plumiDensity, upthrust and viscosity: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on Density, upthrust and viscosity (specification points 49–52), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Find questions1,540
Calculations
Q17(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q19(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q7(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q7(b)
The whole paper ↗
Q8(a)
The whole paper ↗
Q8(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q8(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Q8(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗
Q11(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
Q2(b)
The whole paper ↗
Q4(b)
The whole paper ↗
Q12(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗
Q12(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 83 questions on Density, upthrust and viscosity, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q7 (1 mark): A small ball bearing falls slowly through a liquid at terminal velocity. The temperature of the liquid is increased. Which row of the table shows the change in
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q17(a)(i) (3 marks): Show that the mass of Bennu is about 7.8 × 10 10 kg. mean radius of Bennu = 245 m average density of Bennu = 1260 kg m –3 (3)
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q19(a) (2 marks): Show that the mass of the ice sculpture is about 2.2 × 10 5 kg. –3 density of ice = 920 kg m (2)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q7(a) (4 marks): Describe improvements to the student’s method that would give more accurate values for d and t of the discs. (4)
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q7(b) (6 marks): The student determined the average mass of a disc to be 42.5 g ± 0.5 g. Calculate the density of the material the discs are made from and the percentage uncerta
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(a) (5 marks): Some liquid chocolate is poured into a mould. Within the chocolate a bubble of air is formed. The bubble has negligible weight and moves upwards at a constant s
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): It is suggested that the relationship between viscosity η and temperature T is of the form B η = AT where A and B are constants. Explain why a graph of log η ag
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(b)(ii) (5 marks): The table shows data for the viscosity of hydrogen gas over a range of temperatures. T / K η / mPa s 123 4.60 173 6.00 273 8.30 373 10.4 473 12.0 Plot a graph o
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q8(b)(iii) (4 marks): Determine values for A and B. You are not required to state the units of A. (4) A = B =
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): A ball bearing falls from rest through oil. Which of the following statements is correct during the initial motion of the ball bearing? A The resultant force on
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q7 (1 mark): Which row of the table gives two conditions for Stokes’ law to apply to the ball bearing as it falls? Diameter of ball bearing relative Speed of ball bearing to
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): The ball bearing has a volume V and falls through a liquid of density ρ. Which of the following is an expression for the upthrust acting on the ball bearing? A
- June 2025, AS Paper 2, Q11(b)(i) (3 marks): One of the strings has a diameter 7.6 × 10 –4 m. Show that the mass per unit length µ of this string is about 0.0005 kg m –1. density of material of the strings
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(a)(i) (7 marks): Calculate the volume V of the coin, and the percentage uncertainty in V. t = 1.54 mm d = 22.16 mm (7) V = Percentage uncertainty in V =
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(a)(ii) (4 marks): The student measured the mass of the coin using an electronic balance. The balance had a resolution of 0.1 g. Assess whether the coin could be made from pure go
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q2(b) (4 marks): The student’s experimental method could have been improved. Explain two changes the student could have made to the experimental method. (4)
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q4(b) (4 marks): Student X and Student Y discuss the weight of the canister and its contents after a number of balloons have been filled. Student X suggests that the weight will
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q12(a)(i) (5 marks): The student used a stopwatch to measure the time t for the ball to fall 22.5 cm whilst travelling at its terminal velocity v. Her results are shown in the table
- June 2024, Paper 3, Q12(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain one reason why the student’s data may have led to an inaccurate conclusion about the cocoa content. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q7 (1 mark): A ball bearing with radius r falls through a fluid with density ρ. Which of the following is an expression for the upthrust acting on the ball bearing? 4π r ρ 3
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q13(a) (2 marks): State two conditions that determine whether Stokes’ law applies to a moving object. (2)
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q13(b) (6 marks): A teacher demonstrated the viscosity of fluids using a falling-ball method. The teacher released a ball bearing at the surface of a tall column of a viscous flu
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q13(c)(i) (3 marks): A ball bearing fell at terminal velocity through a liquid. The ball bearing fell 0.75 m in a time of 3.4 s. viscosity of liquid = 1.8 Pa s radius of ball bearin
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q13(c)(ii) (3 marks): A student considers what would happen if the temperature of the liquid increases. The student writes the following statement. “When the temperature of the liqui
