Energy transfers: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Energy transfers (specification points 4.2–4.10), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 121 questions on Energy transfers, as a list

June 2025, Paper 2, Q3(c) (2 marks): The surface of the solar panel is black. Explain why black is a suitable colour for the solar panel. (2)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (3 marks): Give three control variables in the student’s investigation. (3) 1 2 3
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (5 marks): The student has this equipment. • beaker • hot water • stopclock • clamp and clamp stand Design a method the student could use to compare the effectiveness of t
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Plot a bar chart of the student’s results. (3)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Deduce which metal is the most effective at transferring energy by conduction. (2)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): Which energy store has increased for the spring in diagram 2 compared to the spring in diagram 1? (1) A chemical B elastic C gravitational potential D kinetic
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (6 marks): The spring is released from the position shown in diagram 3. Describe the energy transfers that take place until the spring stops vibrating. (6)
June 2025 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): Which of these statements best describes the advantage of this new type of shock absorber? (1) A it increases the energy transferred to a thermal store from the
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q5(c) (6 marks): The coefficient of restitution can be used to determine how high a ball will bounce. The higher the value of the coefficient of restitution, the higher the ball
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a) (2 marks): The inside surface of the cup is shiny and silver‑coloured. Explain how the shiny silver‑coloured surface helps to keep a drink hot. (2)
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b) (2 marks): Explain why a drink in the cup will stay hot for longer when the lid is placed on the cup. (2)
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): On the graph, draw a tangent to the curve when the temperature is 40 °C. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(c)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the gradient of the tangent to find the rate of temperature change of the water when the temperature is 40 °C. Give your answer in °C / minute. (3) ra
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q7(c)(iii) (2 marks): The student is working in a laboratory with a room temperature of 20 °C. Draw a line on the graph to show how the temperature of the water in the cup would chan
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the independent variable in this investigation. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the dependent variable in this investigation. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(a)(iii) (2 marks): A teacher tells the student that their investigation is not valid (a fair test). Give two ways to improve the validity of the student’s investigation. (2) 1 2
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(a)(iv) (2 marks): The student improves the validity of their investigation. Describe what the student should do to improve the reliability of their results. (2)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): Plot a bar chart of the results on the grid. (3)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): State why a bar chart is a better choice than a line graph for this investigation. (1)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe a change in the turbine’s energy stores from when the turbine is at rest to when it is moving at full speed. (2)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe a change in the turbine’s energy stores when the wind is blowing but the turbine moves at constant speed. (2)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking efficiency to useful energy output and total energy output. (1)
November 2024, Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (4 marks): The wind transfers 1.2 × 106 J of energy to the turbine. The total mass of the turbine blades is 16 000 kg. The wind causes the turbine blades to accelerate fro
June 2024, Paper 1, Q3(d) (2 marks): Paint takes less time to harden when it absorbs more energy from infrared radiation. A technician observes that white paint takes more time to harden than black
June 2024, Paper 2, Q3(a) (6 marks): The photograph shows some of the equipment available to the student. infrared heater black bottle silver bottle thermometers The student pours some water into e
June 2024, Paper 2, Q3(b) (2 marks): The student plots a graph to show how the temperature of the water in each bottle varies with time. Draw two curves to show the expected variation in temperatur
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why energy is not transferred from the Sun to the Earth by conduction or convection. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c)(ii) (2 marks): A satellite orbiting the Earth contains sensitive equipment that can be damaged if it gets too hot. Explain which colour would be most appropriate for the outer
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): State which energy store increases in the rubber band after it has been stretched. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): State the main method of energy transfer when the rubber band is stretched. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q9(a)(iii) (1 mark): State the source of the energy transferred to the rubber band. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q12(a) (4 marks): Energy is transferred from the thermal store of the water to the thermal store of the air in the boiling tube with an efficiency of 16%. The air in the boiling
June 2024 (R), Paper 1, Q12(b) (2 marks): Give two ways that the apparatus could be modified to improve the efficiency of the energy transfer. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q5(a) (3 marks): Explain how the wooden ring makes the apparatus safer for the student to use. (3)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q5(b) (3 marks): Describe how energy is transferred by conduction through the metal strips. (3)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Justify the use of a bar chart in this investigation. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c)(ii) (2 marks): State how the student could improve the reliability of their results. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q5(c)(iii) (2 marks): The student concludes that iron is the best metal for transferring energy by conduction. Evaluate the student’s conclusion. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q12(a) (5 marks): Describe the energy transfers from before the student lifts the marble to when the marble reaches point B of the marble run. (5)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): The switch is open and the motor is not moving. State how much energy is in the kinetic energy store of the motor. (1) kinetic energy = J
