Cambridge A Level Physics 9702 — 2024 Oct/Nov Paper 1 · Variant 2
9702/12/O/N/24 · 40 questions · 40 marks · ≈45 min
The question paper and its mark scheme, free to read here and free to download. This is Cambridge’s own paper, exactly as it was sat.
Question paper20 pages
Mark scheme3 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.
Questions as text
Q1 · A physical quantity consists of a magnitude and a unit
1 A physical quantity consists of a magnitude and a unit. Which row does not show a correct combination of a quantity and its unit? quantity unit A mass gram B length metre C charge ampere D temperature kelvin
Mark scheme: C
Q2 · A small car travels in a town
2 A small car travels in a town. What is a reasonable estimate of the kinetic energy of the car? A 5 104 J B 5 107 J C 5 1010 J D 5 1013 J
Mark scheme: A
More questions on Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy
Q3 · A solid bar has a square cross-section
3 A solid bar has a square cross-section. Its length is measured as 50.0 ± 0.2 cm and its width is measured as 2.00 ± 0.01 cm. These values are used to calculate the volume of the bar. What is the percentage uncertainty in the calculated volume? A ± 0.21% B ± 0.22% C ± 0.90% D ± 1.4%
Mark scheme: D
Q4 · The graph shows how the acceleration of an object moving in a straight line varies with…
4 The graph shows how the acceleration of an object moving in a straight line varies with time. acceleration 0 0 time The object starts from rest. Which graph shows the variation with time of the velocity of the object over the same time interval? A B velocity velocity 0 0 0 time 0 time C D velocity velocity 0 0 time 0 0 time
Mark scheme: A
Q5 · A stone falls vertically from rest
5 A stone falls vertically from rest. Air resistance is negligible. What is the speed of the stone when it has fallen through a distance of 0.40 m? A 2.0 m s–1 B 2.8 m s–1 C 3.9 m s–1 D 7.8 m s–1
Mark scheme: B
Q6 · A ball is thrown horizontally off a tall building
6 A ball is thrown horizontally off a tall building. The ground is horizontal. Air resistance is negligible. Which statement about the motion of the ball is correct? A The acceleration of the ball is always at right angles to the path of the ball. B The ball follows a circular path until it hits the ground. C The ball has constant acceleration. D The ball’s time in the air is proportional to the velocity at which the ball is thrown.
Mark scheme: C
Q7 · A moving object strikes a stationary object
7 A moving object strikes a stationary object. The collision is inelastic. The objects move off together. Assume that the two objects form an isolated system. Which row shows the possible values of total momentum and total kinetic energy for the system before and after the collision? total momentum total momentum total kinetic total kinetic before collision after collision energy before energy after / kg m s–1 / kg m s–1 collision / J collision / J A 6 2 90 30 B 6 6 30 90 C 6 6 90 30 D 6 6 90 90
Mark scheme: C
Q8 · The graph shows how a quantity Y varies with a quantity X for an object falling…
8 The graph shows how a quantity Y varies with a quantity X for an object falling vertically at its terminal velocity towards the surface of the Earth. Y 0 0 X Which quantities could X and Y represent? X Y A time acceleration B time height above surface C distance moved kinetic energy D distance moved velocity
Mark scheme: B
Q9 · A ball of mass 2.0 kg travels horizontally with a speed of 4.0 m s–1
9 A ball of mass 2.0 kg travels horizontally with a speed of 4.0 m s–1. The ball collides with a wall and rebounds in the opposite direction with a speed of 2.8 m s–1. The time of the collision is 150 ms. What is the average force exerted on the wall? A 16 N B 37 N C 53 N D 91 N
Mark scheme: D
Q10 · Two train carriages each of mass 5000 kg roll toward one another on a horizontal…
10 Two train carriages each of mass 5000 kg roll toward one another on a horizontal frictionless track. One is travelling at a speed of 2.00 m s–1 and the other at a speed of 1.00 m s–1, as shown. 2.00 m s–1 1.00 m s–1 5000 kg 5000 kg They collide and join together. What is the kinetic energy lost during the collision? A 1250 J B 7500 J C 11 250 J D 12 500 J
Mark scheme: C
Q11 · Which single condition must apply for an object to be in equilibrium?
11 Which single condition must apply for an object to be in equilibrium? A The object has a constant non-zero acceleration. B The object is stationary. C There are no forces acting on the object. D The resultant force acting on the object is zero.
Mark scheme: D
Q12 · A kite is in equilibrium at the end of a string, as shown
12 A kite is in equilibrium at the end of a string, as shown. kite string W The kite has three forces acting on it: the weight W, the tension T in the string, and the force F from the wind. Which vector diagram represents the forces acting on the kite? A B C D T T W W T F W F W F F T
Mark scheme: A
Q13 · Four forces act about a point P, as shown
13 Four forces act about a point P, as shown. S.ON x 5.0N The forces act in the same plane and produce no resultant moment about point P. What is the length XY? A 6.9m B 12m C 14m D 24m
Mark scheme: C
Q14 · A rectangular block of lead of density 1.13 104 kg m–3 has sides of length 12.0 cm…
14 A rectangular block of lead of density 1.13 104 kg m–3 has sides of length 12.0 cm, 15.0 cm and 10.0 cm. What is the maximum pressure the block can exert when resting on a table? A 1.13 kPa B 1.70 kPa C 11.1 kPa D 16.6 kPa
Mark scheme: D
Q15 · What is the definition of power?