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): A sphere of radius r is made from material of density ρM. The sphere is fully immersed in a liquid of density ρL. Which of the following expressions gives the u
- June 2023, Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): A raindrop is falling through the air with an increasing velocity. The forces on the raindrop are weight W, upthrust U and viscous drag F. Which of the followin
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the student should wait a short while before starting to take measurements. (2)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): The view through the microscope is shown below. The scale is in millimetres. 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 T
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q11(a) (3 marks): The student used a half metre rule to make measurements of a washer. Comment on the student’s choice of measuring instrument. (3)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q11(b) (3 marks): The student measured t for each of the five washers and then calculated a mean value. Explain how the student could modify her method to obtain a more accurate
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q11(c)(i) (4 marks): Show that the percentage uncertainty in her value for the area of a washer is about 3%. (4)
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q11(c)(ii) (6 marks): The student obtained the following values of t for each of the five washers. t / mm 4.3 4.2 4.1 3.9 4.0 The table shows the density of iron and steel. Metal Iro
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q14(a)(i) (3 marks): Show that the upthrust acting on the bubble is about 1.7 × 10 –5 N. density of water = 997 kg m –3 (3)
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q14(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the steady speed at which the bubble rises. viscosity of water = 0.0011 Pa s (2) Speed =
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q2(a) (2 marks): Explain how she should have measured the thickness of the slides in order to minimise the percentage uncertainty. (2)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q10(a) (2 marks): The student placed rubber bands near the top and bottom of the cylinder. He started a stopwatch when the ball bearing passed the first band and stopped the stop
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): Show that the mean velocity v of the ball bearing is about 0.04 m s−1. (3)
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q10(b)(ii) (2 marks): The student had three different types of honey available. Viscosity η is given by the following expression ( ) 2 r g ρ − ρ 2 η = B H 9 v radius r of ball bearin
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q18(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the volume of the block of conducting putty was about 8 × 10–6 m3. density of conducting putty = 5300 kg m–3 (2)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11(a) (3 marks): The student used ball bearings with different radii. Describe how the student can make measurements of the ball bearing to determine its radius. (3)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11(b)(i) (3 marks): Show that the weight of a ball bearing with a radius of 5.0 mm is about 4 × 10–2 N. density of steel = 8.0 × 103 kg m–3 (3)
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the terminal velocity of the ball bearing as it falls through the liquid. You may ignore the upthrust on the ball bearing. viscosity of liquid = 1.8 P
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q11(c) (2 marks): Explain how the student can ensure that Stokes' law will apply to the ball bearings falling through the viscous liquid. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q14(a) (4 marks): Identify which type of oil the student used. (4)
- November 2021, Paper 2, Q14(b) (2 marks): The values in the table are for oil at 26 °C. Explain the effect of carrying out the investigation with oil at a lower temperature. (2)
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(a) (3 marks): The mean diameter of the crystal ball was measured to be 5.06 cm and the mass of the crystal ball was measured to be 175 g. Show that the density of the materia
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q3(b) (6 marks): The student measured the diameter of the crystal ball using vernier calipers with a resolution of 0.01 cm. She measured the mass of the crystal ball using a bal
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q15(b) (6 marks): A beaker of water is placed on a balance and a rock is hung from a force meter as shown in diagram 1. The initial reading on the balance is R, and the initial r
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q14(b) (6 marks): Erosion causes clay particles to be washed into the lake, making the lake cloudy. The lake can remain cloudy to a depth of about 4 m for more than 6 months. One
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q14(c) (2 marks): The temperature of the lake decreases with depth. Explain how this may affect the rate at which a particle falls. (2)
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q14(d) (2 marks): In an investigation to determine the viscosity of water, a student drops a small sphere into a cylinder of water. The student uses a stopwatch to record the tim
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate l. (3) l =
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(a)(ii) (2 marks): Estimate the percentage uncertainty in your value for l. (2) % uncertainty in l =
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): Calculate the total length L of wire used to make the spring. (2) L =
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b)(i) (2 marks): Explain which instrument he used to measure the diameter. (2)
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): Estimate the percentage uncertainty in the student’s value for d. (1) % uncertainty in d =
