plumiMaterials: AQA A‑Level Physics questions
Every AQA A-Level Physics exam question on 3.4.2 Materials, 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q04.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 04.1: Explain why the Young modulus and the breaking stress of a wire have the same SI unit. [1 mark] Table 1 contains data about four metal wires W, X, Y and Z. Tabl](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74081-jun25-04-1-qp.webp)
Q04.2
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 04.2: The metal used to make wire X costs £75 per gram. Calculate, in £, the cost of wire X. [3 marks] cost = £](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74081-jun25-04-2-qp.webp)
Q04.3
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 Paper 1, question 04.3: State and explain which of the wires in Table 1 are made from the same material. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74081-jun25-04-3-qp.webp)
Q04.4
The whole paper ↗
Q05.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2025 AS Paper 1, question 05.1: Determine the extension of Q. [4 marks] extension = m](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74071-jun25-05-1-qp.webp)
Q06.3
The whole paper ↗
Q06.4
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 06.4: Deduce the tension in the rope when the kinetic energy of the boy is at a maximum. Give a reason to support your answer. [2 marks] tension = N reason The origin](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74071-jun24-06-4-qp.webp)
Q06.5
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 06.5: Show that each rope has the same stiffness. [1 mark]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74071-jun24-06-5-qp.webp)
Q06.6
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 1, question 06.6: Deduce whether the boy’s maximum velocity is increased when using the second rope. [3 marks]](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74071-jun24-06-6-qp.webp)
Q02.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 02.1: Determine the value of F that was used to produce Figure 9. [1 mark] F = N](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74072-jun24-02-1-qp.webp)
Q02.2
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Q02.3
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Q03.1
The whole paper ↗![June 2024 AS Paper 2, question 03.1: Calculate L. density of steel = 7.4 × 103 kg m−3 [2 marks] L = m](https://pub-e8a9dbab8e2a4d089f52b2a45e0d0b50.r2.dev/bank/74072-jun24-03-1-qp.webp)
Q03.3
The whole paper ↗
All 95 questions on Materials, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.1 (1 mark): Explain why the Young modulus and the breaking stress of a wire have the same SI unit. [1 mark] Table 1 contains data about four metal wires W, X, Y and Z. Tabl
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.2 (3 marks): The metal used to make wire X costs £75 per gram. Calculate, in £, the cost of wire X. [3 marks] cost = £
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.3 (1 mark): State and explain which of the wires in Table 1 are made from the same material. [1 mark]
- June 2025, Paper 1, Q04.4 (4 marks): One of the wires in Table 1 was used to obtain the stress–strain data shown in Figure 5. Figure 5 Draw a line of best fit on Figure 5. Go on to deduce, using yo
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q05.1 (4 marks): Determine the extension of Q. [4 marks] extension = m
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q21 (1 mark): P and Q are wires made from the same material. The length of Q is double the length of P. The diameter of Q is double the diameter of P. P and Q are joined. One
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q24 (1 mark): A rod is made of a metal of Young modulus E. When the rod is unstretched, it has a cross-sectional area A and a length L. A force is then applied to the rod tha
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q29 (1 mark): A cylindrical rod R is made of a material with a density ρ. R has mass m and diameter d. Four other cylindrical rods A, B, C and D each have diameter 2d. The ta
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q25 (1 mark): A uniform wire is stretched by a load F. The elastic strain energy stored in the wire is E. The load is increased from F to 2F. The wire obeys Hooke’s law. What
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): A spring is compressed by a force F. The spring has stiffness k and its length changes by ΔL during the compression. When the force is removed the spring return
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q06.3 (3 marks): The maximum kinetic energy of the boy is 7.71 kJ. Calculate, by considering the energy transfers, the extension ΔL of the bungee rope when the kinetic energy of
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q06.4 (2 marks): Deduce the tension in the rope when the kinetic energy of the boy is at a maximum. Give a reason to support your answer. [2 marks] tension = N reason The origin
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q06.5 (1 mark): Show that each rope has the same stiffness. [1 mark]
