Cambridge IGCSE Physical Science 0652 — 2015 Oct/Nov Paper 1 · Variant 1
0652/11/O/N/15 · 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 scheme2 pages
Answers below. Sit the paper first if you are practising.
Questions as text
Q1 · Which row describes the particles in a solid?
1 Which row describes the particles in a solid? movement attraction distance A stationary strong close together B vibrating strong close together C vibrating strong far apart D vibrating weak close together
Mark scheme: B
Q2 · The diagram shows the chromatogram obtained using five felt-tip pens
2 The diagram shows the chromatogram obtained using five felt-tip pens. P Q R S T Which statement about the pens is not correct? A One of the dyes is found in three pens. B Pen R contains a mixture of dyes. C Three pens contain two dyes. D Two pens contain only one dye.
Mark scheme: B
Q3 · An isotope of sodium is represented as 23 Na
3 An isotope of sodium is represented as 23 Na . 11 Which row represents a different isotope of sodium? electrons neutrons protons A 11 13 11 B 12 12 12 C 13 12 13 D 23 12 23
Mark scheme: A
Q4 · The following statements are about covalent bonding
4 The following statements are about covalent bonding. Covalent bonds are formed by the ……1…… of electrons. Covalent substances have ……2…… electrical conductivity. Which words correctly complete gaps 1 and 2? 1 2 A sharing high B sharing low C transfer high D transfer low
Mark scheme: B
Q5 · Ethyl ethanoate has the formula CH3CO2C2H5
5 Ethyl ethanoate has the formula CH3CO2C2H5. What is the relative molecular mass Mr of this compound? A 48 B 72 C 88 D 124
Mark scheme: C
Q6 · Boron, B, forms an oxide
6 Boron, B, forms an oxide. Which equation is balanced? A 2B + 3O2 → B2O3 B 2B + 3O2 → 2B2O3 C 4B + 2O2 → 2B2O3 D 4B + 3O2 → 2B2O3
Mark scheme: D
Q7 · Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate is placed in a test-tube
7 Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate is placed in a test-tube. When water is added, the temperature changes from 17 °C to 27 °C. Which type of reaction takes place? A addition B endothermic C exothermic D oxidation
Mark scheme: C
Q8 · In biological washing powders, the breakdown of organic molecules is speeded up by which…
8 In biological washing powders, the breakdown of organic molecules is speeded up by which type of substance? A enzymes B oxidising agents C reducing agents D transition metals
Mark scheme: A
Q9 · Sulfuric acid is reacted with magnesium
9 Sulfuric acid is reacted with magnesium. Which row identifies the products of this reaction? products oo fa tc water hydrogen A v v v B v v x Cc v x v D x v v
Mark scheme: C
Q10 · A colourless solution of X is tested with aqueous sodium hydroxide and with acidified…
10 A colourless solution of X is tested with aqueous sodium hydroxide and with acidified silver nitrate. test observation aqueous sodium hydroxide added white precipitate formed acidified silver nitrate added white precipitate formed What is X? A iron(II) carbonate B iron(II) sulfate C zinc sulfate D zinc chloride
Mark scheme: D
Q11 · Which statement about period 2 in the Periodic Table is correct?
11 Which statement about period 2 in the Periodic Table is correct? A They are all metals. B They are all non-metals. C They change from metal to non-metal from left to right. D They change from non-metal to metal from left to right.
Mark scheme: C
Q12 · Which metal produces a solution of a metal hydroxide when added to water?
12 Which metal produces a solution of a metal hydroxide when added to water? A calcium B copper C iron D zinc
Mark scheme: A
Q13 · Brass is an alloy
13 Brass is an alloy. Which element is added to copper to make brass? A carbon B iron C nickel D zinc
Mark scheme: D
Q14 · Which substance can be used as a chemical test for water?
14 Which substance can be used as a chemical test for water? A anhydrous copper sulfate B hydrated cobalt chloride C hydrated copper sulfate D pink cobalt chloride
Mark scheme: A
Q15 · A sample of clean, dry air is passed repeatedly over hot copper until all the oxygen…
15 A sample of clean, dry air is passed repeatedly over hot copper until all the oxygen reacts with the copper as shown. clean dry air copper heat The volume of air decreases by 15 cm3. What is the starting volume of the sample of air? A 30 cm3 B 50 cm3 C 75 cm3 D 100 cm3
Mark scheme: C
Q16 · Which reaction takes place when calcium oxide is formed from calcium carbonate?
16 Which reaction takes place when calcium oxide is formed from calcium carbonate? A addition B combustion C oxidation D thermal decomposition
Mark scheme: D
Q17 · Which two structures show methane and ethanol?
