Cambridge IGCSE

Candidate
Name

Student ID

Y10 Physics Structured Questions 0625

Mid Term Session 2024-2025

IGCSE
Time

1 hour and 15 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS
● Scan the Assignment using Adobe Scan or Cam Scanner or attempt the assignment digitally using ipad
or similar equipment.
● Document to be submitted via portal https://online-tuitions.tech/
● Write your Name and Student ID in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen. You may use an HB pencil for any diagrams or graphs.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● You may use a calculator.
● You should show all your working and use appropriate units.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

DC (NF/FC) 303647/3
© UCLES 2023 [Turn over
 1

1 (a) A student connects a battery, thermistor X and resistor Y in parallel, as shown in Fig. 5.1.

I X

Fig. 5.1

• The electromotive force (e.m.f.) of the battery is E.

• The current in X is I.
• The resistance of Y is greater than the resistance of X.

Tick two boxes, one to show the correct statement about the potential difference across Y
and the other to show the correct statement about the current in Y.

The potential difference across Y:

is less than E

is equal to E

is greater than E.

The current in Y:

is less than I

is equal to I

is greater than I.
[1]
 2

(b) The student connects thermistor X in series with the resistor Y and a battery of e.m.f. 6.0 V, as
shown in Fig. 5.2.

6.0 V

X Y

Fig. 5.2
In this circuit, at room temperature, the resistance of thermistor X is 800 Ω and the current
in thermistor X is 0.0020 A.

(i) Calculate the power produced in the thermistor.

power = ......................................................... [2]

(ii) Calculate the resistance of Y.

resistance = ......................................................... [3]

(iii) The thermistor is cooled.

Explain why this causes the potential difference across Y to decrease.

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

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

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

[Total: 8]
 3

2 (a) Fig. 6.1 shows part of a toy which contains two ring-shaped, permanent magnets. A plastic
rod passes through the centre of both magnets.

top magnet
plastic rod

bottom magnet
N N N
S S S

Fig. 6.1

The top magnet can move up and down freely around the plastic rod.

The magnetic poles on the bottom magnet are shown in Fig. 6.1.

(i) The top magnet floats in the air above the bottom magnet.

On Fig. 6.1, mark the poles on the top magnet and explain why it floats in the air above
the bottom magnet.

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

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

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

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

(ii) The top magnet is replaced with a ring made of iron.

Explain why the iron ring sticks to the bottom magnet.

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

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

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

..................................................................................................................................... [2]
 4

(b) A wire carrying a current passes at right angles through a piece of paper.

Fig. 6.2 shows a cross and circle where the current in the wire passes into the plane of
the paper.

piece of
paper

wire

Fig. 6.2

On Fig. 6.2, sketch three magnetic field lines to show the magnetic field pattern around
the wire.

Show the direction of the field on your sketch. [2]

[Total: 6]
 5

3 (a) Fig. 8.1 shows a ripple tank and the crests of the water wave that is produced in it.

rubber
band
crest
water

wooden
bar

Fig. 8.1

The frequency of the water wave is 2.0 Hz and its amplitude is 3.0 mm.

(i) Calculate the number of crests produced in 1.5 s.

number = ......................................................... [1]

(ii) The height of the wave is measured from the level of the undisturbed surface of the
water. The height of the wave at one point is 0 at time = 0.

On Fig. 8.2, draw a graph to show how the height of the wave at this point varies with
time.

height / mm 4

0
–2

–4

–6
0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50
time / s

Fig. 8.2
[2]
 6

(b) (i) The frequency of the wave is increased.

Describe how the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.1 is adjusted so that the frequency of the
wave is increased.

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

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

(ii) State what happens to the speed and wavelength of the wave as the frequency increases.

speed ................................................................................................................................

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

(c) The apparatus shown in Fig. 8.1 can be used to demonstrate refraction.

(i) State the additional apparatus needed to demonstrate refraction.

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

(ii) Draw on Fig. 8.3 to show the refraction of the water wave.

Label a boundary where the refraction occurs.

ripple tank

wooden
bar

Fig. 8.3
[3]

[Total: 10]
 7
4 In a safety test, a car of mass 1100 kg travels at a speed of 20 m / s and collides with a stationary
van of mass 3000 kg.

After the collision the car and the van move together with a velocity v.

Fig. 2.1 shows the car and van before and after the collision.

car mass = 1100 kg van mass = 3000 kg velocity = v

velocity = 20 m / s velocity = 0 m / s

before collision after collision

Fig. 2.1

The total momentum of the car and van is conserved during the collision.

(a) (i) Define ‘momentum’.

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

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

(ii) State the unit of momentum.

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

(b) Calculate the velocity v of the car and van after the collision.

v = ................................................. m / s [2]

(c) (i) Calculate the total kinetic energy of the car and van after the collision.

kinetic energy = ...................................................... J [2]

(ii) State the transfer of energy that occurs in the collision.

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

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

[Total: 7]
 8

5 Fig. 5.1 shows the particles (molecules) in a sample of liquid water.

Fig. 5.1

(a) Explain, using ideas about particles, why liquids expand more than solids for the same
temperature rise.

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

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

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

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

(b) The boiling point of water is 100 °C.