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q06.6 (3 marks): Deduce whether the boy’s maximum velocity is increased when using the second rope. [3 marks]
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (1 mark): Determine the value of F that was used to produce Figure 9. [1 mark] F = N
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (2 marks): Brass was not one of the five materials tested. When brass was tested using these values of F and D, the value of h = 1.60 mm. Determine, using Figure 9, B for
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q02.3 (2 marks): B for lead is about 5 kg mm−2. Show that this result cannot be obtained with the steel sphere and the value of F used to produce Figure 9. Go on to suggest how
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (2 marks): Calculate L. density of steel = 7.4 × 103 kg m−3 [2 marks] L = m
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q03.3 (2 marks): For safety, the breaking stress of each steel cable must be at least three times the maximum stress produced during the initial acceleration. breaking stress fo
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q10 (1 mark): A wire obeys Hooke’s law. When the wire is extended by ΔL, the elastic strain energy is Es and the tension in the wire is T. Which pair of graphs shows the vari
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q24 (1 mark): Which statement is true? [1 mark] A A brittle fracture occurs after little or no elastic deformation. B A brittle fracture occurs after little or no plastic def
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q05.1 (1 mark): Determine, using Figure 11, the Young modulus of the metal. [1 mark] Young modulus = Pa
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q05.2 (1 mark): Explain how the graph shows that this metal is brittle. [1 mark]
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q05.3 (3 marks): Calculate the extension of each wire. [3 marks] extension = m
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q05.4 (5 marks): The right-hand steel wire is removed and replaced with an aluminium wire of diameter 1.60 mm. The unloaded length of the aluminium wire is the same as that of t
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): A heavy cable is attached to a fixed support and carries a load at its lower end. The weight of the cable is not negligible. The cable has constant cross-sectio
- June 2023, AS Paper 1, Q04.3 (2 marks): Deduce sr. [2 marks] sr = m
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q27 (1 mark): The graph shows the variation of stress with strain for a material. What is the Young modulus of the material? [1 mark] A 1.2 × 105 Pa B 1.5 × 105 Pa C 1.2 × 10
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q03.1 (3 marks): Deduce which one of the three materials is used for A. [3 marks]
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q27 (1 mark): A mass M is suspended from a spring. When the mass is at rest at the equilibrium position, the elastic potential energy stored is E. An extra mass of 2M is adde
- June 2022, Paper 1, Q28 (1 mark): Two wires P and Q are made of the same material and have the same cross-sectional area. P has an original length L and is subject to a tensile force F. P extend
- June 2022, Paper 3A, Q02.1 (2 marks): A mass m is suspended from the free end of the strip. This produces a vertical displacement y. A student intends to measure y with the aid of a horizontal pin f
- June 2022, Paper 3A, Q02.2 (5 marks): It can be shown that 3 3 4mgL y Ewt = where: L is the distance between the free end of the unloaded strip and the blocks w is the width of the strip and is appr
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q06.3 (1 mark): The cable material has a Young modulus of 1.9 × 1011 N m−2. Calculate the tensile stress in P when the worker is at X. [1 mark] tensile stress = N m−2
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q06.4 (3 marks): The original cables P and Q are replaced. Table 2 shows how the properties of the original cables compare with the replacement cables. Table 2 Unstretched lengt
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q06 (1 mark): A baby bouncer consists of an inextensible harness attached to a spring. The stiffness of the spring is in the range: [1 mark] A 1–10 N m−1 B 10–100 N m−1 C 100
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q29 (1 mark): A wire is made from a material of Young modulus E. The wire obeys Hooke’s law. The wire has an unstretched length L and a cross-sectional area A. When a force i
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q04.4 (5 marks): Suggest a suitable diameter for the rod. Justify your answer. [5 marks] diameter = m
- November 2021, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): Two wires X and Y have the same extension for the same load. X has a diameter d and is made of a metal of density ρ and Young modulus E. Y has the same mass and
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (4 marks): The block is rectangular with an area of cross-section of 8.0 cm2 and a thickness of 3.0 cm. Figure 6 shows how the density of the block varies with depth up to
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q02.1 (1 mark): When W is 1.0 N, y is 6.34 cm. Show that the wire extends by approximately 3 mm. [1 mark]