17 Which two structures show methane and ethanol? H H A H C H H C O H H H H H H B H C H H C C O H H H H H H H C H C C H H C O H H H H H H H H D H C C H H C C O H H H H H
Mark scheme: B
Q18 · One member of the alkane homologous series is butane which is used as a fuel
18 One member of the alkane homologous series is butane which is used as a fuel. What are the products of combustion when butane is burned in excess air? A carbon and water B carbon dioxide and hydrogen C carbon dioxide and water D carbon monoxide and water
Mark scheme: C
Q19 · The diagram shows the structures of three hydrocarbons
19 The diagram shows the structures of three hydrocarbons. H H H H H H C H C C H C C H H H H H H 1 2 3 Hydrogen, oxygen and steam react with some hydrocarbons. Which of the hydrocarbons above react with all three substances? A 1 only B 2 only C 3 only D 1, 2 and 3
Mark scheme: B
Q20 · The structure of an organic compound X is shown
20 The structure of an organic compound X is shown. H H H H H C C C C O H H H H H To which group does X belong? A alcohols B alkanes C alkenes D carboxylic acids
Mark scheme: A
Q21 · Some water is poured from a measuring cylinder
21 Some water is poured from a measuring cylinder. The diagrams show the measuring cylinder before and after the water is poured from it. 10 10 9 9 cm3 8 cm3 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 before pouring after pouring What volume of water is poured from the measuring cylinder? A 3.0 cm3 B 5.5 cm3 C 6.5 cm3 D 8.5 cm3
Mark scheme: B
Q22 · The speed / time graph shows the motion of a car during 40 seconds
22 The speed / time graph shows the motion of a car during 40 seconds. 20 speed m / s 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 time / s What is the total distance travelled by the car in this time? A 400 m B 700 m C 800 m D 1000 m
Mark scheme: B
Q23 · A bag of rice has a mass of 450 g
23 A bag of rice has a mass of 450 g. The gravitational field strength g is 10 N / kg. What is the weight of the bag of rice? A 4500 N B 450 N C 45 N D 4.5 N
Mark scheme: D
Q24 · A cube of side 2.0 cm is placed on a balance
24 A cube of side 2.0 cm is placed on a balance. The mass of the cube is shown on the balance. 2.0 cm balance 7.2 g What is the density of the cube? A 0.90 g / cm3 B 1.2 g / cm3 C 1.8 g / cm3 D 3.6 g / cm3
Mark scheme: A
Q25 · Each diagram shows an example of a force causing a moment about a pivot
25 Each diagram shows an example of a force causing a moment about a pivot. The diagrams are not drawn to the same scale. 8 N 15 cm pivot 12 N 75 cm pivot door spanner 180 cm pivot 4 N fishing rod Which row gives the moments produced by the forces, in order, from smallest moment to largest moment? smallest moment largest moment A door fishing rod spanner B fishing rod door spanner C spanner door fishing rod D spanner fishing rod door
Mark scheme: C
Q26 · A student lifts a box from the floor to a shelf
26 A student lifts a box from the floor to a shelf. The size of the force used to lift the box affects the total amount of work done by the student. On which other quantity does the work done depend? A the height of the shelf above the floor B the surface area of the box C the time taken to lift the box D the volume of the box
Mark scheme: A
Q27 · A liquid-in-glass thermometer is marked with a scale in °C
27 A liquid-in-glass thermometer is marked with a scale in °C. °C –10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 What are the fixed points for this thermometer? A –10 °C and 10 °C B –10 °C and 110 °C C 0 °C and 100 °C D 10 °C and 110 °C
Mark scheme: C
Q28 · A vacuum flask has double glass walls
28 A vacuum flask has double glass walls. There is a vacuum between the glass walls. How is heat transferred through the vacuum? A by conduction only B by convection only C by radiation only D by conduction and radiation
Mark scheme: C
Q29 · A stone is thrown into a pool and a wave spreads out from where the stone hits the water
29 A stone is thrown into a pool and a wave spreads out from where the stone hits the water. wavefronts X What name is given to the number of wavefronts passing point X per second? A amplitude B frequency C wavelength D wave speed
Mark scheme: B
Q30 · Which diagram shows a ray of light passing from air into a glass block and correctly…
30 Which diagram shows a ray of light passing from air into a glass block and correctly labels the angle of refraction r ? A B glass block glass block r r C D glass block glass block r r
Mark scheme: D
Q31 · Which row in the table contains electromagnetic waves in order of increasing wavelength?
