Practice exam-style paper

Paper 3 Core

[1 hour 15 min]

Write your answers on the question paper.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
1 A wooden cube is placed next to a ruler.

10
0

0cm 1
4

Fig. 1.1

a Use Fig. 1.1 to find the length of one side of the cube.
length of side of cube =

cm

[1]

b Calculate the volume of the cube.

volume of cube =

cm3

[2]

c Twenty identical wooden cubes are placed on a balance. Their mass is found
to be 1.28 kg.
Calculate the mass of a single cube in grams.

mass of cube =

[2]

d Calculate the density of the wood from which the cubes are made.

density of wood =

[4]
[Total: 9]

Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

2 The graphs shown in Fig. 2.1 represent the motion of two cars, A and B.
Speed / m/s

Speed / m/s

20

20

15

15

car A

10

10
car B

0
0

10

20

30

Time / s

0
0

10

20

30

Time / s

Fig. 2.1

a One of the graphs represent the motion of a car moving with constant speed.
i Which car is this, A or B?

[1]

ii Explain how you can tell.

[2]
b Calculate the distance travelled in 30 s by car A.

distance travelled =

[2]

[2]

c Calculate the distance travelled in 30 s by car B.

distance travelled =

[Total: 7]
3 Fig. 3.1 shows a ball falling through the air.

Fig. 3.1

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IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

a The arrow represents the gravitational force acting on the ball.

State the name of this force

[1]

State the unit in which this force is measured.

[1]

b The ball is falling through air so that a second force, air resistance, acts on it.
Add an arrow to Fig. 3.1 to represent this force.

[1]

c The force of air resistance on the ball is less than the gravitational force. In which
direction will the ball accelerate?
[1]
d Later, when the ball is falling at a greater speed, the two forces acting on
it are equal and opposite.
State the resultant force acting on the ball.
State the value of the balls acceleration.

[1]

[2]
[Total: 7]

4 Fig 4.1 shows a car as it travels to the top of a hill and stops.

Fig. 4.1

a Which form of energy has increased when the car stops at the top of the hill?
Tick the box.
kinetic energy
gravitational potential energy

[1]

b Which form of energy has decreased when the car stops at the top of the hill?
Tick the box.
kinetic energy
gravitational potential energy

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

[1]

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

c The car uses petrol (gasoline) as its fuel.

i State the form of energy stored by the fuel.

[1]

ii The fuel is burned to release its energy. What other substance is required for this
process?
[1]
d The cars headlights require electricity from the cars battery.
State the form of energy stored by the battery.

[1]
[Total: 5]

5 Two metal containers are filled with ice and placed in a warm room (Fig. 5.1).
Container A has a shiny white surface; container B has a shiny black surface.
ice

container A

container B
Fig. 5.1

a Explain why the ice in the containers starts to melt.

[2]
b In which container will the ice melt more quickly? Explain your answer.

[2]
c Suggest one way in which you could change the surface of this container to make
the ice melt faster still.
[1]
[Total: 5]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

6 Two mirrors, A and B, are arranged at an angle to one another. A ray of light is directed
onto mirror A so that it is reflected towards mirror, as shown in Fig. 6.1.
mirror A

mirror B
Fig. 6.1

a On Fig. 6.1, mark the angle of incidence i and the angle of reflection r.

[2]

b Write the equation which relates angle i and angle r.

[1]
c On Fig. 6.1, using a ruler, draw the rest of the ray to show how it will be reflected
by mirror B.

[1]

d Fig. 6.2 shows a ray of light directed into a semi-circular glass block.
Y

Fig. 6.2

State how you can tell that the ray is not refracted when it enters the block at point X.

[1]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

e Explain why the ray is not refracted at point X.

[2]
f When the ray meets the straight side of the block at point Y, its angle of incidence
is greater than the critical angle.
On Fig. 6.2, using a ruler, draw the rest of the ray until it has emerged from the block. [2]
[Total: 9]
7 Fig. 7.1 is a ray diagram which shows how an image can be formed by a thin converging
lens. The object is represented by the arrow labelled O.
object

Fig. 7.1

a On Fig. 7.1, mark with an F the principal focus of the lens.

[1]

b On Fig. 7.1, show where the image of the object will be formed.

[2]

c State whether the image is:

enlarged / same size / diminished
upright / inverted

[2]
[Total: 5]

8 Humans have an approximate audible range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

a Write 20 kHz in hertz.

Hz

[1]

b What name is given to sound waves with a frequency greater than 20 kHz?
[1]
c Sound travels as waves. Which word correctly describes sound waves? Tick the box.
transverse
longitudinal

Cambridge University Press 2014

[1]

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

d Sound waves can travel through solid materials. Fig. 8.1 represents a sound
wave passing along a metal rod.

Fig. 8.1

On the diagram, show how the particles of the metal move as the sound wave
travels along the rod.

[2]
[Total 5]

9 Three bar magnets are arranged as shown in Fig. 9.1.

pole A

pole B

pole C

pole D

Fig. 9.1

a On the diagram, add an arrow to show the force of pole B on pole A.

[1]

b On the diagram, add an arrow to show the force of pole D on pole C.

[1]

c Explain why a bar magnet should be made of steel rather than soft iron.

[2]
Fig. 9.2 shows an iron rod placed close to a bar magnet. Magnetism is induced
in the rod.
magnet

iron rod

Fig. 9.2

d Label the north (N) and south (S) poles which are induced in the rod.

[2]
[Total: 6]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

10 In the circuit shown in Fig. 10.1, an ammeter is being used to measure the current
in a resistor.

Fig. 10.1

a On Fig. 10.1, label the resistor with an R.

[1]

b Add to Fig. 10.1 to show how you would include a voltmeter in the circuit to
measure the potential difference across the resistor.

[2]
c The ammeter reads 0.25 A. The potential difference across the resistor is 4.0 V.
Calculate the resistance of the resistor.

[3]
d A second resistor is connected in parallel with the first resistor. State and explain what
will happen to the reading on the ammeter.

[3]
[Total: 9]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

11 Fig. 11.1 shows a coil of wire connected to a voltmeter. The north pole of a permanent
magnet is being moved into the open end of the coil.
10

20

30

voltmeter
Fig. 11.1

a Explain why a voltage is shown on the voltmeter.

[2]
b State one way in which the experiment could be changed to give a bigger reading
on the voltmeter.

[1]
c What reading will the voltmeter show if the magnet is held in a stationary position
next to the coil? Explain your answer.

[2]
[Total: 5]
12 A particular isotope of the element oxygen, known as oxygen-19, is represented
by the symbol
19
8

a How many protons are there in the nucleus of this isotope?

[1]

b What is the neutron number of this isotope?

[1]

c Another isotope of oxygen has three fewer neutrons in its nucleus than
oxygen-19. Write the symbol for this isotope.
[1]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

d Oxygen-19 undergoes radioactive decay. It emits a beta particle. What charge,

positive or negative, does a beta-particle have?
[1]
e Which of the following would absorb beta particles emitted by oxygen-19?
Tick all that apply.
1 cm of air
1 cm of plastic
1 cm of lead
[1]
f The half-life of oxygen-19 is 30 s. A sample of oxygen-19 contains 1000 atoms.
Calculate the number that will remain undecayed after 60 s.

number undecayed =

[2]
[Total: 7]

Cambridge University Press 2014

IGCSE Physics

Practice exam-style paper Paper 3 Core

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