plumiUnits, estimation and measurement: Edexcel A‑Level Physics questions
Every Edexcel A-Level Physics exam question on Units, estimation and measurement (specification points 1–8), 2016–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
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Calculations
Q1(b)
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Q12(c)
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Q1(b)
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Q10(a)
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Q2(b)
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Q1(b)
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Q5(a)(i)
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Q5(a)(ii)
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Q5(a)(iii)
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Q5(b)(i)
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Q5(b)(ii)
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All 50 questions on Units, estimation and measurement, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following gives the SI base units of stress? A kg m s –2 B kg m –1 s –2 C N m –2 D Pa
- June 2025, Paper 3, Q1(b) (4 marks): When the p.d. across the bulb was 3.0 V, the student recorded a value of 1.29 A for the current. In his conclusion he stated This will give an accurate value fo
- June 2025, AS Paper 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following units is equivalent to the newton? A kg m s –1 B kg m s –2 C kg m 2 s –2 D kg m 2 s –1
- June 2024, Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following is the base unit for charge? A A s B C C J V–1 D Q
- June 2024, AS Paper 1, Q7 (1 mark): Which of the following units is equivalent to the joule? A N s B kg m s –2 C W s D kg m s –1
- June 2024, AS Paper 2, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following is the S.I. base unit for breaking stress? A Pa B kg m 2 s –2 C N m –2 D kg m –1 s –2
- June 2023, Paper 1, Q12(c) (4 marks): The resistivity ρ of the conducting material is given by ρ = E j where E is the electric field strength. Show that the units are the same on both sides of this
- June 2023, Paper 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): The student wrote the following conclusion: “The value of x was measured with a metre rule. A metre rule has a precision of 0.1 cm, so this value was determined
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): A ball bearing falling freely through a liquid reaches terminal velocity. The terminal velocity is determined by measuring the time taken for the ball bearing t
- June 2023, AS Paper 2, Q10(a) (3 marks): The speed v of the blood in a blood vessel with a diameter d is given by kη v ρd where η is the viscosity of the blood ρ is the density of the blood k is a cons
- June 2022, Paper 3, Q2(b) (4 marks): In her report she wrote “My value for the mass of the glass slides was precise, because I measured the mass using an electronic balance which was accurate to th
- June 2022, AS Paper 1, Q2 (1 mark): Which of the following is the SI base unit for resistance? A Ω B V A–1 C kg m2 s–3 A–2 D kg m2 s–1 C–2
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following is the SI base unit for the Planck constant? A N m–1 s–1 B N m s C kg m2 s–1 D kg m–2 s
- June 2022, AS Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): A student measures the diameter of a steel wire in order to determine the cross‑sectional area of the wire. The percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): The student wrote the following statement “The balance could read to the nearest 0.01 g, which makes my values for the magnetic force both accurate and precise.
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q5(a)(i) (1 mark): State the uncertainty in each of these readings. (1)
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q5(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage uncertainty in the student’s value of h. (2) Percentage uncertainty in h =
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q5(a)(iii) (2 marks): The student repeated the measurement of h for capillary tubes of different radii. The table shows the student’s final data. r / mm 1/r h / cm 0.09 11.1 16.56 0.