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q02.2 (2 marks): Calculate the tension in the wire when W is 1.0 N. [2 marks] tension = N It can be shown that 2 3 EAy W k y x = + where E = Young modulus of the metal A = 1.11
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q02.3 (4 marks): Determine E using Figure 8. [4 marks] E = Pa
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q26 (1 mark): A mass m is added to a vertical spring that is initially unextended, as shown in Diagram 1. The mass is then lowered until it hangs stationary on the spring, as
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q32 (1 mark): A wire is made from a material of density ρ. The wire has a mass m and an initial length L. When the tensile force in the wire is F the extension of the wire is
- November 2020, Paper 1, Q26 (1 mark): An experiment is carried out to determine the Young modulus E of steel using a vertical wire of initial length L and cross-sectional area A. Various weights are
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.2 (1 mark): Figure 7 shows the beam bending when a hanger of mass 0.050 kg is suspended from the midpoint. Figure 7 The microscope is refocused on the upper surface and the
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.3 (3 marks): Student B performs the experiment using a thinner beam but with the same width and made from the same material as before. Discuss one possible advantage and one
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.4 (4 marks): Figure 8 shows the best-fit line produced using the data collected by student A. Figure 8 It can be shown that s = where E is the Young modulus of the material
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.5 (1 mark): Student C performs a different experiment using the same apparatus shown in Figure 5 on page 10. A mass M is suspended from the midpoint of the beam. The vertic
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.6 (2 marks): Deduce, using Figure 9, the value of s when L = 80 cm. [2 marks] s = m
- November 2020, Paper 3A, Q02.7 (1 mark): Determine M using Figure 8. [1 mark] M = kg
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q03.2 (2 marks): The cross-sectional area of A is 7.0 × 10−6 m2. The unstretched length of A is 150 m. Calculate the extension of A when the tension in it is 430 N. Young modulu
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q26 (1 mark): A tensile force 1F causes a wire to stretch to length 1x . When the tensile force is increased to 2F the length of the wire is 2x . The wire obeys Hooke’s Law.
- November 2020, AS Paper 2, Q27 (1 mark): Which is a force–extension graph for a brittle material? [1 mark] A B C D A B C D
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q19 (1 mark): A load of 50 N is suspended from a wire that has an area of cross-section of 1 mm2. The stress in the wire, in Pa, is between [1 mark] A 100 and 103 B 103 and 1
- June 2019, Paper 1, Q20 (1 mark): Which combination of properties would produce the smallest extension of a wire when the same tensile force is applied to the wire? [1 mark] Cross-sectional area
- June 2019, Paper 3A, Q03.7 (3 marks): Determine the density of the rod. The mass per unit length of the rod is 3.54 × 10−3 kg m−1. [3 marks] density = kg m−3
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (4 marks): Show that the downward force F exerted by the clamp on the loaded cage is about 6 × 104 N. [4 marks]
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (4 marks): The unstretched length of each elastic rope is 24 m. The ropes obey Hooke’s Law for all extensions used in the ride. The vertical distance between points P and
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q03.4 (3 marks): The designers of the ride claim that the loaded cage will reach a height of 50 m above Q. Deduce whether this claim is justified. [3 marks]
- June 2019, AS Paper 2, Q28 (1 mark): A tensile force produces an extension ∆L in a steel wire of initial length L and diameter d. The same steel is used to make a second wire of initial length 2L a
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q03.4 (4 marks): Figure 6 shows how the tension in the string in question 03.2 varies with the extension of the string. Figure 6 The string with its initial tension of 25 N is v
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q21 (1 mark): A non-uniform sign is 0.80 m long and has a weight of 18 N It is suspended from two vertical springs P and Q. The springs obey Hooke’s law and the spring consta
- June 2018, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): A steel wire W has a length l and a circular cross-section of radius r. When W hangs vertically and a load is attached to the bottom end, it extends by e. Anoth
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q04.5 (3 marks): The steel cable from the crane has a circular cross-section of diameter 1.5 × 10–2 m The cable is 12 m long. Calculate the extension of the cable caused by the
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q05.1 (2 marks): Calculate the weight of an ice cube that has volume 4.0 × 10–6 m3 density of ice = 920 kg m–3 [2 marks] weight = N
