Skip to content
Android waitlistTry on iPad
Get started

Density, upthrust and viscosity: Edexcel International A Level Physics questions

Every Edexcel International A Level Physics exam question on Density, upthrust and viscosity (specification points 23–26), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations

2,865 questions

  1. Q1

    June 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer
  2. Q16(a)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  3. Q16(b)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  4. Q16(c)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  5. Q18(a)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  6. Q1(b)(iii)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 3

    The whole paper ↗
  7. Q1(b)(iv)

    June 2025 · AS Unit 3

    The whole paper ↗
  8. Q9

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
    Your answer
  9. Q15(a)

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  10. Q18(b)

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  11. Q20(a)

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  12. Q20(b)(i)

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  13. Q20(b)(ii)

    January 2025 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  14. Q16(a)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  15. Q16(b)(i)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  16. Q16(b)(ii)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  17. Q19(a)(i)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  18. Q19(a)(ii)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 1

    The whole paper ↗
  19. Q1(a)(iii)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 3

    The whole paper ↗
  20. Q1(b)

    October 2024 · AS Unit 3

    The whole paper ↗
All 148 questions on Density, upthrust and viscosity, as a list
  1. 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
  2. June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (1 mark): Give one other measurement needed to determine the viscosity of the oil. (1)
  3. June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q16(b) (3 marks): The diameter of the ball‑bearing was 1.24 mm. The time taken to fall 20.0 cm –5 N for the viscous drag on the was 1.3 s. The student calculated a value of 5.6 ×
  4. June 2025, AS Unit 1, Q16(c) (3 marks): The student repeated the experiment. He used the same oil at a lower temperature. Explain how using oil at a lower temperature affected the time taken for the b
  5. 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 =
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q20(a) (4 marks): The student released the sphere from rest in the oil. Explain why the sphere reached terminal velocity. (4)
  12. January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q20(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the viscous drag force on the sphere. Assume the conditions for Stokes’ law applied. time taken = 7.3 s radius of sphere = 0.90 × 10 −3 m viscosity of
  13. January 2025, AS Unit 1, Q20(b)(ii) (3 marks): The student repeated the experiment using a second sphere with a greater diameter. The density of the second sphere was the same as the density of the original
  14. 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)
  15. 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)
  16. 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 =
  17. October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q19(a)(i) (2 marks): State the conditions for Stokes’ law to apply. (2)
  18. October 2024, AS Unit 1, Q19(a)(ii) (5 marks): The mass accelerated to terminal velocity as it fell to the bottom of the sea. At terminal velocity, the mass fell 25 m in a time of 0.36 s. There was a differe
  19. October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(a)(iii) (3 marks): Describe how the student should determine a value for the density of steel. (3)
  20. October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(b) (4 marks): The student placed the steel sphere in a transparent tube filled with the liquid. She arranged the transparent tube as shown. Not to scale rubber bung transpare
  21. October 2024, AS Unit 3, Q1(c) (2 marks): The student determined the viscosity of the liquid as 0.72 Pa s with a percentage uncertainty of 6%. The viscosity of castor oil is 0.65 Pa s. Deduce whether th
  22. 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)
  23. June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): An object is moving through a fluid. Which row of the table states the conditions which must be met for Stokes’ law to apply? Size of object Shape of object Typ
  24. 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 =
  25. 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
  26. June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q14(a) (1 mark): State why the grain of sand reaches terminal velocity. (1)
  27. June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q14(b) (3 marks): A spherical grain of sand has a weight of 4.3 × 10 –5 N. water with a weight of 1.5 × 10 The terminal velocity of the grain of sand as it falls through the wate
  28. June 2024, AS Unit 1, Q14(c) (2 marks): Explain how the temperature of the water affects the terminal velocity of a grain of sand if Stokes’ law does apply. (2)
  29. June 2024, Unit 5, Q13(a) (2 marks): Explain how the airship is able to float in the air. (2)
  30. June 2024, Unit 6, Q2(a) (2 marks): Show that the formula gives the unit for η as N s m –2. (2)
  31. June 2024, Unit 6, Q2(b) (6 marks): The student used a metre rule to measure L and a stopwatch to measure t. He adjusted the water tap to give a constant flow of water. Describe a method to determ
  32. 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
  33. 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
  34. 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
  35. January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (2 marks): State the conditions needed for Stokes’ law to apply to this investigation. (2)
  36. January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (2 marks): Complete the free-body force diagram for a ball-bearing when falling at terminal velocity. (2) drag force
  37. January 2024, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (6 marks): The student thought that the liquid she used might be glycerol. She made measurements to determine the terminal velocity of a ball-bearing. The terminal velocit
  38. 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
  39. October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q17(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by upthrust. (1)
  40. 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
  41. 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
  42. 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
  43. October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): State the conditions under which Stokes’ law applies to an object moving through a fluid. (2)