15 What is the definition of power? A work done in one second B work done in unit time C work done per second D work done per unit time
Mark scheme: D
Q16 · A model car travels at a constant velocity of 12 m s–1 in a straight horizontal line
16 A model car travels at a constant velocity of 12 m s–1 in a straight horizontal line. The input power to the engine of the car is 800 W. The efficiency of the engine is 60%. What is the total horizontal resistive force on the car? A 27 N B 40 N C 67 N D 110 N
Mark scheme: B
Q17 · Which statement represents the principle of conservation of energy?
17 Which statement represents the principle of conservation of energy? A Energy cannot be used faster than it is created. B The supply of energy is limited, so energy must be conserved. C The total energy in a closed system is constant. D The total energy input to a system is equal to the useful energy output.
Mark scheme: C
Q18 · A barrel of mass 50 kg is loaded onto the back of a lorry 1.6 m high by pushing it up a…
18 A barrel of mass 50 kg is loaded onto the back of a lorry 1.6 m high by pushing it up a frictionless plank 3.4 m long. lorry 3.4 m barrel mass = 50 kg 1.6 m plank What is the minimum work done? A 80 J B 170 J C 780 J D 1700 J
Mark scheme: C
Q19 · What is a unit for stress?
19 What is a unit for stress? A kg m–1 s–2 B kg m–2 s–2 C N m–1 D N m
Mark scheme: A
Q20 · The graph shows the relationship between stress and strain for three wires of the same…
20 The graph shows the relationship between stress and strain for three wires of the same linear dimensions but made from different materials. P stress Q R 0 0 0.1 1.0 strain Which statements are correct? 1 The extension of P is approximately twice that of Q for the same stress. 2 The ratio of the Young modulus for P to that of Q is approximately two. 3 For strain less than 0.1, R obeys Hooke’s law. A 1, 2 and 3 B 1 and 3 only C 2 and 3 only D 2 only
Mark scheme: C
Q21 · Four solid steel rods equally support an object weighing 10 kN
21 Four solid steel rods equally support an object weighing 10 kN. Each rod is of length 2.0 m and cross-sectional area 250 mm2. The weight of the object causes the rods to contract by 0.10 mm. The rods obey Hooke’s law. What is the Young modulus of steel? A 2.0 108 N m–2 B 2.0 1011 N m–2 C 8.0 108 N m–2 D 8.0 1011 N m–2
Mark scheme: B
Q22 · The graph shows how the length of a spring varies with the force applied to it
22 The graph shows how the length of a spring varies with the force applied to it. Two areas P and Q are labelled. length P Q 0 0 force Which area represents the work done in stretching the spring? A area P B area Q C area P + area Q D area Q – area P
Mark scheme: A
Q23 · A horizontal beam of vertically polarised light of amplitude A is incident normally on a…
23 A horizontal beam of vertically polarised light of amplitude A is incident normally on a polarising filter. The transmission axis of the filter is at an angle of 50 to the vertical. What is the amplitude of the light in the beam after it has passed through the filter? A 0.17A B 0.41A C 0.64A D 0.80A
Mark scheme: C
Q24 · A progressive longitudinal sound wave moves through air
24 A progressive longitudinal sound wave moves through air. The diagram shows the positions of the air particles along part of the wave at one instant. P Q x Point Q is a distance x from point P. Which graph shows the variation of the displacement of the air particles with distance from P along the wave? A B displacement displacement 0 0 0 x distance 0 x distance C D displacement displacement 0 0 0 x distance 0 x distance
Mark scheme: C
Q25 · An electromagnetic wave in free space has a frequency of 3.0 1016 Hz
25 An electromagnetic wave in free space has a frequency of 3.0 1016 Hz. Which row gives the principal region of this wave and an example of an electromagnetic wave with a lower frequency? wave with lower principal region frequency A infrared visible light B infrared X-rays C ultraviolet visible light D ultraviolet X-rays
Mark scheme: C
Q26 · A source of sound emits waves of a constant frequency
26 A source of sound emits waves of a constant frequency. The source moves at a constant speed in a straight line relative to a stationary observer. Which velocity of the source gives the smallest observed frequency? speed / m s–1 direction A 5 away from observer B 10 away from observer C 15 towards observer D 20 towards observer
Mark scheme: B
Q27 · What could describe the time-base of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO)?
27 What could describe the time-base of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO)? A the frequency per division on the screen B the number of divisions on the screen per unit frequency C the number of divisions on the screen per unit time D the time per division on the screen
Mark scheme: D
Q28 · What happens when two waves superpose at a point?
28 What happens when two waves superpose at a point? A Their amplitudes are added together. B Their displacements are added together. C Their frequencies are added together. D Their velocities are added together.
