2 Fig. 2.3

Read and record, in the first line of Table 2.1, the values of V and I shown on the meters in
Fig. 2.2 and Fig. 2.3. [2]

Table 2.1

V/ I/ R/

Circuit A

Circuit B 2.9 0.22

Circuit C 2.6 0.86

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(c)

Circuit B

The student connects the resistors between terminals P and Q as shown in Fig. 2.4.
She measures and records, in Table 2.1, the values of V and I for this circuit.

P Q

Fig. 2.4

Circuit C

The student connects the resistors between terminals P and Q as shown in Fig. 2.5.
She measures and records, in Table 2.1, the values of V and I for this circuit.

P Q

Fig. 2.5

(i) Calculate and record in Table 2.1 a resistance R for each circuit. Use the values of V
V
and I from Table 2.1 and the equation R = .
I [2]

(ii) Add units to the column headings in Table 2.1. [1]

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(d) (i) Calculate a resistance RA. Use the value of R from Circuit A and the equation
R
RA =
3

RA = ...............................................................

Calculate a resistance RB. Use the value of R from Circuit B and the equation
R
RB =
1.5

RB = ...............................................................

Calculate a resistance RC. Use the value of R from Circuit C and the equation
RC = 3R

RC = ...............................................................
[1]

(ii) A student suggests that RA, RB and RC should all be equal.

State whether your results support this suggestion. Justify your statement with reference
to values from your results.

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

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

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

(e) A student investigates the resistors in Circuit A using a variable resistor to change the current
in the circuit.

(i) In the space below, draw the symbol for a variable resistor.

[1]

(ii) Suggest one advantage of using a variable resistor to change the current in the circuit.

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

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

[Total: 11]

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3 A student determines the focal length of a converging lens by two methods.

illuminated object
u v1
plain white screen
lamp
lens
bench

Fig. 3.1

(a) The student sets up the apparatus as shown in Fig. 3.1.

Suggest one precaution that must be taken when setting up the apparatus to ensure accurate
measurements.

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

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

(b) The student sets the distance u between the illuminated object and the lens to 20.0 cm.

He places the screen near the lens and moves the screen until a sharp image of the
illuminated object is seen on the screen.

(i) Describe a technique for obtaining an image that is as sharp as possible.

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

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

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

(ii) Measure v1, the distance from the lens to the screen on Fig. 3.1.

v1 = ........................................................ cm

Fig. 3.1 is drawn to 1/10th scale.

Calculate V1, the actual distance from the lens to the screen.

V1 = ........................................................ cm
[2]

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(c) The shapes of the illuminated object and the image seen on the screen are shown full size in
Fig. 3.2 and Fig. 3.3.

hI
hoo

Fig. 3.2 Fig. 3.3

(i) Measure hO, the height of the illuminated object, as shown in Fig. 3.2.

hO = ........................................................ cm

Measure hI, the height of the image on the screen, as shown in Fig. 3.3.

hI = ........................................................ cm
[1]
hI
(ii) Calculate a value M for the magnification, using the equation M = .
hO

M = ......................................................... [1]

(d) Calculate a value f1 for the focal length of the lens. Use your values from (b)(ii) and (c)(ii) and
V1
the equation f1 = .
(M + 1)

f1 = ......................................................... [1]

(e) Describe one difficulty that is experienced when using a ruler to measure the height of the
image in this experiment. Suggest an improvement to the apparatus to overcome this.

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

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

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

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

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(f) The student adjusts the position of the lens so that u = 40.0 cm and obtains a new value V2
for the distance between the lens and the screen.

25.1
V2 = ........................................................ cm

Calculate a second value f2 for the focal length of the lens, using the equation
uV2
f2 = (u + V ) .
2

f2 = ......................................................... [1]

(g) Suggest which value of focal length, f1 or f2, might be more accurate. Explain your answer.

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

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

[Total: 11]

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4 A student investigates the effect of insulation on the cooling of a liquid.

Plan an experiment which will enable her to investigate how changing the thickness of insulation
surrounding a beaker affects the rate of cooling of hot water in the beaker.

The apparatus available includes:

• a glass beaker
• a supply of hot water
• a lid to fit the beaker
• strips of insulation which can be cut to size.

In your plan:

• list any additional apparatus needed

• explain briefly how to do the experiment, including the measurements to take so that the rate
of cooling can be determined

• state the key variables to keep 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.

You may draw a diagram if it helps to explain your plan.

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