  44. October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain the shape of the graph. (3)
  45. October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(b)(ii) (4 marks): The ball‑bearing had a diameter of 1.6 mm. The difference between the upthrust on the ball‑bearing and the weight of the ball‑bearing is 1.45 × 10 –4 N. Calcula
  46. October 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(b)(iii) (4 marks): The student heated the liquid and repeated the experiment. The ball‑bearing took less time to fall a given distance in the liquid when the liquid was at a highe
  47. October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(d)(i) (4 marks): Show that the density of the metal is about 8800 kg m (4)
  48. October 2023, AS Unit 3, Q1(d)(ii) (3 marks): The student is told the cube is made from copper, bronze or brass. The table shows the densities of these metals. Metal Density / kg m –3 copper 8940 bronze 862
  49. 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
  50. June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A ball bearing falls at terminal velocity through a liquid. The temperature of the liquid increases and the ball bearing falls with a greater terminal velocity.
  51. June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q16(a) (1 mark): State the condition needed for Stokes’ law to apply to the bubble. (1)
  52. 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)
  53. June 2023, AS Unit 1, Q16(b)(ii) (4 marks): The bubble moves upwards at a constant velocity of 0.035 m s–1. Deduce whether Stokes’ law applies to the bubble. You may ignore the weight of the bubble. visco
  54. 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)
  55. 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
  56. January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q12(b) (2 marks): When falling through the liquid, the ball reached terminal velocity. The flow of liquid around the ball was laminar. Calculate the viscosity of the liquid. term
  57. 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 –
  58. January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(a)(ii) (2 marks): The drag force D on the object obeyed the formula 2 D = k v where v is the speed of the object. Determine the terminal velocity of the object. 2 m –2 k = 2.2 N
  59. January 2023, AS Unit 1, Q18(a)(iii) (2 marks): Give two reasons why Stokes’ law could not be used to calculate the terminal velocity of the object. (2)
  60. 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
  61. 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 =
  62. 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.
  63. 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
  64. 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)
  65. October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): Which of the following best describes the situations in which Stokes’ Law applies for objects moving in a fluid? A all spherical objects moving at low speeds B
  66. 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
  67. 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
  68. 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
  69. October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the terminal velocity of this foram. diameter of foram = 9.2 × 10–4 m viscosity of seawater = 1.41 × 10–3 Pa s . (2) Terminal velocity =
  70. October 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(b) (4 marks): As the forams sink deeper into the sea, the temperature of the water becomes lower. Discuss how the terminal velocities of forams change as they sink deeper int
  71. 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
  72. 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
  73. June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(a) (1 mark): State why the temperature of the liquid should not increase during the measurement. (1)
  74. 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)
  75. June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(ii) (3 marks): The terminal velocity of the sphere was 4.05 × 10–2 m s–1. Deduce whether Stokes’ law applied to the falling sphere. density of glycerol = 1.26 × 103 kg m–3 vis
  76. June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(b)(iii) (1 mark): State one condition that must be met for Stokes’ law to apply. (1)
  77. June 2022, AS Unit 1, Q19(c) (5 marks): A scientist used the viscometer to measure the viscosity of blood. The viscosity of blood is typically in the range 3 × 10–3 Pa s to 4 × 10–3 Pa s. Explain why
  78. June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q1(a) (4 marks): Determine the average volume of one of the coins. (4) Average volume =
  79. 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 =
  80. 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)
  81. June 2022, AS Unit 3, Q1(d) (4 marks): The surfaces of the coins are uneven, which introduces a systematic error. Describe an alternative method the student could have used to determine the average v
  82. June 2022, Unit 6, Q4(c)(i) (2 marks): Determine the density ρ of the metal from which the nut is made. (2) ρ =
  83. 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)
  84. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q6 (1 mark): The graph shows how terminal velocity varies with mass for small spheres of equal diameter falling through a viscous liquid. terminal velocity mass Which of the
  85. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15(a) (2 marks): Explain why the brass cylinder floats. (2)
  86. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (4 marks): Show that the mass of the cylinder is about 9 × 10−3 kg. (4)
  87. 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 =
  88. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(a) (2 marks): Stokes' law can be used to calculate the drag force on an object. State the conditions that must apply for Stokes' law to be valid. (2)
  89. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(i) (3 marks): At one instant, the speed of the sphere is 5.2 × 10−3 m s−1. Calculate the resultant horizontal force on the sphere. (3) Resultant horizontal force =
  90. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(ii) (2 marks): Calculate the maximum speed of the sphere in the horizontal direction. (2) Maximum horizontal speed =
  91. January 2022, AS Unit 1, Q17(c) (4 marks): A larger diameter sphere in the same liquid is acted upon by the same constant force as in (b). The liquid is at a lower temperature. Explain the effect these c
  92. October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q9 (1 mark): A student measured the terminal velocity of different objects as they fell through a liquid. The student used the measurements and Stokes’ Law to calculate the
  93. October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(i) (1 mark): State what is meant by laminar flow. (1)
  94. October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the condition necessary for the speed of the droplet to be constant. (1)