June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(c) (3 marks): Complete the Sankey diagram for the electric motor during the 0.42 seconds by giving the missing information. (3) energy transferred to kinetic energy store mot
June 2023, Paper 1, Q7(d) (3 marks): Use the Sankey diagram to calculate the efficiency of the process of bringing the motor to its maximum speed of rotation. (3) efficiency = %
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(a) (2 marks): Explain why the white snow will take a long time to melt, even though directly exposed to the Sun. (2)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(b) (2 marks): Diagram 2 shows a different piece of ground that has a metal drain cover. If the snow lands on metal, the snow takes a shorter time to melt. Sun snow metal drai
June 2023, Paper 1, Q8(c) (2 marks): Explain how a convection current above the snow increases the time taken for the snow to melt. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the efficiency of the motor. (3) efficiency =
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Justify why 7.8 J of energy must be dissipated into the thermal store of the surroundings as the load is lifted. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(iii) (3 marks): Diagram 2 is an incomplete Sankey diagram. Complete the Sankey diagram to show the energy transferred by the motor. (3) input energy wasted output energy Diagra
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b) (3 marks): The racing car slows down using its brakes. The brakes work using friction. The brakes become very hot when the racing car slows down. Using ideas about energy,
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(c) (2 marks): The tyres of the racing car also get very hot during a race. A mechanic has to handle the hot tyres during the pit stop. They wear protective gloves which have
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): The winch has an efficiency of 25% when pulling the truck. Draw a Sankey diagram for this energy transfer. (3)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(ii) (4 marks): The winch can also be used to pull the truck uphill at a constant speed. The table gives some energy stores. Add one tick (ü) to each row to show what happens t
January 2023, Paper 1, Q10(a) (4 marks): On the axes, sketch how the temperature of the hot water and the temperature of the cold water vary with time. (4) 70 Temperature in °C 5 0 0 Time in minutes
January 2023, Paper 1, Q10(b) (4 marks): Explain why the temperatures of the hot water and the cold water change. You should refer to different types of thermal energy transfer in your answer. (4)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q10(c) (3 marks): Explain how placing a lid on the plastic cup would affect the results. (3)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): State the independent and dependent variables in the student’s investigation. (2) independent variable dependent variable
January 2023, Paper 2, Q4(b) (2 marks): The diagram shows the ball at its maximum height after it bounces. Determine the distance the ball moves from the floor to its maximum height. Assume the ball d
January 2023, Paper 2, Q4(c) (6 marks): Design a method that the student could use to investigate how the temperature of the ball affects the maximum height after it bounces. Your answer should includ
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a) (3 marks): Explain the main method of heat transfer from the chip to the surroundings for case X. (3)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q6(b) (3 marks): Explain the main method of heat transfer from the chip to the surroundings for case Y. (3)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q9(c)(iii) (1 mark): State which energy store of the paper increases when the alpha particle is stopped. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): State what is meant by the principle of conservation of energy. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): State the formula linking efficiency, useful energy output and total energy output. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q8(b)(ii) (4 marks): Calculate the energy transferred into the thermal store of the surroundings. (4) energy transferred to thermal store = J
June 2022, Paper 1, Q8(b)(iii) (3 marks): Draw a labelled Sankey diagram for this energy transfer. (3)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q10(c) (4 marks): The actual speed of the car when it has fallen 18 m is lower than the value calculated in (a). Describe the energy transfers occurring from immediately before t
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b) (2 marks): Hailstones can be lifted to the top of clouds. The diagram shows the movement of some hailstones in a cloud. cloud movement of hailstones warm ground Suggest ho
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q12(b)(ii) (3 marks): It is observed that from when the parachute opens to just before the parachutist touches the ground, the GPE store and the KE store of the parachutist both decr
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Suggest which energy store of the transformer increases as a result of the efficiency being less than 100%. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): State how the kinetic store of the rocket changes as the rocket burns fuel. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(a)(ii) (1 mark): State how the gravitational store of the rocket changes as the rocket burns fuel. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(b) (2 marks): The rocket engine stops burning fuel. The rocket continues to go further away from the surface of the Earth. The table gives some statements about the rocket’s
January 2022, Paper 1, Q8(d) (4 marks): Funcube-1 spins and is heated by the Sun. The diagram shows two coloured metal bars attached to a face of Funcube-1. The surface of one metal bar is dull and bl
January 2022, Paper 1, Q12(a) (4 marks): A battery supplies a voltage of 12 V and a current of 0.25 A to the fan. The fan is switched on for 12 seconds and the fan gains 25 J in its kinetic energy stor
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (2 marks): The chart shows that the geothermal power station has an efficiency of 15%. Explain what is meant by an efficiency of 15%. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (4 marks): A small hydroelectric power station has a useful energy output of 6.0 kJ. Calculate the total energy input for this power station using information from the cha
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q12(a) (1 mark): Give a reason why there is a net transfer of energy from the outside of the box to the inside of the box during transportation in a hot country. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q12(b) (2 marks): Explain how the box is designed to reduce energy transfer by conduction. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q12(c) (2 marks): Explain how the box is designed to reduce energy transfer by convection. (2)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q12(d) (2 marks): A student suggests that painting the inner surfaces of the box a different colour would help to reduce the rate of energy transfer to the cold food. Explain whi
