Energy stores and transfers: Edexcel GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel GCSE Physics exam question on Energy stores and transfers (specification points 3.1–3.8), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 83 questions on Energy stores and transfers, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): The gravitational potential energy of the skier decreases by 39 000 J between the top and the bottom of the slope. The mass of the skier is 70 kg. Calculate the
June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): When the skier slides from the top to the bottom of the slope, some energy is dissipated. Explain how to determine the amount of energy dissipated. (2)
June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q9(a)(iii) (2 marks): The mass of a beta minus particle is 9.1 × 10–31 kg. Calculate the kinetic energy of a beta minus particle moving with a speed of 3.8 × 106 m / s. (2) kinetic e
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): The speed of the object, after it has fallen through a height, h, is measured by the light gate. Label Figure 8 to show the height, h. Your label should look li
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): The speed is measured at least four times for each drop height. Give one reason for repeating the measurements. (1)
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(iii) (2 marks): The metre rule shown in Figure 8 is used to measure the height, h. Suggest two ways to make the measurement of h as accurate as possible. (2) 1 2
June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(b) (3 marks): As the object in Figure 8 falls, energy is transferred. These energy transfers are represented in Figure 9. Complete the labels of the energy stores involved. (
June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the mass of the trolley is about 1.6 kg. Use the equation Δ GPE m O Δ g h (2)
June 2025, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student releases the trolley and the trolley moves down the runway. The student assumes that all the extra gravitational potential energy, ∆GPE, stored at t
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Show that the mass of the trolley is about 1.6 kg. Use the equation Δ GPE m O Δ g h (2)
June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student releases the trolley and the trolley moves down the runway. The student assumes that all the extra gravitational potential energy, ΔGPE, stored at t
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a) (2 marks): The person rides the skateboard down the ramp from P to Q. The gravitational potential energy of the person decreases by 980 J. The mass of the person is 35 kg.
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(b) (3 marks): The kinetic energy, KE, of the person at Q is 950 J. The mass of the person is 35 kg. Calculate the velocity of the person at Q. Use the equation 2 KE v 2 O m (
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): State what is represented by X. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the value of X. (1) value of X = J
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a) (2 marks): The person rides the skateboard down the ramp from P to Q. The gravitational potential energy of the person decreases by 980 J. The mass of the person is 35 kg.
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(b) (3 marks): The kinetic energy, KE, of the person at Q is 950 J. The mass of the person is 35 kg. Calculate the velocity of the person at Q. Use the equation 2 KE O v 2 m (
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c)(i) (1 mark): State what is represented by X. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the value of X. (1) value of X = J
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(i) (4 marks): Describe an experiment, using the apparatus in Figure 18, to determine the gravitational potential energy gained by the masses as they are lifted. Your descript
June 2024, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): In one experiment, the change in gravitational potential energy of the masses was 5.8 J. The total mass lifted was 320 g. Calculate the vertical height the mass
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (3 marks): The football gains 11 J of gravitational potential energy as it moves from the ground to the wall. Calculate the height at which the ball hits the wall. (3) Gra
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy of the football when it is moving at a velocity of 12 m / s. (2) Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 kinetic energy = J
June 2023, Paper 1 Higher, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe the energy transfers that happen when the ball hits the wall. (2)
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(i) (3 marks): The football gains 11 J of gravitational potential energy as it moves from the ground to the wall. Calculate the height at which the ball hits the wall. (3) Gra
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy of the football when it is moving at a velocity of 12 m / s. (2) Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 kinetic energy = J
June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q9(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe the energy transfers that happen when the ball hits the wall. (2)
June 2023, Paper 2 Higher, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy, in kJ, of the car. (2) kinetic energy = kJ
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a) (2 marks): Calculate the mean speed. (2) mean speed = m/s