  95. 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 =
  96. 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)
  97. October 2021, AS Unit 1, Q17(b)(iii) (4 marks): Calculate the terminal velocity of this water droplet in the oil. viscosity of oil = 0.11 Pa s (4) Terminal velocity =
  98. 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
  99. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the upthrust exerted on the submarine by the seawater. (2) Upthrust =
  100. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q13(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the mass of the submarine must be 6.0 × 106 kg. (2)
  101. 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)
  102. 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
  103. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): Explain what is meant by terminal velocity. (2)
  104. 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
  105. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(i) (3 marks): Deduce from the graph whether the flow of liquid around the spheres was laminar. (3)
  106. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(ii) (3 marks): Determine a value for k using the student’s graph. (3) k =
  107. June 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(iii) (2 marks): The constant k is given by k = ( ) ρ − ρ g g s 18 η where η is the viscosity of the liquid. Determine a value for η. density of glass ρg = 2.52 × 103 kg m−3 den
  108. June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q1(b) (4 marks): Describe a method to determine an accurate value for the density of acetate. (4)
  109. June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q1(c) (2 marks): The student then followed the same method using thicker sheets of acetate. Explain why using thicker sheets of acetate would reduce the uncertainty in her value
  110. June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Explain why it was necessary to measure the force when the sphere was stationary and the force when the sphere was moving at constant speed. (3)
  111. June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q3(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the viscosity η of the liquid. (3) η = Pa s
  112. June 2021, AS Unit 3, Q3(d) (4 marks): The resolution of the force meter was 0.01 N. The distance moved between the rubber bands was 25.0 cm. The time measured was 0.78 s. The percentage uncertainty
  113. January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q7 (1 mark): A student determines the terminal velocity of a ball bearing as it falls through oil. He releases the ball bearing at point V and measures the time taken for it
  114. 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)
  115. January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(a) (2 marks): Complete the free body force diagram below to show all the forces acting on the polystyrene bead. (2) upthrust
  116. 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)
  117. January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(i) (1 mark): State the reason for this condition. (1)
  118. January 2021, AS Unit 1, Q18(c)(ii) (5 marks): For Stokes’ law to be valid the speed of the bead through the oil must be less than vR, where × 10 viscosity of oil vR = × density of oil diameter of the bead D
  119. January 2021, Unit 4, Q19(a)(i) (3 marks): Show that r = ρg 2 η = viscosity of air ρ = density of oil (3)
  120. 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
  121. January 2021, Unit 4, Q19(c) (3 marks): In 1909 Millikan concluded that the charge on the electron was 1.592 × 10−19 C whereas the accepted value today is 1.602 × 10−19 C. This was because the value f
  122. 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
  123. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the top rubber band should be placed a short distance below the surface of the oil. (2)
  124. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(a)(ii) (2 marks): Another student suggested using an additional rubber band halfway between the top and bottom rubber bands. Discuss the benefit of adding the third rubber band.
  125. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(i) (1 mark): Which quantity is represented by 4 3 πr3ρs g? (1)
  126. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which quantity is represented by 4 3 πr3ρo g? (1)
  127. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(iii) (1 mark): Which quantity is represented by 6πrηv? (1)
  128. October 2020, AS Unit 1, Q15(b)(iv) (1 mark): The accepted value for the viscosity of the oil used in this experiment is 41 mPa s at 24 °C. The student obtained a value of 36 mPa s. Suggest a possible reaso
  129. 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
  130. 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)
  131. January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q10 (1 mark): Some students were shown a velocity-time graph for the motion of an object falling through a liquid. Time The students suggested possible explanations for the d
  132. January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q12(a) (1 mark): State one other condition that must be met in order for Stokes’ law to apply to the moving object. (1)
  133. January 2020, AS Unit 1, Q12(b) (5 marks): A sphere falls through water at a constant speed of 0.50 m s−1. Assess whether Stokes’ law can be applied to the falling sphere. You should include calculations
  134. 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)
  135. 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)
  136. 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 =
  137. 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
  138. 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)
  139. 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
  140. 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)
  141. 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
  142. June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q5 (1 mark): A sample of sea water is collected using a beaker. The sample contains some particles of sand which settle at the bottom of the beaker. Which of the following w
  143. June 2019, AS Unit 1, Q18(a)(ii) (4 marks): The air resistance F acting on a raindrop travelling at a velocity v, can be determined using the expression F 0.45ȡ$Y where $ is the cross-sectional area of t
  144. 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
  145. 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
  146. January 2019, AS Unit 1, Q3 (1 mark): Stokes’ law can be used to determine the frictional force on an object moving through a fluid. To which of the following would Stokes’ law best apply? A A large
  147. 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
  148. 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.

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 International A Level Physics paper.

Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.