plumiDensity and upthrust: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions
Edexcel International A Level Physics past-paper questions on 1.4.1.1 Density and upthrust, 2019–2025, with mark schemes and examiner’s reports where available.
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All 78 questions on Density and upthrust, as a list
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q1 (1 mark): A cube of volume V is placed in a liquid of density ρ. The cube displaces a weight W of the liquid. Which of the following gives the magnitude of the upthrust a
- June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (3 marks): Each sphere has a radius of 7.0 × 10 Calculate the mass of one sphere. 3 kg m –3 density of steel = 7.8 × 10 (3) Mass of one sphere =
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(iii) (3 marks): Determine the density, in g cm –3, of the metal. a = 25.3 mm b = 24.9 mm c = 49.6 mm mass of prism = 135 g (3) Density = g cm −3
- June 2025, AS Unit 3, Q1(b)(iv) (2 marks): The percentage uncertainty in this calculated value of the density of the metal is 0.9%. The accepted value for the density of copper is 8.94 g cm –3. Deduce wh
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A free-body force diagram for an object moving through a fluid is shown. upthrust = 90 N Not to scale drag weight = 49 N The mass of the object is 5 kg. The obj
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (5 marks): In one minute, each pipe transfers 1700 m 3 of water to the generator. The density of the water in the lake is 1100 kg m −3. Show that the power transferred by
- January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (6 marks): A crane on a ship can lift the submarine out of the sea, as shown. cable crane submarine (Source: adapted from © PJF Military Collection/Alamy Stock Photo) The
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (2 marks): Complete the free-body diagram below to show the forces acting on a hydrometer when floating in water at equilibrium. (2)
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain why the vertical position of the hydrometer was higher in the seawater than in the pure water. (3)
- October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(ii) (5 marks): Calculate the change in the vertical position of the hydrometer when moved from pure water into seawater. weight of hydrometer = 0.324 N density of pure water =
- October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): Describe how the student should determine a value for the density of steel. (3)
- October 2024, Unit 4, Q17(a)(i) (5 marks): Show that the propeller pushes a mass of air of about 3 × 10–3 kg backwards in a time of 0.20 s. density of air = 1.3 kg m–3 (5)
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (3 marks): Calculate the weight of the block of ice. density of seawater = 1.03 × 10 3 kg m –3 (3) Weight of block =
- June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q12(b) (2 marks): An identical block of ice floats in water of a lower density than the seawater in (a). A larger volume of this block is below the surface of the water. Explain
- June 2024, Unit 5, Q13(a) (2 marks): Explain how the airship is able to float in the air. (2)
- June 2024, Unit 6, Q4(c) (2 marks): The student determined the density of the plastic as 1.04 g cm –3 with a percentage uncertainty of 3%. The accepted value of the density of Perspex is 1.18 g cm
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q8 (1 mark): A solid cube of weight W is made from material with density ρ. Which expression gives the length of each side of the cube? 3 ρg A W 3 ρg B W 3 W C ρg 3
- January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q13 (3 marks): A student has a toy called a ‘cartesian diver’ inside a sealed plastic bottle of water. The cartesian diver consists of a tube closed at one end. Air is trapped
- January 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(c)(i) (2 marks): Determine the density of the paper in g cm x = 210 mm y = 42.7 mm z = 297 mm (2) –3 Density = g cm
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by upthrust. (1)
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(i) (3 marks): When the balloon is released, the initial upward acceleration is 4.80 m s –2. Show that the weight of the balloon and equipment is about 13 N. volume of balloon
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(ii) (4 marks): The graph shows how the density of air decreases with height above the ground. 0.80 0.60 Density 0.40 –3 / kg m 0.20 0.00 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 Height / km Th
- October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(c) (6 marks): A weather balloon made of a strong material will rise and eventually stop expanding. It will continue to rise until it reaches a maximum height. Explain how and
- October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(d)(i) (4 marks): Show that the density of the metal is about 8800 kg m (4)
- October 2023, Unit 6, Q4(c) (3 marks): The student determined the density of the rubber band and the density of the rubber bung. She also determined the corresponding percentage uncertainty in each v
