plumiSliding filament theory: Edexcel International A Level Biology questions
Edexcel International A Level Biology past-paper questions on 7.2.3 Sliding filament theory, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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Q3(a)
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All 23 questions on Sliding filament theory, as a list
- October 2024, Unit 5, Q3(a) (3 marks): Explain why a decrease in calcium ions could disrupt the contraction of muscles. (3)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of the following would shorten when the sarcomere contracts? (1) A region P only B region R only C regions P and R D regions Q and R
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): A diagram of this sarcomere, drawn to the same scale, has a length of 50 mm when contracted. Give the ratio of the lengths of the relaxed sarcomere to the contr
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the major protein component that forms structure S in the diagram. (1)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(b) (4 marks): Describe the role of troponin molecules in the contraction of a sarcomere. (4)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Add an appropriate scale to the axes of the graph and draw a line of best fit. (2)
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q4(c)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the gradient of the line of best fit. (1) Answer N per percentage increase
- January 2024, Unit 5, Q6(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which of the following explains how muscles contract? (1) A Fick’s law B fluid mosaic model C lock and key hypothesis D sliding filament model
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(a)(i) (1 mark): Energy is needed when a muscle contracts. Which row in the table shows the energy use in muscle contraction? (1) Energy in muscle contraction is used to break t
- October 2023, Unit 5, Q7(a)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction. (4)
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Which pair of letters represents the length of one sarcomere? (1) A P to T B P to U C Q to T D R to S
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q4(c) (3 marks): The graph shows the relationship between the force of muscle contraction and the velocity of muscle contraction. Force of contraction Velocity of contraction Th
- January 2023, Unit 5, Q6(b) (1 mark): Name the basic unit of contraction in a skeletal muscle. (1)
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Which chemical group contains actin and myosin? (1) A carbohydrates B fatty acids C nucleic acids D proteins
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q2(b)(ii) (3 marks): Describe the role of ATP in the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction. (3)
- June 2022, Unit 5, Q7(c)(ii) (4 marks): Describe the role of ATP in muscle contraction. (4)
- October 2021, Unit 5, Q1(a) (2 marks): Describe the role of calcium ions in producing contraction of a muscle fibre. (2)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(d) (3 marks): Explain why Ca2+ binding to troponin C allows muscle fibres to contract (paragraph 5). (3)
- June 2021, Unit 5, Q8(e) (2 marks): Explain how the ‘high‑energy phosphates’ provide the energy necessary for muscle activity (paragraph 11). (2)
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Which protein forms the structure labelled X? (1) A actin B myosin C tropomyosin D troponin
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which part becomes shorter when the muscle contracts? (1) A W B X C Y D Z
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): How many of the following statements are correct when a sarcomere contracts? calcium ions bind to troponin calcium ions are released from the sarcoplasmic r
- January 2021, Unit 5, Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Which molecule contains an enzyme that hydrolyses ATP? (1) A actin B myosin C tropomyosin D troponin
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