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(b) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why the measurements of speed were repeated. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c) (3 marks): The mass of the ball is 0.052 kg. The ball falls through a vertical height (Δh) of 5.0 cm as it swings. The gravitational field strength, g, is 10 N/kg. Calcula
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(d)(i) (1 mark): To measure the change in vertical height, Δh, through which the ball moves, a ruler could be used. Draw a ruler on Figure 15, placed in a position to measure th
June 2023, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(d)(ii) (2 marks): Figure 16 shows a set square. Figure 16 Describe how the measurement of the change in vertical height, Δh, could be improved using the set square. You may add t
June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which statement describes conservation of energy in a closed system? (1) A when there are energy transfers, the total energy reduces B when there are energy tra
June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): The aircraft lands with a velocity of 71 m/s. The mass of the aircraft is 3.6 × 105 kg. Calculate the kinetic energy of the aircraft as it lands. (2) kinetic en
June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): When the aircraft has come to a stop, all the kinetic energy has been transferred to the surroundings. Give one way that the energy has been transferred to the
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a) (2 marks): Figure 7 shows a truck lifting a box. box truck 2.1 m Figure 7 The box has a mass of 57 kg. The truck lifts the box through a vertical height of 2.1 m. The grav
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b) (3 marks): A cyclist of mass 70 kg travels at a constant velocity of 8 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the cyclist. (3) kinetic energy of the cyclist = J
June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a) (1 mark): Which statement describes conservation of energy in a closed system? (1) A when there are energy transfers, the total energy reduces B when there are energy tra
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the rover as it descends from position P to position Q. Mass of rover = 1100 kg Gravitational field st
June 2022, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Use data from Figure 15 to calculate the change in kinetic energy of the rover as it descends from position P to position Q. (2) change in kinetic energy = J
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(i) (2 marks): The cyclist rides from a flat road to the top of a hill. The top of the hill is 24 m above the flat road. Calculate the gain in gravitational potential energy,
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(ii) (3 marks): The cyclist returns to the flat road. The mass of the cyclist is 64 kg. Calculate the kinetic energy of the cyclist when the cyclist is travelling at 6.0 m/s. U
November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(iii) (2 marks): The cyclist then uses the brakes on the bicycle to stop. Explain what happens to the kinetic energy of the cyclist. (2)
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): The greatest overall change in gravitational potential energy for each cyclist is between which two points on the journey? (1) A P and Q B Q and R C P and S D R
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): The gravitational potential energy of the other cyclist changes by 11 250 J when travelling from point Q to point R. Calculate the mass of this cyclist. Gravita
November 2021, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(b) (3 marks): The kinetic energy of another cyclist is 2800 J. The mass of the cyclist is 85 kg. Calculate the velocity of this cyclist. Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 (3
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): The mass of the person, m = 72 kg. The change in vertical height, h = 7.0 m Gravitational field strength, g = 10 N / kg Calculate the change in gravitational po
November 2021, Paper 2 Foundation, Q6(c) (3 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy of a tennis ball travelling at 28 m/s. The mass of the tennis ball = 58 g. Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 (3) kinetic energy =
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(a) (2 marks): Describe an energy transfer that occurs when the student lifts the toy car from the bench and places the toy car at the top of the slope. (2)
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(c) (2 marks): The student needs to develop the experiment to determine the loss in potential energy and the gain in kinetic energy as the toy car is rolling down the slope. S
November 2020, Paper 1 Higher, Q2(d) (1 mark): When the toy car rolls down the slope, some energy is transferred to the surroundings as thermal energy. State how the student could calculate the amount of ene
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(a) (2 marks): Describe an energy transfer that occurs when the student lifts the toy car from the bench and places the toy car at the top of the slope. (2)
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(c) (2 marks): The student needs to develop the experiment to determine the loss in potential energy and the gain in kinetic energy as the toy car is rolling down the slope. S
November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8(d) (1 mark): When the toy car rolls down the slope, some energy is transferred to the surroundings as thermal energy. State how the student could calculate the amount of ene