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(i) (2 marks): Show that the upthrust on the bubble is about 5 × 10–7 N. density of water = 998 kg m–3 (2)
- June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(ii) (3 marks): The buoy floats due to the upthrust from the water. The weight of water displaced by the buoy is 2.9 kN. Determine the weight of the buoy. (3) Weight of buoy =
- June 2023, Unit 5, Q14(a) (3 marks): Show that the mass of water needed to fill one compartment is about 0.02 kg. 3 kg m –3 density of water = 1.00 × 10 (3)
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (4 marks): When the ball is falling at terminal velocity the following equation applies drag force = weight of ball – upthrust The density of the liquid was known. The stu
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(a)(i) (5 marks): Show that the drag force acting on the object at terminal velocity was about 200 N. volume of object = 1.60 × 10 –2 m 3 3 kg m density of seawater = 1.03 × 10 –
- January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (3 marks): To lift the heavy object from the seabed, a diver used a ‘lift bag’. The diver used compressed air from a cylinder to fill the lift bag, as shown. compressed ai
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Determine the density of the modelling clay. W1 = 0.65 N F = 0.27 N density of water = 1000 kg m –3 (2) Density of modelling clay =
- January 2023, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): The student estimated the percentage uncertainty in his calculated value of the density of modelling clay to be 4%. The density of polymer clay is 1760 kg m –3.
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Determine the mean density ρ, in g cm–3, of the metal the ring is made from. m10 = 63.0 g ± 0.5 g x10 = 14.03 mm ± 0.04 mm A = 602 mm2 ± 0.4 % (2) ρ = g cm–3
- January 2023, Unit 6, Q4(d)(ii) (3 marks): The density of stainless steel ranges from 7.48 g cm–3 to 7.95 g cm–3. Deduce whether the metal rings could be made from stainless steel. (3)
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q14(a) (4 marks): The child releases the balloon by letting go of the string. Calculate the resultant force on the balloon immediately after it is released. mass of balloon and s
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q14(b) (6 marks): Immediately after the balloon is released, it begins to move upwards. The density of the air remains constant and there is no wind. Explain how the forces actin
- October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(i) (3 marks): A spherical foram with a mass of 1.15 × 10–8 kg is sinking at terminal velocity in seawater. The upthrust due to the seawater is 4.37 × 10–8 N. The flow of seaw
- October 2022, Unit 5, Q12 (5 marks): A cylinder contains oxygen gas at a temperature of 25 °C and a pressure of 1.4 × 107 Pa. Calculate the density of the oxygen gas in the cylinder. mass of an oxy
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): A sphere falls through a viscous liquid as shown. sphere viscous liquid Which row of the table describes the upthrust and the viscous drag on the sphere as it a
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15 (6 marks): * 15 A Galilean thermometer consists of a closed glass cylinder containing a liquid. In the liquid there are several identical sealed glass bulbs, as shown. Att
- June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(i) (4 marks): Show that the weight of the sphere is about 4.8 × 10–3 N. density of aluminium = 2.70 × 103 kg m–3 diameter of sphere = 7.00 × 10–3 m (4)
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q1(a) (4 marks): Determine the average volume of one of the coins. (4) Average volume =
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q1(b) (2 marks): The mass of the 20 coins shown is 196 g. Determine the average density of the coins. (2) Average density =
- June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q1(c) (2 marks): Determine whether the coins could be made from brass. density of brass = 8550 kg m–3 ± 2% (2)
- June 2022, Unit 6, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Determine the density ρ of the metal from which the nut is made. (2) ρ =
- June 2022, Unit 6, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): The density of steel ranges from 7.85 g cm–3 to 8.03 g cm–3. Deduce whether the metal nut could be made from steel. (3)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (2 marks): Explain why the brass cylinder floats. (2)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (4 marks): Show that the mass of the cylinder is about 9 × 10−3 kg. (4)
- January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (4 marks): Deduce whether an identical hollow cylinder made of gold would also float. Assume that the volume of gold is the same as the volume of brass. density of gold =
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the weight of the droplet. density of water = 1.00 × 103 kg m–3 (3) Weight of droplet =