31 Which row in the table contains electromagnetic waves in order of increasing wavelength? smallest largest wavelength wavelength A ultra violet X-rays microwaves radio B visible light infra-red radio gamma-rays C visible light ultra violet X-rays gamma-rays D X-rays ultra violet visible light microwaves
Mark scheme: D
Q32 · Two astronauts without radios can only communicate in space if their helmets are touching
32 Two astronauts without radios can only communicate in space if their helmets are touching. There is no air in space. What does this show about sound? A It can travel through a solid and a vacuum. B It can travel through a solid but cannot travel through a vacuum. C It cannot travel through a solid but it can travel through a vacuum. D It cannot travel through either a solid or a vacuum.
Mark scheme: B
Q33 · A strong permanent magnet is placed close to an iron block, as shown in the diagram
33 A strong permanent magnet is placed close to an iron block, as shown in the diagram. strong magnet iron N S block Magnetic poles are induced in the iron block. What is the arrangement of the induced poles? A B C D N S N S S N S N
Mark scheme: A
Q34 · The diagram shows a battery connected to a 12 Ω resistor and a voltmeter
34 The diagram shows a battery connected to a 12 Ω resistor and a voltmeter. The reading on the voltmeter is 24 V. 12 Ω V Which row shows the current in the circuit and the e.m.f. of the battery? current in e.m.f. of circuit / A battery / V A 0.5 2.0 B 0.5 24 C 2.0 2.0 D 2.0 24
Mark scheme: D
Q35 · The diagram shows the charges on three bodies P, Q and R
35 The diagram shows the charges on three bodies P, Q and R. P Q + – + R Which diagram shows the direction of the forces that act on body R? A B C D + + + +
Mark scheme: B
Q36 · The diagrams show two electric circuits
36 The diagrams show two electric circuits. Circuit 1 contains a cell, an ammeter and a resistor. A second resistor is now connected to circuit 1, to make circuit 2. A A circuit 1 circuit 2 Which circuit has the smaller total resistance and in which circuit is the ammeter reading smaller? smaller smaller total reading on resistance ammeter A circuit 1 circuit 1 B circuit 1 circuit 2 C circuit 2 circuit 1 D circuit 2 circuit 2
Mark scheme: C
Q37 · The diagrams show two ways in which three lamps X, Y and Z may be connected
37 The diagrams show two ways in which three lamps X, Y and Z may be connected. X Y X Y Z Z circuit 1 circuit 2 Which statement is correct? A If lamp Y breaks in circuit 1, both the other lamps go off. B If lamp Y breaks in circuit 2, both the other lamps go off. C If lamp Y breaks in circuit 1, lamp Z goes off, but lamp X remains on. D If lamp Y breaks in circuit 2, lamp Z goes off, but lamp X remains on.
Mark scheme: A
Q38 · The diagram shows part of a cathode-ray tube, as found in an oscilloscope
38 The diagram shows part of a cathode-ray tube, as found in an oscilloscope. Electrical connections P and Q are labelled. anode P Q cathode Which row shows the sign of the voltage at P, the sign of the voltage at Q and the component that is heated? heated voltage at P voltage at Q component A + – anode B + – cathode C – + anode D – + cathode
Mark scheme: D
Q39 · The graph shows the decay curve for one particular radioactive isotope
39 The graph shows the decay curve for one particular radioactive isotope. 2500 (corrected) count rate counts / min 2000 1500 1000 500 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 time / days What is the half-life of this isotope? A 1.0 day B 1.5 days C 2.0 days D 2.5 days
Mark scheme: C
Q40 · Four different nuclides are represented by the symbols shown
40 Four different nuclides are represented by the symbols shown. 56 26P 58 28Q 58 26R 58 27S Which pair of symbols represents different isotopes of the same element? A P and Q B P and R C Q and R D R and S
Mark scheme: B
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.
2General wave properties2Simple phenomena of magnetism2Stoichiometry2Air1Alcohols1Alkanes1Alkenes1Atomic structure and the Periodic Table1Carbonates1Density1Electrical quantities1Electromagnetic effects1Energy transfer1Forces1Identification of ions and gases1Length and time1Light1Mass and weight1Methods of purification1Molecules and covalent bonds1Motion1Names of compounds1Periodic Trends1Preparation of salts1Radioactivity1Rate (speed) of reaction1Reactivity series1Sound1The nuclear atom1The particulate nature of matter1Thermal processes1Thermal properties and temperature1Uses of metals1Water1Work, energy and power1What you needed in this session
Cambridge’s own grade thresholds for 2015 Oct/Nov, Paper 1 · Variant 1. A higher threshold means an easier paper — the bar moves with how the cohort did.