November 2020, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy when the drone rises through a height of 20 m. The gravitational field strength g = 10 N/kg. (2) change i
November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy when the drone rises through a height of 20 m. The gravitational field strength g = 10 N/kg. (2) change i
June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q1(b) (1 mark): Before the car brakes it has kinetic energy. The kinetic energy decreases as it brakes. State what happens to the kinetic energy during braking. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(a) (4 marks): A student investigates how the mass of the trolley affects the maximum vertical height, h, reached by the trolley. State the measurements the student should mak
June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q5(b) (3 marks): Figure 6 is a graph of the student’s results. 0.24 0.22 0.20 0.18 height, h, in m 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.10 0.60 0.70 0.80 0.90 1.00 mass of trolley in kg Figure 6 Th
June 2019, Paper 1 Higher, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): The kinetic energy of one of the particles released in a fission reaction is 1.2 × 10–11 J. The mass of the particle is 1.4 × 10–25 kg. Calculate the velocity o
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q2(b) (3 marks): A model train has a mass of 8.0kg. It travels at a speed of 1.5 m/s. Calculate the kinetic energy of the model train. Use the equation kinetic energy =½ x mass
June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6(a)(ii) (3 marks): A cyclist travels down a slope. The top of the slope is 20 m vertically above the bottom of the slope. The cyclist has a mass of 75 kg. Calculate the change in
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy when the ball is lifted through a vertical height of 2.05 m. Use the equation ΔGPE = m × g × Δh (2) chang
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): The ball is released. Calculate the kinetic energy of the ball when the speed of the ball is 3.5 m/s. (3) kinetic energy of the ball = J
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): The ball bounces several times. Figure 4 shows how the height of the ball above the floor changes with time. 2.0 1.5 height in m 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 1 2 3 time in s F
June 2019, Paper 2 Higher, Q2(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain why the ball does not bounce back to its starting height of 2.05 m. (2)
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy when the ball is lifted through a vertical height of 2.05 m. Use the equation ΔGPE = m × g × Δh (2) chang
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(ii) (3 marks): The ball is released. Calculate the kinetic energy of the ball when the speed of the ball is 3.5 m/s. (3) kinetic energy of the ball = J
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(iii) (1 mark): The ball bounces several times. Figure 15 shows how the height of the ball above the floor changes with time. 2.0 1.5 height in m 1.0 0.5 0.0 0 1 2 3 time in s
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain why the ball does not bounce back to its starting height of 2.05 m. (2)
June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q8(c) (2 marks): A student plots a graph showing the height at the start and the maximum height reached after each bounce. Figure 16 shows the student’s graph. 2.0 1.5 maximum h
June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(i) (3 marks): Water gains kinetic energy by falling from the top of a dam. Calculate the minimum height that 7.0 kg of water must fall to gain 1300 J of kinetic energy. (3) m
June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): As water enters the turbine at the bottom of the dam, the kinetic energy of 8.0 kg of moving water is 1100 J. Calculate the speed of the moving water as it ente
June 2018, Paper 1 Higher, Q7(d) (3 marks): Moving air can be used to generate electricity using a wind turbine. Figure 8 is a graph of kinetic energy against wind speed for a mass of moving air. 10 8 6 k
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State how energy is stored in a spinning flywheel. (1)
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): State one way to increase the amount of energy stored in the flywheel. (1)
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy. Use the equation ΔGPE = m × g × Δh Take the gravitational field strength, g, as 10 N / kg. (2) change in
June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): At the bottom of the slope her speed was 36 m/s. Calculate her kinetic energy at the bottom of the slope. Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 (3) kinetic energy
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (2 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy of the cyclist and bicycle. Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 (2) kinetic energy = J
June 2018, Paper 2 Higher, Q7(a)(iii) (2 marks): The mass of the aeroplane is 750 kg. Calculate the change in gravitational potential energy of the aeroplane as it descends from 1300 m to the ground. Gravitati
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(a) (2 marks): Calculate the kinetic energy of the cyclist and bicycle. Use the equation KE = 1 2 × m × v2 (2) kinetic energy = J
June 2018, Paper 2 Foundation, Q9(b) (2 marks): Describe the energy transfers that happen when the cyclist uses the brakes to stop. (2)

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