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b)(iii) (1 mark): The student used a balance to measure the mass m of the spring. He obtained a value of 32.0 ± 0.5 g. Estimate the percentage uncertainty in the mass of the spri
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b)(iv) (1 mark): The student calculated the density ρ of the steel using the equation m ρ V Calculate the percentage uncertainty in his value for the density of steel. (1) % unc
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q10(b)(v) (4 marks): Determine whether the data collected leads to a value for the density of steel in agreement with the standard value. density of steel = 7 800 kg m−3 (4)
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q16(b) (3 marks): The photograph shows a shuttlecock. feathers © Pearson Asset Library The shuttlecock always moves through the air with the ‘feathers’ trailing behind. Explain h
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q2 (1 mark): In a falling-ball method to investigate the viscosity of a liquid, ball bearings with two different diameters are allowed to fall through two different liquids,
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q17(c)(i) (4 marks): A raindrop is falling vertically through the air. The free-body force diagram shows the forces acting on the raindrop. viscous drag Diagram NOT drawn to scale u
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q17(c)(ii) (2 marks): The value of terminal velocity calculated using the data in (c)(i) is greater than the actual terminal velocity of the raindrop. Explain why the calculation in
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q15(a) (5 marks): The student's results are shown in the table. She decided to check her prediction by ploting a graph of pa against Plot the graph on the grid opposite, using th
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q15(b) (2 marks): Explain how the data supports the student's prediction. (2)
- June 2019, AS Paper 1, Q15(c) (4 marks): The table gives the densities of several different types of wood. Wood Density /kgm 3 Birch 670 Chestnut 570 780 Oak 350 Poplar Deduce the type of wood from whi
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q13(a) (2 marks): Derive, using Stokes’ law, the following expression for the terminal velocity v of a spherical raindrop in terms of its radius r. v = 2JȡU2 9Ș where ȡ is the de
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q13(b) (2 marks): Show that the expression given in (a) produces a value of about 800 m sí for the terminal velocity of a large raindrop. (2) ȡ = 1.0 × 103 kg mí Ș = 1.
- June 2018, Paper 2, Q13(c) (3 marks): Explain whether Stokes’ law is suitable for calculating the terminal velocity of raindrops. (3)
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q16(a) (4 marks): Eventually the balloon reaches a constant upwards speed. Calculate a value for the viscous drag force acting on the balloon at this speed. The balloon may be co
- June 2018, AS Paper 2, Q16(b) (1 mark): The viscosity of the air decreases as the balloon rises. On a warmer day a balloon of the same total mass and radius rises at a lower constant upwards speed. Gi
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q16(a) (3 marks): Show that the downward force of the lid on the diver is about 0.02 N. volume of diver = 8.0 × 10–6 m3 mass of diver = 0.0059 kg density of water = 1.0 × 103 kg
- June 2017, Paper 2, Q16(b) (3 marks): When the pressure is increased by squeezing the bottle, water is forced into the diver increasing its weight. The diver sinks, then remains at rest in the posit
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(a) (4 marks): The density is calculated using the equation density = mass volume Describe how the student can determine an accurate value for the density of the glass. Your a
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q2(b) (1 mark): State one precaution that the student should take to ensure the measurements are accurate. (1)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): A small plastic bead is released below the surface of water and rises towards the surface. The diagrams show the forces acting on the bead as it rises with cons
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q13(a) (3 marks): The equation shows how the terminal velocity of a solid sphere falling through a liquid depends on the density of both the solid and the liquid. Vg ρ ( − ρ ) s
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q13(b)(i) (4 marks): The student drops a steel sphere with a radius of 4.0 mm into a cylinder of glycerol. The sphere reaches terminal velocity and takes 3.9 s to fall 0.50 m. Calcu
- June 2017, AS Paper 2, Q13(b)(ii) (2 marks): There are two cylinders available for the student to use. One cylinder has a diameter of 1.5 cm and the other has a diameter of 5.0 cm. State and justify which
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q15(a) (3 marks): To determine the viscosity η, the student used the equation v = b f 18 η where ρb = density of the material of the ball bearing ρf = density of the fluid. Expla
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q15(b) (4 marks): The student obtained the following data. d / 10−3 m d2 / 10−6 m2 v / 10−3 m s−1 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.0 4.0 11 3.0 9.0 23 4.0 16.0 39 5.0 25.0 64 Plot the graph of v ag
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q15(c) (4 marks): The table shows the viscosity of some different fluids. Viscosity at room Fluid temperature / Pa s castor oil 1.0 glycerol 1.2 corn syrup 1.4 honey 1.9 Use the
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): A bubble of air is rising through a vertical column of water. Which statement, about the motion of the bubble, is correct to a good approximation? A The bubble
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Every Edexcel A-Level Physics paper.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.