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q05.2 (1 mark): Figure 5 shows the ice cube floating in a beaker of water. Figure 5 When the ice cube is placed in the beaker, it displaces a volume of water causing the water
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q05.3 (3 marks): The ice cube in Figure 5 is replaced by another cube also with volume 4.0 × 10−6 m3 This cube is made of ice containing a small piece of iron. The mass of water
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q23 (1 mark): The table contains information on four wires. It shows the stiffness of each wire and the maximum strain energy stored in the wire when extended to the breaking
- June 2017, Paper 1, Q24 (1 mark): A sample of wire has a Young modulus E. A second sample of wire made from an identical material has three times the length and half the diameter of the first sa
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q05.1 (2 marks): Show that the extension produced in a 12 m length of the aerial wire when the tension is 5.0 × 102 N is less than 4 mm. [2 marks]
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q05.4 (1 mark): Calculate the mass of a 1.0 m length of the aerial wire. Density of copper = 8900 kg m–3 [1 mark] mass = kg
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q05.7 (2 marks): High winds produce large amplitudes of vibration of the aerial wire. Explain why the wire may sag when the high wind stops. [2 marks]
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q17 (1 mark): What is the name given to a material that breaks without deformation when a force is applied to it? [1 mark] A Plastic B Brittle C Stiff D Elastic
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q26 (1 mark): What cannot be used as a unit for the Young modulus? [1 mark] A N m–2 B Pa C kg m–2 s–2 D kg m–1 s–2
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q30 (1 mark): Two separate wires X and Y have the same original length and cross-sectional area. The graph shows the extension ΔL produced in X and Y when the tensile force F
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q03.1 (2 marks): State what is meant by tensile stress and tensile strain. [2 marks] tensile stress tensile strain
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q03.2 (2 marks): Identify a property of material A using evidence from the graph to support your choice. [2 marks] property evidence
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q03.3 (3 marks): A cylindrical specimen of material A under test has a diameter of 1.5 × 10–4 m and a breaking stress of 1.3 GPa. Calculate the tensile force acting on the speci
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q03.4 (6 marks): Discuss which of the four materials shown on the graph is most suitable for each of the following applications: • the cable supporting a lift in a tall building
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.1 (1 mark): The reading on the vernier scale can be used to determine ∆l, the extension of Q. Determine ∆l using Figure 1. [1 mark] ∆l = ____________________ mm
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.2 (1 mark): Figure 2 shows how ∆l varies with m, the mass added to the hanger. Determine the mass added to the hanger shown in Figure 1. [1 mark] mass = ___________________
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.3 (1 mark): A student uses digital vernier callipers to measure the diameter of Q. She places Q between the jaws of the callipers and records the reading indicated. Without
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.4 (4 marks): The original length of Q was 1.82 m. Determine the Young modulus of the metal in Q. [4 marks] Young modulus = ____________________ Pa
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q01.5 (4 marks): The student repeats her experiment using a wire of the same original length and metal but with a smaller diameter. Discuss two ways this change might affect the
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q03.1 (3 marks): The ball is made of steel of density 8030 kg m–3 and has a diameter of 5.0 cm. Show that the weight of the ball is approximately 5 N. [3 marks]
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q03.3 (3 marks): The spring is attached at a distance of 8.0 cm from the pivot and the spring has a stiffness of 100 N m–1. Calculate the extension of the spring when the rod is
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.1 (1 mark): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.2 (3 marks): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.3 (1 mark): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.4 (2 marks): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.5 (3 marks): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q02.7 (3 marks): A student adds a series of masses to a vertical metal wire of circular cross-section and measures the extension of the wire produced. Figure 1 is a force–extens
- Specimen, Paper 1, Q10 (1 mark): Two vertical copper wires X and Y of equal length are joined as shown. Y has a greater diameter than X. A weight W is hung from the lower end of Y. Which of the
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