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q5(b)(i) (3 marks): Determine the height of the liquid column that the student could expect for a tube with an internal radius of 0.11 mm. (3) Height of liquid column =
- November 2021, Paper 3, Q5(b)(ii) (4 marks): In her notes it stated that k h = r where k is constant Assess the extent to which the student’s data supports this relationship. (4)
- November 2021, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): Select the row of the table that identifies an SI base unit and a derived unit. Base unit Derived unit A coulomb ampere B joule volt C newton kilogram D second
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following best describes the newton as used in physical measurements? A base quantity B base unit C derived quantity D derived unit Questions 2 and
- November 2021, AS Paper 2, Q4 (1 mark): µ can be calculated from measurements of the mass and length of the string. The percentage uncertainty in the measurement of mass is 0.4%. The percentage uncert
- October 2020, Paper 1, Q4 (1 mark): Which of the following is a base SI unit? A ampere B coulomb C joule D newton
- October 2020, Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which row of the table shows a base quantity and its base SI unit? Quantity Unit A charge C B length m C mass g D temperature ℃
- October 2020, Paper 3, Q1 (4 marks): A teacher is explaining the differences between accuracy and precision to her students. She draws the following diagram, which shows different degrees of accura
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): A student wanted to measure the thickness of a single sheet of aluminium foil. Which of the following instruments would be the most appropriate to make this mea
- October 2020, AS Paper 1, Q6 (1 mark): Which of the following gives the S.I. base units equivalent to the volt? A J C−1 B J A−1 s−1 C kg m2 s−2 C−1 D kg m2 s−3A−1
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q1 (1 mark): Which of the following is a S.I. base quantity? A energy B length C speed D velocity
- October 2020, AS Paper 2, Q8 (1 mark): In an experiment to determine the wavelength of light, three values for the wavelength are obtained and the mean value calculated. Wavelength / nm 466 448 473 M
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q1(a) (1 mark): State the type of error she avoided by doing this. (1)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q1(b) (3 marks): Describe the procedure she should follow to determine an accurate value for the external diameter of the tube. (3)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q1(c) (1 mark): The engineer determined the length of the tube using the micrometer. The reading on the micrometer scale was 45.043 mm. She recorded the reading as 45.0 mm. Sta
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q9(a) (2 marks): Explain why a graph of log v against log B should give a straight line. (2)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q9(b)(i) (5 marks): Plot a graph of log v against log B on the grid opposite. Use the columns provided to show any processed data. (5)
- June 2019, Paper 3, Q9(b)(ii) (3 marks): Determine the values of p and k. (3) p = k =
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Describe what physicists mean by the terms accuracy and precision. (2)
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q1(b) (2 marks): The temperature of the air in a room is measured using a mercury-in-glass thermometer. Describe how the value for the temperature may be precise but not accurat
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q3(a) (1 mark): State a suitable measuring instrument that could be used with a single disc to measure t. (1)
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q3(b) (4 marks): A balance which can measure mass with a resolution of 0.2 g is available. Determine the minimum number of discs that should be placed on the balance together if
- June 2018, Paper 3, Q3(c) (3 marks): The measured uncertainty in d is ±0.1 mm and the measured uncertainty for t is ±0.05 mm. Determine the percentage uncertainty in the calculated volume of the di
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q1 (1 mark): All quantities may be expressed in terms of SI base units. Select the row of the table that states the SI base units for the given quantity. Quantity SI base un
- June 2018, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): A student carried out an experiment to determine the acceleration of free fall. The initial height of a ball bearing was measured using a metre rule. metre rule
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q1(a) (2 marks): Describe what physicists mean by error and by uncertainty. (2)
- June 2017, Paper 3, Q1(b) (2 marks): Give two reasons why a measurement may have an uncertainty. (2)
- June 2017, AS Paper 1, Q10(a) (4 marks): State the resolution of each of the calipers and compare their use for measuring the diameter of the rod. (4)
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q5 (1 mark): Which of the following is the unit for tension expressed in SI base units? A N B N s C kg m s−1 D kg m s−2
- June 2016, AS Paper 1, Q14(a)(i) (1 mark): The watt-hour (W h) is an alternative unit for energy. Show that the maximum energy that can be stored by the battery is about 25kJ. 1 W h = 3600J (1)
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q5 (1 mark): In an experiment a student is taking a measurement of a time interval in seconds. He repeats the measurement and collects the following three readings: 3.2 s 3.
- June 2016, AS Paper 2, Q11(d) (2 marks): The ball bearing shown in the experimental set-up has a diameter of about 1 cm. Describe how the diameter could be measured accurately. (2)
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