Mark scheme: B
Q29 · An electromagnetic wave is diffracted as it passes through a single slit
29 An electromagnetic wave is diffracted as it passes through a single slit. The width of the slit is larger than the wavelength of the wave. Which change will decrease the amount of diffraction of the wave? A Decrease the frequency of the wave. B Decrease the time period of the wave. C Decrease the width of the slit. D Increase the wavelength of the wave.
Mark scheme: B
Q30 · The diagram shows visible light incident normally on a diffraction grating
30 The diagram shows visible light incident normally on a diffraction grating. centre of fourth order intensity maximum incident > light _. centre line diffraction grating not to scale A pattern of intensity maxima forms on the screen. A line connecting the centre of the fourth order intensity maximum with the centre of the diffraction grating forms an angle of 53° with the centre line. The grating has a line spacing of 2.7 x 10° m. What is the wavelength of the incident light? A 41x107’m B 54x10’m C 16x10°m D 2.2x10%m
Mark scheme: B
Q31 · A horizontal glass tube, closed at one end, has a layer of dust laid inside it on its…
31 A horizontal glass tube, closed at one end, has a layer of dust laid inside it on its lower side. Sound is emitted from a loudspeaker that is placed near the open end of the tube. The frequency of the sound is varied and, at one frequency, a stationary wave is formed inside the tube so that the dust forms small heaps. The distance between four heaps of dust is 30 cm. glass tube loudspeaker 30 cm The speed of sound in the air in the tube is 330 m s–1. What is the frequency of the sound emitted by the loudspeaker? A 1650 Hz B 2200 Hz C 3300 Hz D 6600 Hz
Mark scheme: A
Q32 · There is a current in a resistor for a short time interval
32 There is a current in a resistor for a short time interval. Which statement about the total charge that passes through the resistor is correct? A It can take any value. B It is an integer multiple of the elementary charge. C It is the elementary charge. D It is the rate of flow of the current.
Mark scheme: B
Q33 · The potential difference V across a filament lamp is slowly raised from zero to its…
33 The potential difference V across a filament lamp is slowly raised from zero to its normal operating value. Which graph represents the variation with V of the current I in the lamp? A B C D I I I I 0 0 0 0 0 V 0 V 0 V 0 V
Mark scheme: A
Q34 · An electric current of 12 A is in a wire of length 0.35 m
34 An electric current of 12 A is in a wire of length 0.35 m. The average drift speed of the free electrons (charge carriers) in the wire is 5.0 10–4 m s–1. How many free electrons are in the wire? A 1.3 1016 B 5.3 1022 C 1.5 1023 D 4.3 1023
Mark scheme: B
Q35 · Three resistors are connected to a cell of negligible internal resistance
35 Three resistors are connected to a cell of negligible internal resistance. Which circuit has a combined resistance of 100 Q? A B 1002 1002 50Q 1002 | | Cc D 1002 | oun 1002 1009 50Q | 50Q |
Mark scheme: B
Q36 · Each of Kirchhoff’s laws is a statement based on the conservation of a physical quantity
36 Each of Kirchhoff’s laws is a statement based on the conservation of a physical quantity. Which quantity is conserved in each law? Kirchhoff’s Kirchhoff’s first law second law A charge energy B energy current C power charge D resistance power
Mark scheme: A
Q37 · A cell with electromotive force (e.m.f.) 1.50 V delivers a current of 0.26 A to a…
37 A cell with electromotive force (e.m.f.) 1.50 V delivers a current of 0.26 A to a resistor of resistance 5.0 connected between its terminals. What is the internal resistance of the cell? A 0.04 B 0.20 C 0.39 D 0.77
Mark scheme: D
Q38 · What is not a quark flavour?
38 What is not a quark flavour? A charm B meson C strange D up
Mark scheme: B
Q39 · How many down quarks are in a nucleus of hydrogen-3, H?
39 How many down quarks are in a nucleus of hydrogen-3, H? 3 1 A 2 B 3 C 4 D 5
Mark scheme: D
Q40 · An isotope of boron decays to beryllium by + emission
40 An isotope of boron decays to beryllium by + emission. Which particle is emitted in addition to the + particle? A antineutrino B electron C neutrino D neutron
Mark scheme: C
What was in this paper
The subtopics covered by these 40 questions, and how many questions each got. Open one in a new tab to see every Cambridge question on it.
4Equations of motion3Practical circuits3Elastic and plastic behaviour2Electric current2Equilibrium of forces2Fundamental particles2Linear momentum and its conservation2Stress and strain2Density and pressure1Diffraction1Doppler effect for sound waves1Electromagnetic spectrum1Errors and uncertainties1Gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy1Interference1Kirchhoff’s laws1Momentum and Newton’s laws of motion1Non-uniform motion1Polarisation1Radioactive decay1Resistance and resistivity1SI units1Stationary waves1The diffraction grating1Transverse and longitudinal waves1Turning effects of forces1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2024 Oct/Nov, Paper 1 · Variant 2. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.