- October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(ii) (2 marks): Show that the upthrust on the water droplet when it’s completely submerged in oil is about 3 × 10–4 N. density of oil = 0.94 × 103 kg m–3 (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q2 (1 mark): A cylinder of aluminium has a weight of 35.0 N and a volume of 1.32 × 10−3 m3 . Which of the following calculations gives the density of aluminium in kg m−3 ? A
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the upthrust exerted on the submarine by the seawater. (2) Upthrust =
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the mass of the submarine must be 6.0 × 106 kg. (2)
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain what would happen to the submarine as it moves into this region of lower density seawater. (3)
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(b)(ii) (2 marks): The submarine alters its weight by pumping water in or out of its internal tanks. Determine the mass of water that the submarine should pump, in or out of its t
- June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (5 marks): A glass sphere of diameter 35 mm is travelling through the fluid at terminal velocity. Show that the drag force on this sphere is about 0.2 N. density of glass
- June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q1(b) (4 marks): Describe a method to determine an accurate value for the density of acetate. (4)
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q14(a)(i) (4 marks): Show that the speed at which the seawater is projected from the pipe is about 37 m s−1. (4)
- January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(b) (3 marks): Show that the upthrust the oil exerts on the bead is about 3.1 × 10−4 N. density of oil = 930 kg m−3 (3)
- January 2021, Unit 4, Q19(a)(ii) (2 marks): For a particular oil droplet, the terminal velocity was measured to be 5.35 × 10−4 m s−1. Calculate the radius of this oil droplet. η = 1.86 × 10−5 Pa s ρ = 904
- January 2021, Unit 6, Q4(e) (4 marks): The table shows the densities of some common materials used to manufacture this type of container. Only borosilicate is safe to heat directly with a Bunsen burn
- October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which quantity is represented by 4 3 πr3ρo g? (1)
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the density ρ of the metal in g cm−3. Assume the value of mass is 100 g with negligible uncertainty. (2) ρ = g cm−3
- October 2020, Unit 6, Q4(d) (2 marks): The student thinks that the slotted mass is made from brass, which has a density of 8.5 g cm−3. Determine whether the slotted mass could be made of brass. (2)
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (3 marks): Draw a free-body force diagram for the sphere when it is suspended in water as shown. (3)
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain the increase in the reading on the balance. Your answer should include a reference to Newton’s third law. (3)
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(ii) (4 marks): Determine the mass of the sphere. density of water = 1000 kg m−3 density of sphere = 2000 kg m−3 (4) Mass of sphere =
- January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(iii) (2 marks): The water was replaced with the same mass of oil and the experiment repeated. The density of the oil is less than the density of water. Explain what happens to
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q2(a) (4 marks): Show that the upthrust U on the beaker could be calculated using the equation r dg 2 π U = 1000 where d is in cm and U is in N. (4)
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q2(b) (3 marks): The student marked the position of the water surface on the beaker for different values of m. He plotted a graph of d in cm against m in g. 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 50
- January 2020, AS Unit 3, Q3(a) (3 marks): Describe a method the student could use to determine the density of the salt solution. (3)
- June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): A sphere of weight 2.5 N floats in water with ò of its volume beneath the surface. A force F is applied to the sphere, completely immersing it in the water as s
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q1(e) (4 marks): The student measured the mass of the first metal sphere using a top pan balance. The mass reading obtained was 35.6 g. Calculate the density of the first metal
- June 2019, AS Unit 3, Q1(f) (2 marks): The student calculated the density of the second metal sphere to be 7.75 × 103 kg m–3 with an uncertainty of 2%. Determine whether the two spheres could be made
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): A student used a balance to measure the mass of a small cube with sides of length x. x On 50.00 g Tare The student also measured the mass of a larger cube with
- January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q14 (6 marks): *14 The approximate age of an egg can be determined by placing it in a bowl of water. Two eggs of different ages are placed in water and come to rest as shown.
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