(i) State the boiling point of water on the Kelvin scale of temperature.

boiling point = ...................................................... K [1]

(ii) The temperature remains constant as water turns from liquid to gas at the boiling point.

Explain, in terms of particles, why energy must be provided even though the temperature
stays constant.

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

..................................................................................................................................... [1]
 9

(c) An electric heater is used to heat a sample of metal, as shown in Fig. 5.2. There is no thermal
energy transferred from the metal to the surroundings during the heating.

thermometer electric heater

sample of metal

Fig. 5.2

The metal has a mass of 200 g and is initially at 15 °C.

The heater is switched on for 2.0 minutes and then switched off. The maximum
temperature reached by the metal is 90 °C.

The power of the heater is 20 W.

Calculate the specific heat capacity of the metal.

Show your working.

specific heat capacity = ........................................... J /(g °C) [3]

[Total: 7]
 10

6 (a) Ultraviolet radiation is one component of the electromagnetic spectrum.

(i) State the name of two components of the electromagnetic spectrum that have a smaller
wavelength than ultraviolet radiation.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

2 ........................................................................................................................................
[1]

(ii) State one useful application of ultraviolet radiation.

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

(iii) Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun damages the eyes.

State one type of damage to the eye caused by ultraviolet radiation.

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

(b) Fig. 7.1 shows a ray of light. The ray passes into a semi-circular block of glass at A and
leaves the glass at B, travelling along the surface to C.

B C

30°
A

Fig. 7.1

(i) State the name given to the angle of incidence marked as 30°.

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

(ii) Calculate the refractive index of the glass.

refractive index = ......................................................... [2]

[Total: 6]
 11

7 The loudspeaker shown in Fig. 6.1 produces a sound of frequency 800 Hz.

loudspeaker

power supply
sound of frequency 800 Hz

cone

Fig. 6.1

(a) State what is meant by ‘frequency’.

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

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

(b) Explain whether the sound produced by the speaker is audible to a human with healthy
hearing.

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

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

(c) Describe the motion of the cone in Fig. 6.1 and explain how this causes the production of
sound.

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

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

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(d) The Sun is a very large and extremely violent ball of gas. Electromagnetic radiation from
explosions on the surface of the Sun reaches the Earth.

Explain why sound from explosions on the surface of the Sun does not reach the Earth.

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

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

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

[Total: 8]
 12

8 A ball is released from rest at point A and moves along a smooth track ABCDE as shown in
Fig. 1.1. The ball is shown at point A and as it passes point B.

The ball is always in contact with the track and air resistance is negligible.

ball
A

D E

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.2 shows the distance−time graph for the ball as it moves from A to E.

distance / m

0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
time / s

Fig. 1.2

(a) (i) On Fig. 1.2, mark:

• with the letter P one point where the ball accelerates

• with the letter Q one point where the ball has constant speed.
[2]
 13

(ii) Determine the speed of the ball at point X on Fig. 1.2.

Show your working.

speed = ................................................. m / s [3]

(b) The speeds of the ball at A, B, C and D are vA, vB, vC and vD respectively.

Arrange these four speeds from slowest to fastest.

slowest fastest

[1]

(c) Work is done to transfer energy between energy stores as the ball moves from A to B.

Name the force involved in the work done and describe the energy transfer.

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

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [3]

(d) The track at point B is circular in shape.

On Fig. 1.1, draw an arrow to show the direction of the resultant force on the ball at point B.
[1]

[Total: 10]
 14

9 Fig. 5.1 shows part of a circuit containing a 240 V mains supply connected to a lamp and two
heaters of resistance 40 Ω and 60 Ω.

240 V
a.c. mains 40 Ω 60 Ω
supply

Fig. 5.1

(a) Complete Fig. 5.1 by drawing the symbol for a fuse in the gap in the circuit. [1]

(b) (i) On Fig. 5.2 sketch a current−voltage graph for a filament lamp.

current

0
0 voltage

Fig. 5.2
[1]

(ii) Explain the shape of the current−voltage graph drawn in (i).

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

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

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

(c) Calculate the current at point P in the circuit shown in Fig. 5.1.

current = ...................................................... A [3]

 15

(d) The current in the lamp is 1.5 A.

(i) Suggest a suitable fuse rating for the fuse.

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

(ii) Explain why a fuse rating much larger than the value in (i) is not suitable.

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

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

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

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

[Total: 10]
 16

10 (a) Fig. 4.1 shows light passing through a triangular glass prism.

Q R

Fig. 4.1

(i) State the value of the angle of incidence at point P.

angle of incidence = ....................................................... ° [1]

(ii) Draw the normal and the angle of incidence at point R.

Label the angle of incidence. [2]

(iii) State two conditions needed so that no light refracts from the glass into the air at point Q.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

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

2 ........................................................................................................................................

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

(b) Information is sent across the internet using pulses of visible light through long, thin glass
fibres and electrical signals through copper wires.

(i) State the name of one other type of electromagnetic radiation used to transmit information
through long, thin glass fibres.

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

(ii) Suggest two advantages of using glass fibres rather than copper wires to transmit
information from the internet.

1 ........................................................................................................................................

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

2 ........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................
[2]
[Total: 8]