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(c)(i) (1 mark): Name the energy store of the battery pack that increases when the battery pack is being charged. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(c)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the kinetic energy store of the car must decrease when the MGU charges the battery pack. (3)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a) (4 marks): The rate of cooling is represented by the gradient of the graph and is measured in °C/s. By drawing a tangent to the curve, determine the rate of cooling of the
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b) (2 marks): The student repeats the investigation with the same beaker wrapped in woollen insulation. Sketch another line on the graph to show the expected results when the
November 2021, Paper 1, Q12(a) (1 mark): How is energy transferred to the external pipe from the Sun? (1) A conduction B convection C evaporation D radiation
November 2021, Paper 1, Q12(b) (3 marks): Explain why air moves upwards through the external pipe. (3)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q12(c) (3 marks): Warm air enters the tube at point X. Cool air leaves the tube at point Y. Explain how the air is cooled as it travels through the tube. (3)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q12(d) (3 marks): The external pipe is painted to increase the air flow through the building. Explain what colour of paint would give the greatest increase in air flow. (3)
June 2021, Paper 1, Q6(a) (4 marks): Explain how a convection current is formed in the container. You may add to the diagram or draw your own diagram to support your answer. (4)
June 2021, Paper 1, Q10(c) (4 marks): Piston Y starts at rest, rises slowly and then comes to rest. State how the following energy stores have changed from before the motion to after the motion is c
June 2021, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): State the main method of energy transfer from the fusion power station generator to the primary coil of the step-up transformer. (1)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q6 (6 marks): When a rubber ball is dropped it hits the floor and bounces. Design an investigation to determine how the temperature of the rubber ball affects the maximum hei
January 2021, Paper 1, Q10(a) (2 marks): The bar of the hurdle is made of wood and is painted black and white. The temperature of the hurdle increases when the Sun shines on it. Explain which part of t
January 2021, Paper 1, Q10(b) (4 marks): The air near the bar receives energy by heating. Explain how a convection current is formed in the air near the bar. (4)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(a) (4 marks): The boxes give some situations and some energy stores. Draw one straight line from each situation to the energy store that decreases for that situation. The fir
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Which method of energy transfer takes place between the battery and the lamp? (1) A electrical B heating C mechanical D radiation
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which method of energy transfer takes place between the lamp and the surroundings? (1) A electrical B light radiation C mechanical D sound radiation
November 2020, Paper 1, Q4(b) (3 marks): Diagram 1 shows a model aeroplane powered by a rubber band. propeller rubber band Diagram 1 A person rotates the propeller of the model aeroplane, which twists
November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the outer surface of the tile is painted white. (2)
November 2020, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the small pockets of trapped air help to reduce thermal energy transfer from the outer surface to the inner surface of the tile. (2)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q7 (6 marks): The photographs show two different breeds of cat. © Kucher Serhii/Shutterstock © Eric Isselee/Shutterstock Cat X Cat Y Cat X has no fur and light-coloured skin.
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a) (1 mark): State how the student could improve the reliability of her results. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(b) (2 marks): Give two control variables for the investigation. (2) 1 2
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(d)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the motor efficiency when the power supply is set to a voltage of 10 V. (3) efficiency = %
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(d)(ii) (3 marks): Plot a graph of the motor efficiency on the y-axis against the power supply voltage on the x-axis. (3)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(d)(iii) (2 marks): Draw a curve of best fit. (2)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(d)(iv) (1 mark): Using the graph, determine the minimum power supply voltage that will allow the electric motor to operate at maximum efficiency. (1) power supply voltage = V
November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how energy stored in the fuel is transferred to the water. Refer to energy stores and transfers in your answer. (3)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q6 (6 marks): A teacher makes a hot drink. He puts the drink in a cup designed to keep the drink hot. The photograph and cross-section diagram both show the cup. plastic lid
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): State the name of the energy store that has increased for the brakes. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): State the method of energy transfer from the truck to the brakes. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): State which energy store of the spring increases when it is stretched. Assume the spring does not reach its elastic limit. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): How is this energy transferred to the spring? (1) • A electrically B byheating C mechanically D by radiation
June 2019, Paper 1, Q12(b) (4 marks): The ball of dough hits the floor and does not rebound. Describe the energy transfers taking place from when the dough is dropped to after it has hit the floor.
June 2019, Paper 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): Discuss why conduction is the main way that thermal energy is transferred from the dog to the water. (3)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): State how energy is transferred from the Sun to the water. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the water cools down at night. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (4 marks): Photograph 2 shows the swimming pool with a plastic cover over the water. Photograph 2 Explain why the plastic cover reduces how much the water cools down at ni
June 2019 (R), Paper 1, Q8(c) (1 mark): After point C, the parachute jumper continues to fall at a constant velocity. As she falls, energy is transferred from a gravitational store. Which store is the
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q8(b) (1 mark): Suggest why the trapped air does not reach a high enough temperature to ignite the combustible material if the piston is slowly pushed into the cylinder. (1)

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